Page 91 of Sweet Poison

“Oh, you have no idea how dirty I can get, baby,” he winks and then strides over, the confidence in his movements makingmy heart race even more. Before I can gather my thoughts, he wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. The warmth of his body envelops me, and I melt against him, feeling safe and cherished and so much more.

His deep gaze locks onto mine, stealing my breath. Then, with a tenderness that sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach, he leans down and kisses me. The kiss is gentle yet passionate, as if he’s pouring his heart out to me with every stroke of his tongue and nip.

Overwhelmed with the rush of feelings surging through me, I lean into him, my hands finding their way to his hair, deepening the kiss. The taste of coffee and something sweet lingers on his lips, and I lose myself in the moment—lost in him. The magic of everything he’s this Christmas morning wraps around us like a world of its own.

When we finally pull apart, I can barely catch my breath. He grins down at me, his eyes bright with happiness. “Now, how about we open those presents…” he says, a playful glint in his eye.

As I pull back, a wave of unease washes over me. The sight of the lovely tree and the mountains of presents makes me acutely aware of the modest gift I’ve hidden away for him. It’s nothing compared to what he’s done for me. My heart sinks a little, and I feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up my cheeks.

“M-Madden, I—” I start, but he cuts me off, his eyes softening.

“I only need you, Willow. You’re the best goddamn present I’ve ever received,” he says, and his sincerity makes my heart flutter. How sweet…

Shyly, I slip back into the room, quickly kneeling to retrieve the gift I had my uncle sneak in— don’t ask me how he did it, I’m not sure I want to know. With the box in hand, I return to Madden and hold it out like a fragile treasure, my handstrembling slightly. “Here,” I say, my voice a blend of excitement and nerves.

I really hope he likes it.

Madden takes the box, his brows furrowing slightly. “You really didn’t have to get me anything, Willow,” he murmurs grumpily yet there’s a small smile on his face.

“Just open it,” I urge, my heart racing as he begins to unwrap his gift. The paper falls away, revealing a plain cardboard box. He lifts the lid, and for a moment, silence nags between us.

I watch him, my pulse quickening as his expression shifts from curiosity to something deeper. He looks deep in thought and my stomach drops as I worry that he won’t like it. “It’s kind of silly,” I blurt out, my voice faltering. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to.”

But then he looks up at me, and the intensity in his gaze takes me by surprise. “This is the second-best present I’ve ever received,” he says, his voice low and filled with emotion and his eyes still fixed on the gift in his hands.

Inside the box is a red, black, and white Formula 1 style jacket, his number proudly displayed on the front. At first glance, it might seem like a typical racing F1 jacket, but when he turns it around, the back reveals something entirely different. There, I’ve hand-painted it with love and care. I captured him as a boy, looking up at a future version of himself—older, successful, and full of ambition. The fierce determination in his young eyes mirrors the man standing in front of me now.

He gently lifts the jacket, fingers brushing over the fabric, and the look on his face is something I’ll never forget—pride, nostalgia, and love all intertwined.

“Fuck, fairy. I can’t believe you did this for me,” he breathes, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s incredible, Willow. You’re incredible and so fucking talented.”

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

“Really?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, still not fully believing his praise. “You really like it?”

“What? Fuck, yes I do. You’ve captured the ‘me’ that no one sees. The hardship, the pain and the victory.” He steps closer, the jacket still in his hands, and pulls me for another hug before kissing my forehead. With my head pressed to his chest, I can hear his heart beating, a rhythm that matches the joy bubbling within me.

“I’m so glad you like it,” I whisper as I pull back to look up at him.

“I love it, Willow,” With a playful grin, Madden reaches for a festive red and white Christmas hat from the table, plopping it onto my head. “There…,” he chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Now the real fun can begin.”

“Ooooh, very festive of you. Who would've thought,” I beam up at him.

He rolls his playfully. “Sit your pretty ass down,” he urges, guiding me to the couch. “It’s your turn.”

“You really shouldn’t have. This is all too much,” I say, as I settle down, excitement bubbling within me.

“Nothing is ever too much for you. Besides, these are mostly from the big fat fucker,” he winks as he starts handing me gifts one by one.

Big fat fucker?

Santa Claus?

I snort as I read the name tags on several of the gifts. Sure enough, they all say From Santa Claus to Willow.Looking up at him, I grin. “You know… as much as I love the grinch side of you, I’m kind of becoming obsessed with the whole Father Christmas vibe you’ve got going on today.”

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