Page 25 of One Night, Two Holidays

Then I rip open a foil package and roll the condom down his length, making him sigh with pleasure. I slide onto his lap and reach down, positioning him where I need him to be. Slowly, I sink down as he stretches and fills me.

“Perfect,” he groans, pressing his forehead against mine, his muscles tensing as he holds me in place. “Nessa, you’re perfect. Exactly what I want.”

And I believe him—that for the first time in so long, I feel like I’m someone’s first choice. Like I’m not too much. I’m just exactly enough.

Then he captures my mouth in a deep, searching kiss. My body hums with pleasure, and I shift my hips in circles, feeling the friction as we continue to kiss. Jack slides his hand down to cup my ass, lifting me up, then pressing into me as deep as he can go. I meet him, thrust for thrust, my back arching and my mind going hazy until?—

Suddenly, he’s standing with me in his arms, turning us around and setting me down again on my back, flat on the mattress, looking up at him. Jack’s bracing himself above me, a naughty smile on his face.

“How are we doing?” he asks, parting my legs and sliding into me again.

I let out a quiet moan, my hands gripping the sheets. “So—so nice,” I manage.

“Well, we can do better thannice.” He bends my knee up against him before thrusting into me again, harder.

This time, I moan out loud, and he gives a grunt of satisfaction. I’m mesmerized by the sight of him, watching the muscles in his chest and shoulders tense, his brow furrow in concentration, like he’s trying to hold himself back, to make sure I come first—again. And it’s that knowledge, combined with the way he’s hitting just the right spot, that brings me to the edge for the second time tonight.

He leans down to kiss me, and my body clenches tight aroundhim, urging him deeper, harder, faster. I feel him start to shudder. He’s there. I’m there. The two of us, tumbling together off a cliff into a freefall that is terrifying and exciting all at once. Because somehow, deep down, I know this isn’t just a passing moment. It feels real. Lasting. Like we’ve started something that will stay with us both, long after tonight.

CHAPTER 17

DECEMBER 26, 6:39 am

JACK

My eyes flutter open in the darkness, and it takes a few moments for reality to settle in. I’m in Nessa’s bed, her body curled against mine, her breathing deep and even. I close my eyes again, letting last night replay in my mind—the taste of her, the warmth of her, and the simple, perfect joy of falling asleep with her.

But now it’s morning, and a rock of dread settles in my chest.

I reach for my phone, the screen lighting up with the text from my dad: details for my flight. It leaves in less than four hours. I should feel excited—eager to get up, shower, pack, and head home to see my family. That’s the plan I’ve had for months.

Instead, I feel…torn.

I glance at Nessa, still sleeping peacefully, and imagine what we could do if I stayed. Three whole days together before real life comes crashing down again—slow mornings, long conversations, maybe a movie or dinner out. But more than anything, just being here. Talking. Laughing. Getting to know each other better.

But my parents are expecting me, and I hate the thought of disappointing them—even though, at this point, I’ll be there for barely more than forty-eight hours before I have to turn around and leave again. My sister and her kids will have gone home to Grand Junction. I’ve already missed all the holiday traditions.

And when I return, it’ll be right back to the grind of residency with hardly a chance to catch my breath. My mom’s words from our call yesterday come into my mind:Do what’s best for you, okay?

The problem is, I don’t know what that is—I’ve spent these past few months ignoring my wants and needs, throwing everything I’ve got into taking care of my patients to the best of my ability.

Nessa stirs beside me, her hand brushing my shoulder. “Hey,” she whispers, her voice husky with sleep. “You awake?”

I roll toward her, smiling as her face comes into focus. “Good morning, beautiful.”

She burrows into my chest, wrapping her arms around me. “When do you have to go?”

I exhale slowly. “Flight leaves just after ten.”

“Oh.”

The disappointment in her tone echoes my own.

“I’ll be back on the twenty-eighth,” I say, trying to ignore the fact that I’ll get home around nine p.m. and have to be up at five the next morning. “Can I see you that night?”

“You better,” she says, glancing up at me with a soft smile.

“It’s a date, then.” I press a kiss to the top of her head. “Our fifth, I think?”

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