Page 73 of You Make It Feel like Christmas
“Come here,” she whispered, her voice sliding over his skin.
He wore loose joggers and a plain T-shirt. Putting his knee in the bed, he crawled his way up her body, pausing to let his lips linger on her stomach. She arched into him as he continued moving up and found her mouth. He could lose days kissing her and not even care about anything else he missed.
When he pulled back, she kept her hands in his hair. “I’m not always this lazy. Usually, I’m up early too.”
He nuzzled his nose against her cheek. “You’re on vacation. You’re supposed to rest. Besides, I’ve been keeping you up late.”
“I’m okay with that,” she whispered as she kissed his neck, her fingers sliding down, under his arms and around his back. He loved how much she loved touching him.
“I have to get ready to go.” He pulled up, rose off the bed.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
He shook his head. “Nah. It should be straightforward and not take too long.”
He checked his watch, then remembered she was supposed to do her Christmas with her friends. “You’ve got Lexi and Will’s tonight, right?”
Getting out of the bed, she pulled on a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, covering her slender legs and gorgeous skin.
“I switched it.” Maisie turned into him after tying the drawstring on her pajamas. “I want to see you while you’re here.”
Nick stroked her hair back from her face. “That was sweet of you. Thank you.”
Then, like she did so often, she tucked herself against him andburrowed in. That easy affection did him in every time. He hadn’t even left yet and he wanted to get back to her.
“I have a present for you,” he said, pulling back.
Her gaze lit up. “You do?”
Laughing, Nick tugged her by the hand and brought her out to the living room.
“Is it coffee?”
“There’s coffee and bagels as well but that’s not your gift.”
Grabbing the package he’d had one of the team assistants overnight him, he sat down, put it in her lap.
She bounced in her seat. She didn’t even know what was in it and she was excited. Pressure built in his chest but this time it wasn’t from anxiety. It was from joy. Fuck. That felt really good.
Maisie tugged at the plastic and paused when she saw a canvas bag with the Guardians’ logo on it.
A small giggle escaped her. “You got me a gym bag?”
He grinned as he shook his head and pulled the bag out to open it. “Look inside.”
Maisie reached in, peering over the edge as she did, and pulled out a blue-and-gray Guardians jersey with his name on the back.
Nick watched her face so he saw the smile slip and her mouth drop open. She blinked rapidly and for a second, he thought he’d screwed up. He’d never had a woman come to a game before. When Maisie did, he wanted her in his jersey. Was it a stupid gift? Too little? Too much? Did she understand how significant this gesture was to him?
Shifting in his seat, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, he cleared his throat. “I—”
He didn’t get to say more because she launched herself at him, springing up and tackling him with her arms around his neck and her mouth everywhere. His hands went to her waist even as he laughed and fell backward.
With her hair curtaining his face, she continued to rain kisses all over him, then she stopped and shoved her face into the crook of his neck.
His arms wrapped around her and squeezed. “I don’t want to assume but I’m thinking you like it?”
Maisie lifted her head, stared down at him with bright, shiny eyes. “I love it.” He saw her lips tremble and his heart did the same.
