Page 81 of Everything In Between
We both polish off our breakfasts in record time, unable to help ourselves from the warm, sweet treat. Once our plates are empty, I collect and take them back into the kitchen. When I come back, I gather up the presents from underneath the tree, carrying them over and placing them on the cushion between us.
Hayes picks up a small box wrapped flawlessly with a shiny silver bow on the top and hands it to me. Once the package is in my hands, I tease, “Did you wrap this?”
He chuckles. “Hell no. My housekeeper helped me out. If I had wrapped them, they would not be nearly as fancy.”
Fighting off a smile, I start on the edge, sliding my finger under the paper and opening it up delicately.
“Oh, come on, just rip it,” Hayes teases. I blink at him, unsure that I’ve ever ripped a present open since I was a child. My cheeks warming a bit, I do as he says, clumsily ripping the paper and finding I enjoy it much more this way. Beneath the discarded wrapping paper lies an unmistakable jewelry box.
Carefully, I lift the lid and reveal the present inside. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of it—a gold-plated number eighteen necklace, Hayes’s jersey number. Across the front are a multitude of diamonds, or what I suspect are diamonds.
“Are these real?”
Hayes nods, watching me warily to see if I like his gift. I’m speechless really. I can’t imagine how much something like this would’ve cost him. Though I know with Hayes’s yearly contract, it’s probably a measly drop in the bucket. He doesn’t act like he’s loaded, but there’s no doubt he’s living comfortably like the rest of the big name football players in the league.
“Wow,” I whisper, studying the necklace again. My fingers run over the beveled edge and the ridges of the diamonds. “This is beautiful.”
I hear him swallow next to me. “Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I correct him. “Will you put it on me?”
Hayes’s eyes go soft. “Of course. Come here.”
His instructions send butterflies through my belly, and I hop off the couch to the floor, positioning myself in front of him and handing over the necklace before pulling my hair off my neck.
I hear him fumble with the packaging, trying to get the dainty necklace out of the box using his big hands. Then he’s reaching around my head, positioning the necklace and clasping it at theback. When he’s done, he leans down and kisses my shoulder next to the strap of my tank top, sending tingles down that entire side of my body.
“Let me see,” he says against my skin, his voice husky and low.
I turn around ungracefully on my knees, dropping my hair off to one side. Hayes takes me in, his chin lifting and a proud smile gracing his lips.
“Fuck, honey. I love the sight of my number on your body,” he rumbles, eyes glued to the pendant lying on top of my breastbone. His praise sends my head spinning with sensations I don’t think I’ll ever get over—passion, adoration, longing.
“I like the way it feels on my body,” I say, my cheeks heating with the admission.
Hayes seems to like that and his eyes darken. His voice is a low growl when he says, “I’m going to need you to open your next one before I take you right here in front of the Christmas tree.”
I laugh to myself, reaching for the second smaller box that he gave me and setting it in my lap. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind a little sexy interlude, but with Hayes’s injury still so new, I know that is unlikely to happen right now. Hopefully next year we’ll be able to make plenty new memories of us making love in front of the Christmas tree.
“Here, it’s your turn now.” I hand him a box, feeling giddy at the prospect of him opening his very first Christmas present from me.
“For me?”
“Just for you.” I wink. I picked out a watch for him, engraved on the back with our names and the phraseEverything In Between.
Hayes runs his thumb over the engraving and looks at me with deep, emotion filled eyes. The intensity of his amber eyes ashe stares at me makes me ache for him. Seeming to catch onto this, he leans over and cups my cheek, kissing me deeply.
When he pulls away, I can tell he’s thinking about having sex in front of the Christmas tree again. The idea is enthralling, and I lick my lower lip. His eyes have darkened as he tracks the movement. Moments later, he rakes his gaze over me, appreciating every little inch of me.
My heart feels full as I preen under his gaze. Leaning forward, I kiss him again, wishing I could freeze time. I never thought sharing a Christmas with someone could be so intimate, but I should’ve known Hayes has a way of making everything so much more exhilarating.
“Thank you,” he says, focusing on the watch as he slides it on his wrist. “This is great.”
“You’re welcome,” I whisper, loving the way the watch looks on Hayes’s wrist. “I was hoping you’d like it.”
“It’s honestly perfect. I’ve been needing a new watch, and now I get to carry a piece of you with me when I wear it. Now open your second one.”
My heart skips a beat and I suck in a tight breath, dropping my eyes from him—he couldn’t possibly know how spot on his words are.
