Page 16 of Married to Her Yeti
He nodded and left her room. The second he was gone, she grabbed the dildo, intent on stashing it back in her drawer. But she fumbled the grab, then let out a yelp when she twisted to catch it. Her abused ribcage did not like that move, and the toy tumbled from her grip. Its smooth, silicone crown bounced off the hardwood floor with a loud thunk before it came to rest so far out of her reach, it was almost as comical as it was mortifying.
Mari looked up as a shadow darkened the doorway. “Are you okay?” Nima asked. “It sounded like you were in... pain.”
He’d seen it. His lips even twitched. She buried her face in her hands, peeking at him through her fingers.
“That was on the floor when we came in last night. I put it on your nightstand.”
“I feel very exposed,” Mari admitted. “Not only do you know I’ve been wearing our wedding rings on a chain all this time, but now Big Blue...” Shegestured toward the phallus on her floor. “And... And I have to pee. Can you please carry me to the bathroom before you make toast? The crutches hurt my ribs.”
“First,” he said, bending over and picking up her sex toy. “I’mwearing our rings now.” He patted his chest, his hand lingering as if he enjoyed the feel of them there. Heat blossomed over Mari’s skin at his admission. Despite her insistence on a divorce, she liked that he wore their rings and seemed to cherish them. “I could have left them in my pocket or set them on your nightstand next to your impressively large, yeti-blue dildo, but I didn’t.”
Mari wanted to melt into the bed, but she also had to smile a little at the way Nima was handling this.
“And second,” he continued, “it’s none of my business what you do in the privacy of your bedroom.” He flashed her a wicked grin as he wrapped his fingers around the shaft of the silicon penis. “Or that you have a dildo nearly the same size and color as my dick.”
She would not admit how much more she likedhisdick.
As he set the toy back on her nightstand, aknowing smile on his sexy lips, he said, “Yes, I’ll carry you to the bathroom.”
Then herfriend, Nima, who wore their wedding rings around his neck and had just held her sex toy in his hand, scooped her up and carried her, still in the clinic-issued scrubs, to the bathroom.
Mari had endured ten years of heartache, believing her one true love had abandoned her. Now that she had a second chance with him, she planned to do everything in her power to earn back his friendship.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Nima pulled the lid off the steaming soup pot and scooped up a spoonful of lentils, blowing on it before tasting his creation. It needed more salt. He added a dash, stirred it in, then sampled another bite. Perfect. He covered the pot again and reduced the heat.
He glanced at the clock over Mari’s stove. Nearly five p.m. She’d been asleep for most of the day. She needed to eat a substantial meal, do the breathing exercises Margie recommended for her ribs, and put a fresh ice pack on her ankle. He rehung the kitchen towel he’d slung over his shoulder before quietly making his way to her bedroom.
Her door stood ajar so he could hear her if she needed him or called out. He paused on the threshold.He still found it difficult to believe he was in Mari’s house, that they’d finally talked after all these years. If only they’d had more trust in each other and themselves, enough to talk things through. It strengthened his resolve not to let it happen again. Ever. He lightly knocked. “Mari, are you awake?”
She switched on the lamp beside her bed. Her lovely, tousled, golden-blonde hair flowed over her shoulders. While they’d agreed to be friends, Nima still saw Mari as what she was and would always be to him—the love of his life. She rubbed sleep from her eyes. “I woke up a few minutes ago but didn’t want to disturb you. Especially when I heard you moving around in the kitchen and smelled the enticing scents of home cooking.” She gave him the sweetest smile. “What’s for dinner?”
“Lentil soup, but I’ll make something else if you’d prefer.” He had no clue what she ate these days, but lentils used to be a favorite of hers.
“Sounds delicious. I’m starving.” She pulled the covers back, revealing her rumpled scrubs.
Mari probably wanted a bath. But suggesting an activity that involved her getting naked didn’t seem like the best idea, especially given their friendship plans. “Do you want to try the crutches?”
Despite sleeping all day, dark circles hung underMari’s eyes. The look she gave him was tired but grateful. “Yep, I’d better give them a whirl.” She paused, looking away for a moment. “Are you able to stay a few more days? Even through Christmas?”
Spend Christmas with Mari? His heart leapt at the possibility. His other options were staying with Tseten or visiting his mom in Denali. He tried to moderate his tone and not sound too eager as he said, “I’m available.”
Nima paused. He needed to ensure Mari was truly okay with this arrangement. “But if you want help from someone else, like Tseten or another friend, just say so. It won’t hurt my feelings. I want you to be comfortable.” If Mari chose Tseten over him, it would most definitely hurt his feelings, but he’d understand. Nima and Mari’s relationship baggage was oversized and heavy. As if to underscore this, he realized his hand had gone to the rings under the collar of his shirt.
Mari’s lips twitched as her gaze tracked his hand’s movement. He quickly lowered his arm, and she said, “It’s okay, I played with the rings a lot too. I want you to stay, Nima. I appreciate your help, and I’m comfortable with your being here. This will give us a chance to start over again with a friendship.”
A knot of emotion formed in his throat. He wasso grateful for this opportunity. “Okay, sounds good. Let’s begin by celebrating your big achievement. I understand congratulations are in order for the new owner of the Wildwood Bakery.” Her megawatt smile lit the room, and Nima’s heart swelled with pride for her. “Tseten said you’d been planning a quiet celebration last night with a movie. If you’re up for it, we could settle in for movie-night after dinner.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “Did Tseten tell you the name of the movie?”
Nima shook his head. “No, but I’m up for anything.”
Mari chuckled. “I was going to watchThe Gingerbread Soldier’s Christmas Crush. It’s guaranteed to have Christmas baking, a secret identity, a crisis solvable only with cookies or a formal Christmas ball, and a secret royalty reveal at the end.” She paused as if letting that sink in. “Still game?”
Nima didn’t fucking care what they watched. He’d be sitting through it with Mari, and she wanted to see it. That’s all that mattered. “I’m game.”
The way Mari’s eyes twinkled up at him made him feel like the luckiest yeti ever. She swung her air-casted-foot off the bed but paused as he handedher the crutches. “Did I have lentils in my cupboard?”
