Page 109 of The Christmas Holiday
‘Is that a suspender belt?’
‘Umhmm.’
‘With those shoes?’ His voice had gained a slightly rough edge that kicked off a thousand memories within me. All of them good. Some of them amazing. He cleared his throat. ‘It’s probably a really good thing I didn’t know you had all that going on earlier. I’m not sure I would have made it through the ceremony.’
‘You knowwhat? These shoes really seem to be bothering you. I think it’s probably better if I just take them off.’
Hunter’s hands moved quickly, lifting me onto his lap. ‘Don’t you dare,’ he whispered as his mouth covered mine and his arms tightened around me as he moved us both backwards further onto the bed.
***
‘Hey.’ Hunter’s sleep-roughened voice called.
I’d woken earlier and, carefullydisentangling myself from his sleeping form even though it was the last thing I wanted to do, I’d slipped on a hotel robe and begun writing up my piece on Liv and Sandeep’s wedding in longhand on the hotel’s notepaper.
I turned at his call. ‘Good morning.’
‘What are you doing over there?’
‘Working.’
‘On paper?’
‘My laptop’s in my room and I didn’t want to wake you by faffingabout with the door. It’s only a rough draft anyway.’
‘When does it have to be in?’
‘Not for a few days.’
‘Good. Come back to bed.’
‘Hunter,’ I began, ‘I have things to do.’ Admittedly, none of those things held as much appeal as his suggestion.
‘I know. And so do I. In fact, I have a very long list of things to do. Now get that cute arse of yours over here so I can get started.’
‘You do have a way with words.’
‘That was always more your forte.’ He winked at me and I felt the soft blush creep up my neck.
‘I think you’re a bad influence, Hunter Scott.’ I said, dropping the robe and sliding back between the sheets.
He hooked an arm around me and pulled me on top of him. ‘Oh, I do hope so.’
We’d flicked on the television later that morning to be greetedby the news that London and the south-east were experiencing extremely heavy snowfall and people were being advised not to travel. Hunter had declared that meant we really shouldn’t go anywhere this afternoon. Purely for safety reasons, of course. Of course, I’d agreed. Safety first, always. The next thing I knew it was dark outside and we’d barely left the bed all day.
My head was restingon Hunter’s chest, my fingers splayed over one of his scars.
‘What’s going through that head of yours?’
I smiled against his skin. Saying “nothing” would be pointless. He knew me far too well.
‘Does it hurt?’
I felt his head move and glance down over me to the scars before letting it fall back onto the feather pillows.
‘No. Not really. Occasionally it gets itchy but I’m usedto it now.’ His chest rose and fell underneath me. ‘I know they’re not exactly pretty, Mia, but they’ll fade and—’
I shoved myself up so I was looking down at him lying on his back. ‘Do you think they bother me?’
