Ohhh. Ireallylike when he uses my full name. I guess two can play this game.
I lick my lips, pulse racing. “Kiss me?”
He leans across the console and brushes his lips against mine. Once. Twice. It’s slow and sweet until he catches my bottom lip with his teeth and pulls. A quiet moan escapes me, and the bastardlaughs.
“Keep it in your pants, trouble.”
Chapter 33
Ever since my run-in with Darren, Ben basically assigned Axel as my full-time babysitter. School is finally out for winter break, but before that, the rules were clear: go to school with Axel, come home with Axel, don’t go anywhere without Axel. We’ve spent so much time together over the past two weeks, I’m amazed we haven’t murdered each other.
Don’t get me wrong, at first, it was fun being together constantly. But then the little things started getting under our skin. Now, we’re just annoying each other on purpose. If we make it to the new year without bloodshed, it’ll be a Christmas miracle.
Finals flew by in a blur of caffeine and stress, but we did it. Pending final grades, I am officially a high school graduate. Axel, Nik, and Jessie all swore they wouldn’t survive the next semester without me. Rachel had no comment. Naturally.
Before I know it, Christmas morning arrives, and Axel wakes me up in true Axel fashion: by getting a running start and launching himself onto my bed.
“I swear to God,” I groan, shielding myself with a pillow. “I’m going to knee you right in your Christmas cheer.”
He just grins and leans down to give me the sweetest kiss.
“Merry Christmas, Princess.”
“Merry Christmas, Asshole.”
He frowns dramatically. “Someone’s not in the holiday spirit.”
“I haven’t had coffee yet. No coffee, no spirit.”
“Roger that. Come on, it already smells like someone brewed some.” He hauls me out of bed, and I toss a fluffy robe over my pajamas before we head downstairs.
In the kitchen, Axel guides me to the table and hands me a steaming mug. A box of festive donuts sits in the middle of the table. I grab one with white frosting and red sprinkles praying it’s filled with pudding. Axel chooses a chocolate cake donut slathered in green glaze. Honestly, it looks like something that belongs in the toilet.
“That looks nasty.”
He shrugs, already taking a bite. “I’ve had worse things in my mouth.”
I make a gagging sound, which is precisely when Maryanne walks in.
“Merry Christmas!” she chimes, as cheerful as ever. “Oh, good. You found the donuts!”
“Sure did. Lina says they look gross,” Axel tattles like on me. What are we, five? I sock him in the arm.
“Ow!” he yelps. “Mom! Lina hit me!”
“I’m sure you deserved it, sweetheart,” Maryanne replies without missing a beat, focused on pouring her coffee. God, I love her.
“Did you talk to Nik? What time did we decide on?” she asks.
“Nik said they’ll be here around five thirty. Dinner’s at six, right?”
“Right,” she says, distracted as she rummages in a drawer. “I love you two dearly, but please, for the love of God, stay out of the kitchen today. And do not mess.”
“Aye aye, Captain.” Axel gives her a salute. “Let us know if you need us to supervise anything. Like couch stability. Or hot chocolate taste testing.”
We finish our breakfast and carry the rest of our coffee upstairs. Axel snuggles up with me in bed, and we spend the morning and early afternoon watching old Christmas movies. It’s lazy, cozy, and perfect.
Around four, I kick him out so I can shower and start getting ready. I haven’t met Nik’s parents yet, and I’m nervous. I like Nik a lot, and I really want them to like me.
