He pats my shoulder, looking sideways towards the tree. “Now to find a spot.”
“Evan, you hang this one.” Clara removes it delicately from the box and holds it out to me by its silver string.
“Wherever you’d like, dear.” Maggie adds, coming to stand at her husband's side.
I put it right next to Maggie and Daryl’s first ornament, looking at this beautiful tree of memories they’ve built themselves. Hoping this is just the beginning for Clara and I too.
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The traditions for Christmas Eve, other than decorating the tree, are movie marathons and baking in between. Shortbreads, then Clara’s pick—which wasHome Alone. Candy Cane Brownies and Daryl’s choice—It’s a Wonderful Life. Red Velvet Cake Pops and Maggie’s selection—A Christmas Story. For me, jam pinwheels andThe Grinch.
After hours of cuddling, too much sugar, and our collective fill of the Christmas Spirit—Maggie and Daryl got ready to head to the Church’s hymnal service. They, kindly, didn’t ask us to join. Clara says she’s alternated the last few years between going and staying home to watchLove Actually… heractualfavourite that she refuses to watch in the vicinity of her parents due to its racier content.
We got about fifteen minutes into it before she was on my lap and my hands were under her shirt.
“I missed you,” Clara says, kissing me at the top of the stairs.
“I’ve been here.” I laugh, breathy against her lips as I lead her backwards towards her bedroom.
“But we haven’t done this. Not since we got here.” She plays with the hair over my shoulder, stringing kisses along my neck. We’re stumbling into each other until the backs of her knees hit her bed, and she sits.
“Well, old house… thin walls,” I say, shutting the door.
Clara shuffles back onto her mattress, then raises to her knees and removes her top and bra, tossing them aside carelessly. I haveeveryintention to touch her, to get closer, to revel in each freckle and mark… but I don’t move. Stunned by her beauty again.
The way the light is coming in, bouncing off the snow outside, casts her in a white glow. The angelic halo around her blonde hair, from the same light. The crinkle of her nose, her cheeky expression she only wears when she wears nothing else.
“I love you,” I whisper, not because I want to, but because I can’t seem to find my voice at the moment.
She extends one arm out fully, reaching for me. “I love you too. Come here.”
I take her hand, kiss her wrist, and place it on my shoulder. “How long do we have?” I rub my cheek against her arm.
“The service is at least an hour… Then, they usually stay for tea, and my mother brought enough baked goods to feed an army—she won’t want to leave without her tins.”
“Perfect.” I dive at her, making her giggle as she falls against the mattress.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Clara
“Clothes. Off,” I stutter between panted breaths. “Now.”
Evan laughs softly as she raises up from where she’d been kneeling next to the bed. Her entire mouth and chin glistening from my pleasure.
“I like when you do that naked.” I attempt to explain my sudden demanding attitude as she strips off at the end of my bed. Her black lace bra and white cotton panties make my teeth grind together from desperation. I look up to the ceiling in need of relief, greeted by the posters I hung fourteen-odd years ago.
“Don’t youdarelook at Hilary Duff as I do this.” A now fully nude Evan nips at my ankle, bringing my attention back to her.
“Look away, Hilary!” I wave at the ceiling. “My very hot girlfriend and I are about to doveryun-Disney channel-like things.”
Evan doesn’t resume her position on her knees and instead crawls up between my parted thighs slowly, kissing her way up until her mouth is devouring the hollow space between my tits. “God, I love when you do that,” I say, arching off the bed.
She smirks, sinking her teeth around my nipple. I moan from the flick of her tongue as she presses one hand down on my belly, curls it around my waist, and rolls us both.
Now on top, I lean down to kiss her. She lifts her thigh between mine and I do the same to her, feeling her warmth spread around me. We roll against each other, seeking out blissful friction. Breathing sharp inhales into each other’s hair as we chase heaven at the same time.
“Sit up and turn around,” Evan says sternly, breaking our kiss. “Straddle me.”
