“I did. What can I say? I was excited to spend my first Christmas with you. Or late Christmas ... you know what I mean.”
“I do.” Michelle walked through the living room to set her gifts under the tree next to the ones Audrey had wrapped.
Audrey couldn’t begin to imagine what was in the huge bag, but she was just as interested in the smaller box Michelle had brought. Sometimes the best gifts came in small packages. She couldn’t wait to see what Michelle had gotten her and to give her gifts to Michelle. She felt positively giddy with anticipation.
Audrey had never been this invested in a relationship before. In fact ... “There was one thing that bothered me the whole time I was at my parents’.”
“There was?” Michelle turned to face her with a look of concern. “But you said you’d had a nice holiday.” It seemed like her accent had gotten sharper since she’d visited the UK, and Audrey loved it. She lovedMichelle. The realization swept over her, swift and sudden, leaving her reeling.Oh wow.Talk about getting ahead of herself ...
“I wasn’t sure what to call you,” Audrey managed. “We hadn’t really discussed it, and things were so new between us before we left for Christmas break, but ... can I call you my girlfriend, or is it too soon?” The question felt woefully inadequate now that Audrey had realized the depth of her feelings, but to her relief, Michelle was smiling.
“Actually, I was wondering the same thing—not that my family would have wanted to hear about you regardless—but yes, I would like to call you my girlfriend, even if I feel a bit old to have a girlfriend.”
“We can use a different term if you prefer. Partner or significant other?”
Michelle waved a hand. “Whichever. I’m not picky, but ... we haven’t really talked about the age difference between us, aside from you having been my student, and maybe we should?”
“Nah,” Audrey countered. “Age is just a number. We’re both mature adults, and that’s all that matters as far as I’m concerned.” She motioned for Michelle to follow her into the kitchen so she could pour drinks. “Mulled wine?”
Michelle accepted the glass Audrey handed her. “Mm, perfect.”
They sat side by side on the sofa, staring at the Christmas tree. “I take it you and Kelly were the same age?”
“Yes.” Michelle sounded thoughtful. “And in that way, it’s good that you and I have a different dynamic, because things between me and Kelly werenotgood. The more distance I get from that relationship, the more I realize how bad it was. I always feltlesswith her. Her career came first, her wants, her needs. With you, I don’t know how to explain it, but everything just feels easy in a way I’m not sure it ever did with Kelly.”
Audrey’s heart felt too big for her chest. “I’m so sorry you felt that way in your marriage, but I’m so happy about how you feel with me, and for the record, I feel the same. Resisting you was the hard part. Being with you has been one of the easiest things I’ve ever done.”
“With you, I feel likemore,” Michelle murmured, and after she’d just confessed that her ex-wife made her feel less, those might’ve been the most beautiful words Audrey had ever heard. “You make me feel like a better version of myself.”
“Oh, Michelle ...” Audrey blinked back tears.
“I just wanted you to know.”
Michelle gazed at her with such warmth, such affection, it was almost more than Audrey could take. She wanted to declare her loveand beg Michelle to be hers forever, no matter how ridiculous that sounded, given how new their relationship was. Because she felt likemorewith Michelle too. Audrey felt like she mattered to Michelle in a way she hadn’t in her previous relationships, like she was an important part of Michelle’s future, not merely a fun distraction.
The Christmas tree cast flickering colors over Michelle’s face as “All I Want for Christmas Is You” played softly through the speakers, and it was all just ... perfect. Then Michelle was in her arms, mulled wine held precariously as they kissed. Michelle’s lips were hungry and insistent as they moved against Audrey’s. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too. For the record, I’m hoping you’ll stay tonight.”
“I’d love to.” Michelle nipped at her lip before lifting her head. “Also, I’d like to see as much of you as possible between now and the end of winter break.”
“Same. I have no plans except working on some new ceramic pieces.”
“And I have no plans except working on my book. Perhaps I could bring my laptop over one day, and we could work together?”
“I’d love that.”
“Good, but Audrey ...” Michelle’s wine tipped dangerously as she maneuvered herself so her knees bracketed Audrey’s, straddling her.
“Yes?” Audrey asked breathlessly, her brain completely scrambled by the warm press of Michelle’s body against hers.
“How badly do you want to do whatever holiday festivities you have planned, or can I get you naked first?” Her eyes blazed into Audrey’s, and the raw need there made Audrey’s heart race. “Because when I say I missed you, Ireallymissed you.”
Audrey had the whole evening mapped out, but ... “Anything we do tonight counts as part of our holiday festivities, right?”
Michelle nodded, leaning in for another kiss.
“Actually, I have an idea,” Audrey murmured against her lips, then slid out from beneath Michelle. She placed both their wineglasses on the coffee table, then took the throw blanket from the back of the sofa and spread it in front of the Christmas tree. “What do you think?”
