Hector gently helped me out of my clothes and intothe same PJs I’d worn last night. I liked how, despite his giant form, he was always so gentle in his actions. His fingers were nimble with the buttons, and he released me with a kiss on the forehead.
He wasn’t as fastidious with himself and simply kicked off his pants and pulled the white T-shirt he’d been wearing over his head.
“C’mere,” he murmured as he slid into his side of the bed. My heart did happy skips at knowing we each had a designated side of the bed.
I happily crawled into the space he’d made for me in his big spoon. We usually cuddled face to face, but maybe he somehow sensed that this was what I needed right now. His body pressed flush against my back, his breath against the nape of my neck, and his strong arms wrapping me safe in his embrace.
The tension slipped from my body.
“Do you wanna take a nap?” Hector asked softly against my neck.
“No. I just want to stay like this.”
Hector grunted, his arms wrapped tighter around my middle, and his hairy legs tangled with mine as if trying to make sure every inch of skin touched. I was thankful for it.
“Aunt Polly always told me touch was the best cure. There’s nothing like the comfort of another person to help heal whatever ailed you,” I said softly.
“You don’t talk about her much.”
I shrugged the shoulder that I wasn’t lying on, but itwas more a twitch of the arm. “She’s great, don’t get me wrong. I miss her so much. That’s probably why I try not to think about her, or else the urge to run back to her will get too strong. She was my safe space.”
“Was? Is she not anymore?”
“No, I mean, yes, she still is. But now I have a safe space here with you.”
Hector squeezed me tight and pressed a delicious kiss on my neck that sent shivers down my spine. Sadly, his mouth didn’t stay on me long.
“Tell me about her. Maybe that’ll help with missing her until we can go visit her.”
I turned in his arms to stare at him. “You’d want to visit her with me?”
Hector looked surprised by the question, then a blush crossed his face as he thought about it. “Yes, um, I’d like to meet your family, the people you love. That is, unless you think she won’t approve of, um, me.”
“Why wouldn’t she?” I furrowed my brow at him. I couldn’t think of a single reason Aunt Polly wouldn’t love Hector. He was probably everything she would have asked for me. Kind, gentle, loving, and someone who was my landing base.
“Well, because of my age?” Hector said it more like a question than a statement.
I frowned harder, then flicked him on his forehead. It wasn’t a hard flick, but it had surprised him. “You know I don’t care about your age. Youdoknow that, right?”
He hesitated, and I raised my hand to flick him again when he spoke up, “Yes, love. I know. But that doesn’t mean other people don’t care. It doesn’t mean they’re not staring when they see us together.”
“If they’re staring, it’s only because they’re jealous I was lucky enough to capture someone like you.”
A half grin graced his lips. “I think it’s the other way around. They’re wondering what a handsome young thing like you is doing with someone with half a foot in the grave.”
“I resent that,” I said seriously. “You’d better live a long, happy life with me. Even if that means I have to drag you from the grave myself.”
He chuckled but didn’t try arguing with me, just kissed me instead.
“She’ll love you,” I murmured between his lips. “She’ll make you her famous eggnog.”
“Famous, huh? Just how famous are we talking about?” he teased, a beautiful sparkle in his brown eyes.
“Oh, world class for sure,” I joked back. “When I called her last week, she told me she’s already started this year’s production. All the neighbors have been lining up for her eggnog.”
“Already? It’s only October.”
“It’s Christmas Falls,” I deadpanned, like that was answer enough. Hector’s smile grew, as if he was in on the secret. I’d told him before how big a deal Christmas was in my hometown.
