“Maybe I just need someone else’s opinion.”
She crossed her arms. “You didn’t even finish this.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
She rolled her eyes, but I watched a small smile pull at her lips. “You’re still as childish as ever, I see.”
We paid for the books and headed to the next shop. We ended up buying hot chocolate and taking in the lights. Gabriella walked close to me, almost like we were in our own bubble as we moved.
We paused in front of the big Christmas tree. I watched the way the lights shone on her face, and I could see that something was bothering her—like a sorrow behind her eyes.
I bumped her shoulder. “So, why don’t you tell me why you wanted to go out like this tonight?”
“What do you mean?” she asked as she tilted her head.
“I felt like there was a reason you wanted to go out. I could tell you were trying to pull us into every store, which is fine, but… There was a reason. Like you were trying to distract yourself from something.”
She frowned and chewed on her lower lip. She stared at her cup for a long moment. “Was it that noticeable?”
“No, but I notice things. I spent a lot of time with you before, so I can tell when you’re looking for something to do.”
She looked back at the tree, and I could see her smile slip. I moved closer, wrapping an arm around her.
“Is someone bothering you? Are the guys still bugging you?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s nothing like that.”
“Then what?”
She looked at me, forcing a smile. “Can you just trust me? I just have some things to figure out, and I don’t exactly want to think about them tonight. I just want…” she sighed. “I just want to have a nice time and not think.”
I didn’t like that answer, but I understood. If she needed a distraction, I could provide one. I looked back at the tree. “Okay, what do you want then?”
She gave me a soft smile, pulling her gaze back to the tree. “Nothing. This is just fine.”
I looked past the tree toward Santa’s workshop station across from us. There was a sign that read closed. I knew a foolproof distraction. “If you need a distraction, I will happily be that.”
I pulled her hand up, kissing the palm and then running my tongue over her skin. I watched her eyes sparkle, and her throat bobbed. She chewed on her lower lip. “We’re in public.”
“Not for long.” I tugged at her hand and pulled her around the tree toward the small building. It was a fake building with a small throne in front of it. I pushed on the door, and it popped open with ease. Inside was a small area with a couch and a couple of chairs.
I shoved the door shut, flipped the lock, and pulled her toward me. She looked flustered as she looked around the space. “You sure no one is going to find us in here?”
“The sign said closed.”
I reached my hands up, cupping her face, and kissed her roughly. Her tongue slid over mine in a perfect dance.
She moaned softly as I grabbed her legs and pulled her up. I turned us, placing her onto the couch. I stepped between her legs and tugged her dress up. She was wearing a black thong underneath, and I groaned at the sight of it. “Fuck, you and these thongs, Gabriella.”
She smirked. “They don’t leave lines.”
I kissed her neck, grabbing the thong and slowly sliding it free. I found her soaking wet, and she moaned my name softly as I slid my finger right into her.
“Fuck Ella. You are so fucking hot right now.”
I leaned back, seeing that haze fall over her. She reached her hands up, hooking them around my neck. “I like that you have a nickname for me.”
I had just used it to see how she would react, but the more I did, the more I loved it. I leaned closer. “Ella.”
