And now she had her bees, or at least the foundation for them. The poison garden would have to wait.
A blur of red-and-white stripes darted through the kitchen, refilling mugs of coffee and hot cocoa.
My Christmas angel.
Santa didn’t need to bring my anything this year; waking up next to the woman I loved, in matching candy cane pajamas—because, yes, we werethatcouple—was more than I could have asked for and all I would ever need.
Nessa was the vine to my tomato, the pancakes to my syrup.
When Soren and Clarke had first gotten together, he’d introduced me to a band called Lawrence—a pop-soul group that sounded more like an amalgamation of Janis Joplin and Stevie Wonder than the usual pop singers of today. Several of their songs now populated my pregame playlist, but there was one in particular—an upbeat love song called “Guy I Used to Be”—that always made me think of Nessa.
In the song, the lead singer crooned about letting go of the man he used to be in favor of creating a new life—a better life—with the person he loved.
That was exactly what I wanted with Nessa.
She made life better. She made mewant tobebetter—for her, for my team and family, though these days, it seemed more likeourfamily. Anything that fell outside of those didn’t seem to matter anymore.
My heart lit up with glee when she came bustling out of the kitchen, mugs in hand. “Here you go, babe.”
“Thanks, angel.”
She sat back down on the couch, nestling into the empty space beneath my arm that might as well have been made for her. This was our first Christmas together and as such, we had decided on a few new traditions to instill.
Starting with “Sexy Christmas Eve,” a tradition co-opted from one of our favorite fictional couples,Tedd Lasso’s Roy and Keeley. We had spent all yesterday blissfully naked in bed, testing out her newshibariropes and my new butt plug.
Talk about a merryfuckingChristmas.
We had also both agreed that matching pajamas were a must, not just for us, but for anybody spending Christmas with us at Nessa’s house. Bella, June, and Dani had been onboard from the start, but it had taken a bit of cajoling to talk Nero into that candy cane onesie. June had almost spit out her coffee when she’d noticed the butt flap in the back.
There was something brewing between the two of them, but Nessa and I had agreed to stay out of it. Dani and Coach Ward were off limits, too, though if I had to guess, they weren’t as finished with each other as they’d claimed. It wasn’t my business though. I was a reformed swooper.
Well, more of a diet swooper, but still.
The Christmas cookie cook-off began promptly at ten a.m. this morning, because that was what happened when you lived with an organized perfectionist like Dani. For two hours, the six of us had baked tray after tray of holiday cookies—minus the eggs—for this evening’s cookie exchange with the rest of the Roasters family.
“Aw, I love it.” June held up the ornament she had just finished unwrapping. The double-sided snow globe featured two pictures of June, Nessa, and Kaylani—one from when they’d been kids, and another taken during this year’s Buns & Roses festival.
Kaylani and Ryan had rented a condo in the same building as Tuck and Roman, opting to stick around Rose City at least until they became parents. Nessa was thrilled to have her friend home, and over the last few months, she had even started to come around where Ryan was concerned. Based off the things he’d said and done to her when they’d been teenagers, she might not ever call him a friend, but she was open to getting to know him again, this time as her friend’s soon-to-be husband.
“Thanks, Ness.”
“You’re welcome.”
Her messy bun tickled my cheeks when she rested her head on my shoulder. It had been months since I’d shaved off my playoffs beard—much to Nessa’s disappointment—but a few stray hairs from her bun were nothing compared to the constant itch I had felt. I had let her talk me into trying out a mustache in the newyear, though. It seemed like a fair compromise, plus 70s porn staches were making a comeback these days.
Later, after the last present had been unwrapped and we were the last two sitting by the fire, she turned in my arms.
“Are you ready for one more present?”
“Angel, you are my present.” My lips quirked up. “Besides, you stuffed my stocking pretty thoroughly last night.”
That was putting it mildly. She had played with my cock for nearly an hour while fucking me with her strap-on. After a quick shower, followed by a not-so-quick sixty-nine on her bed, she’d let me take her ass bent over the chair in her bedroom. It was safe to say that both our assholes were a bit more tender than usual today.
She tugged me up and off the couch. “C’mon. You have to put on a jacket first.”
What is she up to?
I did as she requested, covering up my candy cane pjs that left little to the imagination, and followed her outside. Together, we walked around the house, past the large oak tree draped in twinkle lights. The soft dusting of snow on the ground wasn’t quite the white Christmas I was used to, but so long as I had Nessa by my side, I would spend every holiday season in a shack at the ends of the Earth.
