Page 28 of 27 Kisses

“Don’t fret, love.” He pulls back and catches my gaze. The moment and my courage are gone. “We’re starting with one of your favorite things to do.”

“I agree.” I kiss him, showing him what I can’t say aloud.

Regret burns through my chest. Why am I such a fucking coward? But it’s surpassed by a sense of relief. Now is not the time. But that’s not the real reason.

If Aidyn says no, where would that leave us?

“Not that, you perv.” He chuckles and grabs my wandering hand. “We’re going shopping.”

“Shopping?” It’s always been a huge part of my life, but that was the marketing aspect. “We talked about this, Aidyn. Christmas is so commercialized?—”

“Shut your cakehole,” he says, putting his thumb over my mouth. “We don’t have time for an hour-long rant on the evils of capitalism and Christmas. You love taking charge. Fixingproblems. Your house has to be Christmas-ready in less than two weeks. Are you up for the challenge or not?”

Excitement surges through me at the thought. Going all in. Making this the best Christmas ever. Making Lanie happy. And my parents.

Damn him.

“It’s never been a question of whether I can do it…”

He raises a bushy red brow. “Yes or no, darlin’?”

I’m in, of course. What choice do I have? But the challenge in his eyes, his voice, and the shift of his body has me hesitant to admit he’s right. We’re both stubborn. It makes things difficult at times. And other times, when we both fight for dominance, it’s explosive and so fucking hot.

“Fine, yes.” I trace my thumb over his brow, wanting to do more. “You don’t know everything.”

“I know fucking you in this TARDIS like your eyes are begging me to do with your employees on the other side of an unlocked door is a terrible idea.”

He’s not wrong. I nod, and he takes my hand and leads me out of the TARDIS.

I blink against the bright lights of my office. And then Aidyn’s arms wrap around me. This kiss isn’t needy or insistent like before. I blink again, but it’s not the lights. Emotion clogs my throat at the care in his embrace.

“I’m here for you, love. What do you need?”

“This—” I clear my throat. “This is good.”

A quick knock is our only warning.

We jump apart as the door opens. “Hey, boss—” Nat stares, looking from me to Aidyn and back.

Shit. What is she seeing? Sensing?

I cross my arms. “Do you need something?” I try not to move, but my body prickles with nerves. I stuff my hands in my pockets. The ring is there. Taunting me.

“I have a few things…” The amusement in her eyes is impossible to miss. “But none of that seems important now.”

Aidyn studies the books on my bookshelf. Will Nat believe he’s interested in the macroeconomics of a postindustrial age? Doubtful.

“You’re supposed to wait for a ‘come in,’ Nat,” I say, belatedly.

“My bad.” She grins. “Whatcha guys doing?”

“None of your business.” I don’t mean to snap, but feeling so much in the last five minutes—love, lust, need, hope, embarrassment, and now fear—makes me cranky. And it’s the last one that I’m not sure about.

Am I afraid Nat will figure out we’re together? Or am I afraid of Aidyn’s reaction if she does? If. Ha. The grin on her face tells me I’m too late to stop that trainwreck.

She waves the stack of papers in her hands. “Last-minute things to sign.”

“You usually email those?—”