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“Anywhere else?”

The desire drip sped up, as laughter bubbled out of Ella. She bent to kiss Sloane.

Sloane kissed her back, and the already familiar Sloane-shaped euphoria skittered through her veins.

A few moments later, Sloane’s hands tangled in her hair, she gave her a final bruising kiss, then got out of bed. “Gorgeous as you are, there’s something I didn’t give you yesterday.”

“I think you gave me quite a lot.” Ella threw her arms above her head as she smirked at Sloane.

She looked so beautiful and sexy, she could hardly believe she was in her bed. “That is true,” Sloane replied, rifling in her chest of drawers, “but I got so distracted, I didn’t give you your present. Bad Santa.”

From the back, Ella took in Sloane’s perfectly sculpted physique. Ella kept herself in shape, of course, but she wasn’t a professional athlete. She was going to drink Sloane in as long as she could.

Sloane slunk back to the bed with a gift-wrapped white box, and sat on top of the covers. Ella had to focus on the gift and not Sloane’s gorgeous naked form. It wasn’t easy. “I hope this is nothing big. We agreed, right?” But even as she said it, Ella rolled her eyes internally. She sounded like her mum. She had to be more gracious in receiving gifts.

“It’s not big,” Sloane said. “It only measures three inches in diameter.”

Ella lifted the lid on the cardboard box. There, sat on a bed of white satin, was a beautiful round silver necklace with the face of a compass engraved on it. At the four points – north, south, east, west – sat four shiny stones. Were they diamonds? If they were, she was going to kill Sloane. Tears stung Ella’s eyes. Sloane had remembered. The necklace was very similar to the one Ella had lost. The one her mum had worn around her neck every single day of her life.

This was, without doubt, the most thoughtful present anyone had ever bought her. It was also the antithesis of ‘not buying something big’. But maybe this wasn’t big to Sloane? Maybe she bought diamonds for every woman she slept with. It was definitely big to Ella, in every sense possible.

“Do you like it?”

Ella raised her gaze to Sloane. “I…” she started. “I don’t really know what to say. It’s beautiful, and it’s perfect.” She touched the pendant with her fingertip. “But I didn’t get you anything near this.” Her stomach tied itself in knots at the thought of her gift. Hersmallgift.

Sloane moved closer and kissed her shoulder. “I know what we said, but when I saw it in the jeweller’s window, I couldn’t resist. It screamed at me to buy it.” She leaned in and laid a soft kiss on Ella’s lips. “Please don’t be angry. It was done with the best intentions.”

She knew that. Plus, Ella couldn’t be angry at Sloane for too long. Not when her lips were so soft and delivered such joy. She shook her head with a wry smile. “Thank you. Really. I love it.”

Finally, Sloane grinned. She took the necklace out of the box and held it up. “Can I put it on you?”

Ella nodded. She twisted around, feeling like a Disney Princess. Sloane clicked the necklace on, and then Ella turned.

“Ridiculously beautiful, just like you.”

It was too much for Ella. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like you’re the best way to start a morning?” Sloane cupped her chin and kissed her lips. “I can’t help it if you are. But I’ll put coffee on while you stop blushing in the most adorable fashion. Follow me when you’re ready.”

Sloane shrugged on her white dressing gown, emblazoned with her initials in gold. She pulled the cord tight, then dropped another gown on the edge of the bed. “For you.”

Ella waited until Sloane had disappeared, then slunk into the bathroom and stared in the mirror. She didn’t look a fright, but she was hardly love’s young dream, either. Still, Sloane had just kissed her with feeling, so maybe that’s what she went for. She’d also just given her the most spectacular gift possible.

Ella had intended to buy a replacement for the one she’d lost, but she’d been flat out these past few months. Sloane had stepped in. This was for Ellaandher mum. She eyed the necklace in the mirror, loving the way it sparkled as the stones caught the light.

“Happy Christmas, Mum,” she said to her reflection, then clutched the pendant tight. A few deep breaths, a nod in the mirror, and she was ready. She still had to give Sloane her gift, such as it was. She shrugged on the dressing gown and made her way to the kitchen, where Sloane was waiting. Ella grabbed her present bag from near the front door, then brought it over.

Sloane stood at the counter, coffee cannister in hand.

“Here’s my gift to you.” Ella held up a far larger present bag. “It’s bigger in size, but definitely not cost.”

“I’m sure it’s perfect.” Sloane gave her a pointed look.

“Just take a look and let’s get this over with.” If she was going to die of embarrassment, she’d like it to happen sooner rather than later.

Sloane put the bag on her island, then peered inside. When she saw what was there, she started to laugh. She reached in and pulled out a box of 60 single portions of Lakeland long-life Half Cream, the nearest thing to Half-and-Half that Salchester could provide. She held it aloft, as if it was the FA Cup.

The look of sheer pleasure on her face made Ella grin.