Page 48 of A Dye Hard Holiday
Gabe’s deep voice lulled me to sleep long before he reached the end of the book.
“MAYBE YOU SHOULD CONSIDERstaying home from work,” I said from bed as I watched Josh get dressed.
“I told you I feel much better.”
“Yes, but you also told me that you never get sick. You lied.”
“No, it was true at the time, so it wasn’t a lie. I can’t recall the last time I got sick,” Josh countered. “Why are we debating this anyway?”
“I’m just trying to avoid reality for a little longer. Why don’t you come back to bed for a few more minutes?” I asked, crooking my index finger at him. “I should take your temperature.”
I noticed the extra sass in his swaying hips as he crossed the room. Josh leaned over me, but avoided my greedy hands that tried to tug him down beside me. “You took my temperature once already this morning. Your thermometer said I’m fever free, so I’m going to work.” Josh cruelly whipped the covers back, exposing my naked body to the cool air. “Quit stalling and go catch those Christmas Bandits.”
I jackknifed into a sitting position, gasping in surprise. “You’re so mean.” He was definitely going to be in charge of getting the kids out of bed for school someday, especially when they’re surly teenagers.
“You haven’t seen anything yet, mister.” Josh arrogantly ambled away from the bed. “I’m going to need you to capture those bandits like you promised because our family’s reputation is at stake.”
I recovered my body and lay on my side to watch him finish getting ready. Josh was graceful in everything he did, and I could watch him all day. “I didn’t promise to capture the bandits by Christmas Eve,” I groaned. “Myrna embellished that part a little bit.”
“That doesn’t sound like the newspaper editor I worked for in high school.”
“People change,” I said, shrugging. “Besides, that was…” My voice trailed off when I saw his expression in the mirror.
“Were you about to make jokes about my age? It wasn’t that long ago.”
“Twelve years,” I countered. “People can change a lot in that time.”
“So, are you going to argue with meallday just to avoid reality?”
“I’d rather fuck, but you insist on going to work,” I replied.
“Pretty sure that I know just the thing to motivate you throughout your day.”
“Oh, I know you do.”
I returned to a sitting position when Josh grabbed the naughty Santa advent calendar off the dresser.
“I knew this would grab your attention,” he said smugly. “You can open yesterday’s surprise now, but you won’t get to use it until you get home tonight.”
I rubbed my hands together gleefully. I opened the lid off the box and pulled out a piece of paper. My eyes widened excitedly when I unfolded it and saw the little picture he printed. “A sex swing?”
Josh’s face flushed bright red, but I wasn’t sure if it was from arousal or shyness. “I, um…” Ah, I had my answer.
I placed my hand on the back of his neck and pulled him to me for a kiss. “Damn, I can’t wait to see you in that swing.”
“Who saidIwas sitting in the swing?” Josh quirked a brow.
The idea of Josh fucking me in that thing was sexy as fuck until an image of me falling and bringing the wall down with me put a damper on my arousal. “I’m too heavy.”
“Nonsense,” Josh countered. “It says it supports up to three hundred pounds.” He was rocking his poker face and I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not. “You hang it from a doorway, which is nice and sturdy.” My husband leaned forward and kissed my lips. “I can see you’re nervous about the idea, so I’ll go first. You can truss me up in that thing and pound the fuck out of me later tonight.”
I threw back the covers and hauled ass toward the bathroom.
“Where are you going?”
“I have bandits to catch so I can return home and rock my man’s world.”
“Alright, team. Let’s catch the bandits. We’re going to divide up in groups and split the credible leads.”