Page 131 of Hit Man

“It took you long enough.”

I hit him in the arm. “How long have you been home?”

“A half hour. I just needed time to unwind. Acclimate to being back. Clear my head. Give myself time for the normal to settle in, as it always does when I watch you.Dios mío, I missed you.”

He kisses me and any lingering frustration on my part disappears.

He’s home.

He’s here in time for Christmas.

Our kiss deepens. Chaste kisses are nice but when you haven’t seen your man in three months . . .

It’s Diego who breaks away.

“Let’s exchange gifts by the tree. Afterward, I’m going to spread you out on top of the used wrapping paper, run my lips along the reflection of colored lights on your skin, and fuck you so damn hard the tree ornaments are going to rattle and shake.”

I mean, what can I say to that?

I clasp hold of his hand and usher him to follow me inside.

“The hot tub?” I murmur.

“Later.”

I lead him over to the tree.

There is a large box beneath the tree that hadn’t been there before.

“You first,” I say, hurrying into the bedroom. Like with the ornaments, I went a little crazy buying him presents. The Harley motorcycle store in downtown Sedona and I have become great friends.

We sit on the floor facing each other.

Diego opens his first gift. His eyes light up when he sees the fender. “I described your motorcycle to the salesman. If it is the wrong style, you can exchange it.” He crawls the short distance to me and kisses me hard.

As we break away, I murmur against his lips, “If we’re going to do this for every present, maybe I better sit on your lap.”

Say yes. Please.

“First, open my gift. I want to watch your face as you do it.”

I grin. “That good, huh? You certainly aren’t lacking in confidence.”

“Just open it.” He places a big box on my lap. It’s bulky but light. And wrapped . . . atrociously.

“There’s more tape than wrapping paper.” I laugh. It takes a few minutes to pry the tape and wrapping paper off.

“Oh,” I whisper.

It’s full of underwear. Silks and lace and thongs the size of dental floss. Bras that feel soft in my fingers or that leave nothing to the imagination.

I feel naughty even looking at them.

I feel like doing naughty things while looking at them. “No wonder you were so excited.”

“I love how kinky you are when you’re wearing sexy underwear. But that’s not why I’m excited,mi amor. There’s another box inside. Open it.”

“What, did you buy me a vibrator?”