IVY
One Year Later
The workshop looked exactly the same as it usually did, with half-made toys in various positions and tools that I still didn't know the names of hanging on the walls. Nick had told me about some of them in the past year, but I had no idea about the rest of them.
I made my way past them all until I came to the part of the shop where the sleigh sat waiting, gleaming red and full of presents.
"Hey," Nick said, appearing from behind it.
"Hi."
He stepped closer, pulling me to him and kissing me gently. "Thank you for coming to help tonight."
"Of course I've come to help," I responded.
"You don't think I'm going to let you do this on your own, do you?
I know how much work you've put into it.
" Last year, I'd known how much he cared about the sleigh ride, but this year it had been something different.
I'd seen all of the late nights he'd put in, the long meetings with Pieter about organising, and the agonising over making sure everything was perfect.
"You still don't have to. You're doing enough for me by being my elf tomorrow."
"I'm your elf every day," I joked.
The look he gave me made my heart skip a beat. It was something only he could do, and instead of fading over the past year, it had only grown stronger.
"How did the meeting with your boss go?" Nick asked as he loaded up some of the presents.
"Well," I responded, handing him another stack of presents.
"It turns out that it's not the first time someone at the agency has ended up dating a client.
I had to fill in some forms, and there'll be a new contract for you to sign stating that you can't take legal action against the company over anything related to a potential breakup, but we're free to date openly. "
"Good." He stopped loading presents and stepped closer to me, putting a hand on my waist. "Because I have something to ask you."
"Oh?"
"Move in with me."
"I spend most of my time at your flat," I pointed out.
"Exactly. Move in with me, Ivy. I'd love nothing more."
I nodded. "Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes," I confirmed while laughing. "I'll absolutely move in with you."
He captured my lips with his, kissing me deeply and with barely contained desire.
We broke apart, and I was breathing heavily.
"It's a shame we're not at your flat now," I murmured.
"There's always the sleigh." There was a twinkle in his eyes that made it clear he was joking. I'd watched how many times he'd disinfected it in preparation for today and knew he wasn't about to suggest us fooling around in it again.
"I don't think I'm ever going to be able to look at the sleigh and not think about last year," I admitted.
"Good. I want you thinking about me." He kissed the end of my nose.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the easy affection that had become the norm between us. It was hard to believe it had been a full year since our first night together, but it had been wonderful, and I knew there were many more years of happiness and festive cheer ahead of us.
* * *
Thank you for reading Sleigh Rides With St. Nick , I hope you enjoyed it!