Page 109 of The Mistletoe Kisser

Sammy rubbed her eyes and stretched luxuriously. Ryan’s arms belted around her again, pulling her back against his heat, his hardness. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Her smile was so wide it hurt her face. “Absolutely nowhere,” she promised.

“Good. We can start establishing a morning routine,” he said, nestling his erection against her behind.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” she sighed happily.

“Neither one of us is allowed to come to our senses,” he insisted.

She laughed. “Do we have to tell the Beautification Committee?”

“First, you have to explain to me exactly what the Beautification Committee is because they seem less about maintaining common spaces and more about meddling in love lives,” he told her.

“You just answered your own question.”

“I don’t see how they could take credit for us. They wanted to match you with my idiot cousin. Technically, you’re being very rebellious right now.” He rolled her on to her back.

“Mmm. I like being a rebel,” she said, taking his lower lip between her teeth.

He groaned his approval.

The knock at the door startled them apart.

“Ow!” Ryan held a hand to his lip.

She winced. “Sorry.”

“Whoever is at your door is the one who’s going to be sorry,” he growled.

She jumped up and wrapped a fuzzy blanket around herself.

Ryan rose and snatched a Merry Kiss This pillow from the floor and held it in front of his hard cock.

She gaped at him. “You arenotgoing anywhere near my door like that,” she hissed as he stalked toward the front door.

“Ourdoor, Sam. And whoever it is deserves what they get for showing up unannounced at seven-thirty in the morning on Christmas Eve.”

She made a run for the door but tripped over Holly. The cat shook her jingle bell collar in derision.

Ryan yanked open the door.

Ellery stood on the front porch in a gray plaid cape trimmed with faux black fur. She cocked her head and took in the view. Her purple lips curved. “High five, Sammy!” She held up a skull gloved hand.

Sammy felt a little like high fiving the entire town and obliged… promptly losing her grip on the blanket.

Ryan grabbed it and tucked it back in place.

“We’re about to have sex. This better be good,” he announced.

Ellery clapped her hands in glee. “See? We totally needed a town grump! Everyone is going to love you. I am so excited this worked out.”

Sammy put herself in front of Ryan, who looked like he was ready to slam the door in Ellery’s face.

“Thisdidn’twork out,” Sammy reminded her. “You got the wrong Ryan.”

“Oh,surewe did,” Ellery said with a wink. “Silly us! Anyway, I wanted to give you both your Christmas present in person.” She held out a flat package wrapped in black paper with a silver-and-black bow.

With more than a little reticence, Sammy accepted it.