Page 21 of You Make It Feel like Christmas

M AISIE COULDN’T SLEEP. U NPLUGGING her phone, she brought up her text messages.

Maisie

Lex, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know how to say it but I slept with a hot hockey player when I went to my friend Hailey’s wedding in June.

Now, he’s here and I can’t focus on anything except how much I still want him.

Which is not good because even though our night felt like magic—possibly Will he was hot, they were into each other, and what was wrong with a little holiday fun?

Or, pretend he didn’t exist like a big baby coward who couldn’t face the fact that these weren’t just feelings of attraction.

They weren’t even one-sided. And that was a scarier realization.

She pulled on a pair of thin joggers and snuck out of her room, down the stairs, and into the dark kitchen.

The moon was coming through the window over the sink, giving just enough glow to see her way around.

Going straight to the fridge, she opened it, grabbed the box of cookies, and pulled it out.

When she shut the door, a large body loomed right there, scaring the absolute hell out of her.

The box went flying, landing with a sad thud on the island countertop.

Nick looked over at the mess then back at Maisie.

“You scare easily.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Seriously? It’s dark and you appeared out of nowhere. How can you even move so quietly? You’re huge.”

There was enough light coming in to see his lips break into a wide, arrogant smile.

Maisie rolled her eyes and pushed past him, turning the smooshed box over to try to see what she could salvage. That’s right, focus on the cookies. Why does he smell so good?

“Should I be worried about your cookie addiction?”

Picking up a crumbled piece of a snickerdoodle, she popped it in her mouth. “Nope. It’s going just fine, thanks for caring.”

“Maisie.”

It sounded like a gentle reprimand but it felt like a caress, and she did not have it in her to look at him right now.

For one thing, her quick peek had shown he was in a pair of loose-fit, plaid pajama bottoms with another T-shirt that shouldn’t be so damn sexy.

His hair was mussed and his close-cut beard was more a few days past stubble than preppy and felt amazing when trailed along her skin.

It made him look like some sort of hockey lumberjack.

Was that a thing? Could that be a thing?

She was busy wondering, and he seriously moved like a ninja, so she didn’t notice he’d slid over, sidled up next to her, until they were almost touching.

Focusing on the cookies didn’t make her immune to the feel of his fingers tucking her hair behind her ear.

Hopefully he couldn’t hear her heart pouncing around like a kitten on catnip.

Never mind cookies; Nick King was the real addiction.

His fingers trailed along the line from her ear, down to her shoulder. “You going to pretend I’m not here?”

She nodded, pressing her hands flat to the cold surface of the countertop.

“How’s that working for you?” he whispered, his finger still trailing along her skin, leaving goose bumps as it went.

Maisie felt like her skin was on hyperalert, sensitive to the lightest of touches. Alive and on fire.

“Not so well,” she admitted, dropping her head as his hand covered hers on the island.

She lifted her head as Nick kept moving until he was behind her, his hard, strong body cocooning her, heat emanating between them, while his other hand came to her hair and pulled it back, away from her face and neck.

Maisie closed her eyes, feeling like she was caught in a dream she never wanted to wake up from, and even though she knew she should walk away—run away—there was nowhere else she wanted to be.

She couldn’t think of one reason not to give into this.

The past dimmed. Everything but Nick faded to black.

His head bent and his lips touched the column of her neck.

“Good,” he said gruffly, his lips moving against her skin.

“Good?” The word came out low and breathy.

“Yeah.” His lips moved up to the space behind her ear while one hand held her hair back and the other kept her grounded, their fingers lacing into a fist. “I don’t want to be the only one.”

She sucked in a sharp breath then tilted her head to the side, exposing more of her neck.

Her free hand reached around, settled on his thigh before her fingers dug in, gripping the soft fabric of his pajamas.

When he pulled her earlobe between his teeth, his tongue touching the sensitive spot, Maisie groaned quietly.

His body pressed further into her and with the counter at her front, him at her back, she was trapped and it was wonderful. Trapped in Nick King’s arms.

“Being near you drives me out of my mind,” he whispered, kissing her jaw.

She turned her face, lifted it to meet his gaze in the glimmer of moonlight. She was scared to say too much. To say anything. She wanted this; him. And she didn’t want to break the spell.

His hand left hers and came to cup her jaw. The other went to her waist. “I’ve thought of you so many times over the last six months.”

She swallowed, her throat feeling thick. Those words mattered to her more than he could ever know. And gave her the freedom to share her own feelings. “You’re not alone there either.”

His thumb stroked over her cheek in a lazy and seductive back and forth. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Maze. I don’t want to do that again. But I don’t know how to stay away from you when you’re this close. And I don’t want to.”

Maisie turned in his arms, settling her hands on his chest. “Then don’t. Don’t stay away from me. I’m right here.”

His forehead came down to touch hers and they stayed that way, holding each other, breathing the same air.

When he lifted his head, she saw more than desire in the deep blue of his eyes.

Reaching up, she put her hands to his cheeks, reveled in the feel of his scruff under her hands.

He used his hands to easily boost her up onto the counter and stepped between her legs.

They closed around him even as their mouths came together.

Nick’s low groan made her feel like she’d never get close enough. But she could try.

Angling his head to deepen their kiss, his tongue dancing against her own, his fingers dug into her hips, yanking her closer.

A cyclone of need, want, affection, and lust built inside her and she likely would have tried to tear his shirt off right there in his sister’s kitchen but he gentled the kiss.

Softened it as his fingers loosened. The sweetness of the kiss, the way he held her with so much tenderness and kissed her the same, made her chest constrict, like there wasn’t enough room for her heart or the way he made her feel.

He pulled back, looked her in the eyes. Nerves and excitement bubbled up inside her, threatening to spill over into babble that certainly wouldn’t make this moment sexy.

She bit her lip to keep from saying anything.

Focused on regaining her breath as they kept staring.

Then he dropped his head, pulled her into a hug, those strong arms wrapped around her back like he never wanted to let her go.

“I don’t have all the answers about what comes next, but I know even if it means just being able to hold you and kiss you for the next four days, that’s a start.

Can we figure out the rest after Christmas?

When we don’t have both of our families upstairs or down the hall?

” He stroked her hair as he spoke softly.

Maisie liked to know what lay ahead of her but when it came to him, it just didn’t matter. In this moment and for the last six months, all she wanted was him.

It was more than physical. She wanted to know what was going on with him.

Was his knee really okay? When had the panic attacks started?

He was supposed to be a one-night stand but something told her he’d be part of her forever, no matter how many days they had.

So, why not? He could be a Christmas present to herself.

If the man looked good in a onesie, he’d probably break her brain if she wrapped him in nothing but a bow.

Pulling back, she looked up at him. “You don’t have to make me promises, Nick. We’re here, right now, and I haven’t stopped wanting you since the night we met.” Her pulse skipped. “Maybe we could enjoy these next few days. Just, let them happen.”

With both hands, Nick pushed her hair back from her face. “I want more than a few days, Maisie. I need you to know that. I care about you. I want you. In my life. We can let the days happen but I’m not walking away from you this time.”

People said a lot of things when their emotions were high, during the holidays, and when they felt nostalgic.

Maybe she was a distraction to him or maybe he meant every word he said.

But she didn’t see how he could stay in her life when his was so completely different.

Hers was sedentary in comparison. She lived in Seattle and didn’t want that to change.

Thinking about all of that right now was too much. Maisie was tired of thinking.

His thumbs settled just below her ears. “It’s more than just sex, Maze. It was from the minute we met. We can just keep it light while we’re here and figure the rest out when the holidays are over.”

“Light?” She arched both brows, pulled him closer.

Nick grinned. “Yeah, just some PG shit.”

Maisie laughed. “That kiss was so not PG.”

He chuckled, low and somewhat growly. “You’re killing me.” Sighing, he looked like he was trying to gather his words. “I just want to be with you. Stop trying to avoid me or fight what’s between us. I let you emasculate me with holiday animal pajamas.”

Squeezing her legs tighter around his hips, she tapped her fingers on his chest. “Uh, those pajamas only made your masculinity… more prominent.”

His rumbly laugh warmed Maisie’s heart. “Come on, Maisie.”

Watching him closely, she stopped pretending she could push down her feelings. “Tell me what you want.” She had the feeling that even though it seemed like he had it all, his actual wants were far simpler than anyone would suspect.

“You. Us. Spending the next few days being this close. Being able to kiss you. I want to sit beside you and not pretend I’m not dying to know if your hair smells like flowers or if your lips taste like strawberries.”

Her heart felt like it twirled behind her rib cage. She never thought she’d see Nick King again. What happened after this week wasn’t necessarily up to her, but this decision was. She’d take what this week offered and try to hang on to her heart.

Reaching out, she took his hand. “PG isn’t so bad. It usually involves some light petting. Some over-the-clothes stuff.”

His laugh sent another pang of joy all the way through her system. That laugh. This man.

Nick leaned in again, kissed her gently on the mouth, then kissed the bridge of her nose. “Get your cookies, baby. No sense letting them go to waste.”

The endearment shocked her still. She stared at him and he stared back. She could see it surprised him just as much.

Could she do this? Fall into these four or five days with a man who already owned shares in her heart?

That wasn’t really the question. It was more, how could she not take every moment possible with him?

No one else had ever made her feel the way he did.

It would be like a one-night stand, extended version. The sequel.

If and when they both walked away this time, she’d be perfectly fine.

“You got it, Hockey Man.”

He laughed, tickled her ribs lightly as he helped her off the counter, then they sat there, eating pieces of broken cookie, talking about nothing with their legs intertwined.