Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
But as I move to put away the trash, he stands in my way and takes the boxes from me before dropping them to the floor.
“I don’t care. Just…. listen.”
I force myself to not avoid his gaze anymore. “Yes? Is everything okay… in Aspen?” I ask because my mind is doing the craziest twists now about the possibility of him wearing a wire. But would he sell me out? After everything we’ve been through? Just looking into his pretty eyes is enough to mess with my head.
“Nico… I flew back last night, and I knew I needed to see you. Have you…” He swallows and stares at our feet as his sweaty palms tighten on my hands. “Do you want me to go?”
“No!” I say in an instant and squeeze him back. “Tell me what you need.”
Blake nods, massaging my hands as he twitches in front of me, opening and closing his mouth several times. “I just… I wanted to say sorry. I was confused, and scared, but I didn’t want you to go.”
A storm erupts in my chest. Is it possible that there’s still a future for us? I don’t dare blink in case he is only a figment of my imagination and will disappear as soon as I close my eyes.
“I had to leave. You don’t have to worry about me. I get your reasoning even if I don’t like it.” But he’s holding my hands, wearing my sweater, he baked me a fruitcake, and even sang me a romantic Christmas song. It has to mean what I hope it does, or he would have chosen a more non-committal tune, like ‘Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer’.
“Yes, but now I’m back and…” Blake inhales and shakes his head before resting his forehead against my chest. “It’s all I wanted. To come back and see you.”
I take him into my arms, and for the first time in two weeks, my heart steadies. He fits in my embrace the way he fits in my soul. “That’s a lovely sweater you have on,” I tease, melting into him.
The breath he lets out is soft and sweet as cotton candy, and so full of relief my blood thrums with joy. “It’s not actually ugly. It’s soft, and warm, and I love it,” he mutters, and something in his voice tells me he isn’t speaking only about the garment. But as I pull back to kiss him, he reaches into his pocket and presents me with a little square box wrapped with a velvet ribbon. “Merry Christmas.”
I rub my eyes because they suddenly itch. “For me?” Stupid fucking question, since he’s giving it to me, but I’m a mess. “Thank you. Should I… put it under the tree? For tomorrow?” Am I getting ahead of myself with my hopes that he’ll stay the night?
“No, I want you to see them now,” he tells me and shoves the gift at my chest.
I’m not sure what to make of it, but I unfasten the ribbon and open the box. I’m now glad he didn’t give it to me downstairs because it’s filled with… teeth. And I’ve seen enough of them to know they’re human.
Blake swallows and pushes back his locks, fidgeting under the weight of my gaze. “They’re Carl’s. I got him cremated but saved the teeth… for you. You didn’t get the head and you deserved to. I know it matters to you, and this way, if you want to, you could make a new snow globe. With miniatures inspired by this kill. And maybe… the two of us could feature in there?”
His eyes glisten, and I put away the box on the counter, because the need to hug him is overwhelming. “This is the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever gotten me.” I squeeze him tightly, but then lift him and spin him around, feeling as though we’re already in the most romantic of snow globes.
He yelps and clutches at me, but as I stop and lower him back to the floor, he grabs me by the collar and tugs me down until our lips clash. Gravity goes haywire, and I stumble against the wall, clawing my fingers into his buttocks as he raises one knee and tries to wrap his leg around my hips.
I love him. I love him. I love him.
I’ve been trying to wean myself off this feeling in the last two weeks, but now it’s back with full force, and I can hardly breathe, too overwhelmed by the need to never let him go.
I lift his legs for ease and carry this baby koala into my bedroom. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but I’ll be happy even if he only wants to cuddle. All I need is to be close.
“I missed this,” Blake rasps, and as my knee hits the unmade bed, we both topple onto the mattress with a soft sigh of relief. His thighs tighten around me, and he arches his back, kissing me even harder, pushing his fingers into my hair, holding me close. Like I’d be going anywhere when I’m on top of him. “Missed you. I just… I only want you,” he whispers, stroking my face.