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“Ow, ow, ow, ow!” Eugene chanted as she rubbed her knees while sitting on the floor. “You’re going to kill me one of these days, Bear.”
Max, standing beside her, wagged his tail and sniffed her arm.
“Max.” They both looked up at me.
Eugene grabbed a giant bag that said Merry Christmas on it and quickly stood. “Merry Christmas!” She held the gift up as she walked.
Again, I had been aware of something about Eugene and myself since she moved in. She was fucking sweet, and I adored her. I loved her awkwardness, her clumsiness, and the way she smiled. I’d never enjoyed anyone’s company like I had hers. I enjoyedher.
“Listen. I gave you something. You’ve done so much for me. We didn’t talk about gifts, and I’m glad because I didn’t want you to get me—”
“Go sit by the tree,” I said as I hurried back to my room and retrieved her present. The present I got her wasn’t the surprise I’d been working on with Grandma’s help. Finding all of Eugene’s old books was taking longer than I thought it would, so, I made sure to pick up something else for the holiday.
Legs tucked underneath her; Eugene sat by the tree with the present for me in front of her. Once again, my heart was in a frenzy. She hadn’t been in my house for a full month, and yet I couldn’t remember what it was like to live with just Max.
What if I had refused all of Edwin’s calls until he gave up? What if I had told him no? My throat tightened. I’d still be thinking life was great in solitude with a dog. I’d still be wondering if I was capable of caring for someone. Not only did I care, but I also wanted to get my hands on Eugene. I wanted to unwrap her as if she were my present.
Eugene consumed me with her presence. And for the first time in my life, I had no clue how to approach what I wanted. I’d messed up in a relationship before. I never had deep emotions for Hilary, but I had tried to make her happy. Did I really, though?No.I was relieved to be done with her and constantly felt exhausted at the idea of having to entertain her when we were together. Those actions were what led me to wonder if I was capable of loving anyone the way they deserved.
Until Eugene.
I did more for Eugene in the short time I’d known her than I had for anyone my entire life, and it’s what I wanted to be doing. Just staring at Eugene while she read every night gave me more peace than all the time I had spent with my ex or any woman before. I was fucking happy, but I was greedy formoreof her. For touches that weren’t so innocent. Kisses that trailed down her neck. I craved to feel her bare skin against mine.
I didn’t mind being consumed by Eugene, but I yearned for her on an intimate level. What I felt each day for her… I wished she felt the same about me. I wanted her to find out how well I could take care of her mentally and physically.
“Hudson?”
I hadn’t realized I was staring.
Her hair was done in a messy bun on top of her head. She wore the green flannel pajama set I bought her. She looked like I should pick her up over my shoulder and carry her to my bed. The blood rushed to my cock at the idea. That wouldn’t work—not yet at least. Eugene’s been through a lot recently, and she needed more time to see that life with me was the real deal. I could be her fucking home.
Only she didn’t know she was mine yet.
Dropping down to the floor in front of her, I offered the presents to her.
“You shouldn’t have gotten me anything.” She nibbled on her bottom lip as she looked at the boxes.
“I believe what you meant was, ‘thank you for thinking about me’,” I said, raising one knee so I could prop my elbow on it.
She rolled her eyes, but there was no mistaking her blushing. “Thank you for thinking about me, Hudson.”
“I’ll always think about you,” I said.
Inhaling sharply, she tore into the presents. The first two were the other pajamas I’d ordered. The third gift was the one I believed she’d like most. As soon as she pulled out the bookstore gift card, her eyes bulged.
“Shit, Hudson,” she said. “I can’t accept this.”
“I believe what you meant was ‘thank you’.”
Her eyes were glassy as she said, “Seriously, thank you.” She sniffed as she wiped her eyes. “I’m going to hug you now.”
I wasn’t expecting to get another one of her hugs, but I wasn’t going to fucking complain. She pushed the presents aside. As I opened my arms, she threw herself into them. Instead of freezing up like the first time, I returned her hug, burying my nose in her hair as she placed her head against my chest. My heart was going to beat right out of my chest. I wondered if she could feel how fast it raced for her. That strawberry scent of hers filled my nose. Unable to resist, I placed a kiss on her hair.
“Thank you so much, Hudson.” Her words were muffled against my shirt, her breath heating the fabric. “Losing all my books sucked ass.”
All too soon, she pulled away. I devoured her every move with my gaze as she sat in front of me, smiling so perfectly.
“Now it’s your turn,” she said.
