“And you’re okay with it?”
She shrugs. “I’m grateful for it, actually. He was different when we met—humbled. Like he finally understood that trying to mold people into what you want never works.”
“He doesn’t try to change you?”
“No. Because I already fit his life.” Her smile turns wry. “I like campaign dinners and tax code debates. I like his world. We work.”
I nod. “And Wren and I work because we don’t.”
Sabrina laughs. “Exactly. You two… you challenge each other. Nick admires that, even if he won’t admit it.”
The door opens, spilling warm light onto the porch. Wren steps out, coatless, hands tucked into her jeans pockets. “Hey,” she says. “It’s snowing. Thought you might want to see.”
Sure enough, faint flakes drift through the glow of the porch light, melting as they hit the rail. Wren comes up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist, chin on my shoulder.
“Remember last year?” she murmurs against my ear. “When we were out here arguing with my brother, and I swore I’d make it right?”
“I remember.” I lean back into her warmth. “Promises kept.”
“Always,” she says, her breath warm on my neck. “With more to come.”
Sabrina smiles, stepping quietly back toward the door. “I’ll give you two a minute.”
When she’s gone, Wren turns me in her arms. “I was thinking earlier, watching you at dinner… I don’t know if I ever thanked you properly.”
“For what?”
“For choosing me even when it wasn’t easy.” She hesitates, eyes soft. “This life we’re building… it’s more than I ever thought I’d have.”
“Me too.” I brush wet snowflakes from her hair. “You were never the wrong choice, Wren. You were the best one.”
She grins. “Guess we both were.”
We stand there for a long time, snow falling in lazy spirals around us before it instantly melts on the ground. For once, it feels like everything’s exactly where it should be. Home, family, career, love, all of it!
So, of course, my wife is looking at me like she wants to eat me for breakfast. Because some thingshaven’tchanged!
WREN
My wife tries to look scandalized, but I know her too well now. Knowexactlyhow to make her blush, make her breathe harder, and make her tremble with nothing but my voice. Right now, she tries not to rock against my thigh.
“Wren,” she warns, glancing toward the house. “Your family’s inside.”
“Mm-hm.” I brush my lips against her neck. “Yet you’re out here wet for me, anyway.”
Her breath catches, her hands gripping the porch railing. “Someone could see…”
“Let them.” I slip my hand under her dress, fingers trailing up her thigh until I find what I’m looking for. Uh-huh, there’s nothing sacred between us anymore. She’s wetter than the rain out here. “God, Edie… you’re crazy.”
She exhales with a shake. “Youdrivemecrazy.”
“Good.” I press my knee between hers, coaxing her to move. “You like it when I’m bad.”
Her hips start to roll, the smallest motion. I watch her fight to stay quiet, her eyes fluttering shut as I whisper. “That’s it. Right there. Just like that, sweetheart.”
She comes apart fast, biting her lip to muffle the sound, and I hold her through it while savoring the way her body trembles against me. When it’s over, I draw my fingers to my lips, tasting her. “Merry Christmas to me.”
She swats my shoulder. “You’re impossible.”
