Page 66 of Santa Baby

It was perfect. Like we fit together. Like he was built for me and I for him, and the idea of this ending was excruciatingly painful to even consider.

“Mason,” I moaned, my heavy eyes fluttering opening. He was looking down at me with amazement, pride, and something new I couldn’t read.

I hoped, one day, I would come to know that look as love.

28

MASON

I’d never seen anything more beautiful than how Fia looked right then, sprawled beneath me, gasping for breath as she came undone. I felt her come, felt it flow through her like a tremor as she tightened her grip on my shoulders. I kissed her through it, allowing myself to come unglued inside of her, thankful I had a condom in the bedside table after all.

We lay tangled with each other for a long while. The lights were off, and the glow of the city illuminated the room as she brushed sleepy touches over my arms, my chest, and my stomach. I had her curled against me, her cheek resting in the crook of my shoulder, and I had no desire to ever move again.

I’d already decided this was what I wanted. Maybe I knew the moment I saw her walk through the doors of my restaurant. Fia was mine, and I wasn’t going to let her go. Unless it was what she wanted, and in that case I would live with the regret of not trying hard enough.

I slipped into sleep unwillingly with her by my side, warm and full. Soft in all the right places. I woke to dreary morning sunlight on Sunday morning to Fia still lying there, turned on her side, naked.

Her hair had been wet from the snow the night before and now stuck out in all angles in beautiful curls. I instantly wanted her again.

I told myself it could wait until later. That feeling in my chest like she would disappear if I got out of bed and made her the breakfast I promised wasn’t anything I needed to lean into. So, I slipped out of bed, dressed, and left her sleeping in the center of my sheets. I clutched the doorframe and looked over my shoulder at her. Beautiful. She belonged at the Met with the other priceless art.

I was mixing pancake batter when my phone started to buzz on the counter. Only a few people had that number, and the name that lit up my screen sent a shock through my system.

I answered the phone right as Fia appeared wearing nothing but one of my shirts, a white one that didn’t hide the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra underneath.

“Colin,” I said by way of greeting, pressing the phone to my ear. Fia went white as death.

“Hey, man, what are you doing?” her brother asked me.

“Making breakfast.” I held Fia’s gaze as I aggressively mixed the batter, tilting my head toward the coffee machine in invitation. “Why? Did something happen at the office?”

“No, nothing like that. I just wanted to make sure you actually planned to take the day off today.” Fia dropped her mug and squeaked, slapping her hands over her mouth. “Who was that?” Colin asked with a wry laugh. “Wow, are you finally back on the scene? Tell me about her.”

“It’s my cleaning lady,” I lied, shooting Fia a look as she crept on her hands and knees across the kitchen floor in search of the mug.

“Good, I thought you might have been cheating on my sister.” His laugh sent a twisting sensation through my chest. I hadn’t told Colin what was happening and now I had his baby sister in my apartment, half naked, crawling on my floor looking for a coffee mug while I cooked her breakfast, with plans to have sex with her again at least once this morning.

I cleared my throat, steadying myself with my palm on the counter. “Let’s get together later. I need to run something by you.”

“Can’t today. I’m headed to Brooklyn. Have you talked to Fia since last night? I know you guys had that event, but we have a family dinner tonight and she never answered my texts about it yesterday.”

Fia popped up with her mug and immediately clipped her head on the corner of the counter.

“Shit,” I muttered, fumbling with my phone. “I haven’t heard from her but I can call her.”

“That would be great.” Colin paused. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just trying to get back into a routine.” The words were rushed through gritted teeth as I knelt to inspect Fia’s forehead while she held a hand over her mouth, her eyes watering.

“See you tomorrow at the office then,” Colin said.

“Okay, bye.” I hung up and dropped my phone on the floor beside me, taking Fia’s face between my hands. “Are you okay? I know that hurt.”

“I’m fine!” She sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. “Am I bleeding? Are my eyes still facing the same way?”

“Your eyes are gorgeous, and you’re not bleeding, but I’m shocked you didn’t cut your head open.” I ran my fingers gently over her hairline and sighed with relief. She would have a bruise, for sure, but nothing worth a trip to urgent care. I wasn’t sure we would be able to lie our way out of that one.

“What do we do about Colin?”