Page 71 of Take Her On

“What time is—” A chesty cough hijacked her sentence, and Jamie helped her sit up. “Ugh! I hate being ill.”

“It’s nearly quarter to four.” Jamie pressed the back of her hand to Maya’s forehead. “You’re getting hot again. You should try and sleep some more.”

Maya sighed, croaking like an old door about to fall off its hinges. “They’ll be back soon.”

She didn’t want to look at Jamie, to see the hurt she’d failed to disguise on her face. She wanted to introduce her to her family—she did, just not like this. Her mum was going to be a nightmare; she needed to be at full fitness to survive it.

“I’ll leave in a minute, then.”

You’re an asshole, Maya. She looked up at Jamie, noting the way she was nibbling on her bottom lip. Jamie caught her staring and squashed it into a smile.

“After exams,” Maya said. “I want you to meet them properly.”

Jamie grinned, her entire face lighting up. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

Jamie’s eyebrows drew together, and she shrugged. “I don’t know. Sounds pretty serious.”

Maya tried to punch her with her eyes again but broke into another coughing fit.

“I was only joking. No need to be so dramatic,” Jamie teased. “I’ll give you your Christmas present, and then I’ll go.”

A sharp panic flashed up Maya’s spine. “Christmas present? I thought we agreed we weren’t going to get each other gifts.”

“Calm down. It’s just a little something. I promise.” Jamie moved off the bed, rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a soft rectangular present, wrapped messily in reindeer wrapping paper.

“That’s more than a little something,” Maya scolded, eyeing the sizeable package as Jamie placed it on her lap.

“Are you really going to complain about presents now?” Jamie rolled her eyes. “Maya…just open it.”

She huffed, shaking her head in defeat. “This better not be expensive.” She slipped a finger under the many layers of tape, letting out a laugh when Jamie had to help her remove it. Then she ripped across the length of the paper, exposing the soft black fabric underneath.

It was Jamie’s jumper. The same one she’d given her after driving her home the first time. The one she’d kept and used as a comfort when Grandpa was in hospital. Maya had left it at Jamie’s place a few weeks ago, but now she was…giving it back?

She glanced up at her.

“I want you to have it.” Jamie’s focus fell on the jumper in her lap. “I miss seeing you wearing it. It was…really hot to see you wearing my clothes.” She scratched the back of her neck before meeting her gaze. “But I get if you don’t want to…I know it’s quite a statement—”

“I love it.”

Her eyes crinkled. “Yeah?”

“I missed wearing it, too.”

Jamie smiled wider, then leaned in to kiss her.

“Get back!” Maya held the jumper up to ward her off, and Jamie groaned.

“You can’t be serious. If I’m in here, I might get your lurg anyway. Might as well get a kiss too.”

Maya’s focus dropped to her pouting mouth. Those plump lips begging to be kissed. It had felt like a lifetime since she’d been holed up in this room. And she wasn’t going to see Jamie for a week now.

“But I don’t want you to get ill for the tournament.”

“It’s weeks away. It’s fine. Now, come here.”

Jamie’s soft lips brushed against hers, tentatively at first, before kissing her harder. Her touch awakened Maya’s libido; she brought her hand behind Maya’s neck, pulling them closer, deeper. Suddenly, Maya couldn’t breathe. She pulled away, wheezing.