AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She turned toward him. “I love listening to you play the guitar. You play well even after too much eggnog. But still no singing? Not even Christmas carols?”
“You don’t want to hear me singing.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“Trust me. It’s bad. Now start the car. I’ve always wanted to make love in front of the Christmas tree.”
“You have?”
“Yes.”
“Are you capable after all the eggnog?”
“I didn’t drink that much.” He reached over and squeezed her thigh. “Get driving and I’ll prove it to you.”
When Jake woke up in the dim light of morning coming through the blinds, it was cold in the living room. The fire they’d fallen asleep in front of was out. Ember was still asleep beside him and he took a moment to take in her simple beauty. Even asleep, with her hair splayed out on the pillow, she was a beautiful woman. He kissed her cheek, and she stirred.
She smiled sleepily and turned her head toward him. “Hey.”
“Morning.” He wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and stood up from the pile of blankets and pillows they’d slept on. They’d built a nest between the Christmas tree and the woodstove. “I’m going to go crank up the heat.”
“Will you build a fire?”
“Yeah. But we need the heater too, at least for a while. I should’ve turned it on last night, but I was a little distracted.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Your blanket isn’t quite long enough.”
He looked down at the blanket that ended just below his belly button. “It’s not for modesty.It’s for warmth.”
“I’m not complaining.”
He went to the thermostat in the hallway and turned it up. He heard the heat pump click on and he went to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. There was a plate of fudge he and Ember had made a few days ago and he picked up a piece and took a bite. He put the rest of it into his mouth as he returned to Ember and laid down next to her.
“Are you eating fudge?”
“Yes. I love fudge.”
“As much as you love eggnog?”
“More.” He gave her a chocolate flavored kiss.
“Mmm. Okay.” She looked at the woodstove. “What about the fire?”
“I need to get warm first.” He pulled her in close and kissed her. He had a slight headache from the eggnog. Rum always gave him a headache the next day.
She smiled at him. “You dropped the wedding date news last night.”
“Yes, I did. That might have been aided by the eggnog.”
“Everyone seemed to take it okay. Even Sage.”
“Yes. She was quietly accepting.”
“I know I said I wanted a medium-sized wedding, but really I don’t have anyone other than my family to invite.”
“No college friends? Work friends?”
“Maybe Sarah. But it’s a long way to come. I’llinvite her, though.”
