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He smiled just before he kissed me and in his gaze I saw the spark of hope he always tried to keep hidden. It swirled like the sun trying to peek out from the clouds after a thunderstorm. I hugged him tight to me not wanting to let go. My hope intertwined with his in a spiritual way, encouraging him to hold on to me. To us.
In this moment it felt like our hearts and souls were connected.
CHAPTER 24
Jareth
Iwoke up slowly, taking in the quiet of the morning. With a yawn I reached for Hazel only to find her side of the bed empty, the sheets cool to the touch. My gaze went to the decorated Christmas tree in the corner of the room with Hazel’s presents still sitting beneath it. We’d been so lost in exploring each other’s bodies we’d forgotten about the gifts. We were lucky we remembered to call her grandmother and wish her a Merry Christmas.
The clink of ceramic bowls and the scent of brown sugar and cinnamon wafted into the bedroom. After a quick stretch, I rolled out of bed and went to the bathroom before making my way out to the open concept living room and into the kitchen. Hazel stood at the stove humming Christmas songs and the TV had a Christmas movie playing. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head, muttering to herself as she checked her phone and then the bowl of ingredients she was stirring together.
She was so fucking beautiful.
Last night wasn’t enough. I wondered if any amount of time with her would be enough to satisfy me. Already I envisioned slipping my hands up her robe and finger-fucking her until she screamed my name. I slid in behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. “Good morning, Sunshine.”
An ear-splitting scream, not the type I was hoping for, left Hazel’s mouth and made my ears ring.
“Fucking hell, babe.”
“Sugar honey iced tea. What was that, Jareth? You scared the ever loving daylights out of me.”
“I woke up and missed having your body next to mine.” Shit. I sounded whiny. What had one night with Hazel done to me?
She spun in my arms and snuggled in close. “Good morning, handsome.”
I looked over her shoulder and noticed the glass dish with a baked casserole, a plate of bacon, a bowl of fruit, and that the bowl she’d been mixing had whipped cream in it. “Are you making us breakfast?”
Her smile was happily reminiscent. “Yes, it’s the same one Grandma and I used to make for Christmas together and since we missed this yesterday morning I’m making up for lost time.”
I kissed her forehead. Guilt painfully twisted my gut. “I’m sorry you missed Christmas with her.”
“Me too. On the bright side, when we get home, the three of us can celebrate together.” Hazel’s eyes widened, and she tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth.
“What is going on in that head of yours, Sunshine?” I swiped her lip with my thumb to smooth it out and soothe the tiny bite marks.
“If it’s too weird, you don’t have to hang out with us. I know you don’t do holidays or relatives.”
“I’m looking forward to spending time with both of you,” I responded, surprised at how much I meant it. Hazel wasn’t wrong in her assessment. I avoided meeting my date’s families, children, or anyone else that you might sit around the table with for a birthday or holiday dinner.
“She’s going to ask you a million questions. And fair warning, she’ll want to know what your intentions are towards me.” Hazel ducked her head against my chest. “It’s going to be so embarrassing,” she muttered.
I rubbed the back of her neck. “It’ll be fine. Telling her all the surfaces and places I want to fuck you probably isn’t what she’s looking for in regards to my intentions.”
Hazel’s beet-red face snapped up. “Please do not say any of that. You’re kidding, right?”
I shrugged.
“You’re kidding right, Jareth?”
I let out a booming laugh. “You seem to be able to read my mind about everything else, Hazel Finley, yet for this you don’t know if I’m telling the truth or not.”
“I’m panicking. That’s why I can’t read you.”
I leaned in for a morning kiss only to have Hazel turn her head at the last minute so my lips landed on her cheek. “Sunshine. I was only teasing you.”
She frowned and then covered her mouth. “It’s not you. I forgot to brush my teeth this morning. I’m not kissing you with yucky, smelly morning breath.”
While still looking into her jade green eyes, I plucked her hand from her mouth, and shoved it behind her back, pushing her forward. With my free hand, I gripped her chin and lowered my face so it was only an inch or two from hers.
