Page 97 of 6 Clues Your Nemesis Loves You

Her panting grows louder, her free hand squeezing her breast as she works herself over. I find myself holding my breath, watching her face, expecting her to close her eyes at any moment. Cut the intensity of our connection. Instead, I’m gifted with the best present of my life.

Her eyes fill with affection, and a tear spills over.

“I love you so much.” Her whispered words are ragged and gasped, her lips trembling and hips rocking as she hits her peak and cries out her pleasure.

“So fucking much” is all I manage, then I’m coming, my dick pulsing in my hand, my release streaking her stomach and breasts until I’m spent.

We stare at her body, the evidence of what we’ve done filling the tent with the scents of sex and trust and something deeper. I’m not wondering if Maggie likes me as much as I like her. I’m not worried she’ll ignore me tomorrow or freak-out if I blurt my feelings. Finally, we’re on the same page.

She touches a streak of my come and moves it around her belly. “God, that was hot.”

“Consider my mind blown, but I’m done with the no touching.” I grab the small towel she brought and clean her up, then lie beside her, gathering her naked body close. “You’re amazing.”

“We’re amazing,” she says, tracing circles over my heart and playing with my chest hair.

I practically purr. “Can we postpone Chanukah? I don’t want to leave our love nest.”

“Sadly, we cannot. But we have forever to nest, and you have another gift to open.”

She passes me the larger box.

With one arm under her neck, I give it a shake. Once again, nothing rattles. “Assuming there’s a theme, are these anal beads?”

She rolls her eyes. “No.”

“Is it a dildo I get to use on you?”

“Still no.”

“One of those blow-job-stroker things you get to use on me?”

Laughing, she pinches my hip. “Would you just open it already?”

“So impatient,” I mumble as I awkwardly unwrap it with one arm behind her neck. The white box under the paper has no writing to give me clues. Curious, I open the flap and pull out a picture frame. One look at the photo inside and I crack up, stuffing my face in her hair, shaking us both. “I can’t believe you did this.”

“You seemed to really want it.”

I lock my leg over her and kiss her head, then look at the picture again—Maggie in her hot-dog costume, looking adorkulous. “I can’t wait for Halloween next year. We’ll be Mr. and Mrs. Hot Dog.”

Her hand becomes a threatening lobster claw at my hip. “No, we most certainly will not.”

“But you’ll have mustard up your middle. I’ll do ketchup. It’ll be great.”

“It’s not happening, Lennon.”

“It’s definitely happening, Gingersnap.”

She growls and shoves me off her, pretending she doesn’t love the idea, but there’s a glint in her eye. “Race you to the house. Last one there has to clean up the tent later tonight.”

She’s out before I’m on my knees, practically stepping on my head for leverage. She streaks naked across the property in the freezing fucking cold, laughing and hollering while I race after her. Honestly, best birthday in the history of birthdays.

chapter thirty-six

By the time we’re cleaned up and parked in her parents’ driveway, my bubble of happiness is less bright. I’m beyond in love, excited to spend time with Maggie and her family, but I still have unfinished family business of my own.

“Do you mind if I don’t go in right away?” Still gripping the wheel, I glance at Maggie. “I think I need to call my father.”

She angles toward me and presses her hand to my thigh. “Of course. I’ll wait outside the truck. If you need me, holler.”