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“Oh, sweetheart.” He sighs. “You're not doing anything wrong. I've just had a lot on my mind lately, and I'm sorry I've been taking it out on you.”

“I just want things to be normal again. I don’t like when it’s weird between us.”

“I know. C’mere.”

And then he does the unthinkable. He wraps one arm around me and pulls me in against him, my back against his front.

His shirtless front.

For a second I don’t breathe.

“You know you mean so much to me,” he says into my hair. “Nothing’s weird, okay? We’re going to have a nice Christmas.”

“Okay.”

His body is so solid behind me, warm through my thin pajamas. The rise and fall of his chest against my back is soothing, and despite my heart racing at how close we are, I actually start to relax.

This is Vince, and being this close to him means nothing except that he loves me, and being loved by Vince is the best feeling in the world.

“Can I ask you something?” I say, after a little while.

“Mm-hm,” he murmurs.

“Do you ever wish you'd never married my mom?”

There’s a pause. “I wish we'd handled some things differently.”

“That's not what I asked. Sometimes I wonder if you regret the whole thing. Especially getting stuck with me afterward.”

“Never.” His arm tightens around me, just slightly. “Getting stuck with you was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“But you didn't exactly sign up for it.”

“No. I didn’t. And I wouldn't change it. You're family. This is your home, and it always will be.”

I swallow. “Even when I do stupid things?”

“Even then.”

I smile in the dark, feeling a little foolish for having worried so much.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Get some sleep, sweetheart.”

I close my eyes. We've never slept like this before. We've hugged plenty of times, fallen asleep beside each other watching movies, but actually sharing a bed is new territory. I should probably feel awkward about it, especially given everything that's been going through my head lately. But right now, I'm comfortable. I'm warm, I'm safe, and for once I don't feel like I have to worry about whether he's upset with me. I could happily stay here all night.

I wake up to heat. Warmth everywhere—Vince’s body against my back, his arm still around me, the heavy weight of him. And something else. Something hard pressing against the curve of my ass. Something unmistakable.

His erection.

I lie perfectly still, my eyes open in the dark, and for one second I think I might be dreaming. But I’m not. He’s hard against me, and the knowledge of it sends a rush of heat between my legs. My breath quickens.

I shift on instinct, just slightly, pressing back against him. I can’t help it.

He makes a soft, sleep-heavy sound, and then his hand, which has been resting on my hip, slides upward, under the hem of my pajama top, and his palm finds my breast. His thumb brushes across my nipple, and I gasp.

I feel his breath on my neck, and then his mouth, kissing my skin, warm and slow. His hand tightens around my breast, fondling it.