13. Maya

13

MAYA

"Oh, my God," I mumble. "This is delicious."

"You like?" Cade picks up the pizza cutter. "I'll cut you another slice."

"I've never had breakfast pizza before." I dab my mouth with a napkin. "I've been missing out."

"You play your cards right, duchess, and I'll make it for you any time you want."

My heart drops like a stone. For us, there'll never be another time. I shove that thought away. I don't want to ruin our perfect Christmas.

"What's your secret?" I take another bite.

"If I tell you, I'll have to kill you." He wiggles his brows. "With more sex."

"Is that so?" I grin. "Death by orgasm?"

"It's a good way to go, right?"

"It's the perfect way."

"I think we should change the subject, or I'm going to leap across this table and ravage you." He says roughly.

"Okay." I flash him a coy smile. "What's for dinner?"

"You, if I'm lucky."

"Well, considering I have nothing to give you for Christmas, I bequeath you my body for the night."

"The whole night?" His eyes burn with heat.

"The entire night." I nod.

"Merry Christmas to me." He reaches across the table and takes my hand. "Follow me."

"But I'm not done with my bacon, onion, jalapeno, cheddar breakfast pizza." I pout.

"I'll heat it up for you."

I let him drag me into the living room. He plops me down on the sofa, turns the Christmas music up, and sits on the floor.

"Are we having sex under the tree?" I rub my hands together with anticipation. "I'm in."

"No. Well, at least not now. I have something for you."

He hands me a basket wrapped in Saran wrap. "What's this?"

"One of your Christmas gifts." He smiles with pride. "Go ahead, open it."

I stare at the basket, lift my head, and look at Cade.

"You made this?" I whisper.

"Yeah." He shrugs. "It's not much. But I wanted you to have something to open on Christmas."

"But I don't have anything for you."

"You do." He leaned forward to kiss me. "You bequeathed me your body for an entire night. That's the best gift ever."

I blush as he devours me with his hazel eyes.

"Open it, duchess."

I peel back the Saran wrap to find a mug, tea bags, cookies, and placemats. "I love tea."

"I know. What until you try those cookies. They're amazing."

"We baked them together." I giggle.

"Yes, we did." He strokes the side of my cheek. "Have you ever baked naked?"

"I am not cooking naked, Cade. Not happening."

"Umm, might be. Remember, tonight you're mine."

I hit him on the shoulder. "For sex. You're going to use me for sex."

"We'll see." His eyes crinkle. "Here."

He hands me a package covered in aluminum foil. "What's this?" I shake it up and down. "Let me see if I can guess."

"You'll never guess, duchess."

"Hmmm…" I test the weight in my palm. "It's light. Is it powdered creamer?"

"No."

I tap my chin, deep in thought. "Cinnamon. It's a container of cinnamon."

"No." He laughs. "Just open it, will you?"

I slowly peel the foil back to find a hand-painted wooden angel. "It's beautiful, Cade. Amazing."

"I'm glad you like it."

"I don't like it; I love it." I set the angel on the coffee table.

"I bought it when I was in town the other day. I had no idea why. But I'm glad I did."

"Me too." I start to get up to kiss him when a buzzing sound filled the room. "What's that?"

"My phone. Hold that thought." He jumps up and runs into the kitchen. He rounds the corner with a sad look on his face.

"What? Is everything alright?" My pulse races.

"Yeah. It's Len's Tow Yard. They've got your car. You can pick it up in the morning."

"Oh." My stomach drops. This is it. Our last night together. I draw in a breath, steady my aching heart, and put a big, fat, fake smile on my face. "Can I give you my gift now?"

The edges of his lips pull up. "Now?"

"Now." I get on my feet and start stripping off my sweater. "Unless you want to wait…"

"Hell, no, woman." He pounds across the floor, tosses me over his shoulder, and charges for the stairs.

"Where are we going?" I laugh through the words.

"My room."

"We can have sex right here."

"We'll come back. Right now, I want you in my bed. Then the shower. Then back to the bed again. Maybe we'll get back to the living room. I don't know."

I'm giggling like a schoolgirl as he bounds up the steps. But on the inside, I'm crying.

When the sun rises, I'm going to have to leave.