Red Dirt Heart 03.5 by N R Walker Read Free Book Online

Sam’ll keep me company while I drive. Plus I get to spend my first Christmas with you in too many years.” She sounded a little emotional, and if I were bein’ truthful, it made me happy to hear her say that.
    “I’m looking forward to it.”
    “Okay, we’ll see you in the morning.”
    “Drive safe.”
    “Will do. Bye, Charlie.”
    When she hung up, knowing Trav could hear every word I was saying, I added, “Okay, have a great Christmas. Bye.”
    Trav was sitting up watching John McClane kick some arse, but by the over-thinkin’ line between his eyebrows, I guessed he was doing more thinking than watching. “Everything okay?” he asked.
    “Yeah, Laura just wanted to say Merry Christmas. She’s on some crazy nightshifts and didn’t want to miss sayin’ hi.”
    Trav looked at me kinda funny, and knowin’ I couldn’t lie to save myself, I flicked on the Christmas tree lights, turned off the lounge room lights, and hit the off button on the TV. I held my hand out to Trav and pulled him to his feet, and there by the lights of the Christmas tree, I kissed him.
    He put his hand to my face and did that nose nudgin’ thing that normally made my knees buckle. I pulled back. “Ow, Trav. My nose!”
    “Oh my God, sorry,” he said with a laugh. He held my face and planted soft kisses on my cheeks, my lips, and my still-sore nose. I was just about to tell him his sorry weren’t real sincere considerin’ he was still smiling, but then something changed. His smile melted into something serious, and his eyes darkened with want. He kissed me again, deeper this time, and he slowly opened my mouth with his. He pushed his hips against mine and groaned into the kiss.
    Jesus.
    “Take me to bed, Travis,” I whispered.
    He took my hand and took care of me, goin’ over every inch of my body, with his hands, with his mouth. I was lyin’ on my stomach and he was between my legs when he pushed into me, but it didn’t seem quite right. Like he felt the same, he rolled me over and had me that way instead. It was better he said, kissin’ me and reminding me of love and promises, looking deep into my eyes when he made me come again.
    I thought my heart might just about burst.
    Afterwards when he was all sated and nuzzlin’ into me, all wrapped around me, he hummed his contentment. “Mmm, merry Christmas to me.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Merry, merry Christmas.
     
     
     
    I woke up early. Actually, I barely slept at all, maybe three hours at the most. But I was up annoying Nugget at four thirty, putting presents under the Christmas tree, pacing the lounge room, waiting, waiting, waiting.
    Finally— finally —headlights came down the drive.
    My heart was in my throat, and I was prayin’ that Trav wouldn’t wake up when he heard the car or the voices that followed. I shouldn’t have worried though, because he was sleepin’ so hard, not even the smell of coffee under his nose half an hour later woke him up.
    I put the cup on the side table and climbed onto the bed. Now if it were any other day, I’d watch him and the way moonlight touched his face like it were my favourite thing. Because it was.
    But not today.
    “Trav. Wake up.”
    “Mm mm,” he mumbled. “Sleep in.”
    “You can’t. It’s pressies time.”
    He cracked one eye open. His voice was thick with sleep. “Pressies? What the hell are pressies?”
    “Presents. You know, gifts.”
    He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Australians really shorten the word presents?”
    “Well, yeah.”
    “Why? It takes just as much effort to say pressies as it does to say presents. There’s the same amount of syllables.”
    I snorted. “Come on. I need you to get up.”
    “Why?” he grumbled. He sat up and noticed the window. “The sun ain’t even freakin’ up, Charlie. What the hell time is it?” he asked.
    “It’s just after five o’clock. It’s gettin’ up time.”
    He glared at me. “You’re serious.” He fell back onto the bed and pulled a pillow over