Holiday Hijinks by Roxy Queen Read Free Book Online

agree to meet around ten for presents and brunch. My phone buzzes under my pillow at eight and I paw for it in the dark. It’s no surprise Carter’s up already. His workout routine has him up by six every day. Sleeping until eight is a luxury.
    Merry Christmas !
    Where are you?
    In the kitchen
    Alone?
    Nope
    I roll over and see that Maddie is still sleeping, arms and legs bundled under the purple comforter. I rack my brain for somewhere to meet.
    Off the basement there’s a storage room. Meet me there in ten. Bring presents.
    I brush my teeth and hair before pulling on a hoodie. I grab the remaining present from my bag and stuff it in my front pocket. In the hallway I hear a cabinet slam in the kitchen, signaling that either my mom or is dad already up, preparing for the day. I tiptoe past and sneak downstairs.
    Carter waits behind the door like the best present ever.
    “Hey,” I say, going directly into his arms. His lips are warm and soft.
    “Sleep good?”
    “Maddie snores.”
    He laughs and squeezes me. “Really?”
    “Yes, I think she has allergies or something, but it’s like sharing a room with a gorilla.”
    “Ow, what’s this?” He points to the lump in my shirt.  I pull it out and hand him the box wrapped in gold and red paper.
    “Open it,” I say.
    Carter leans against the worktable and unwraps the box. “It’s a Gorman,” I say, when he sees the watch. “It will monitor your heart and pacing. It also has a GPS. It’s like a robot for your arm.”
    Carter pulls it out of the package and straps it to his arm. His smile is huge. “Thank you. I’ve been wanting one of these,” he says, checking it out. “It will take me all afternoon to figure out how to use it.” He kisses me again and moves his lips to my ear and down my neck. His hands fumble near the hem of my shirt but I stop him.
    “What?” he asks.
    “Um…my gift?”
    “What? S ex isn’t a good enough present?”
    For a moment I almost say yes, because honestly, it’s all I need. Him. His hands and mouth. His cock. But he’s got an annoying smirk on his face and I know he’s stalling.
    “What did you get me?”
    He takes my face in his hands and kisses me again, softly. I have the urge to make love to him, not fuck, but you do that in a bed not on the worktable in your parent’s basement. We part and his eyes flash to mine and I realize something. “You’re nervous?”
    “No.” He shifts on his feet. “Sort of.”
    “Is it that bad? Did you get me a teddy bear? I promise I won’t laugh or anything. Whatever it is , you know I’ll love it.”
    He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, square box. It’s not wrapped other than a thin sliver ribbon crisscrossed over the top. A tremor runs through his normally steady hands. He places the box in my outstretched palm.
    “It’s not an engagement ring,” he blurts.
    It may not be an engagement ring but it is a ring. Silver with flowers engraved in the metal. I pick it up and see that the markings go all the way around.
    “It’s beautiful,” I say. Something catches my eye on the inner rim of the ring and I hold it up. It’s an inscription.
    Carter closes his hand over mine before I can read the inscription. He licks his lips and says, “I love you. I want you to be mine for as long as you’re willing. This doesn’t have to be forever. I know you have your reservations even though I don’t. I’m in this until the end, but just understand I’ll follow your lead.” He swallows. “I’d like you to wear this ring. For me. And if you want, one day I’ll replace it with the real thing.”
    He takes his hand off and I see the word written in fine script.
    Mine
    “I’ll wear it,” I say, caught up in the moment. Caught up in his words. Whatever Carter wants from me, I’ll give to him. It’s my weakness. He’s my weakness.
    He slips the ring on my finger and it’s a perfect fit.
    “Yeah?”
    The nervous look falls off his face and is replaced by the