A Very Badd Christmas (The Badd Brothers #19)

13. Emerson

CHAPTER 13

emerson

I examined my reflection in the mirror for what must have been the tenth time. I'd gone too heavy on the mascara and eyeshadow. I’d gone for a smokey eye, but I'd taken a wrong left turn at Albuquerque and had ended up at raccoon. I growled at my reflection.

Delia just laughed. "You are in a state , sister."

I glared at her. "I'm nervous."

"Why? It's Christmas Eve with the family. No big deal." She had teased her hair up and out, gone for a bright red lip, and very little on her eyes. "You look fantastic. He's gonna melt."

I had a holly green clingy wrap dress on, the hem ending just above my knees. Three-inch black heels, a black faux-fur cape, and a cheap knock-off YSL bag completed my look. I was waffling between feeling like I'd gone too far and hoping it was enough to take his breath away.

“He's gonna melt, I'm gonna freeze." I let out a breath. "Should I redo my eyes? I feel like I look like a raccoon. Smokey eye gone way wrong. I should redo them."

I grabbed a makeup wipe, but Delia snagged my wrist. "Nope, nope, nope. You look amazing. Stop freaking out. You're overthinking this, Sun-Sun."

"Overthinking it? He's coming to Christmas Eve church. That and Easter are the only days we go to church, and his mother is, and I quote, spiritual. I don't know what I'm doing. I accidentally said I love you."

Delia dropped her lip liner. "Shut the fuck up. You did not!"

"I did. It was embarrassing. It was totally an accident. I was just like, Merry Christmas, love you, bye. It just slipped out. I'm not even sure if I'm even in love with him."

Delia spluttered into her hand, eyes wide. "Oh…my… god ! What'd he say?"

"I panicked and hung up. But he texted me like five seconds later and told me not to worry. We agreed it was an accident and never happened, but not before I admitted I've never told anyone I love them. I barely tell you guys I love you. If I do end up with him, I don't want the first time I tell him I love him to be a stupid fucking accident."

"It was an accident. It slipped out. I was on the phone with a distributor a couple months ago and said ‘Okay, love you, bye.’ It doesn't mean anything." She shrugged. "I didn't go with that distributor, but not for that reason. Or not totally, at least."

"Delia. I said I love you to a guy I met not even a week ago."

She nodded while shrugging. "I get it. But he didn't freak out, right?"

"Well…no."

" You're freaking out."

"Yes." I teased my curls a bit, fluffing and rearranging. "He also said that if I had said to him as, like, a Freudian slip, he wished I'd have given him a chance to say it back."

Delia fumbled her blush brush, caught it, and set it down. "The fuck you say."

"Facts."

"That's…huge. Emerson, that's huge . He didn't just not freak out, he was ready to hit you back with it."

"Thus why I'm freaking out! I don't know what's going on! I'm not sure what I'm feeling or how anything would work even if we did decide we wanted to be together. It's all so much so fast, and I feel so much pressure now that I've brought him around everyone."

I tipped my head back and blinked tears away as I fought for breath.

Delia grabbed my arms and shook me. "Whoa, hey, breathe, babe. You're good. It's okay. There's no pressure. We all just want you to be happy."

I flapped my hands at my face and blew out through pursed lips.

Delia snagged a Kleenex, folded it, and dabbed it beneath my eyes. "Just one request, though."

I took the Kleenex from her and took over the dabbing. "What's that?"

"Remember that my room is on the other side of yours. So, you know, when you and Hayden have hot monkey sex tonight, try not to scream too loud."

I burst into laughter. "I make no promises. He's very good with his mouth."

"Didn't need to know that," she muttered.

"You were the one begging for details just the other day," I pointed out.

"Well, maybe I’ve changed my mind, possibly due to crippling jealousy that you get hot monkey Christmas sex. Hot Christmas monkey sex? I'm not sure which is right."

"Let's go with neither, and you never use the phrase ‘hot monkey sex’ ever again."

"But you're so cute when you blush." She pinched my cheek. "And every time I mention him or sex, you blush."

"Do not," I lied.

"Oh my god, you so do. Which is hysterical. You've told me some seriously salacious details about your sexcapades with your boytoys like you were discussing the brunch menu. Yet if I so much as reference Hayden McCaffrey's apparently giant magical dong, you turn fifty shades of red."

"Bullshit," I lied, as my cheeks flamed fifty shades of red.

"I notice you're not arguing the giant magical status of Hayden's dong."

"Because it is giant and magical," I said.

"How giant are we talking about?" she asked, leaning forward and dropping her voice to a whisper.

“He has a Goldilocks cock," I said, also whispering. "Not too big, not too small— juuuust right."

"Have I mentioned my crippling jealousy of your Goldilocks Christmas cock?" Delia said, still muttering as she put the finishing touches on her makeup.

"You probably should be," I said.

She put her makeup away and then leaned on the counter, staring at me in the reflection. "All jokes aside, no matter what happens, I'm glad you're getting this time with him. If nothing else, I think it's about time you broke out of your casual sex relationship avoidance pattern."

I turned to look at her. "Delia Badd, that is a hundred percent the pot calling the kettle black. You do the exact same thing."

She blew a sarcastic raspberry. "Okay, sure. I do not. I do the exact opposite."

"Okay, fine, but it's the same thing when you boil it all down. I have casual hookups with random dudes to avoid my fear of relationships and intimacy. You're a serial monogamist who consistently chooses men who don't even remotely stand a chance of going the distance with you because you are, for some reason, just as terrified of commitment and vulnerability as I am. Opposite approaches to the same problem."

She blinked at me. “We're not talking about me, though. You're the one with a hot guy who loves his mom, has a good job, a giant magical dong, and is showing every sign of being in love with you. I, meanwhile, have a dusty vagina and a cold, shut-down heart with absolutely zero romantic prospects. I'll never leave Ketchikan, and I've dated every decent, eligible male who lives here full-time, as well as at least two of the not-as-eligible ones."

I arched an eyebrow at her. "Excuse me?"

She rolled her eyes. "Not knowingly, but still. I dated this guy, Marco, back in the spring. He's mid-thirties, sexy as hell, and wasn’t wearing a ring. Nor did he have a pale spot where one would be—I looked. I always look. So, yeah, we started hanging out, and that turned into hooking up, and good lord, the man gave seriously good dick. And then he left his phone unlocked and open to his messages while he went to the bathroom. And his wife texted him. Her contact name is, I kid you not, The Ol’ Ball and Chain." She scooped her phone out of her purse and pulled up a screenshot verifying what she was saying. "He acted like it was no big deal. Oh, yeah, we have an open relationship. And I was like, does she know that? And then, over the summer, this guy I was seeing straight up lied to me about being divorced. He did tell me he was married but that the divorce had just been finalized. Come to find out, no, they hadn't even actually filed yet, and she was hoping for a reconciliation. How did I find this out, you ask? I'll tell you. I met her . While I was with him . We were getting coffee before we got down to business, and she showed up. Saw us together. Freaked out, understandably, made a whole big scene about how he was such a liar and a cheater and blah blah blah, she couldn't believe she thought they could reconcile and I could have him."

"What'd you do?"

"I threw my iced coffee in his face." She shrugged. "And then there was Garrison, who it turns out had been cheating on me the whole time we were seeing each other. I broke up with him like three months ago or whenever we had that talk before regionals. I haven’t been with anyone since. Thus the dusty vagina."

"That sucks, babe, I'm sorry. Some men are such pigs."

She huffed. "Unfortunately for my cynicism, Hayden proves that it really is just some men and not all men like I'd like to believe."

I tilted my head, trying to figure that out. "Wait— huh ? You want to be cynical? Or you don't? I'm not following."

She laughed. "Honestly, I don't even know anymore. I am bitter and cynical, and it's just easier sometimes, but deep down, I do want to believe there's at least one more good guy out there who wouldn't mind putting up with my bullshit."

It was my turn to grab her shoulders. "Dee, any man who gets to spend even five minutes in your presence is a lucky, lucky man. And the man who finally proves himself to be worthy of the incredible woman that you are will be the luckiest man alive."

She smiled, shaking her head. "Thanks. I suppose I can allow myself to hope that you’re right."

"I'm always right."

"Except when you're wrong."

A knock sounded on the door to Delia's bathroom, where we were getting ready. "Girls? Time to go." Dru said, peeking in. "Wow—I feel underdressed now."

Delia was wearing a red dress that was almost identical to mine in every way except color, complete with matching shoes, bag, and faux-fur cape.

It was a little over the top since everyone else tended to go for dressy-casual, usually jeans or slacks and a nice button-down for the men and slacks and a blouse or a nice dress for the women. Dru, for example, was wearing black slacks with a cranberry blouse, the sleeves pointed and voluminous, the neckline plunging, and a pair of spike-heeled black boots.

"Are we too slutty for church?" I asked.

Dru snorted and shook her head. "I don't think so, no. You're definitely going to get Hayden's attention, though. Not that you need the help. That boy is gaga for you." She smacked Delia's ass. "Who are you dressing up for?"

Delia just shrugged. "No one. Just in solidarity with Em, so she wasn't the only one dolled up."

Dru sighed. "Oh."

Delia laughed. "Mom, do not start."

"You have to get back on the horse, Dee. You can't let a few assholes sour you on all men."

Delia huffed. “I said don’t start. And it wasn't just them. It was all the ones before and then them. I'm not getting back on the horse, Mom. The horse can come find me when it’s ready to not buck me off."

Dru frowned. "I'm not sure I'm following the metaphor, dear."

I laughed. "Our girl is not great with metaphors." I kissed her cheek, partly to test my new smudge-proof lipstick. “Or logic."

Delia flipped us both off. “ You have a husband of twenty-some years," she said to her mom, and then turned to me. "And you met one of the last unicorns—a good man with a great dick and an amazing personality and a job who also doesn't seem to be married, engaged, divorced, or with a secret child he refuses to acknowledge or pay for."

All things men she's dated have done. I suppose her cynicism was somewhat warranted.

Dru cupped cheeks in both hands. "Delia, my lovely, head-strong, wild-hearted daughter, I have absolutely zero doubt that when you least expect it, a man will come along who'll sweep you off your feet and show you a whole new world." She let go of Delia's face and took my hand in one of hers and Delia's in the other. "Look, girls, in my experience, it's worth waiting for the right one. I didn't discover that until I was literally in the church about to marry a lying, cheating asshole with a comically sub-par dick that he had absolutely no clue what to do with."

"MOM!" Delia shouted. "T-M-I!"

Dru just cackled and stuck up an index finger, wiggling it. "Like this. It was just silly. And then I met your father, and—"

"NOT ONE MORE WORD, MOTHER!" Delia screeched, going shrill and ear-piercing. "I swear to god, not one more word. I'm glad Dad satisfies you, but I do not need to know anything about it.”

Dru just laughed and pulled us both out of the bathroom. "You're so easily riled, you ridiculous goose." She pushed Delia out ahead of her and smacked her butt again.

"MOM! Hands off the ass. You want to smack someone's ass, smack Dad's. I'm sure he likes it. AND I DON'T NEED TO KNOW!"

"Oh, he does." Dru cackled as we reached the kitchen, where Bast was picking at the leftovers from the cheese and meat tray. She hauled off and smacked Bast's butt so hard the crack echoed in the kitchen.

He didn't so much as flinch, finished chewing and swallowing, and then turned a playfully baleful, threatening stare at Dru.

"Oh…shit," Dru breathed. "That… may have been a miscalculation."

Bast lunged and Dru bolted, but with the spike heels and tight slacks, she couldn't get away fast enough and Bast snagged her around the waist, bent her over his thigh, and spanked her until she started kicking and screaming.

Duncan and Dane emerged from the hallway at that moment, stopped as one, and stared. "Are we going to church or a BDSM club?" Dane asked.

"Or the church of BDSM?" Duncan added.

I couldn't help but notice that while Dru was kicking and screaming, she wasn't actually trying to get away. And when Bast finally set her on her feet, her gaze, as it met his, was visibly excited. He smoothed his hand over her ass and then kissed her mouth before turning to put the tray back in the fridge.

"All right, gang, let's roll out.” He shot me a glance. “Sunni, are Hayden and Kaye meeting us there?"

I nodded, slinging my purse onto my shoulder and shrugging my cape tighter around my shoulders. "Yes. I told them it started at eight and to get there at a quarter to at the latest, so we could get seats together."

We loaded into Bast's and Dru's Suburban and headed to the church. When we got there, Kaye and Hayden were just getting dropped off by a ride-share. Kaye was wearing the dress she'd worn to the party, and Hayden was in a pair of black slacks, a white button-down with a red-and-green striped tie under a black V-neck pullover sweater. His hair was slicked back, and he was wearing his glasses.

I, being the shortest, always got the back seat whenever we all rode together. Delia scooted awkwardly out of the SUV ahead of me, tugging her hem down with a wiggle of her hips. Hayden nudged his mother toward the church entrance and jogged across the parking lot just in time to offer me his hand.

"Thanks," I said, smiling at him. "Hard to get out of a car in a tight skirt. There's just no dignified way to do it." I shimmied across the bench, grabbed his offered hand, and wiggled until I could get a foot on the running board. "At least, not without flashing everyone."

He grinned. "I wouldn't mind." He reached in, grabbed me under the arms, and lifted me out without so much as a grunt of effort, and set me on my feet. "You look…fu—um, freaking amazing. Probably shouldn't curse at church, huh?"

I did the hem-down hips-wiggle and didn't miss the way his eyes hungrily tracked the movement. "You look handsome. I love the tie."

He threaded our fingers together. “Thanks. I made a last-second trip to the mall."

I winced. "Oof. How was that?"

He laughed. "It was…very mall-y. But I got a whole outfit, so I didn't show up in jeans and a hoodie."

"It would have been fine, Hayden," I said.

He shook his head. "You don't know Mom. She got Dad to go to church on Easter a couple times, and I had to dress up in a full suit. To her, you just don't go to church in jeans." He looked at me, his eyes lingering on my chest before he yanked them away with a shake of his head. "Plus, I wouldn't feel right showing up like that when you guys invited me to church with you."

"Are you okay with it? Church, I mean?"

"Yeah, totally. I don't have anything against God or church, I just…" a sigh, a roll of one shoulder. "I guess I’m what you might call undecided. I don't know what I believe, so I don't go regularly, but I have no issue with church on Easter and Christmas."

"I'm the same, I guess. If God is real, then I have questions because—well, it's not the time or place for that conversation. But I also feel like if there is a God then he definitely made up for giving me shitty parents by putting Delia and the Badds into my life. I'm just not sure where that leaves me in terms of faith, you know?"

He squeezed my hand. "I get it, Em. And you know what? We don't have to figure that out tonight."

I blew out a long, slow breath. "You’re right." I smiled at him. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too."

"Come on, kids!" Dru said from the doorway. "Seats are filling up fast." She leaned into Hayden, who side-hugged her. "Hi, you! We're so happy you and Kaye could join us."

He bent as she pulled him down and kissed both cheeks. "We’re happy to be here—Mom especially. She's vibrating with excitement."

We followed Dru into the sanctuary—it was a decent-sized church, the sanctuary holding maybe five hundred people. Candles lined the stage, dancing and flickering, with holiday-themed flower arrangements a safe distance away from the candles. More candles were spaced along the sides and back wall, and garland wreathed the back of the pews. An acoustic four-piece played "Hark the Herald" as the pews filled and people shuffled inward to make room.

Our family took up almost four full rows—apparently, Uncles Xavier, Roman, and Errol had shown up early to claim the rows so we'd all have room to sit together.

I was on the outside aisle with Hayden beside me, his mother next to him, Olivia next, and then Lucas. We exchanged murmured greetings as the band trailed off and the pastor took his place center-stage.

It was a beautiful service. The message was short and heartfelt, with a moving a capella performance of "Mary Did You Know" by Canaan and Aerie—there was no introduction of them or mention of their many accolades as professional musicians. We all stood and sang the traditional carols and hymns; I was somewhat shocked to discover Hayden possessed a beautiful baritone voice.

Kaye was tearful all the way through but seemed to be happy rather than sad.

We mingled in the foyer for a while, eating cookies and hot chocolate or coffee and watching the youngsters scamper and play until their parents shushed them.

Kaye found me, a napkin in one hand bearing a peanut butter cookie with a chocolate kiss in the middle. "I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am that you invited us. You don't know what it means to me to attend a Christmas Eve service."

I went in for a hug, and she pulled me close, clinging tightly. "It's been wonderful getting to know you, Kaye." I dropped my voice to a murmur. "Your son is amazing. It's obvious how much he loves you, and it's truly inspiring to see."

Her eyes shimmered. "I am obviously biased, but I think he's pretty great myself."

We both looked at Hayden, who was playfully chasing a gaggle of young kids around.

"He seems good with kids," I said, smiling as he pretended to tiptoe cartoonlike behind big bad Uncle Baxter, who picked up on the gag and spun at the last second with a Shrek-like roar that caught the attention of the whole foyer.

Aunt Eva facepalmed herself, flushed with embarrassment.

Kaye chuckled. "And no one is more surprised than me, dear. He's not exactly had a lot of experience with children. Maybe it's his naturally playful spirit."

"Naturally playful?" I asked. "I've not seen that."

She just laughed again. "Oh, honey, you will. He's a kid at heart in a lot of ways. Just try to get him away from his computer game friends." She looked at me with a worried expression. "I don't mean he's one of those people who does nothing but play games. It's just one of the ways he decompresses. He works awfully hard."

"I know what you meant," I said. "My cousin Jax spends every available free moment playing video games. I know how it works."

Gradually, the various Badd families made the round of goodbyes, and everyone went to their respective homes. Kaye and Hayden crammed into our car with us—Duncan gave her one of the front captain's chairs, and Hayden insisted Dane take the other, leaving Dunc, Hayden, and me to wedge ourselves into the back.

Fortunately, it was a short ride home.

"All right, ya'll," Bast said as we gathered in the kitchen. "Real quick, here. In this family—meaning us as well as the larger clan as a whole—Christmas is mainly about togetherness. It's about celebrating what we've built—a family who cares about each other, supports each other, and is there for each other, no matter what. We welcome people in. We do the right thing. We have fun." He focused on Kaye and Hayden. "I know I speak for all of us when I say that we're fortunate to have met you two. No matter what happens, you guys are welcome here." To the kids, then. "Delia, Duncan, Dane, and Emerson. I'm proud of you. I love you." To Dru. "Babe, I—”

Dru lifted on her toes and shut him up with a kiss. "I know. Me too."

Bast laughed. "Exactly." He clapped his hands. "I suck at speeches, so that's enough of that. Let's eat!"

Dru always made a big pot of chili for Christmas Eve that simmered all day. Now, she shut off the burner and set out the various fixings, and we all dished ourselves, took our seats at the table, and dug in.

The men all went back for seconds and thirds. Toward the end, when it was clear the meal was winding down, Kaye pushed her bowl away and cleared her throat. "Dru, Bast, I just…I have to express my gratitude to you both for opening your home and your lives to my son and me. Without your hospitality, this would have probably been the worst Christmas of my life. But then Hayden met this wonderful, lovely young woman," and here she smiled at me with such love and warmth my stomach flipped, "and then, somehow, we got pulled into your lives, and we are the better for it. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for bringing joy to my heart when I thought…well, never mind what I thought."

Dru and Bast linked hands, and Dru addressed Kaye. "It all started sort of by accident, or perhaps unintentionally is a better word. Bast and his brothers brought me in and made me feel welcome. They gave me a family when I needed one the most—I'd just left my fiancé, and it had been just me and my dad for a very long time. And then…I met Bast. When Zane met Mara, I was over the moon. I had a sister, something I always dreamed of. And then, within a few years, I had seven sisters. And then ten, and then fifteen, plus a quasi-mother-in-law.”

"Well, it's truly remarkable." Kaye grabbed her son's hand. "We would love to give back even a little bit, if we could, by cleaning up after this delicious meal."

Dru frowned, shook her head. "Absolutely not. Guests don't—" She cut off, glancing at Bast; they had a silent conversation, and Dru sighed. "Kaye, it goes against my hostess's heart, but if it is important to you, then I'll allow it."

Kaye laughed. "It is important to me, and it would mean a lot. I do understand your position, however. I would feel the same way if the situation was reversed."

We all cleared our places and Kaye and Hayden made quick work of loading the dishwasher—they worked together in such effortless harmony that it was clear they'd spent a lot of time together exactly like that. Dru, Delia, and I dealt with the leftovers while Bast and the boys brought in wood and built a fire. Once the kitchen was clean, we all gathered in the living room, where the Christmas Eve presents were under the tree.

Kaye, tucking her legs beneath her on the loveseat next to Delia, looked around. "What's going on?"

Bast handed out the packages, each wrapped in sparkly white-and-silver wrapping paper. "Christmas Eve tradition. PJs, a book, and chocolate."

"Dad, you ruined the surprise," Dane fake-whined.

Bast rolled his eyes as he placed a package on Kaye's lap as well as handing one to Hayden. "You didn’t think we'd leave you guys out, did you?"

"I had to guess at your size," Dru said, "so hopefully I was at least close."

"If you shopped in the kids’ section, you're probably on the money," Hayden teased.

"Oh, hush you." She stuck her tongue out at him.

Everyone opened their presents—buffalo plaid fleece bottoms and a long-sleeve white waffle print top, a bar of chocolate, and a book picked by Dru. Kaye's was a book on grief and grieving.

Dru grimaced nervously as Kaye read the description on the back without expression. "I, god, I hope I didn't overstep, Kaye. I have no idea what your reading tastes are, and that's a book Olivia recommended to me after my dad died. It really helped, honestly."

Kaye sniffed. "You're so thoughtful—my goodness." She gave Dru a watery smile. "Thank you, my dear. Truly."

Duncan and Dane were already almost done with their chocolate.

Bast clapped his hands. "Okay, PJs on! We meet in the TV room for Die Hard in ten minutes." He pointed at me and then Hayden. “Hear me? Ten minutes ."

"Dude, really?" I said, rolling my eyes.

He shrugged. "Just covering my bases. It's not Christmas till Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Plaza."

Hayden and I went to my room. Once inside, I shut the door and immediately attacked him. I jumped at him, and he caught me, hands under my ass, mouth on mine, my legs wrapping around his waist, hiking the skirt of my dress up around my hips.

We broke after a minute, and Hayden rested his forehead against mine. "Em, Jesus."

"Sorry. I just had to kiss you."

"Don't apologize. I just…I want you so fucking bad it hurts. You in that fucking dress?"

Wiggling the hem back down as I slid out of his hold and backed up a few steps, I twirled in a circle. "You like?"

"I love."

I ignored his choice of words. "I wore it for you."

He stared at me hungrily. "I had to fight an erection the whole evening, so thanks for that."

I giggled. “Good. My work is done, then."

He took a step toward me, hands reaching. He stopped, fingers curling into a fist. "If I touch you, I won't stop."

I bit my lip. "I know the feeling."

"We can't start, Em. Much as I want to, we can't. Not yet."

I rubbed my face. "I know." I let out a breath. "Okay, so we just change. Nothing else."

"Then one of us needs to change in the bathroom because if I have to watch you peel out of that dress…" he shook his head. "I won't be able to keep my hands to myself."

I smirked. "Then it probably wouldn't help you to know I'm commando? No underwear, no bra."

He groaned. "No. Not helping."

I laughed. "Fine. Just unzip me, and then I'll hide myself from you."

He snorted. "I'm weak-willed where you're concerned, Em."

I went over to him and turned around. “Good. That's how I want it."

His fingers slid down my back as he lowered the zipper; I shivered when his lips touched my back between my shoulder blades and then my nape.

"Hayden…no fair," I whispered. "You're lighting a match in a room full of dynamite.”

He pressed himself up against me from behind, hands on my shoulders. "How am I supposed to resist you, Em?" He pushed the dress down so it dropped to pool around my feet, leaving me naked and shivering—but not from the chill in the air.

From his gaze that I felt on my bare skin like a physical touch. From the desire radiating off of him in a palpable wave.

"Hayden," I whispered again.

He rested his forehead on my shoulder, his hands sliding down my waist to rest on my naked hips. "Fuck, Em. You're so goddamn irresistible."

I shuddered, leaning my head back against his chest. "You're killing me, Hayden."

My nipples ached and my core pulsed. I felt him, a hard ridge pressing against my backside. His hands slid around to my stomach, hesitating. Then, with a ragged groan, he cupped my breasts, thumbing my erect nipples.

I whimpered and then ripped myself away from him, pacing forward and raking my hands through my hair. “Hayden, we can't ."

He spun away, fisting his hair. "Fuck. I'm sorry. I just…I can’t help myself."

"I want you to touch me more than I want my next breath." I snagged my PJs from the bed where I'd tossed them, stepped into the bottoms and shrugged into the top in record time. "There. Better?”

He glanced at me, eyes hot. "Marginally better."

I laughed. "It's Christmas jammies, Hayden. Not much sexy about that."

"I beg to differ. You could wear a paper sack and make it sexy."

I went to him and lifted to kiss his chin, just beneath his lower lip. "I'm going out there now, because if I watch you change, the same thing will happen, just the other way. And then we'll get in trouble. Bast takes his yearly Die Hard viewing very seriously."

He cupped my jaw, bent to kiss me—it was soft and sweet and quick. "Good idea. Go, I’ll be right out."

I fled the room. Delia was waiting at her door. "You look flustered."

I flipped her off. "Shut up."

She just laughed. “Secret salami surprise?"

"No. Shut up. We just changed." I pinched her nipple—she’d removed her bra, so she had some serious headlights going; Delia had very prominent nipples.

She batted my hand away. "Then why are you flushed and flustered?"

"Because all we did was change!"

Delia's laughter followed me into the kitchen.