Christmas With My Ex (Stuck For the Holidays)

16. Nicholas

SIXTEEN

Nicholas

Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh O'er the fields we go Laughing all the way Ha ha ha

8:28 pm

The fire is still roaring. It matches my energy and hope that this isn’t where our night ends.

The warmth wraps around us like a cozy blanket. The Christmas lights twinkle in the background, adding a soft, magical glow to the room. Almost everyone else has cleared out except for a skeleton crew working and a guest or two meandering about.

I guess everyone is home getting ready for the big guy.

Rives leans back in her chair, and I can tell she’s getting a little too warm—she’s been fidgeting for a few minutes now, itching inside of her bulky knee brace.

She shifts again, pushing her hair off her neck. “I'm getting a little warm,” I say, knowing she is too proud to admit it if she thinks it will ruin the moment.

"Me, too. This fire is on point.”

"How about we go up to my suite for a change? We can cool down,” I suggest, keeping it casual. “A nightcap and then call it an early night. Gotta get ready for Santa, after all.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “A night cap and an early night sounds perfect, actually.”

I signal to the server, ordering two more glasses of wine and asking to settle the tab. Rives seems content, and I can’t help but notice the soft glow of her skin. She’s always been beautiful, but tonight, it feels like she’s glowing from the inside out.

Her long brown hair falls loosely around her shoulders, catching the light just enough to make the natural blonde highlights shimmer. And those bright blue eyes are as striking as ever.

The server returns, and I sign the receipt before standing up and offering her my hand. “Shall we?”

She grins, grabbing her crutches and getting herself up from the chair. We make our way to the elevator. She's gotten pretty quick on those crutches.

I keep an eye on her, resisting the urge to offer help, knowing she’s strong enough to handle herself.

As we ride up to my floor, there’s a comfortable silence between us, the quiet hum of the elevator filling the space. I glance over at her, catching the reflection of the holiday lights from the lobby in the mirrored walls of the elevator. It’s a simple moment, but something about it feels special.

We reach my room, and I push the door open, letting her step inside first. The soft glow of the room’s lamp flickers on as she moves toward the small seating area. I close the door behind us. “Wine delivery,” I say, handing her the glass.

She smiles up at me, her eyes warm and playful. “Thanks for being my sherpa. Walking and drinking has become a new challenge.”

"You can always count on me."

I sit down across from her, and for a moment, we just sip our wine in silence. The room feels calm, peaceful. Outside, the snow is still falling, blanketing the resort in a quiet, wintry charm. There’s something about this moment, about sitting here with her, that feels... perfect.

“You know,” I start, glancing at her, “I never thought we’d be spending Christmas Eve like this.”

She looks up at me, raising an eyebrow. “What, stuck in a snowstorm in the middle of a tiny resort?”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Something like that. I'm grateful for the surprise reunion, for the chance to spend some time with you. It might not have happened otherwise, and what a shame that would have been.”

Her smile softens, and I can see a flicker of emotion in her eyes—there is something deeper than the usual playful banter.

"I couldn't agree more, Nicholas. Thanks for not giving up on me and pushing me. I needed it and I'm so glad you did."

I nod, agreeing silently as I take another sip of my wine. The warmth from the fire downstairs still lingers, but up here, with just the two of us and the snow falling quietly outside, it feels even cozier.

It's even more like Christmas.

I set my wine glass down on the table beside me, the liquid swirling with the remnants of the night.

My gaze locks onto Rives, her eyes reflecting the embers of desire that I've fought so hard to suppress.

But here, in the quiet of my suite, with the world outside muffled by snow, there's no reason to hold back any longer.

I move closer to her, the space between us charged with a heat that belies the winter chill. My hands find her face, cradling her cheeks gently. Her skin is soft, warm, and I feel a tremor run through me at the contact. I lean in, pressing my lips to hers in a kiss that's both a homecoming and a new discovery. It's sensual, slow, and full of the longing that's been building since we first locked eyes again.

Kissing her is like coming up for air after being submerged for too long. It's relief, it's passion, it's the sweet ache of a need so deep it scares me. Her lips part, inviting me in, and I lose myself in the taste of her, the softness of her mouth against mine.

My fingers trail down her back, finding the zipper of her dress. I pull it down slowly, savoring the moment. The fabric parts for me, and I slide the dress off her shoulders, baring her to me. She shivers under my touch, and I pause, searching her eyes for any sign of hesitation. But all I see is the same fierce desire mirrored in my own gaze.

She reaches for the buttons of my shirt, her fingers deftly undoing each one. I watch her, the anticipation building with each inch of skin she reveals. When she's done, I shrug the shirt off, letting it fall to the floor. I stand, removing my pants, and her gaze travels the length of me, hungry and unashamed.

She leans forward, her hand wrapping around me, and I can't suppress the groan that escapes my lips. Her touch is a jolt of electricity igniting a fire within me. I'm acutely aware of every stroke, every caress, and I'm lost in the sensation of her hands on me.

With a swift motion, she slips out of her dress, leaving her in just her strapless bra and a thong. She lies back on the sofa, her eyes locked on mine, and I take a moment to drink in the sight of her—beautiful, strong, and so incredibly desirable.

"I want you, Nicholas," she whispers, her voice throaty and laced with mischief. "I've been a very naughty girl this year, so I hope I still get what I’m asking for.”

“I’ll give you what you’re asking for all right, I say, chuckling at her playfulness, even as my body throbs with need. I pull her thong to the side and position myself at her opening, the connection between us so intense it's almost palpable.

I enter her slowly, savoring the sensation of being enveloped by her warmth. It's sensual, meaningful, and as we move together, the world beyond this room fades away.

We're lost in each other, in the rhythm of our bodies, and the silent promises spoken through our touch. This isn't just sex; it's a reaffirmation of a connection that was never truly severed. It's a merging of two souls that, despite the odds, found their way back to each other.

10:01 pm

The room is quiet now, the only sound the soft hum of the heater running. We’re tangled on the sofa, the low light from the corner lamp casting a soft glow over the space. Rives is curled against me, her head resting on my chest, her fingers lazily tracing patterns on my skin.

I’m not sure when the line between us blurred so completely, but I feel it now—this undeniable connection, deeper than it ever was been before.

I glance down at her and she looks up at me. I brush a strand of hair from her face and marvel at her natural radiance.

She closes her eyes, a content smile remaining on her lips. The tension we used to carry around us, that weight of all the things unsaid and unresolved, only a few hours ago feels lighter now. Like we’ve finally managed to break through and we're on the other side.

“Hey,” I murmur, my voice soft.

She opens her eyes slowly, looking up at me, her expression calm, almost peaceful. “Hey.”

I run my hand down her back, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips. “You okay with all of this?”

She nods, her smile growing. “Yeah. Better than okay. This is magical.”

I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding, feeling the same. Better than okay doesn’t even begin to describe it.

“The best Christmas surprise,” I admit quietly. “I never saw this coming, and I had no idea how much I needed it, how much I needed you.”

She shifts a little, turning her body so she’s more on top of me with her top half, resting her arms on my chest. She looks at me with those bright blue eyes that still have the power to pull me in. What she says shocks me.

"Nicholas, no one is more surprised than me. I tried to erase you from my memory, and now I want to pencil you in everywhere I can. This all happened so fast, but I'm in deep."

Her words hit me in a way I didn’t expect, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at her, wondering how we ever let things fall apart in the first place. The years between us suddenly feel insignificant, like a brief pause that somehow helped bring us to this moment.

It gave us time we needed to figure things out, to grow up, to find ourselves. But now, it feels like everything we went through led us back to this moment.

I cup her face gently, my thumb brushing over her cheek. “So, does that mean I can see you again, after we leave here?”

She smiles, leaning into my touch, and the look in her eyes tells me everything I need to know. We’ve come a long way. We’re not the same people we were before, but somehow, we’ve found our way back to each other.

Her hand moves to my neck, her fingers threading through my hair as she pulls me closer. “I would love that,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

It's all I can do not to jump up and down. I thought this ship had sailed, that no matter what I did or said, she would never give me a second chance. I'm sure she can feel my heart thumping through my chest.

"I'm sorry for the way I left before. I promise to talk to you as we navigate this. I've grown up a little and more into my roles in life. You'll be pleased to see I can multi-task and the world won't crumble around me."

She shakes her head, pressing her face into my chest . “We both messed up, Nicholas. We were young. We were both hotheads, and I was not realistic. Not only have I slowed down, but I understand my wants and needs aren't the only ones.”

Her breath catches a little, and I can feel the emotion in her words when she speaks again. “But I wanted it to. I wanted us to work. And I would love to try again.”

I close my eyes for a second, feeling the weight of those words settle between us. I want it too. God, do I want it. I realized not long after we split that I gave up a good one, but I was too damned proud and stubborn.

I won't let this opportunity pass me by.

“I want it too,” I admit quietly. "I will put you first. I will put us first."

She pulls back slightly, her gaze searching mine. “And I understand that sometimes your son has to take precedence. I get that now.”

I think about it for a second, then shake my head. “You can both come first. I’ve learned a thing or two about balance.”

Her smile grows, and she leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. It’s not rushed or heated like before—it’s slow, meaningful.

And in that moment, I know it’s not just about the physical connection between us anymore.

It’s more than that. It’s the understanding that we’ve come full circle, that we’ve both changed, but the things that matter, they’re still here.

We lie there for a while longer, the weight of our past falling away with each breath. Her breathing slows and I wonder if she's fallen asleep in my arms.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I whisper, my hand resting on her back, holding her close. "Do you want to go get in my bed? It might be more comfortable."

She nuzzles against me, her voice soft and content. “That sounds amazing.”