by Sarina Bowen
“We might have been loud,” she murmured. “But for the record, I do not sound like a howler monkey.”
“Mmm,” I said. Because that was all I was capable of saying.
“I feel the best I’ve felt all day,” Bella said, her smooth hand stroking my chest. “I think I’m cured. It’s a miracle.” Then she turned her head away from me suddenly and sneezed. “Spoke too soon.”
“Mmm,” I said again, holding her closer.
She tucked one silky knee between mine and sighed. “Can I have my Christmas present now?”
“Nope,” I said automatically. Although, it wasn’t the worst idea to give it to her early. I wanted her to be able to use it before school started again. “I’d love to hand it over, belleza. But then I wouldn’t have anything for you on Christmas.”
“Who cares? As long as you don’t propose to my sister, you’ll still be the best holiday boyfriend I ever had.”
I raised my head and laughed. “She is not my type. You are my type. I want the sassy, fierce sister with trust issues. You are ten times more fun than any other girl alive and hotter than my aunties’ pepper sauce.”
She blinked at me. “I changed my mind. I don’t even need the gift. Just tattoo that on my ass and we’ll call it even.”
I kissed her on her red nose. “Stay here a second.”
Somehow I heaved my carcass out of her excellent bed. In her bathroom, I made quick work of the condom. Then I tiptoed naked into the hallway to retrieve the shopping bag Lianne had left for me.
Bella clapped her hands when I came back to bed with the bag. But she stopped when she could read the side. “Paragon Sports?” Her eyebrows shot up. “You bought me running shoes! And Lianne tried them on, because we have the same size feet.”
“Good guess, but you’re wrong.” I slid the box out of the bag. It was wrapped in red and green paper, and it weighed more than a pair of running shoes. I’d decided I was fine with giving her the gift now. I could still make her a really romantic card for Christmas. And I’d make her open it in front of me, so I could watch her try to pretend like it was no big deal.
Bella did appreciate romance. She just didn’t like admitting it.
With big eyes, she gave the box a shake. Then she tore into the paper. Throwing her head back, she laughed out loud. “Hockey skates? God, I’m going to break a limb. Maybe two.”
“No you won’t.”
“I don’t skate.”
“Sure you do. It’s just like walking, but slidier. Just hold on to me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll try it. You have to promise not to laugh too hard.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“And this is awesome, because it means I get to choose a present for you that’s outside your comfort zone.”
“What?” It was possible I hadn’t thought this all the way through.
Bella gave me an evil laugh. “Handcuffs. No. Restraints.”
“I think I need to renegotiate.”
“Too late!” Giggling, Bella grabbed my hands and lifted them up to the headboard. “Yeah. This is going to be awesome. And a blindfold. But I’ll take it easy on you, and we’ll save the nipple clamps for another holiday season.”
“Jesucristo.”
“I can make you scream that word.” Then? She tickled me.
“I am in so much trouble,” I said, dodging her questing fingertips.
“Yes you are!”
“Then so are you.” In a lightning-fast move, I grabbed both her hands and rolled, trapping her under my weight.
And her shriek was not unlike a howler monkey’s.
THE END
* * *
Thank You for Reading
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Also by Sarina Bowen: The Gravity Series
Coming In From the Cold
Falling From the Sky
Shooting for the Stars
The Ivy Years is:
The Year We Fell Down #1
The Year We Hid Away #2
Blonde Date #2.5
The Understatement of the Year #3
The Shameless Hour #4
Untitled #5 (Lianne needs a book!)
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Acknowledgments
I am incredibly grateful to the following authors who read this book before its publication. You all swept in at my hour of need, and I am so lucky to know you. Thank you Tammara Webber, Amy Jo Cousins, Natalie Blitt, Elle Kennedy, Kristen Callihan, Megan Erickson and Karen Stivali. You all helped make this the book I wanted it to be.
And thank you to Mari Cárdenas and Silvana Reyes for your help with Rafe’s Spanish slang! Those emails we passed back and forth were incredibly amusing. (And #NSFW!)
Finally, thank you to Edie Danford for the excellent editing and friendship. #Vermont#Girl#Power!
About the Author
Sarina Bowen writes contemporary and New Adult romance from the Green Mountains of Vermont. The Shameless Hour is her seventh novel.
Also find Sarina on these websites
@sarinabowen
authorsarinabowen
www.sarinabowen.com
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