‘Not yet, as according to Hil, the bus will be a few days because of the bleedin’ snow,’ she said in Hil’s accent.
Edward laughed and he stroked the palm of her hand with his thumb.
‘So when the buses start running again, you’ll head off?’
‘I still have to do the final edits,’ she said. ‘But then, yes, back to reality.’
Their eyes locked on his and his need for her was as intense as the exhaustion he felt, but he wanted her more than anything he had ever desired.
‘Come to bed, Eve,’ he said, and he took the book from her hands and laid it on the table.
He stood up and pulled her to her feet and waited while she paused and put her feet into her reindeer slippers.
‘I can’t wait to take them off first,’ he whispered in her ear just before he kissed her neck.
‘Never,’ she said as she arched to take his kiss down her neck and onto her collarbone. ‘I will be naked but I will never take off my Christmas slippers.’
Edward dipped her in his arms and kissed her.
‘Let’s go, birthday girl. I am going to unwrap you like my own special present.’
Eve kissed him back but then pulled away.
‘I have a present for you, and I want you to open it.’
She went to the tree and reached under and pulled out a box. She came back and handed it to him.
‘It’s your birthday, I should be giving you your present,’ he complained but Eve shook her head.
‘This means a lot to me, so if you can open it, it will make me happy.’
Edward shook the box. ‘How can I argue with that?’
He tore off the paper and saw a simple white box. He lifted the lid and then burst into a loud peal of laughter.
‘Oh, Eve. You didn’t!?’
Eve smiled and then clapped her hands. ‘I did, so put them on.’ Edward lifted a reindeer slipper with a glowing red nose from the box and put it on the floor and kicked off his sneaker. He slipped one foot into the shoe and then put the other on.
‘Okay, I admit, they’re comfortable and cute but if you ever, ever tell anyone I am wearing these, I will never forgive you.’
Eve kissed him and their pointed reindeer toes touched.
‘Come to bed, Evie Pilkins, please. I want you and your silly slippers in my arms when we wake on Christmas Day.’
‘Only people who love me call me Evie,’ she teased.
‘And only people who love me call me Ed – my parents because they’re my parents, and my agent, because of all the money I’ve made him.’
Eve laughed and kissed him.
‘Formal names only, noted,’ she said and then she ran from the room and up the stairs.
‘Come on then, Mr Priest, don’t keep a girl waiting.’
‘Coming, Miss Pilkins. Ready or not.’
32
