I'm pretty sure he wants it to be a good Christmas for the both of us. After all, it's not like he hasn't been suffering too with my moods lately and it's certainly not like he doesn't have people back home that he misses just as much as I do. And, honestly, a week spent with my absolute favorite person in all of Darrow sounds absolutely perfect to me.

I'm just about to tell him as much before he ducks in fast to pick me up by my thighs and then it's all I can do to squeal in surprise, kicking only a little before he's dropping me onto the bed and leaning over me.

"Is that a promise?" I ask, grinning up at him. It's easy as anything to wrap my legs around his waist and press my hands against his chest, feeling the hard warmth of him through the fabric. "Because I sure hope it is. Unless that means no jacuzzi."