"So how was the party?" Adam asked once they got back to Elle"s place.
"Same as always. It was nice to see Abby but boring to see everyone else."
""Tis the season to amuse your family after all." Adam said, earning a laugh from Elle.
"Oh you should have heard the conversation I had with this one aunt. She told me I need a boyfriend and I basically told her I had all the hot men I could desire in this condo. The look on her face was priceless." Elle began laughing at the memory. "So I suppose it wasn"t a total bust. I got some solid amus.e.m.e.nt out of the night."
"And exactly how many hot men in his building have caught your eye? I recall you were quite friendly with that one actor, should I be concerned?"
Elle would have thought that Adam was being serious if it wasn"t for the grin on his face or the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"Why would any of them catch my eye when I already have you?" Elle asked as she sauntered over to Adam and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You"re so attractive, all of the other"s are nothing compared to you."
Adam scoffed. "Flattery will get you nowhere."
"Really?" She asked, batting her eyes at him. "What if it"s not an exaggeration? What if you really are the only man in my eyes?"
"That might get you somewhere." Adam replied, leaning down to press his lips to hers.
Elle didn"t realized how much she had been missing this man until she was reminded of the warmth of his lips. A warmth that made her cheeks flush pink and slowly spread through her arms and to her chest.
She clung to him tighter, calling his name in whispers when he would finally let her get a breath while his lips work their way down her neck instead. It seemed that their thoughts were in sync for just when Elle felt that she could take anymore Adam bent down and picked her up so that both her legs were wrapped around his waist.
He carried her into the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. Elle could faintly taste the champagne which he must have had at his parent"s house that still lingered in his mouth.
"I might get drunk on it." Elle thought to herself as Adam"s fingers raked through her hair, freeing it from the bun it was in.
"Did you have a good time with your family tonight?" Elle asked suddenly.
"It was fine."
"Your mother wasn"t upset that you wouldn"t be spending Christmas day at home was she?"
"Are you really going to ask me about my mother in a moment like this?" He asked incredulously. Adam sat up to undo his shirt, undoing the b.u.t.tons one by one to reveal he toned muscle that lay beneath.
"No," Elle replied, whatever thoughts that were previously on her mind were forgotten instantly.
"Red was a good choice." Adam murmured as he slowly undid the zipper on her dress. "It really is stunning on you."
Elle didn"t know how to express the fondness those words made her feel. Instead she pulled his face to hers, hoping that her actions would speak for her.
Afterwards Elle lay in Adam"s arms, half asleep, with a soft smile on her face. One of Adam"s hands ran up and down her arm, tracing random patterns lightly against her skin.
"Do you remember that beach we went to?" Elle asked softly. "Remember how lovely it was? Even now I can remember how it felt to have the warm breeze against my skin with the sunlight streaming in while you slept beside me."
"Hmm." Adam hummed, smiling at the happy memory.
"Back then I thought I was the happiest person in the world. I thought that was the happiest a person could ever be, and yet, somehow, I think right now I"m even happier than I was then."
Adam rolled over, pulling Elle with him so that she was pinned beneath him. The twinkle of the soft Christmas lights hanging above them reflected like starlight in her sparkling eyes.
"If you"re going to say such dangerous words you better be prepared to take responsibility." He said in a husky voice that sent a shiver down Elle"s spine.
"Again?" Elle requested meekly.