Page 16 of Make or Break

My lips spread in a mild grimace. “Don’t hate me, but I prefer bourbon in my eggnog.”

He nudged my shoulder with his. “They got a liquor store here.”

I twisted my hands up in surrender. “I only live once.”

By the time we queued up for check out, I wondered if all the stuff would fit in my car. At the register, Tundra managed to find his way to the credit card reader first, and he paid for the entire haul.

“You aren’t supposed to pay for the feast, honey,” I whispered.

He grinned down at me. “You can get the next purchase, babe.”

I narrowed one eye, then realized I’d be footing the bill for the bourbon, which would top out at maybe seventy dollars depending on whether they sold fifths of liquor or if I had to buy a handle.

I gave him a closed-lip smile. “Thank you. You’re being very kind.”

He leaned closer. “You haven’t seen me eat, woman. Not at a holiday. You aren’t gonna have many leftovers.”

Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to watch him eat.

When we left my place, Tundra had insisted on driving. Since I’d seen this byplay from my parents, my aunts and uncles, and even my brothers, I didn’t resist. However, on our way back, as we moved from I-295 onto I-10 west bound, I wished I was driving.

Once we merged with oncoming traffic, I shifted a little in my seat. “If you don’t want anyone in the club to know about our four-days of fun, I’m thinking we should swing by the bar to get your bike.”

“Get out of my head, baby.”

“What do you mean? You were already planning to do that?”

“Yep. Would have had you drive from Costco, but that traffic on Collins Road is a bitch on a good day. Sadly, Christmas Eve brings out all the crazy mofos.”

He had that right.

“Yeah, I’m actually glad you’re driving right now…though I could have driven us there, no problem.”

He reached over and gave my thigh a squeeze. “Don’t care. You’re with me, I’m driving.”

That sounded familiar.

“Are you upset? You’re quiet.”

I shook my head. “I’m quiet because I’ve heard almost every female argument to the whole ‘I’m driving’ statement from alpha men like yourself. There’s not much for me to say. It’s who you are.”

His hand glided up and down my thigh. “I let you drive last night.”

I turned my face toward him. “You were incapacitated, bub.”

He chuckled. “You still drove.”

“This is true,” I said, staring at his hand on my leg. I wanted to pick it up and hold his hand, but this wasn’t that. If I was going to protect my heart, I had to resist that urge.

An hour later, I closed my refrigerator with a sigh. “Thank goodness we didn’t buy that zucchini. I wouldn’t have anywhere to put it.”

Tundra came up behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and rested his chin on my shoulder. “We’d have figured it out, sweetheart.”

“Yeah, I suppose so.”

His fingers went to my jeans. He unbuttoned them, then unzipped them, and shoved a hand into my panties. I spread my legs a touch and his fingers delved deeper.

“Did the mention of zucchini turn you on? Or was it the shopping?” I asked.