He woke up in an equally foul mood in the morning. He showered quickly and took off to the store to pick up the few charms he had selected for her. Brayden sat in his car afterwords, looking at the bags on his front seat. The charms were in a delicate white bag, but the other bag was a pale pink, and it was screaming at him.

When he had gotten to the mall he’d rushed and picked up her charms immediately. He then decided to wander around the festive halls a little longer, maybe take in some cheer instead of the unmoving wave of disappointment he felt towards James. While he window shopped, he passed by a Victoria’s Secret and paused. A festive mannequin sat at the front of the store, dressed in a see-through negligee. Brayden eyed it wearily. He had been stopped staring for so long some of the women inside started looking at him suspiciously. Brayden gathered up his courage and walked in.

It smelled different than the rest of the mall in here, something he noted every time he had been in here. It was smelled sweeter, the music was sexier, and the lights were dimmer. He glanced around cautiously, looking for someone who worked there.

A women approached him with what he realized was a sexy smile.

“Can I help you find something?” She asked gently.

“Yes, I saw the mannequin out front and was hoping someone could help me find it and a size for it.” He didn’t balk.

“Of course! Our festive negligee, correct?”

“Yes.” He nodded.

Sometimes being around Lillian made him so nervous he thought he’d sweat out of his skin, but remembering his own general arrogance and attractiveness, he reupped his confidence.

“And the size, sir?” She smiled at him again.

“I’m not totally sure, what kind of measurements are you looking for?” He replied cooly.

“A bust size will help us decide what cup she’ll need, and general clothing size will decide the length and fit.”

“Does the whole thing come in a set?” He flashed his teeth subtly; he wasn’t leaving here without the exactly right thing.

“It does yes.” Marking his smirk with a grin.

“I have pictures of her, will that help us decide what size she needs?”

“It can yes.”

“Perfect. She’ll be a small in the general size but her bust size, I’m just not sure about it.” Whipping out his phone.

He found a favourite of his, she was leaning over the island in his kitchen, reaching for an apple to throw at him, a terrorizing look on her face. He smiled and turned the phone to the women.

“Is this helpful?” He asked.

“Yes, that narrows it down, anything else you can tell me about her. Volume wise?”

Brayden looked at his hands and remembered the way her breasts had felt under them last night.

“I’d say they fit perfectly in my hand, no excess, but no space either.” Brayden grinned, holding his cupped hand out for the women.

She blushed and looked away from him.

“Alright I think I know what size she’ll need.” Turning towards the rack with the negligee and panty set behind her.

She passed him a size and he inspected it. Picturing Lillian in it.

“That seems right.” His voice deeper than before.

The women, flushed again, before pointing him to the back of the store to purchase it.

“Thank you.” He nodded after clearing his throat.

After leaving the store, his brain being ripped out of the fog that settled over it in the store, he shook his head. He just told her they were going to take it slow, and now he had a Christmas themed nightie he was absolutely going to tear off her before the season was out. He groaned into his hand and shuffled himself out of the mall and into his truck.

He was staring at the two bags weakly when his phone chimed.

Is there any chance I’ll see you today?

Would you like to?

Unsure. I think I’m just lonely. Am I supposed to have space now?

Unsure. Do you want space?

Doubtful, but I don’t want to pressure you into spending all your time with me suddenly.

I’ve been pressuring you to spend all your time with me for months, I can work in a request for it now and again.

Are you busy now?

I’m doing some last-minute Christmas stuff, and a couple errands. I do also have to hit the gym today. I can pencil you in for about 30 minutes at 7pm?

That’s it!?

Lmao, no. I’ll speed run my errands and workout and see you no later than 2? Plz allow breathing room for traffic.

That seems agreeable. Can I text you in the meantime or will that slow down your errands?

It will 100% slow me down, but if you don’t text me all day, my feelings will be hurt.

Compromise, I’ll text you in 30 minutes intervals and you’ll zip around between them.

Deal.

The messaged flashed read, but no reply came.

“I guess my time starts now.” He grinned to himself.

He picked up the handful of things his mom had asked him to grab before going back home.

Lillian texted Brayden 4 more times before he was in his car driving to her house. He’d grabbed the gifts he’d bundled up for her, and the ones he had found for her family. A record from a band he knew Liam liked, a new roll of ink for Alex’s typewriter and a set of tools to clean it, a pie his mom helped him bake last week for Lillian’s mom, and a book deep diving into famous conspiracies for her dad. Each one prettily wrapped, also with help from his mom. He grinned at his little piling, almost giddy with the thought of putting them under a tree. He had planned on just giving her the stack before she left his apartment which was supposed to be today. The prospect of putting them under her tree and being a part of the holiday with her family filled him with what he supposed was the Christmas spirit. Ahead of schedule, he stopped and grabbed 6 hot chocolates to bring with him.

He gripped the present bag tightly in one hand while he tried to balance 6 hot chocolates on the tray. Alex appeared behind his door, somehow the crunchy snow not alerting Brayden at all.

“Need some help?” He offered.

“Please.” Brayden asked.

Handing two of the hot chocolates to Alex, Brayden closed his truck door and followed him inside."We heard about James… and about you coincidently, since you decided to make out with my sister at the front door, in the kitchen at 8 o’clock in the evening, with my mom, dad, and myself all right there.” Alex rambled bemused.

“I… you guys were in the kitchen?” Brayden whispered.

“Yep, clearly you two were somewhere else though, Lillian just went back downstairs, didn’t say a single word or acknowledge us at all.” Alex grinned, knocking the door in with the toe of his shoe.

“Hmm, well. That’s unfortunate.” Brayden mused.

“Is it?” Alex turned with a cheerful smile.

Brayden just stood in the doorway of the house; her whole family was there to greet him. All of them sneaking cheeky winks or smiles, or hardy pats on the shoulder (from her dad). Lillian ambled upstairs at the commotion and blushed deeply when her whole family turned to look between the two.

“I brought hot chocolate.” Brayden grinned unapologetically, relishing in her shy smile and heated cheeks, like he always did.

The drinks passed around quickly; Christmas music played on the tv while her mother prepped the dinners for the next two days. A general flurry of tidying and motion whorled around Brayden and Lillian as they stood at the kitchen island, looking at each other.

“I also come baring gifts.” Brayden grinned.

“Come, we’ll put them under the tree.” Lillian twinkled, leading him towards the giant fir tree in the living room.

Brayden shooed her away from the tree teasingly, arranging his own gifts thoughtfully under it, leaving the pie and pink bag in his own bag. He trotted back up to the kitchen, pulling the pie out of the bag, leaving the pink bag on the floor hidden in the bigger bag.

“My mom helped me make this for you.” He mumbled shyly to her mother.

Lillian rolled her eyes and Brayden’s feigned docility. She at least thought he was putting on an act, and while he was milking it a little, he really did want her mother to approve of his pie. The layers didn’t lay totally flat, and the strips were wonky. Her mother beamed at him, with all that motherly love she always radiated.

“You made me a pie!” She exclaimed. “Thank you so much Brayden. Do you want to save it for tomorrows dinner, or would you like to eat with us tonight too, and we can have your pie?” Brayden beamed, shooting Lillian a teasing, gleeful look.

“Tonight sounds great.” Taking the pie and putting it in the crowded fridge.

Her mother patted his cheek gently and went back to her cooking humming along to the Christmas song playing.

Brayden turned and whispered in Lillian’s ear, “Come with me, I have one more gift left.” His words breathy and seductive in her ear.

Lillian nodded mutely, as they departed the activity rich kitchen and into the basement - inexplicably decorated just as much at upstairs was. The holiday cheer, and newer, more modern Christmas music, followed them into her room. Brayden’s eyes glossed over in arousal, as he pulled the last bag out. The little pink bag hung in the air between them. Lillian eyed is suspiciously.

“I just couldn’t help it.” He whispered.

Lillian took the bag from him gently, turning and placing it on her bed before pulling the pink tissue paper out of the top. Heat rose from her neck to her ears at the pieces she pulled out of the bag. Brayden eyes heated, as his skin started to prickle, his clothes now too rough on his skin. He rolled his shoulders trying to release the tension.

“Ben, it’s so pretty.” Lillian cooed.

The red gossamer, floating through her hands with the white fur lining on the edges, the matching Christmas red panties followed, also shear, with a small white bow on the front.

“And very festive.” She added pointedly.

“I know I said a lot of stuff about, not rushing things and being all slow and romantic…” Brayden’s fingers brushed her side. “But I really need you to put this on, so I can take it off you, before the holiday season is out.” He voice was husky in her ear.

“Hmm, well since you asked so nicely, and you are spending Christmas eve and morning with us, I’ll see what I can do.” She teased back at him, gently folding the garment back into the bag, carefully placing it just under her bed.

Brayden rested his brow on her head and groaned.

“Anticipation and all that.” Lillian giggled.

Brayden nodded mutely tugging her back against him. His erection pushing into her back.

“Can you feel how hard I am for you, just at the thought?” His breath hot on her neck.

Lillian squirmed, goosebumps forming on her neck and shoulders. Brayden pressed a gentle kiss where her neck and shoulder met, curving his body around hers. Lillian whimpered, reaching her hand behind her to run it through his hair. Brayden rumbled into her skin, leaving a trail of kisses up her neck before tugging her earlobe gently with his teeth.

“Let’s go join in the holiday cheer, hmm?” Brayden drawled in her ear.

Lillian nodded, turning to face him. Brayden’s tongue darted out across his lip before taking one large step away. His jeans pressed rudely back on his erection. His long-sleeved shirt now too tight and hot across his chest. He lifted an arm up behind his head sheepishly, the skin under the hem of his shirt poking out. Lillian glanced at the lightly golden skin before averting her eyes.

“C’mon.” She muttered grabbing his hand and dragging him back upstairs.