Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Turning slowly as she awoke, Nat's gaze fell on Sofia. Her heart leaped, a wild, exhilarating pulse as she took in Sofia’s relaxed form next to her, her face peaceful, a stray lock of hair covering one eye. Sofia was here – in her apartment, in her bed, naked and more beautiful than ever.
The thrill of the night before flooded back in a rush, and Nat smiled as she ran a hand over Sofia’s waist, breathing in her scent.
Sofia stirred, her dark lashes fluttering against her cheeks before her eyes opened, soft with sleep. “Morning,” she murmured, her voice husky, a hint of surprise in her expression as she took in Nat’s face and then her bedroom.
Nat stifled a giggle. “Hey,” she whispered back.
She followed Sofia’s gaze, still a little self-conscious about the mess.
The apartment was small and simple, but she’d made it hers.
On the walls on either side of the bed were prints of the mountains, a couple of photos with her family, and in the corner stood an armchair and a woven basket brimming with blankets.
She liked things organized and uncluttered, with only the essentials around her: the heavy ceramic mug she always used for coffee, the knitted throw her grandmother had made, and her favorite cookbooks stacked neatly on her nightstand.
But lately, she’d been busy and hadn’t had much time to do her laundry or tidy up and now it felt cluttered, with clothes piled over her chair, not to mention the dishes that were still in her sink in the kitchen.
“I love it here,” Sofia said, her eyes lingering on the details that made the place feel so clearly like Nat. “It’s… cozy. Very you.”
Nat smiled. “Thanks. It’s nothing fancy and a little messy at the moment, but… it’s home.”
They shared a look, and Sofia’s hand slipped over to Nat’s, their fingers entwining naturally. A comfortable silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint sounds of the city waking outside.
Nat reached up to brush a strand of hair from Sofia’s cheek, marveling at how easily they fit together, how natural it felt to have Sofia here, sharing her morning in this quiet, ordinary way. “Would you like a coffee?” she asked.
“Mmm, yes please," Sofia replied, stretching languidly. But before either of them could move, Nat's phone buzzed on the nightstand. She grabbed it, her eyes widening as she saw the time.
"Oh no," she gasped. "It's already ten! Mom's texted three times asking if we're coming for breakfast." She sat up, scrolling through the messages.
"'Nat, are you awake? Do you still have company?
' 'Nat, the cinnamon rolls are almost ready.
Does Sofia like cinnamon rolls?' 'Natalie Bergman, don't tell me you're still sleeping on Christmas morning! '"
Sofia chuckled at Nat's impression of her mother's increasingly urgent texts. "I should probably let you go spend time with your family," she said, sitting up. "It's Christmas morning, after all. I don't want to intrude."
"Don't be silly," Nat said, pulling her in for a kiss.
"You were invited, remember? And besides, I want them to meet you properly this time - not just as the mysterious guest who showed up on our doorstep last night.
" She paused, a humorous glint in her eye.
"Though I have to ask - can you face people before your first coffee of the day?
Because my sister can be pretty intense. "
Sofia laughed, running a hand through her tousled hair. "I’m fine, I’m a morning person. Besides, I’m sure your mom will have plenty of coffee on hand."
"Oh, she definitely does. And her coffee is way better than mine.
" Nat stood up, stretched, and walked to the window.
The snow was falling even harder now, creating a peaceful curtain of white.
"We can just throw on yesterday's clothes for now and figure out the rest later.
Unless you want to go back to the lodge? "
"Not really, no. I'd rather avoid Carla for as long as I can." Sofia came up behind Nat and wrapped her arms around her waist. “But I can’t wait to see Moxie again. I’ve missed that little rascal.”
“I’m sure she’s missed you too,” Nat said. “I hope Zoe will give her back, I wouldn’t be surprised if Moxie slept in her bed last night.”
“As long as she’s loved. I can always negotiate with Zoe about co-parenting,” Sofia joked, tightening her embrace.
Nat leaned back into her, basking in the warmth of Sofia’s skin. The simple intimacy of the moment - Sofia's chin resting on her shoulder, her arms wrapped securely around Nat's waist - made her heart flutter.
Below her window, the main street was unusually quiet, the storefronts dark and peaceful.
Snow fell in thick, lazy flakes, blanketing the window displays and collecting on the empty benches.
The holiday lights strung across the street twinkled through the swirling white, and occasional pedestrians - likely heading to family celebrations - trudged through the accumulating snow, leaving fresh tracks in their wake.
A few skiers were making their way toward the gondola, equipment slung over their shoulders, taking advantage of the perfect powder day.
"Look at that," Sofia murmured against her cheek, her breath warm. "It's like something from a postcard." She squeezed Nat gently, and Nat covered Sofia's hands with her own, marveling at how right this felt as she watched her town slumber under its pristine blanket of snow. “Merry Christmas.”
Nat turned to face her. “Merry Christmas,” she said, smiling as she brushed her lips against Sofia’s. Pressing her body into Sofia’s, arousal coiled inside her again, and she let out a quiet moan as they kissed.
"You know," she said, inching back just enough to meet Sofia’s eyes, "I could always text Mom and tell her we'll skip breakfast..." Her hands slipped around to Sofia’s behind, loving how Sofia's breath caught at her touch.
"Tempting," Sofia whispered, her lips ghosting over Nat's neck.
"Very tempting." She pulled back, her eyes dark with desire, but there was a hint of amusement in her smile.
"But we can't keep your mother waiting. Not on Christmas morning and I need to make up for last night.
Besides," she added with a grin, "I smell cinnamon rolls. "
Nat chuckled. "You're right." She lifted her head with a mischievous look. "But after breakfast, we're coming back here, and we’ll have a very long, very thorough shower."
"Is that so?" Sofia raised a brow. "Together?"
"Oh, definitely," Nat breathed. "It's very important to conserve water. Environmental responsibility and all that."
"How very conscientious of you," Sofia teased, but her voice had grown husky. She leaned in, capturing Nat's lips in another kiss that made Nat's head spin. Her hands found their way to Nat’s breasts, and for a moment, Nat considered throwing all their plans out the window.
"Okay, seriously," Sofia said with a chuckle, pulling back reluctantly. "We really need to stop, or we're never going to make it out of the door."
“It’s all your fault. You’re a bad influence,” Nat shot back, finally opening her drawer and randomly selecting underwear and socks. It didn’t matter all that much what she wore. It would all come off again very soon.