She changed into dark jeans, deciding it was better not to risk any accidents by only wearing leggings, and her knee-high boots. She found Tristan staring intently at his phone when she returned to the living room a few minutes later. He glanced up almost as soon as she came into the room, like he sensed her presence.

“Nervous?” he asked.

Cosima nodded. “As hell. It’s wild that I’m trusting you with something like this.”

“You’re safe with me.”

His voice was filled with such earnestness that Cosima almost laughed. She’d agreed to this little side mission during their Christmas tree decoration expedition easily because she couldn’t see any reality where her Christmas didn’t end with Tristan buried deep inside her.

“Just don’t have me embarrassing myself out in public,” she said, hoping he could hear the smallest bit of panic that was an undercurrent to the teasing notes of her voice.

“We don’t have to do this if you don’t feel comfortable,” he said. “But I wouldn’t have you out there embarrassing yourself… I know you haven’t already forgotten how I almost broke both legs and my left hand keeping you upright when gravity really started kicking your ass during the last couple minutes at the rink.”

“Now you’re just telling tales,” she protested, even though she could recall the panic she felt when she got a bit too into a replay of DMX’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and started to slip on the ice. The only thing that stood between her and the fall was Tristan’s quick reflexes. Not wanting to admit that he was right, she returned the conversation to where it had started. “I’m ready. Let’s do it! I mean, how bad could it be?”

* * *

It was horrible.

But in the most delicious way possible. Cosima felt like she’d been on the edge of an orgasm for hours while Tristan refused to grant her reprieve. That shit was frustrating as hell, but it felt so, so good.

Tristan had been so slow in starting the vibrator that Cosima began to worry that he was nervous as well. She’d spent the first part of the trip browsing the Christmas décor section of the closest Target on high alert, stealing glances every few moments to keep track of what Tristan was doing with his phone. It was only when she noticed the little smile on his face whenever he caught her looking around frantically that she realized he was intentionally delaying the process to work on her nerves.

Tristan walked the aisle with her and gave her his full attention as they tried to find things that matched the white, silver, and blue theme she’d decided on.