“MERRY CHRISTMAS, MILES.”

My eyes opened at the deep voice in my ear, and as I stretched my legs beneath the sheets, a strong arm wrapped around my waist.

“Mmm, merry Christmas,” I said, sleep making my voice lazy as I snuggled into the warm arms enveloping me. “This is much better than the way I woke up last year.”

Full lips nuzzled in under my ear, and when a chuckle made the body behind me vibrate, I knew Aiden was thinking the same thing. “You don’t say.”

“I do,” I said, and turned my head to stare at the man who was stretched out behind me in my childhood queen-sized bed—exactly where he should’ve been all along.

Aiden’s lips curved into the gorgeous smile that had first swept me off my feet, and when I rolled in his arms so I was facing him, he shifted to make room for me.

“You look good in my bed, Mr. Mahoney.” I tangled my bare legs with his pajama-clad ones to keep nice and toasty, and moved in closer so my head was resting on the same pillow as his.

“I’m glad you think so. Your floor is really uncomfortable.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“I would, trust me. And I don’t ever want to end up there again.”

I brushed a kiss against his lips. “Never…”

“Hmm, good. ’Cause I kind of like it right here.”

And so did I. This past year had been the best of my life, and that was due largely in part to the man who was now trailing his fingers down my cheek, and looking at me as though I’d hung the moon.

Not a day had gone by, since he’d shown back up on my parents’ doorstep, that we didn’t see or talk with one another, and as the months had passed, our relationship had progressed to the point where we were now going to officially start looking for a place together.

Truth be told, I probably would’ve jumped into that decision much sooner than now, but there’d been no way I was about to leave Holly in the lurch without a roommate to take my place. But ever since she’d gotten her fancy new promotion, at Kloss Fashion House, she’d been talking about looking for a place to call her own.

Whether that was because she actually wanted to be Miss Independent, or she was just sick of watching the way Aiden and I mooned all over one another, I wasn’t sure. But either way, I felt better knowing she was moving up in the world, as I moved out.

It looked as though Santa had really come through for her on that wish of hers, and speaking of Santa…

“Hey?” I said, and bit my lower lip.

There was something that had been niggling in the back of my mind ever since I’d dragged Aiden along with me and Holly for our now-traditional “sit on Santa’s lap photo” last weekend.

I’d debated bringing it up with him, wondering if he’d think I was deranged. But after last night’s conversation at dinner about the time I’d put tape on Rick’s eyebrows and gave him a semi-permanent wax job, I figured it was a safe assumption that Aiden was here to stay.

“Yeah?”

“You know how I told you about that wish I made last year, with Santa?”

Aiden shifted back a little and propped his head on his hand. “I do. You told me you wished for me.”

I nodded. “Right. Well, wished for ‘a boyfriend,’ if we’re getting technical.”

“Oh? So it could’ve been anyone? Good to know.” Aiden laughed, and I shoved his rumbling chest. He took hold of my wrist and brought my hand up to kiss the back of my hand.

“No,” I said. “I just made it…generic.”

“Mhmm, okay,” Aiden said, and my heart sped up, as it always did when he focused on me.

How is he mine? There really was only one explanation that made sense, wasn’t there?

“Well, when we got our photo taken this year, do you remember, as we were leaving, Santa called me back?”

“Yeah, he whispered something in your ear that you refused to tell me.”

I gnawed on my lip. “I didn’t want you to think I was crazy, that’s why.”

Aiden’s brows rose. “Why would I think you were crazy?”

“Because what I didn’t tell you about last year was that when I visited Santa, I saw you across the mall and I had this thought.”

“Ooh, I’m liking this,” Aiden said with a naughty grin.

“Not that kind of thought. Thank God. Because Aiden…I think Santa read my mind. I think he’s real.”

Aiden’s shock was clearly written all over his face, and before he could tell me I was insane, I hurried on.

“I saw you, and I remember thinking, clear as a bell, You put that guy under my Christmas tree this year, and I’ll happily eat my words. And you know what Santa said to me this year?”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed.

“He said, ‘Well, I put him under your tree for you, young man. Now it’s up to the both of you where you go from here.’” And just like when Santa said it to me, goosebumps broke out all over my skin.

When Aiden said nothing, I screwed my nose up. “Do you think I’m nuts? Are you wondering what you’re doing lying in bed with some guy who still believes in Santa? Who thinks he actually had a conversation with Santa…twice?”

Aiden cradled my cheek and pressed a soft, sweet kiss to my lips. “Thank you.”

I put my hands to his chest and scooted in closer to him. “Thank you?”

Aiden gave me an Eskimo kiss, and then leaned his forehead to mine, shut his eyes, and whispered, “For wishing for me.”

My eyes welled at the love I could hear in his voice. “Best wish I’ve ever made.”

Aiden’s eyes opened. “Yeah?”

“Definitely,” I said, and then heard myself say, “I love you, Sean Aiden Mahoney.”

Never had words felt more right, and when Aiden whispered, “I love you too, Miles Graham McAllister,” I melted into his embrace and added this moment to the other perfect ones that had come before this, knowing there’d be plenty more in our future.

Especially if Santa came through with this year’s wish. ~wink~