Library
Search
Home / Romance / The Christmas Contract / Bonding Over Books And Cookies

Share

Bonding Over Books And Cookies

Author: Pen Seal
last update publish date: 2026-02-24 23:47:53

James’ apartment smelled like butter and warm sugar. The kitchen was open, modern, at the other end of the kitchen were books stacked on the counter, a half-read novel beside the aisle, a record playing softly in the background.

Melody stood close to the sink, she was wearing James’ oversized house slippers. They swallowed her feet completely. Every time she walked, they made a soft dragging sound.

She had on one of his white V-neck shirts. It reached mid-thigh. The sleeves were too long, so sh
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Previous Chapter Next Chapter
Locked Chapter

Latest chapter

  • The Christmas Contract    Emotionally Drained

    Melody woke up feeling worse than she did before she slept last night, like her body didn’t want to return to consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open, heavy and reluctant, her head sinking deeper into the pillow for a second before reality started creeping back in. The faint light filtering through the curtains told her it was already morning.She blinked, then turned her head slightly toward the bedside table. It was 9:17 a.m.Her brows furrowed immediately.“What…?” she muttered under her breath, her voice dry. That didn’t make sense, she hadn’t slept that long in days. Like her body had completely shut down and forced her to rest whether she wanted to or not.She swallowed, her throat dry, her eyes stinging slightly as the memory settled in again like it never left. James was leaving her and their baby, she cried herself to sleep. This was a new day and she wasn't going to keep feeling sorry for herself. This was too much heart break in a space of two months and she figured maybe it

  • The Christmas Contract    Another Heartbreak

    The kiss caught her off guard for a second, Melody didn’t move. Her body went still, her mind blanking out completely as James’ lips pressed against hers soft at first, testing, like he was giving her time to pull away if she wanted to.She didn’t. Instead, her fingers curled slightly into his shirt, gripping the fabric like she needed something to anchor herself. The tension that had been sitting in her chest since last night disappeared.James pulled back just slightly, his forehead resting against hers. His hand was still wrapped around her waist.“You stress me out,” he muttered under his breath.Melody let out a soft, breathless laugh. “You stress me out too.”For a moment, they just stayed like that, close enough to feel each other’s breath, neither of them moving away. Then he kissed her again deeply this time. She responded just as intensely. She could feel him getting hard through his sweatpants.Everything about him felt familiar, his touch, his scent, the way he held her li

  • The Christmas Contract    Apology Accepted

    The moment she got into her car after leaving Tara, she sat there for a full minute, hands gripping the steering wheel, her mind running in circles. Every instinct in her wanted to delay it. Go home first, shower, and rest. Think about it properly. But she knew herself well enough to recognize what that meant.It was avoidance. And she had already done enough of that. She exhaled slowly, leaned back against the seat, then muttered under her breath, “Just go.”So she did. The drive to James’ place felt longer than usual, even though it wasn’t. Traffic was light, the roads were clear, but her thoughts made everything feel stretched, heavy. She kept replaying last night in her head, over and over again, each version worse than the last. The way he looked at her.She wished she could go back in time, she would have told him before leaving for Malibu. She wouldn't have spoken to him the way she did.last night.Her grip tightened slightly on the wheel.“That was harsh,” she admitted quietly

  • The Christmas Contract    Catching Up On All The Spicy Gossip

    Melody woke up feeling like shit. Her body was heavy, her head dull, her stomach unsettled in that now familiar way. For a few minutes after she woke up, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling.She wasn't just physically stressed, she was emotionally and mentally stressed too. Last night didn't go as planned. Her eyes shut tightly as if she could block it out, rewind it, take it back.The words she said to James were hurtful, she couldn't even bring herself to call him and apologize. She would have to do that in person. He's been really good to her since they met, he even helped release her inner freak.She groaned softly, dragging a hand over her face. “God, somehow I end up fucking every good thing up.”Now that the anger was gone, now that the adrenaline had worn off, all that was left was clarity and it didn’t feel good. She understood why James had reacted the way he did. Walking into that house and seeing Logan shirtless sitting comfortably like he belonged there. She would

  • The Christmas Contract    Shirtless Ex Boss

    Melody has already texted James to tell him she was coming back home, she even went ahead to tell him about what happened to Tara in the house when she was away. She asked if he wouldn't mind coming over to stay with her and he agreed.She noticed he didn't really check up on her since she was in Malibu which was unlike him, James always called and texted her every hour all day but his responses were cold. She knew immediately that he was still mad at her.James wasn’t there when they arrived at home, and she felt kind of disappointed. He was taking his time.Logan glanced at her. “You want me to wait in the car until he gets here?”She looked at him and rolled her eyes like his question made no sense. “No, you can come in.”He got out of the car and asked his driver not to bother getting the suitcase. “I’ll help you take it inside.”She gave him a look. “You don’t have to.”“I know.” And just like that, he was already walking ahead. The house was exactly as she left it. Melody walke

  • The Christmas Contract    It's Not Safe To Go Home

    The delay had been unnecessary. At least, that was what Melody kept telling herself as she sat stiffly in the airport lounge, her fingers curled tightly around her phone, her patience wearing thinner with every passing minute.“It’s just a precaution,” Logan had said for the third time, his tone calm, almost too calm. “The storm isn’t even that serious.”Melody didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes stayed fixed on the large glass windows overlooking the runway, where planes stood still like silent giants waiting for permission to move.“I don’t care how serious it is,” she said finally, her voice flat. “I just want to go home.”Logan studied her for a moment, he knew she didn't mean that. He didn't think his house was that bad that she'd rather board a plane during a storm just to get away from Malibu. There was exhaustion in her face, and he didn't want to add to that.“Melody…” he started, softer now. “We could just go back. Spend the night at a hotel if you don't want to stay at my

  • The Christmas Contract    Growth Looked Good On Her

    Tara kept both hands on the steering wheel as she drove through the familiar stretch of road leading toward Pizza Hut, the soft hum of the engine filling the silence in her car.The day had been long, the kind that sat heavy in the chest even when the body was technically free to go home. She hadn’

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-20

  • The Christmas Contract    Flowers And Friendship

    Melody took her time unpacking. There was no rush and no sense of urgency tugging at her chest the way life usually did. Paris had slowed everything down for her, and she was grateful for it.She laid her clothes carefully inside the wardrobe, smoothing fabrics with her hands. Dresses she’d bought

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-20

  • The Christmas Contract    The Universe Finally Remembered Her

    The ride back to the hotel was filled with quiet laughter and soft glances that lingered a second longer than necessary. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows, streaks of gold and white reflecting against the glass as the car glided smoothly through the night. Melody still clutched the b

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-20

  • The Christmas Contract    Feliz Navidad From Paris

    The moment the private jet touched down in Paris, Melody felt it. She was freezing. It wasn’t subtle. It slipped through the seams of comfort and wrapped around her bones the second the aircraft door opened. She instinctively pulled her thick jacket tighter around herself, silently thanking hersel

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-20
More Chapters

You may also like

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status