Home For Christmas(10)

He kisses me hard and I taste my passion on his lips. It’s somehow so intimate and primal that I want him to do it over and over. My mind is everywhere as his body presses down on me, and I’m a ball of sensations.

When his lips trail down my chest and to my breasts, I cry out as he sucks a nipple into his mouth. Every nerve ending in my body is firing on red alert and I cling to him as my orgasm approaches.

“I love you,” he says as he places a kiss between my breasts and then moves to my nipple.

“I love you,” I say, but it turns into a moan as my body, so tight from pleasure, finally falls over the edge.

Warmth spreads inside me as pleasure takes hold and I lie limp on the floor. My eyes flutter open as Vance rolls us over so that I’m on top of his chest trying to catch my breath. His heartbeat is strong in my ears and I’m reminded that he’s alive and he’s here with me. And we’re going to be together forever.

There’s a soft knock on the door and I giggle as Vance yells for them to go away.

We’re quiet for a moment before I sit up quickly and look down at him.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his eyes wide.

“It’s Christmas,” I say excitedly.

“And?” He smiles, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“I got my wish,” I whisper, leaning down and kissing him.

“And what was that?” he asks, sitting up with me on his lap.

“You.”

He presses his forehead to mine and the firelight dances off his cheek. It’s every Christmas wish I’ve ever had come true all at once. And I couldn’t ask for anything more.





Epilogue





Vance





Almost one year later…




“I love Christmas Eve,” Holly says as she cuddles close to me.

“Why is that, baby?” I kiss the top of her head and look down at our sleeping son in her arms.

His chubby hand is wrapped around my finger and his dark lashes lie against his rosy cheeks.

“It’s all the magic,” she says, looking up at me. “The anticipation is exciting—not knowing what tomorrow will bring. I can’t wait for him to be old enough to enjoy it.”

Hunter comes in and lets out a big sigh as he plops down on the chair across from us. “Yeah, but wait until they know what’s about to happen, and then they won’t go to sleep.” He shakes his head, but he smiles as Autumn comes over and hands him a beer and sits in his lap.

The fire is going and soft Christmas music is playing. The tree is twinkling and piles of presents are underneath it. It’s been the perfect day, and I’m happy I get to spend it with the people I love most.

“I think that’s what happens when you fill them full of sugar,” I say, and Hunter just shakes his head.

“Just wait, bro. Your day is coming.”

“Where are Mom and Dad?” I ask, looking around the room.

“Don’t ask,” Hunter groans, and Autumn laughs.

She leans in closer to us and whispers, “Apparently Hunter took little Charlie in to say goodnight to Grandma and Grandpa, but they were a little busy.”

“Oh god, gross!” I shout as Holly and Autumn fall into a fit of giggles.

“Thank god he’s not able to understand what was happening,” Autumn says through her laughter. “And that he knows better than to put mistletoe on…well, never mind.”

Hunter groans and covers his eyes. “What about me? It’s going to scar me for life.”

“I think it’s sweet,” Holly says, and I shake my head. “It is. They’re still so in love. I hope you and I are still like that when we’re their age.”

I think about loving her and how I’ll feel in fifty years. I can’t imagine not loving her even more now than I did yesterday. I lean down and kiss her lips softly, thinking, I hope we’re that lucky, too.

“Well, I can’t wait for them to open their gift from all of us,” Autumn says, and we all agree.

Just then the two of them emerge from the top of the stairs. Mom’s cheeks are flushed and Dad is smiling like the Grinch. Oh god, I’m going to be sick.

“What are you kids up to tonight?” Dad asks as he and Mom sit on the loveseat on the other side of the fire.

He has his arms around Mom and she’s looking at him with eyes full of love. I sometimes think back to when Mom and I were away and how much I missed Holly. But it couldn’t have been near the pain she felt being away from Dad. To be with someone for so long and have that taken away would have been my worst nightmare. And yet, somehow, she was able to manage it for so long. Seeing the two of them together now, I know we made the right decision, but I also know it was probably the hardest one of her life.