Serenity (Inevitable #5)(62)

"I'm sorry Lindsey is being so difficult," she consoled. "Sounds to me like she could use a nice long massage to help relieve all of that tension."

Matthew gave a sardonic hoot of laughter. "Yeah, except that she'd insist on having the massage done by some buff guy ten to fifteen years younger than she is. Hey, maybe that idea would sell her on going to Mexico!"

They shared a laugh over that one before he asked her quietly, "You're sure that it's okay for me to go to Wisconsin with the kids? You won't feel left out or neglected?"

She gave him a look of mock sternness. "At last count Chad and Julio had invited over fifty people for their Christmas Eve gala, and they aren't finished yet. The place is going to be a madhouse, so much that I'll probably be tempted to barricade myself in my room after awhile. And in spite of how much they drive me nuts, I do enjoy spending time with my parents. So I will definitely not feel either left out or neglected. And I understand, Matthew. Truly I do. You need to be with your children and your family on Christmas, and I think it's wonderful. You're a great father, and I'm sure you're an amazing son and brother, too. And I realized the first time I met you that you were the best man I've ever known." 

Matthew closed his eyes briefly at her heartfelt words, taking a long, deep breath before opening them again and staring at her with a sense of wonder in his eyes. "And I think the first time we met that I knew somehow you would be the one to save me," he whispered hoarsely. "The one who would help me find myself again after being lost for a long time. Thank you, Sasha. You're the only Christmas gift I want."

She reached over and pressed a kiss to his cheek, before murmuring seductively, "Well, then. I think as soon as we reach your place that you should start unwrapping your present. It's never too early to get in the holiday spirit, you know."

He gulped as her hand dropped to his thigh, giving the tightly bunched muscles there a gentle massage, before stepping on the gas a little bit harder.





New Year's Eve





"More champagne?"

Sasha shook her head. "No, thanks. At least not right now. I'm already way over the amount I usually limit myself to."

Matthew grinned devilishly. "Ah, but it's New Year's Eve, after all. And if I don't get you a little tipsy, it will be that much harder for me to have my wicked way with you later."

She set her champagne flute down and reached across the table to give him a long, deep kiss. "It will actually be the easiest thing you've ever done in your life," she whispered teasingly.

He made a sound deep in his throat that sounded an awful lot like a growl. "Don't tempt me, sweetheart," he warned. "We haven't been together in almost ten days, so I've had to restrain myself all during dinner to not pick you up and toss you on my bed."

Her green-gold eyes sparkled at him mischievously. "Hmm, well perhaps you shouldn't have ordered in quite so much food, then. Including three different desserts, I see. This is just a little over the top, don't you think?"

"Nope," he replied cheerfully. "After all, I didn't get to spend Christmas Eve or Day with you, so tonight's dinner is sort of a combination of all three holidays." He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "I missed you a whole lot, Sasha. Wished like hell the entire trip that you had come along with me. Maybe next year."

She tried to quell the alarm those last three words provoked, especially since she'd never really contemplated her future with Matthew. As much as she enjoyed being with him, as happy as he'd made her these past few months, she still considered their relationship to be somewhat casual, and certainly one with no commitments or promises about the future.

But since it was the holiday season, and she knew how much trouble he'd gone to so they could have a special evening, Sasha tactfully didn't comment further, except to smile and say, "Maybe so."

He had given her the choice of either dining out this evening at whatever restaurant she liked, or having food delivered in. She had chosen the latter, partly because every restaurant in the city would be packed to overflowing with holiday celebrants, and also because she'd sensed that was Matthew's preference. He had just flown in this afternoon from Wisconsin, and had seemed both pleased and relieved at the prospect of spending New Year's Eve in the privacy and serenity of his condo.



       
         
       
        

"You're sure you don't mind staying home?" he asked somewhat anxiously. "I mean, we've still got plenty of time to go out and do something fun. There's dozens of bars and clubs in town, and I'm certain most of them will be having a celebration of one kind or another."