Aspen fit flawlessly with our family, and I couldn’t help thinking it must be a sign. It’s been a long time since I got to celebrate with someone like this, and as I cross the room to turn on the fireplace, I feel like there’s a reason for that.
Tonight, and all the nights before this, left my body humming with contentment—with happiness—at finally being where I’m meant to be. Aspen Greene has changed more than just my attitude; she’s changed my life.
Smiling, I watch her move around the kitchen, gathering snacks as I pull a stack of pillows and blankets from the closet and spread them on the floor, creating a makeshift bed. I have one more gift for her—one I didn’t want her to open in front ofeveryone tonight—the envelope sitting casually in the branches of the tree.
“Did you pick a movie?” she asks, but I shake my head, handing her the remote after she sets the snacks on the coffee table.
“I need to do this first.” Threading my fingers through her hair, I caress every inch of her mouth with my tongue, pouring every ounce of adoration in my bones into the kiss. Because I do—I adore this woman and the light she’s brought into my life.
Grabbing the hem of her shirt, I pull it over her head, and she grins before diving back into the kiss as her fingers snake under the cotton of mine. Her nails drag over my skin, teasing and taunting as she presses herself against me.
“Don’t stop,” she whispers against my lips, my hands sliding over her hips and up her sides before unhooking her bra and letting it fall to the floor. Fisting the back of my shirt, I pull it over my head as she drops to her knees, working my belt open and pulling out my throbbing cock before I can take my next breath.
Her tongue licks up my length, circling the head before sucking it into her mouth. It’s heaven on earth, the way she laps at me before taking me to the back of her throat, and I don’t hold back the curses or praise because I want her to know what she does to me.
“Lie down and take your pants off,” I rasp, needing a minute before I come down her throat. She complies, leaning back slowly and giving me a sexy little show as I shuck my jeans and boxers like my ass is on fire.
Her red lace panties match the bra I was too eager to take off to appreciate, but all I can think about is being inside her. Tonight has been more than just a holiday on a calendar. The weight I’ve carried since Davis’s death didn’t seem so heavy, as if Aspen’s presence was some kind of balm.
Her body is draped over me, her chest rising and falling in time with mine. My fingers trail up and down her back as the fire roars in front of us, and it’s perfect.
Romantic.
The best Christmas I can remember.
“I have something else for you,” I say, leaning over and plucking the envelope from the tree and handing it to her.
“What is it?”
Her question goes unanswered as she rolls onto her back and tears it open. A single folded piece of paper falls from inside, and I hold my breath as she reads the words I’d written.
Design a tattoo for me?
“You wantsomething I create to be permanently inked on your body?” she asks, her index finger tracing the letters as she turns her head to look at me.
“Yeah.” Swallowing, I add, “Having the flowers flown in aside, I’m not always great at giving gifts. I mean, Navy is easy because all the things she wants are awesome, and the louder they are the more they annoy my sister.”
She snorts and I grin. “I’m sure she loves that.”
“She does,” I say, even though she’s threatened my life on more than one occasion, “but it’s different. Talon and I usually gift her a weekend at the spa or something where she can go and be pampered and just relax.”
“Are you sayingIwouldn’t like a weekend at a spa?” she says with faux indignation, and I roll her back on top of me, making her squeal.
“I’m saying that I would rather go with you for a weekend away.”
“I guess that’s fair.” Her lips press against mine, softly at first, before she’s deepening the kiss, her tongue parting my lips and dancing against mine. “I’d love to design something for you.”
“Yeah?”
“Mm-hmm,” she hums, the firelight dancing in her eyes. “It’s an awfully big commitment.”
“Good thing I’m ready for one of those then, isn’t it?”
“You are?”
“Baby, wherever you are is where I want to be.”
“Decked in red and green?” she teases and I smirk.
