I feel a stab of guilt. The living room is still glittering with all the Christmas decorations I put up, the fir tree standing proudly in the corner. All this time I’ve been teasing Ivan for being a Grinch, never realizing that his hatred for the holidays runs way deeper than just being a little grumpy.
“I’m so sorry, Ivan. I’ve been so insensitive, forcing all this on you…”
He frowns. “Forcing what on me?”
I gesture to the living room, the plastic Santas and twinkling lights. “This! I had no idea the holidays stirred up all these bad memories for you. Now I’ve gone and filled your space with all your parents’ old decorations.” I suck in a breath, furious with myself, already starting to get up. “Give me ten minutes, okay? I’ll take it all down and?—”
“Ruby.”
I falter at the way he says my name, easing me back onto his knee. He’s looking at me with so much affection that I feel my breath catch.
“This year has been different,” he says, his eyes fixed on mine. “Meeting you has changed things. Everything. Fuck, I’m not good with words, but Christmas with you just feels…right. It feels good, Candy Cane. So don’t even think about taking down those decorations. Okay?”
I’m too busy exploding with butterflies to reply at first. All I manage is a nod.
“Good girl.” His expression darkens, a familiar glint in his eye as he says, “Now let me show you what I want for Christmas.”
Then his mouth is on mine. His tongue delves between my lips in a searing kiss, hands roaming my curves. We move fast. It doesn’t take long until I’m bent over the couch, gripping the cushions as Ivan drives into me from behind. He growls at me to take him deep, take him hard. I don’t have a choice. He’s dominating my body, pummeling my aching pussy until I see stars. He fucks me like his life depends on it, and as my fourth orgasm of the day rips through me, I have a feeling there are lots more to come.
Merry freakin’ Christmas to me!
10
IVAN
I wakeup early the next morning. My limbs are heavy and languid, and I swear my body has never felt so damn relaxed. So sated. Hell, this might be the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had. Feels like I just came out of hibernation.
There’s an unfamiliar warmth on the bed beside me. A lock of hair brushes my cheek as I turn my head, my heart clenching tight when I see Ruby. She’s sleeping soundly, lips parted, her fiery halo splayed out across the pillow. I should let her rest. Hell, after yesterday, she could use some time to recover. I worked her out pretty damn good. Gave her all she could take, fucked her in every room, then in the shower before we fell into bed.
But I still can’t resist wrapping my arms around her, pulling her closer.
She lets out a sleepy mumble that sounds something like “guh-muh-ning”.
“Morning, beautiful.” I plant a kiss on her cheek, breathing in her sweet morning smell. “You don’t need to get up yet. Sorry I woke you.”
Her eyes flutter open, still bleary and unfocused. Then she meets my gaze. Suddenly she looks wide awake, her face glowing as she beams at me.
“Merry Christmas, Ivan.”
I smile at her beneath my beard. “Merry Christmas, Ruby.”
We lean in for a kiss, lips meeting just as North bounds through the bedroom door. He jumps up on the bed and barks with delight, almost like he knows it’s Christmas too.
“He sure knows how to make an entrance,” Ruby laughs as he zooms around the room.
We get out of bed and pull on some fresh clothes. Ruby packed another festive sweater—a Fair Isle pattern of red, green, and white with the words “Ho, Ho, Ho” stitched on the front. She looks so fucking adorable, the knitted material hugging her curves like a glove. My closet isn’t exactly full of festive knitwear, so I pull on a red flannel shirt and a dark green jacket.
“You look so handsome,” Ruby says, grinning at me. “Christmas colors suit you.”
I take her hand as we follow North down the corridor and into the living room. Ruby turns on the radio while I get the fire going, and Bing Crosby crackles to life.
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…
Just like the ones I used to know.
When the hearth is roaring, I head for the window, trying to open the shutters. They push open with ease, and I go around the room, opening every pair to reveal the snowy forest outside. The blizzard has calmed down, the wind no longer raging through the trees. But snow is still falling, fat flakes drifting to the ground. Through the swaying firs, I can make out Sugar Creek, the frozen surface glittering in the early morning haze like a silver ribbon.
I turn to Ruby, my heart soaring at the wonder on her face as she looks outside.
