She looks up at me, her eyes sparkling. When she and Pop first got together, I wasn’t sure if it would be awkward having my stepmom also be my dad’s Little, but it’s very obvious when Claire is in her adult space and her Little Space, so it hasn’t been bad.
“I can get it.” She picks up her plastic cup and starts to slide out of her seat.
“Nope.” I walk over to her and take the cup right out of her hand. “You know the rules about getting up without permission. I’ll get you some more water. Keep eating.”
Claire obeys, and I head to the kitchen. When I return, she beams at me, and I offer a smile before I sit next to Emma again.
We all finish eating, and while some of us guys start to clean up, Knox helps the girls get a movie started.
“Do you think Pop is ready for this?” Hawk asks as he loads a bowl into the dishwasher.
Ash chuckles and shakes his head. “Are you kidding me? He’s going to need hearing aids after all the screaming those girls are going to do.”
My grin is so big that my cheeks ache.
Pop might be deaf after today, but I can guarantee he’s going to love every single second of it.
Emma
“I can’t believeit’s Christmas tomorrow!” I sing as I jump around the enormous living room.
“Santa’s going to come and leave so many presents for us,” Kylie says, clapping her hands together.
Addie and Ava both laugh.
“Like Santa is going to leave anything for you. Out of all of us, you’vedefinitelybeen the naughtiest this year,” Addie tells her.
Popping a hand onto her hip, Kylie gasps. “Nuh, uh! That’s not true. I’ve been good some of the time. Like yesterday.”
Lucy snorts. “Did you already forget the spanking you got yesterday for sneaking outside tofeed the polar bears?”
“I was trying to feed the poor, starving forest animals. Sheesh. Spank a girl for trying to be nice.” Kylie drops her shoulders and meets my gaze, her eyes sparkling with worry. “Do you really think Santa won’t leave me anything?”
Just as I open my mouth to answer her, bells start ringing, and a second later, the man himself appears in the room, walking in carrying a big velvet sack.
“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!”
My eyes nearly burst out of my skull as I stare at Santa like he’s an alien.
“Santa,” I whisper.
Even though the word barely came out, Santa looks right at me and winks. “Hey there, Little one! You’re Emma.” He points to me, his white glove covering his hands.
Putting my hand on my chest as if to ask if he’s talking to me, I nod. “Uh huh.”
He chuckles and pats his belly, then points to Nora. “And you’re Nora. I remember your name on my nice list. You were a very good girl this year.”
Nora’s cheeks turn bright pink as she smiles at Santa and takes a step closer into Angel’s side.
When I finally look around to find my husband, I locate him huddled up with Ash, Wolf, Colt, and Maddox, smiling as they watch what’s unfolding before us.
Beau catches my eye and winks, and I instantly narrow my gaze. Beau looks so much like Leo sometimes, and when they both wink, that’s one of those times. I look over to Santa, then back at my husband, who just smiles.
Ah.
Pop.
My chest warms, and my heart squeezes as my love for Leo Javier grows even more.
