“No way,” Gabe said, leaning over to kiss her again.
Gabe crawled into the bed beside her at the end of the day—the longest, happiest day of Anna’s life. Christmas Eve with the Elkin family had run late—and Elin had retired much earlier, exhausted from the fun and her illness taking its toll. Jonas and Chase had stayed to talk by the fire, while Tana and Lindsey had slipped out together over her protests.
It was only when Anna finally whispered to Gabe that she was ready for bed that he’d made a move to leave. The truth was Anna just wanted to be alone with him. And now he was here, stretching out beside her and running a hand over her face. “I love you,” he said.
“I want you,” she said, a huge grin keeping her from making it a seductive invitation.
His eyebrows rose. “Yeah?”
Anna reached over and tugged down his boxers, revealing the thick, hard length of him. “You want me, too.”
“I don’t deny it.”
She climbed on top of him, and Gabe slid his hands up underneath her big, soft sleep shirt. The higher his hands went, the wider his eyes got. Anna wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
He finally reached her waist and pulled her down over his chest to kiss her, deep and hard and fierce, and she pressed herself down on the hard ridge of him and rocked her hips back and forth. Anna was already slick, already wanting. There was a time for elaborate foreplay and lingering between her legs, but this wasn’t it.
Gabe groaned into her mouth, his hands digging in hard on her hips. He stuck a hand out, and it collided with the bedside table, almost knocking the lamp over. His low growl showed his impatience as he wrenched the drawer open and dug inside for a foil packet. Gabe ripped it open with his teeth, and in one swift move, rolled it on, his knuckles teasing at the soft, slick parts of her.
Anna lifted herself up, feeling on top of the world, and worked herself down over his shaft with a breathy moan that she couldn’t have stopped if she wanted to.
Gabe swore. “You’re a beautiful sight to see like this,” he said, voice strained, eyes sweeping over her.
“I’d rather—focus—on feeling.” She rocked her hips over him, grinding into the stretch and the pleasure, and as she touched his base, he thrust up into her with startling power. It didn’t matter if she was on top. He was still in control, always there for her. Anna bent down and kissed the exposed flesh of his neck where it rose from the collar of his shirt, and his arms came around her, caging her there.
There was nowhere else she’d rather be in the world.
Gabe pumped into her, and she met him thrust for thrust, rock for rock, the pleasure winding and curling low in her belly until the next graze of his skin on her clit set her off like a Christmas firecracker, and she came, shuddering, digging into Gabe’s shirt with her fingers and holding on for dear life.
Then she pushed herself upright and leaned into the wash of sensation. Each breath was a new miracle, and the steady back and forth of him inside her, a perfect fit. It brought her slowly up into another wave of pleasure.
Anna tipped her chin down and met his eyes, loving how they burned with intensity for her. His whole body was a picture of longing—all tight muscles, a freshly bitten lip, and restless hands that caressed every inch of her skin.
Gabe held her gaze as he came, gritting his teeth and sucking in a short, sharp breath, and Anna collapsed on top of him. They rolled together over the sheets, Gabe landing on top of her.
Her handsome billionaire.
Her dream come true.
Gabe bent to kiss her lips, and a pleasant tiredness descended along with him. “You did good today,” he said softly. “We did good. Now sleep. Tomorrow’s Christmas.”
This is what it must be like to be excited for Christmas.
Turning over, she snuggled in his arms and drifted off to sleep.
22
It was, without a doubt, the best Christmas morning of Gabe’s life.
He came awake all at once, his arm still slung over Anna, and breathed in her essence. Definitely the best Christmas ever.
She stirred underneath his arm and swiped her hair out of her face, then turned and stretched. “Merry Christmas,” she whispered.
“Merry Christmas,” he said. This was the best Christmas in his memory. Her body next to his was the most incredible gift. They lay together, savoring the silence for several minutes.
“What do we do now?”
“It’s still early,” he murmured, preferring to stay in bed with Anna. Thirty minutes later, they headed for the bathroom. A long, leisurely shower with Anna was the perfect way to start the morning. He washed her hair and soaped every inch of her skin like it was another gift. In fact, it was his third gift of the morning. First had been waking up next to her, second had been what they did after, and third...the shower.
They walked hand-in-hand to the elevator, and Anna took a deep breath. “How’s my hair?”
“Perfect.” He kissed her on the temple.
“You didn’t look.”
“I don’t have to look to know it’s perfect.” The elevator whisked them upward and he took both Anna’s hands and spun her around. “There—now I’ve looked, and you’re gorgeous.”
She pressed a kiss to his jawline and then it was time to go in. Anna’s wide smile sparked something like childhood excitement in him—pure and fresh.
Tana and Chase were there along with Lindsey. Jonas and his grandmother sat opposite, and they all got up to greet one another. For once, Gabe didn’t have to focus on whether they were judging him. He just settled next to Anna until it was time to head into the dining room for breakfast. Gabe might have moved away from home, but these old habits hadn’t left—he knew the rhythm of the holiday with his family, and it was comforting in a way it hadn’t been in years.
The staff came out with serving platters piled high with fluffy pancakes and sausages and crispy bacon. Another tray was decorated with a fan of fruits. English muffins. Gravy. It was an embarrassment of riches, and Gabe saw it through Anna’s eyes for the first time. This was when all the high standards and expectations came together to make something lovely—a breakfast table with laughter and helpfulness and rules for everyone to follow. Those weren’t always a bad thing, he realized. They were meant to give everyone a framework so they could relax.
And the framework had relaxed, too. Grandmother didn’t lean forward as often to scan everyone’s plates and guide the conversation. She enjoyed it while they served to the left, passed to the right, and waited for everyone’s plate to be filled before they started. Gabe caught himself watching his grandmother carefully, appreciating the matriarch of the family with a deeper understanding.
After breakfast, they took turns freshening up in the bathroom and then gathered in the living room for a Christmas photograph.
Gabe put his hand on the small of Anna’s back as the photographer set up her tripod and helped everyone into what she considered the proper placement. She was a tall woman with jet black hair and a full smile. Gabe liked her instantly, especially when she took the time to compliment the silver-and-white decorations used to turn the room into a winter wonderland. His grandmother beamed with pride. Gabe looked around and finally understood so much about his life and his family. For so many years, it had faded into the background for him. But not tonight. Never again.