He bats his long, thick lashes and pulls off the most amazing puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen. “You sure know how to guilt trip a girl.”
“No guilt tripping.” He places his hand over mine to stop my fidgeting. “It’s yours. I think it was always meant to be that way.”
“I don’t have anything for you.”
“Yeah.” He chuckles, low and sexy. “You do.”
My cheeks light on fire, and as a distraction from his heated gaze, I rip away the paper. What’s left is a long velvet box. “Open it,” he whispers. “A beautiful trinket for a beautiful girl.”
I take a deep breath and open the box. The hinges creak, but the sound is nothing compared to my gasp. “Xander,” I say, tears burning my eyes. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’ll do,” he says, lifting the tennis bracelet and taking my wrist.
It isn’t one of those ninety-nine-dollar quarter karat ones you see all the time either. The diamonds are round and visible with barely any silver stuff to make them seem larger. I’m speechless as he wraps it around my wrist and closes the clasp. It reflects the multi-color lights from the tree, and tears roll down my cheeks.
Xander cups my jaw and wipes away the wetness. “Merry Christmas Eve, Ivy.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The silence of Christmas morning surrounds me as I come to awareness. The clock on the Blu-ray player glows 6:18. Xander sleeps peacefully beside me, his arm cradling me as I rest my head on his chest. I bring my hand up and wipe my eyes, the tree lights twinkling in the diamonds of my bracelet.
My gift.
I sigh, carefully slipping from his hold and tiptoeing into the bedroom. I grab a fresh pair of PJ pants, panties, and a tee from my drawer before going into the bathroom to start the shower. After taking care of business, I step under the warm spray, thinking about everything that’s occurred since my arrival.
Xander is something I couldn’t fathom on the drive here. My heart was torn to shreds, and all I wanted was to put some distance between Evan and myself. I hoped that a week alone, crying and eating ice cream, would prepare me to return and face him. And now, I couldn’t care less.
My three-and-a-half-year relationship hardly matters anymore. Evan obliterated it, and now, Xander is blowing away any remaining pieces
It’s almost as if it never existed.
The bracelet sparkles in the bright fluorescent overhead light, sending me deep into thought, and a plan forms. I hurry through my shower, towel drying my hair and brushing my teeth. With nothing but the diamonds around my wrist, I make my way back into the living room.
As I crawl in beside Xander, I pull the blanket away and start peppering kisses along his chest. A husky groan signals his awareness, and I double my efforts. This is his present after all. His hands slip into my hair near my nape, and he tugs, bringing my mouth to his for a kiss.
“Good morning,” he whispers before closing his lips over mine.
His tongue traces the seam, and I open, welcoming him inside. My breath is minty fresh, while his is warm and spicy. We tangle in a slow, languid dance of give and take as I straddle his hips and begin to thrust against his always-ready cock.
“Mmm,” he hums as our mouths part, gripping my hips tightly. “What a way to start my day.”
I don’t respond with words, instead choosing to show him. I grab a condom from the depleted box nearby and scoot back on his thighs. His cock twitches as I roll the latex down his thick shaft. My eyes move from the impressive length to the man who wields it, and I cover his body with mine.
Caging his head with my arms, I press a kiss to his lips. As I pull away, I murmur, “Merry Christmas, Xander.”
Lifting to my knees, I guide his cock to my entrance and slowly lower myself. My walls stretch to accommodate his girth, and I moan as he pushes against the farthest reaches inside me. It’s a pleasure-filled pain that drives me wild with need. Grabbing his hands, I lace our fingers and use them to brace as I begin rocking against his monster cock.
“So good,” I pant as I slide up and down his shaft. “I hope this …” I trail off, unable to bite back a moan. “Gift pleases you.”
He lifts, his mouth latching on to my nipple, and I rock against him, fisting his hair. “So hot, baby,” he rasps, scraping his teeth against my tender flesh. “Ride my cock.”
His words fuel my fire and I toss my head back, my entire body arching into wherever the pleasure emanates. It feels like there’s a string tied to my breast and his every lick, bite, and suck follows it to my core. Tighter and tighter I tense, until I’m taking flight.
I shatter above him, and he flips me to my back and pushes his cock deeper. “Best present ever,” he murmurs, thrusting his hips furiously. “Merry Christmas, Ivy.”
Wave after wave of ecstasy batters against me, and I’m drowning in all the magical ways he owns me. As I catch my breath after the most soul-affirming sex of my life, on this early Christmas morning, a new truth slams into me like a Mack truck.
I’m in love with Xander Rose.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I hum as I spread the honey seasoning packet over the spiral ham, making sure to sprinkle it between each slice. Potatoes boil on the back burner, lima beans are in the Instant Pot, the peppers and onion are already chopped for the cornbread, and a can of cranberry sauce is chilling in the fridge.
A pair of wandering hands grips me from behind as I pop the ham back into the oven. “That looks amazing,” Xander says, taking a deep sniff. “It’s been a long time since someone has made me Christmas dinner.”
I spin in his embrace. “Please tell me you’re not serious.”
He shrugs, his eyes falling to the bar top behind me. “I’m serious, but it’s cool. I have you now.”
Hope surges to life inside me, but I beat it back. He doesn’t mean it in the way I wish. He does have me, and I am going to serve him the best damn Christmas dinner he’s ever had.
“You do,” I respond, smiling cockily. “And you’re in for a treat. My mom and dad divorced when I was eleven, so if there’s anything I know, it’s how to cook.”
“Your mom teach you?”
“No,” I respond, laughing incredulously. “I learned to cook so my dad and I wouldn’t starve. My mom moved to Florida.”
“I’m sorry,” he says softly.
“No, it’s fine.” I shake my head. “It worked out for all of us.”
“Good.” He grips my waist, his thumbs brushing against my hip bones. “I’m one lucky shit,” he says, his pretty blue eyes full of sincerity. “I couldn’t have picked a better person to be snowed in with.”
“Ditto,” I say, leaning in to meet his already searching lips.
It’s a soft and languid kiss that’s interrupted by the beep of the Instant Pot. Leaving his warm embrace, I release the pressure and hurry to throw together the cornbread and get it in the oven with the ham. While those bake, I drain the potatoes and mash them before adding grated garlic, mayo, butter, salt, and pepper.
Xander’s face appears over my shoulder just as I swipe my finger into the fluffy white goodness. “Wanna taste?” I ask, holding it toward him. “Does it need more seasoning?”