She was quiet for a moment. “Still… It’s our first Christmas," she added, and there was wonder in her voice, like she couldn't quite believe it was real.
The words carried everything I knew this holiday meant to us. This wasn't just another Christmas—this was the beginning of our tradition, our story, the first page in a book we'd be writing for the rest of our lives.
"The first of many," I corrected, my voice filled with emotion. “Of a hundred more Christmases, princess. All of them with you, Leo, and whatever other chaos we add to our family along the way."
Her breath caught at the thought, at the dream of a future full of possibilities.
"I love you," she whispered, her fingers tangling in my shirt. "I love you so much it scares me sometimes."
"Don't be scared," I murmured, cupping her face in myhands, thumbs brushing across her cheekbones. “I love you so much itshouldscare you.”
I kissed her, soft and sweet and full of all the promises I couldn't put into words.
She melted against me, her lips parting under mine, and I felt that familiar fire ignite—not just desire, though there was plenty of that, but love, devotion, the knowledge that this woman was my forever.
"Show me," she whispered against my lips, her hands sliding under my shirt to find warm skin. "Show me how much you love me."
So I did. I showed her with gentle hands that traced every curve of her body like I was memorizing the map to paradise. I showed her with soft kisses that started at her lips and wandered down her throat, tasting the sweetness of her skin.
"You are everything to me," I breathed against her collarbone, my hands sliding underneath her shirt. "My whole world, my beautiful princess.”
She arched beneath my touch, a soft gasp escaping her lips as my fingers traced patterns of worship across her ribs, her waist, the gentle curve of her hip.
"I need you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion and desire. "All of you. Forever.”
"You have me," I promised, rolling us so she was fully beneath me, her darker hair fanned across the white pillows. "Every part of me, for the rest of my life."
Our clothes disappeared slowly, each piece of fabric that fell away revealing more of the beauty I'd claimed as mine. The pajamas dropped on the floor beside the bed, forgotten in favor of skin against skin, heat against heat.
"You're beautiful," I praised, my hands mapping the landscape of her body with reverent touches. “My perfect princess.”
She pulled me down to her, claiming my mouth in a kiss that was part desperation, part devotion. Our tongues danced together, tasting, exploring, promising things that went beyond words.
When we finally came together, it was with the slow, sweet intensity of lovers who had all the time in the world. No rush, no urgency, justthe two of us finding our rhythm in the Christmas Eve darkness, bodies moving together in perfect harmony.
"Mine," I whispered against her lips as she moved beneath me, her soft moans like music in the quiet room.
“Mmm,” she breathed back, her hands tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. "Always yours, Jax."
We moved together in the ancient dance, two souls finding their perfect match in each other. The moonlight painted silver patterns across our skin, and the distant sound of Christmas music drifted up from downstairs, creating a soundtrack for our love.
When the wave finally crested and we collapsed into each other's arms, breathless and sated, I felt pure peaceful happiness.
"Merry Christmas, princess,” I whispered into her hair, breathing in the scent of her mixed with the lingering traces of cinnamon and vanilla from our evening.
"Merry Christmas, Jax," she replied sleepily, her voice muffled against my chest. "Thank you for giving us the perfect Christmas."
I couldn’t help but smile as I drifted off to sleep with my arms around the woman I loved more than my own life. Tomorrow would bring Leo and Avery's excited shrieks, mountains of wrapping paper, and all the magic that came with family celebrations.
But tonight, right now, wrapped with Estelle in our warm bed while Christmas Eve festivities filled the air, everything was absolutely perfect.
Our first Christmases of many together.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Connor
The sharp elbow to my ribs was definitely intentional, and I cracked one eye open to find Sierra's face inches from mine, practically vibrating with excitement despite the fact that it was—I squinted at the clock—barely past six in the morning.
