“You always turn me on,” I replied, before he angled himself inside me and showed me pleasure until I couldn’t tell if the stars I saw were from the strength of the orgasm or Christmas lights.
When we were done, he carefully removed the strand of lights binding my arms and gently kissed both my wrists. And then I lay on his chest, tracing my fingers over the peaks and valleys of his stomach muscles. “This was the perfect day,” I said to him, sated in every sense.
He pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head. I felt so safe. So warm.
“It’s about to get better,” he said.
I rolled my head to the side to look up at him. “How is that even possible?”
He chuckled. “Go to your office and see.”
With a small smile on my lips, I stood, pulling the blanket around me and leaving him bare. He propped himself up, all angles and lines there on the rug. I paused for a moment, taking him in.
“Eyes up here,” he teased.
“Can you blame me?” I smiled back and then bent to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before padding to my writing cave.
When I went inside, the entire place had been decked out in Christmas everything. There were colorful lights strung around the ceiling, the comfy chair had a red throw blanket with white snowflakes sitting over the top. And then the free surfaces had been covered with cotton “snow” and Christmas figurines.
And right next to my desk was a picture of Jonas in a Santa suit, the jacket open to show his body. I picked it up and stared at it, suddenly unsure of my motivation to write instead of having more spicy time by the fire.
“Like it?” he asked.
I turned to see him leaning against the door frame, now, regretfully, wearing boxers. “I love it,” I said. I went to him and gave him a long kiss.
He mumbled against my lips. “Shouldn’t you be writing?”
I smiled. “Sure, Santa. And when I get done, it’s your turn for a present. Except I won’t be sitting on your lap.” I leaned closer, humming into his ear, “I’ll be on my knees.”
“Best Christmas ever.”
HENRIETTA AND TYLER AND THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
1
HENRIETTA
The three ofus lay in our bed, wearing matching Christmas pajamas, all snuggled up under the blankets while Tyler's deep voice hummed the words toA Visit from St. Nicholas. I glanced over at him and our daughter, Tatiana, curled up in his arms and listening to every word. I know I thought it before, but I loved him more today than ever.
We'd been together over six years now, and life just kept getting better. First, it was the two of us, taking a leap to make the promise of marriage to each other, then growing our business together, and now, we had the most beautiful daughter with dark brown eyes and soft curly hair.
She was the best of us both. Kind and thoughtful like her dad. Loving and determined like me. Discovering more and more of her personality each day was the highlight of my life. I loved watching the person that she was becoming with Tyler as her dad, me as her mom.
Tyler pointed at one of the pages and said, “What do you think the mouse is feeling right now?”
“Essited,” she said.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I think you're right.”
She wiggled happily and then reached for the next page. My parents had read me this story every year, and now we were carrying on the traditions that our families had left for us. Traditions were the ties that bound us, no matter how far apart we were or how much time had passed.
Tyler reached the end of the story and closed the book. Tatiana squirmed, rolling from her back to her belly and pressing her face to the pillow before rolling back over. “I don’t wanna go to seep,” she whined.
“Are you excited to see what Santa left you under the tree?” I asked her.
She nodded excitedly, sitting up between us. “I weally hope he got me dat Barbie.”
I smiled, thinking she would be very pleased with the present I wrapped for her a week or so ago. “All you have to do is go to sleep or he won't be able to come and leave your presents.”
