“Eyes on me,” I rasped. I wanted her to see that it was me making her come—that it was me who would do anything to send her over the edge.
She easily obeyed, her eyes staying open and locking on mine. “I’m…I’m close,” she warned, licking her lips.
I slowed my fingers down ever so slightly before building up speed again. “That’s it, baby. Come for me again.”
Lily’s legs started to shake as another orgasm consumed her body, and she moaned my name again. My full name this time, and I’d never heard a sweeter sound.
“Gabriel,” she cried out, making good on her order not to close her eyes. She rocked her hips against my hand as she chased her orgasm, her cheeks and chest flushed from the heatcoursing through her body. Her hands dug into my biceps as she finished on my fingers with another moan.
I could have come from this alone, and it took every ounce of restraint to keep myself from doing so. I wanted this to be all about her.
“That’s my good girl,” I murmured, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her lips. I was about to pull away when Lily’s hand found the side of my face, and she pulled me closer, her lips moving as her tongue lazily stroked mine.Fuck.
She began to reach for my belt, and I set my hand over hers. “This was all about you, Sunshine.”
She huffed but ultimately conceded. “Fine, but next time, I want it to be about you, too.”
Oh how I fucking wanted there to be a next time.
I told Lily this was what I would do if she were mine. We both knew this was pretend.
But the way I felt right now, looking at her, nothing in my life had ever felt more real. Truthfully, nothing in my life felt like it mattered in this momentbesidestrying to figure out how I could make this real.
I pushed those thoughts away, instead focusing on the current moment between us.
When Lily pulled away from the kiss, she kept her face close, nudging my nose with hers and gently running her fingers through my hair. “Will you stay a little longer?” she asked, voice soft.
“Of course,” I answered. I lifted my head, glancing over at the clock in the kitchen. It was just past midnight, which meant it was officially Christmas Day.
“Merry Christmas, Lily.”
Her face brightened, and she pulled me in for another kiss. “Merry Christmas, Gabe.”
We stayed on the couch for another couple of hours, curled up under a mountain of blankets and talking about anything and everything. About Lily’s dreams for her café. My vision for my career. Where we wanted to travel to. What kind of music we listened to. Our favorite movies. There was so much I had yet to learn about her, and I wanted to know everything.
I hadn’t wanted to leave her, but I needed to get back to Hal’s and get some sleep. The one thing that kept me going was knowing I’d see her for Christmas dinner in about fifteen hours.
It was the first time I found myself counting down the hours—the minutes—until Christmas. I couldn’t wait to see Lily and spend the holiday with her. A holiday that I was starting to enjoy all because of her.
I was starting to feel that magic from this time of year, but I didn’t think it had anything to do with Christmas. Lily was the magic.
35
GABRIEL
I wasn’tsure what to expect when Hal and I arrived at the Richards’s family home for Christmas dinner, but I hadn’t expected immediate warmth.
Literal warmth radiated from the fireplace in the living room, but it was more than that.
The Richards’s home was warm and inviting. Christmas music played low in the background coupled with the hum of multiple conversations. Every inch of the house, from what I could see, was decorated in one way or another, but it wasn’t overwhelming. It was well-thought out and strategically placed. I quickly realized where Lily got her love of Christmas.
Admittedly, Christmas was growing on me. Hal and I enjoyed the day together before coming over for dinner. We ate breakfast, drank our coffee, and exchanged gifts. I asked Hal all about his favorite Christmas memories, which included memories with me I hadn’t remembered. He even pulled out the photo album to show me.
But the best part about Christmas? The warmth from Lily’s smile as soon as she saw us.
“Merry Christmas!” she exclaimed.
That alone eased my nerves of spending the day with her family. I wanted to make a good impression, but I also recognized they likely had already formed their opinions about me. But maybe I could change them. Show them that I wasn’t my father and that I cared about this town more than I wanted to admit. That I was starting to care deeply about Lily and wanted her to succeed.
