I let out a long, dramatic sigh. “That depends.”
His eyes crinkle with worry. “On what?”
“Are you going to keep writing happily ever afters, or am I going to have to read a bunch of books where everyone dies in the end?”
He grins, and it lights up his eyes. “Okay, first of all, I have never written a book where everyone dies at the end. Second of all—”
I cut off his diatribe with a kiss, rising up on my toes to bring us even closer. He threads his hands through my hair and I open to him, fully and completely. Nick Matthews is the love of my life, the man who owns myheart—my fated mate—and I cannot wait to see what the next chapter brings.
We finally part, breathless, as church bells begin to toll across Brooklyn.
I grin. “I think that sound means it’s officially Christmas.”
Nick leans down for another kiss. “Best Christmas ever?”
“Best Christmas ever.”
Epilogue
Nick
Next Christmas
For the past five years, when I’ve woken up on Christmas, it’s felt like any other day. But today, I feel like, well, like a little kid waking up on Christmas.
Today is going to be the happiest day of my life, and this time, there is nothing that’s going to stand in the way.
The past year with Jess has been undoubtedly the best year of my life. Two months ago, we released our cowritten second-chance holiday romance to rave reviews. SVP sent us on a press tour together that took us around the country and landed us on theNew York TimesBest Sellers list. Some of my readers were disappointed by the happy ending I wrote, but most of them have been excited to come along with me for the ride.
It’s safe to say the romance community as a whole has fully embraced our real-life love story. We did the morning talk-show circuit and made more than one host cry with our true tale of a second chance at love. Both the critics and the readers have eaten the book up, and SVP isclamoring for us to do more. Even though we have loose plans to write a second book together, we’re also working on our own individual projects, and I love that we get to do both.
But today isn’t about our readers or the SVP publicity department or any other love story but ours.
I bring Jess a peppermint mocha in bed, still not used to the thrill of seeing her curled up under my sheets. She moved in over the summer and getting to see her whenever I want has been fantastic, for my libido anyway, though not for the word count on the new manuscript I’m supposed to be working on.
What can I say? I just can’t get enough.
And neither can she.
She pulls me down on top of her the moment I set down our mugs of coffee, and it doesn’t take long before I’m buried inside of her and she’s calling out my name.
Luckily, I built some time into our schedule for the day for unexpected trysts.
“I hate to say this,” I say as I dot kisses up the side of her neck, “but we really do need to get moving.”
She groans, shoving me off of her. “This better be good, Nick Matthews.”
“You know I will deliver nothing less than the best Christmas ever.”
She hits me with a pillow. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Go get ready, and make sure you’re dressed in your holiday best.”
She climbs out of bed, still naked, and saunters into the bathroom, knowing exactly what she’s doing.
I spend the time she’s in the shower getting dressed,tucking the little black box into the inside pocket of my jacket. I kept the original ring from all those years ago, but something about giving it to her just didn’t feel right. So I bought a new one, for the fresh start she so graciously gave me.
I hope she loves it.
