For a long time, if I wanted family in our lives, I had to put up with the barbed expectations from Christopher’s family, or the toxicity from my own. It was never easy, and it seemed like Mase and Ginny were always aware of the undertones, never quite acting like themselves until we were back under our own roof.
“It feels like this past year has flown by, and we’ve barely seen you all,” Louise is telling me. “Life just always seemed to get in the way, for both you and us. But I’m so glad you’re here now.” She slides the covered roasting pan back into the oven, turning to shoot me a smile.
“I am too,” I admit. Louise isn’t wrong—the last year has been crazy. I finished my degree and immediately got to work on The Sterling Thread. I wound up with more interest from local artists and designers than I knew what to do with, so it has been completely overwhelming, and I ended up hiring Halsey, my very first artist, to work part-time with me. Soon, I might need to hire another person
Coming to Florida for Christmas is something I’ve been looking forward to for months, knowing Mase and Ginny love spending time with Grafton’s parents. It also means a break for both Grafton and me so we can just focus on being us.
“I love coming here,” I tell Louise. “It feels like…”
Her eyes fill with understanding. “Feels like?”
“It feels like we belong,” I say quietly, my cheeks heating, hoping she’ll understand. “It feels like we’re family,and I love that for Mase and Ginny. They need all the family they can get.”
Christopher left town like he said he would, and his parents followed him not long after. The kids and I haven’t heard from any of them, and I have no idea where they are. At first, I was sad that Mase and Ginny had lost their father, but Grafton has made sure they never feel that loss—not even for a second. As for my family…
I don’t care where my mother and sister have landed. I am just glad they are permanently out of my life.
Louise’s eyes fill with tears, and she quickly rounds the island and yanks me into her arms. “I cannot tell you what it means for me to hear that,” she whispers in my ear, the subtle scent of cinnamon filling my nose. “I’ve spent years worrying that Grafton wasn’t going to find someone. He was content, but humans aren’t made to be alone. I had these nightmares of Roger and me being gone, and Graft just being by himself. Thatcher being around wasn’t any kind of consolation.” She lowers her voice, confessing, “As much as I love my younger son, he’s a bit of a moron.”
I’ve met Thatcher a few times, and I’m not about to disagree with her.
“I know that Grafton said he was content, but the idea of him not having anyone who loved him…” Louise pulls back with a sniff, lifting her apron and running a corner under her eyes. “And then came you, Lynley, and those two beautiful children.”
My own eyes are filling as I watch her, sinking my teeth into my lip to stop the trembling. “Grafton is an amazing man,” I whisper. “He’s changed my life completely, and I barely remember what it was like before he walked into it. He loves my children like they are his own, and they love him right back.” I blow out a shakybreath. “And now he’s given us you. Sometimes, it feels like I don’t give him enough, you know? That the scales are uneven.”
Louise watches me for the longest moment, a secret smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “You don’t get it, Lynley,” she finally murmurs. “You gave him something that no one else can, and he’s the one left trying to even the scales.”
I blink at her in bemusement, and she lets out a wet laugh before reaching out to tap the left side of my chest, just before my shoulder.
“You gave him your heart, and for him? I know that’s everything.”
***
Grafton curlshis body around mine, the hair of his chest tickling the skin of my back. “Lynne,” he murmurs, pressing kisses against the spot where my shoulder and neck meet. “Are you awake?”
I groan sleepily, snuggling deeper into my pillow. “I thought the kids were supposed to wake up early,” I complain. “Not you.” I squint one eye at the curtains covering the window. It’s still dark enough out that I know we shouldn’t be awake.
Grafton chuckles, his hand sliding over the silky camisole covering my stomach, gently tugging it up. Almost immediately, my nipples bead against the fabric, and arousal pools between my legs. He blows a gentle breath against my skin, wet from his mouth, and I shudder.
“Merry Christmas,” he whispers, and I roll in his arms,finding his hooded eyes fixed on my face and his lips tilted in a smile.
“Merry Christmas.” I loop my arms around his neck, dragging him down for a deep kiss, hooking my leg over his. He groans, grabbing a handful of my ass and squeezing, right before he rolls me onto my back, slotting easily between my thighs, grinding his pelvis against mine.
He rolls his hips, dragging his steely length along me, nudging my clit. I tear my lips from his with a gasp. “Grafton?—”
“Mom!” The shout is loud enough to wake the dead. “Grafton! It’s Christmas! And Santa was here!” And then, a tad more quietly, “How did he know we were here?” A pause, before Ginny gets loud again. “Whatever! It’s Christmas! Get up!”
Grafton is frozen above me, his dick twitching against me right before he groans, dropping his forehead to mine. “Goddamn.”
I snicker, sliding a hand through his hair, scratching my nails against his scalp. “Foiled again,” I say cheekily, my own body confused at the sudden switch in direction.
“It’s alright,” he mumbles. “I’ll get her back when she tries to date.” A startled laugh bursts from me, and he leans up, eyes twinkling. “Better get out there before she starts without us.”
He leans down, pressing one last lingering kiss to my lips, and then he’s gone, sauntering into the attached bathroom. My breath hitches in my throat as I watch him, but he turns at the last moment, catching me gawking at him. My cheeks burn as he flashes a wicked grin at me.
“I hope you never stop blushing around me, darling,” he says roughly. “Come shower with me.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I say huskily.
