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After we’ve eaten as much of the feast as we can manage, we get ready and pack up one of the big trucks with all the gifts to head to the Taylor family home where Adam, Heather, and Rook are waiting.
We pull up outside the mansion, which gleams and sparkles in the snow, the entire front decorated with greenery and twinkling fairy lights. It’s positively magical.
“Lark!” Rook cries out as he comes barreling down the steps and wraps me up in a tight bear hug. “Can you fucking believe this?”
I laugh as he spins me around, clearly as excited as I am for our very first proper Christmas. As he sets me down, I take him in, seeing the way his face is completely relaxed, his blue eyes shining and all the lines of worry gone. He’s even wearing a festive sweater, the blue background making his eyes pop even more than they usually do. The only good thing our sperm donor ever gave me was Rook.
“It’s the best,” I grin, giving him a squeeze and then letting him go to greet Adam who’s descended the steps and is hugging the guys.
“Merry Christmas, Lark,” he welcomes, his voice deep and full of happiness.
“Merry Christmas, Pops.” I step into his open arms, and he squeezes me tightly, pulling back a little to look into my eyes.
“I’m so glad you’re here with us,” he tells me, his throat bobbing. “And with my Heather home too, it’s set to be the best Christmas yet.”
“Is she inside?” I ask eagerly as he releases me. He takes my hand and tucks it into the crook of his elbow, leading us both up the steps.
“Yes, and she’s cross at me for not letting her come out to greet you too, so we best hurry or she’ll have my ass.” He chuckles as we step into the foyer and delicious warmth engulfs us. I gape at the gigantic tree we pass, covered in gold decorations.
The guys are chatting with Rook behind us as Adam leads us to the sitting room where I discovered the sad history of our families' generations-long feud. Unlike that night, the room is bright with a cheerful fire in the marble fireplace and another immense tree in the corner, presents piled under it. I watch, excitement leaving me giddy as Knox and Tarl take all of our gifts to place with the others, and I spot the red bag that contains all my gifts to the guys, my heart beating a little faster at the sight.
“Lark, dear,” a feminine voice calls from one couch, and I let go of Adam to rush over to Heather, letting her wrap me up in a tight hug.
“Merry Christmas, Heather.”
“Merry Christmas, my darling. It’s so wonderful to see you and Rook here.” Her voice is the strongest I’ve ever heard it, and I can’t stop the pressure of the tears that want to fall at her kindness and immediate acceptance of us.
“You too,” I say, pulling away when Jude and Aeron approach to say hello to her.
“Hey, Mom,” Jude smiles, sitting down next to her and tugging her in for a hug. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, darling boy,” she gushes back, kissing him on the cheek and then letting him go so she can do the same to Aeron. I go to get out of the way, but he just wraps us both in his enormous arms and we giggle like schoolgirls as he kisses both our cheeks. “Rogue, just like your father,” Heather chides, her voice full of smiles.
“Merry Christmas to my two favorite ladies,” Aeron replies smoothly, and a peal of laughter rings from my throat at his chivalry.
Adam hands out drinks for everyone, but although I take the champagne, I don’t drink any after the toast, and Tarl catches my eye, a considering gaze in his that leaves me blushing and looking away.
Adam leads us all into a vast dining room, which is fully decked out with another enormous tree in the corner and greenery and tinsel everywhere.
“You guys must have chopped down a forest for all these trees,” I tease as we take our seats, and Adam chuckles.
“We may own a Christmas tree farm after we took Aeron, Jude, and June to one when they were kids and they made us take them back another twelve times.” Adam laughs, then pauses as he looks over at Heather on his left with a somewhat panicked expression. She smiles, placing her hand over the top of his and squeezing.
“June used to love them so much that Adam couldn’t resist buying the whole thing and taking them all every year,” she adds, and I can see Adam relax, his eyes glistening as he gazes at her.
Aeron leans in to place a kiss on my cheek, Jude taking my hand under the table as they settle either side of me. Knox gives a playful glare as he takes his seat next to Heather, who immediately leans over to place a small kiss on his cheek which irons out his frown. Rook sits next to Knox at Tarl’s insistence, and I could kiss him for ensuring that my brother doesn’t feel left out sitting at the end.
A couple of staff enter the room bearing trays of food, and at my look of censure, Aeron rolls his eyes.
“They’re here because they volunteered to get paid triple time just to serve us lunch and then they’re going home and have the rest of the week off, paid in full,” he tells me, and I shuffle slightly, my cheeks heating at having thought badly of Adam, thinking he’d somehow forced them to work.
Jude just laughs, brushing a kiss to my hot cheek and then reaching over to serve himself from the delicious-smelling food. We all tuck in, and by the end of the meal, I really do feel like I might burst if I try to eat another bite.
“Do you want me to roll you out of here, Dove?” Aeron teases, and I scowl at him, patting my very full stomach, then pausing, my hand resting on the slight food baby swell. “Everything okay?” Blinking, I glance up into his face, his brows dipped slightly in concern.
“Yes, it’s absolutely perfect, Devil Man.” Leaning over, I kiss the furrowed place between his brows and feel him relax under my lips.
“Time for presents!” Adam calls out, and Jude whoops, leaping from his chair and almost sending it flying in his hurry to leave the table. Laughing, Aeron helps me up, and that single butterfly from earlier clearly has some friends that have joined him, as my stomach rolls and I regret eating quite so much.
