The Bad Boy’s Secret Santa (Christmas in Alpine Valley #9)

Epilogue

ONE CHRISTMAS LATER…

PIPER

I hang the last ornament—the wooden token with the number nine etched onto it—on our Christmas tree and can’t help but smile. That little token changed everything . It brought me my one true love.

Though I thought I’d be running the event this year, I was admittedly relieved when Grandma Wilma told me she was retiring it. At least for now. It made me realize I didn’t want to know how it all worked. I want to preserve the magic.

I stand back to admire the beautiful, fat, seven-foot work of art that stands proudly in the center of our living room window. It’s covered in twelve hundred lights. Is it overkill? Yes. Yes it is.

“Gorgeous,” Eli says into my ear, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around me.

“You like the tree?”

“Oh, the tree is gorgeous, too.”

I turn my head over my shoulder and give my husband a long, thorough kiss. One that quickly threatens to make us late for the annual tree lighting ceremony.

This year, the town is going all out. Several local vendors have set up booths, including the bakery. There’ll be a hot cocoa stand, a booze cart for the adults, and there’s even going to be live music.

Thankfully, it’s thirty degrees outside. Just cold enough to keep the snow from melting, but warm enough to encourage a large turnout.

“The animal shelter has a tent, too,” I tell Eli as he nuzzles my neck.

“Does it?” His hand starts to gather my skirt at my hip.

“Do you think we should?—”

“Adopt a fur child?” His fingers discover the waistband of my leggings and dip inside. His touch is fire against my soft skin.

“We should at least meet them. Don’t you think?”

“It’s a big step, Pipes.” There’s no trace of hesitation in his tone. In fact, he sounds…convinced. But then his fingers slide beneath my panties, finding their favorite spot, and I get a little dizzy with pleasure and forget what I was saying.

The tree lighting is only a quick two-block walk. We won’t be that late.

Eli swirls his index finger around my button, causing wetness to saturate my panties. He slides a hand up my sweater, messing up my bra. I reach behind my back, undoing his belt buckle in record time. It was the best gift I could have gotten him last Christmas—one that miraculously stayed within the strict Secret Santa budget. He wears it all the time, and it’s so easy to get off when we’re in a hurry.

And when it comes to the lust between us, we’re always in a hurry.

“How do you want it, Pipes?” he asks as I squeeze his cock.

I meet his gaze over my shoulder and give him a devilish grin. “Bend me over the back of the couch and treat me like I’ve been a naughty girl this Christmas.”

“How naughty?” he asks, pulling my leggings down to my knees.

“ Very naughty.”