The Christmas Ornament (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 37

thirty-seven

RUBY

Sunlight filters in through the gap of the blind and I smile, Mad is behind me and we’re spooning. His hand is cupping my boob, and from behind me I can feel his morning wood digging into my lower back. Waking up like this is fast becoming my favorite way to wake up.

Wriggling my butt against his dick, he moans and begins to push himself against me. A smile appears on my face and I can’t help but wriggle and push myself closer to him. His shaft slips between my bare crack, but I hiss and wince from the contact. My ass is a little tender this morning. After discovering an alternate use for his coconut oil, Maddox and I have become addicted to anal. The jar is nearly empty but when you’re snowed in, what else are you to do?

“Merry Christmas, Reindeer,” Maddox whispers into my ear from behind.

Rolling over, I stare into his brown orbs and reach up to cup his cheek. “Merry Christmas, Mad,” I croak, my voice husky and sleep filled.

Like two magnets, our heads move together and we kiss each other good morning. It starts getting hot and heavy but my vagina, and ass, need a break so I reluctantly pull back. Before I can open my mouth to tell him, he presses his finger to my lips, shushing me. “How about I run you a bath and while you’re soaking, I’ll whip up breakfast before we try and make our way over to Sabbi’s for Christmas lunch with the family?”

“You are too good to me, Maddox Whitworth.”

“Only the best for my girl.” My cheeks heat at his words. “Why are you blushing?”

“You called me ‘your girl’ and I kinda like that.”

“You’re blushing over that, when I’ve fucked your ass and licked my cum from your pussy, those actions are cause for blushing.”

“What can I say, I’m a complicated girl.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “You’re my girl and now that you are mine, I’m never letting you go … especially, now I’ve had your ass.”

“So it’s all about my ass, huh?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do, and for the record, you’re my man and I love you so very much.”

“I love you too.” He places a quick kiss on the tip of my nose, it’s nice seeing him relaxed and bashful.

“You said something to me about a bath?”

All he says is, “I did.” Then he’s up and out of the bed, heading into the en suite to run me a bath to soothe my aching ass and vagina.

He returns a few moments later and rips the blanket off of me, causing me to screech at the sudden chill in the air.

“Why did you do that?” I scowl at him.

“’Cause your bath is ready.”

“You could have just said that instead of, you know.” I drop my gaze to the blankets now at the end of the bed .

“I could have done that but then I wouldn’t be able to gaze at your sexy as sin body or do this.” He bends down and sucks on my nipple, my traitorous body zings to life and I moan.

“Mad, no, I can’t,” I beg. My nipple pops out of his mouth and he stares intently at me.

“I know but it’s your tits, I couldn’t not.”

“You are a fiend, now let me get my bath so I can soak my sore body.”

“We need to work on your stamina,” he teases.

“Excuse me, I think I’m allowed to be exhausted after fucking nonstop for three days.”

“Amateur,” he throws at me with a wink. Offering me his hand, he helps me out of bed and guides me into the bathroom. Holding his hand, he assists me as I climb into the tub.

A moan slips out as I submerge myself in the hot steaming water. Leaning back, I close my eyes and a smile appears on my face. Even though I ache, I’m happy, stupidly happy.

Standing on the veranda of the cottage, I knock and wait for it to open. It’s unbelievably cold this morning, but seeing so much white fluffy snow on Christmas Day is magical. Maddox has his arm around me, keeping me warm, but even if we were in hell and sweating, there’s nowhere else I would rather be.

“Merry Christmas,” Sab singsongs when she swings the door open. She rented the same one we stayed in the other weekend and it really is a perfect lakefront cottage.

“Merry Christmas, Sis,” Maddox replies, leaning in, he kisses his sister on the cheek.

“Merry Christmas, Sab,” I echo .

My best friend just stands there, looking at the two of us. “You gonna let us in? It’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey out here.”

“Ohhh, yeah, come on in.”

We step inside and Maddox takes off his coat and then helps me with mine. We shuffle the presents and dessert between us and once we’re coat and snow boot free, he slides his hand into mine. Sab squeals, she literally squeals and covers her mouth, jumping up and down with excitement. The last time I saw her this excited was when we got tickets to see OneRepublic.

Mad and I both stop and stare—sorry, bad OneRepublic song pun—at my crazy best friend.

“You right there, Sis?” Maddox asks her.

“It’s just, I always wanted you two together and look, it’s a Christmas miracle.”

It’s funny, when she said she was over the moon for us the other day I just thought she was being nice after the Joel debacle, but seeing her reaction in the flesh, I know she means it. She is genuinely happy Mad and I are together.

“Well, you kinda have that ornament to thank,” I tell her.

“I knew it was magical,” she beams. It’s almost as if she wants to take credit for all of this happening between Mad and me, but in reality, it’s because of Joel ditching me at the altar. I do wish he’d done it in a less public way but from what I heard, the party was a good one.

“You didn’t know shit,” Mad scoffs.

“You said a naughty word, Uncle Mad,” Cassie sings out from the other room, her supersonic hearing once again getting me into trouble. “That’s a dollar for the swear jar.”

“At this rate, her college will be paid for before the holidays are over,” Eamon says, joining us in the entryway. He shakes Mad’s hand and pulls me in for a one-armed hug .

“Who’s got the potty mouth this year?”

“Dad,” Sabrina says with a laugh. “It’s like since he’s stopped working his brain to mouth filter retired too, and he just says what he wants. As much as it’s bad for the girls, it’s highly entertaining.”

As is the fact, for the last few days, Sab has been trapped with her parents, husband, and her two munchkins in this cottage … while I was trapped with her brother. I think I had the better deal. She seems to be coping well but that thought is quashed when she says, “Who wants a margarita?”

Everyone says yes, so we move the party from the entryway and head into the living area. Mad and I say hello to his parents and then I help Sab with the drinks. We make virgin margs for the girls and extra strong ones for the adults.

The eight of us have a wonderful afternoon together eating yummy Christmas foods, opening presents, and laughing. Oh my God, do we laugh. I have to say, it’s one of the best Christmas’s I’ve had in a long time.

By the time Mad and I get back to my place, later that evening, we are full of yummy food and ready to call it a night. We were going to go back to his place since he has food and I don’t. I was supposed to be on my honeymoon right now, hence the bare fridge and pantry. We’re both exhausted so we decide to stay here.

Stripping off because sleeping naked is much more fun, Mad and I climb into bed and snuggle together. My body fits up against his perfectly. Lifting my head up, I stare at him. He looks down and smiles at me. Reaching up, I cup his cheek in my palm and run the pad of my finger over his lips. He nips and kisses my fingertip before covering my hand on his cheek.

“I love you,” he mouths, and I mouth the sentiment back. I may have been left at the altar a few days ago, but my life isn’t over. It’s just beginning because this right here, it feels right. This is where I’m meant to be, and Maddox is “the one.”

Just like my Christmas ornament predicted.