“No more touching yourself. It’s my job now,” he says before his mouth descends onto my clit. He didn’t need to make the demand. The second his mouth wraps around my clit, I know I’ve been ruined.

  I sink my fingers into his hair as he licks and sucks at my clit. He presses one finger into me and then another. It's more than I can take. Too much pent-up need demands to be released. He must know I’m close because he hooks his fingers inside of me as his tongue is relentless in its strokes against my clit, sending me over the edge.

  “Ty!” I scream out as the pleasure courses through my body. Tears slip down my cheeks when Tyson moves up my body and starts to kiss me.

  “Baby.” My eyes flutter open, loving when he calls me any kind of pet name. He presses kisses to my cheeks.

  “I’m happy. I swear. It’s just a lot. I can feel it. That you love me so much. You’ve taken your time even when I pushed back. You never gave up on me. So many times, you could have walked away, but you only came on stronger. I don’t think you’ll ever know what that means to me. As you already know, there aren’t a lot of people that I can depend on in my life. You’ve built so much trust inside of me.”

  “I know. It’s why I did it. I love you, and when you love something, you fight for it. You know that better than anyone.”

  “I love you.” I wrap my arms around his neck.

  “I love you, too.”

  “Then make love to me already.” Now it’s me making demands.

  “I don’t have a condom, but I can pull out or I could just eat your pussy again.” He smiles, not worried in the least about his own pleasure.

  “I’m on birth control. Have been for a while.”

  “Fuck yes.” He claims my mouth in another kiss. The head of his cock starts to press inside of me. He freezes when he gets to the thin barrier of my virginity.

  “Don’t stop now,” I breathe against his mouth.

  “I love you,” he says again before he thrusts into me fully. I gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders. The pain is sharp and fast but fades quickly. As I stare up into Tyson’s eyes, he actually looks to be in more pain than me. He holds completely still, waiting for me to adjust to him. I can always count on this man to look out for me.

  “If you love me, Tyson, then you’ll move.” I try to lift my hips, but I’m pinned under him. He lets out a groan but does as I ask. He pulls out, thrusting back in quickly. My eyes stay locked on his face, wanting to see every bit of his pleasure.

  As my own pleasure starts to build, I lift my hips, meeting each of his movements. “So damn tight. I’m not gonna last.” He sounds almost panicked, and I know he doesn't want to come without me.

  “I’m close,” I admit.

  Tyson’s hand slips between us, his fingers going straight for my clit. His touch is all I need to give me the final push over the edge. My sex locks around his cock, and I come with his name on my lips. I cling to him, surprised at how hard I orgasmed.

  He groans my name before coming with me. His warmth spills inside of me, connecting us in a way I know deep down we’ll only ever share.

  CHAPTER 21

  TYSON

  “Can I see now?”

  “Not yet.” I maneuver Rory carefully through the door. Her brothers—hiding on the side of the porch—cover their mouths to muffle their giggles, but Logan isn’t quite successful.

  Rory’s head whips toward the sound, and I barely manage to keep my hands over her eyes. “Logan?”

  Another giggle leaks out before Dean slaps his thirteen-year-old hand over Logan’s unmanageable eight-year-old mouth. It’s been two years since Rory and I got married on Christmas Day. My mom’s feelings are still hurt, but she’s gotten over it by pouring her motherly love into Dean and Logan. Dad’s playing catch with Dean every day, molding him into the next NFL quarterback, something I never had the ambition to do.

  I may have hurried things unnecessarily, but I wanted to give Rory stability and security. Plus, once we were married, she was more amenable to expanding the delivery service, hiring more people who needed jobs, and taking on a more managerial role.

  “Why are we outside? You didn’t buy that car, did you?”

  I also demanded she take care of all my money—both my earning from the videos and endorsements as well as the trust.

  I used to do it, but it was nice leaving that in her hands. She’s strict with the money, though, and tells me I’m way too frivolous. I think we make a good team. If Rory was in charge, we’d eat spaghetti and ramen for dinner, but the family needs steak now and then.

  “No. I didn’t replace your Jeep.” Even though that thing seems to be one pothole away from collapsing, I’ve honored her wishes and not bought her a car. She usually drives my truck anyway. Besides, my parents are buying her a car this Christmas. She can’t tell them no.

  I nod toward Dean, who flips a switch, and as soon as the snow starts falling, I take my hands away and shout, “Merry Christmas!”

  “Merry Christmas!” yell her brothers. Logan runs over and throws himself at Rory’s legs.

  “Do you love it, Rory, do you love it?”

  Rory holds out her hands, her face glowing with wonder. “Is…this snow?”

  “It is snow, Rory,” Logan says at the top of his lungs. “Isn’t it cool?”

  “How?” Her brows furrow together as she searches for the snow-making machine, but it’s around the corner of the small house hidden by a bunch of saw horses and lumber that I’m using to build an addition. My latest DIY series is bringing in big numbers. Nothing my followers enjoy more than seeing me sweat, for some reason.

  “It’s magic,” I tell her and steer her away from the machine and into the small snowfall. It’s cold for Texas, but not cold enough to prevent the snow from melting the moment it hits the ground. Still, as long as you look up or forward, it feels winter-y.

  “Why do I feel like it would’ve been cheaper for you to replace the Jeep?”

  “Nah, I’m frugal now. This is courtesy of Wendy’s Heating and Cooling over in Jackson City. I’ll film Dean and Logan pelting me with snowballs later for an ad.”

  Rory pats me on the shoulder. “Good job out of you.”

  “Great. Then let’s enjoy the snow.” I pick up a thermos I left before I brought her out and unscrew the top. “Hot chocolate.” I hand her the cup and drape a candy cane over the edge. “And a hat.” Dean hands me the red scarf, hat, and mittens set. I tug the hat over her head and wrap the scarf around her neck. “It’s cold in the snow.”

  Her cheeks are growing rosy. “It is, isn’t it?” She hums as she takes a sip of her cocoa.

  She’s so easy to make happy, so easy to love. I lean down and kiss her, sweeping my tongue inside her mouth, tasting the chocolate and the mint and her.

  Dean and Logan make gagging noises, but it only makes me kiss her longer until finally, she pushes me away. “Behave,” she whispers.

  “I will for the next”—I check my watch—“five minutes.”

  “What’s in five minutes?”

  “Grandpa Rick and Grandma Cherie are coming to take us to see the new Star Wars movie!” Logan says, his volume still at ten.

  Moments after he says that, my parents’ Mercedes pulls up next to the sidewalk. Mom hurries out before Dad can open her door and throws her arms open. Logan throws himself at her and they hug like they’ve not seen each other in a year when it’s only been a couple of days. The boys wave goodbye and then clamber into the car, disappearing down the street.

  Rory drops down onto the top step and sips her cocoa. The snow falls around her face, making her look angelic.

  “Next year, let’s go to a place with real snow.”

  “Like where? Vail?”

  “I was thinking Canada. Lake Louise. We can ice skate, ride horses in the snow, take sleigh rides, make love in front of a fireplace.”

  “I like all of those ideas.”

  “Great, because I booked it.” I pull a piece of paper out of my pocket and hand it to her. “This is next year’s present. Don’t expect any more,” I lie.

  “Are you doing a promotional video for them, too?” She unfolds the travel itinerary.

  “Nope. This is out of our savings. You’ll have to live with that.”

  “You think I’m cheap, don’t you?” She nudges my shoulder.

  I wrap my free arm around her and pull her close. “No. I think you grew up without a lot, and it’s hard to forget that. I think you’re awesome, and without you, I’d probably spend every dime I made.”

  “I doubt that. Your bank account was more than healthy when I took it over.”

  “I didn’t have much to spend it on. I was saving it up to spoil you.”

  “How’d you know you loved me? Like why me?”

  “Why not you?” I counter.

  “Because there are other girls—prettier, richer, smarter.”

  “Richer, maybe, but prettier and smarter? Never. I loved you since the day you kicked David Rodrigo in the balls when he said that women existed to make men sandwiches during health class in eighth grade.”

  “That far back?” She’s shocked. I kiss her again.

  “Yeah. I was a goner. I tried to ask you out, but you were never around, and it was in the eighth grade so I waited.”

  “And waited,” she says.

  “And waited,” I add.

  “And here I am.” She grins like an imp.

  “Yup.” I get to my feet and then throw her over my shoulder. “Now it’s time for payback.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  I slap her ass and carry her inside. “It means it’s time for you to suffer for all the waiting I did. I’m going to eat you out until you start orgasming, and then I’m going to stop until the urge goes away. I’ll repeat it again and again until—”

  “Until I feel as anxious as you did for years?”

  I throw her on the bed. “Until you admit you love me.”

  Her eyes grow tender. “I do love you.”

  I pull my shirt off over my head. “Say it again.”

  “I love you, Tyson Carter.”

  “And again,” I demand as I shed my jeans.

  “I love you to the moon and back.”

  “You’re my whole universe, Rory.” I peel off her clothes and slide inside of her, forgetting my promise to make her suffer. She’s wet and hot and welcoming. Her legs part, and her arms come up to clutch my body close.

  “And you’re my whole life, Tyson.”

  “Merry Christmas,” I murmur, and then I shut up so that I can give her the greatest present of all—orgasms! Nah, kidding, it’s love.

  EPILOGUE

  RORY

  MANY YEARS LATER

  “Tyson!” I cry out as I start to come. I was so sure I was dreaming. Or I suppose it’s a mix of both. I’d been dreaming about my husband, his face between my thighs, to only wake with it actually happening.

  “You taste sweeter,” I hear him say. My mind is still foggy with sleep. “Obviously my wife is keeping shit from me,” he mutters.

  “What?” I ask, thinking I’ve missed something. He doesn’t answer me, though. Instead, he flips me over, grabbing my hips and pulling me to my knees. A half-second later, he’s thrusting all the way inside of me. “Don’t like when you keep shit from me.”

  “I don’t know—” His hand comes down on my ass, giving it a hard slap. I gasp, my pussy clamping down around his cock, making him groan.

  “Don’t try to make me come already or your little ass is in trouble.”

  “I can’t help it.”

  “You can help by not keeping shit from me.” I try to speak again, but he starts to thrust into me harder. All I can get out are moans as he plows into me from behind. It’s rough and sweet at the same time. I never know how he manages to do that, but he does. My husband always takes care of me. He knows exactly what I need before I do. It’s always been that way with us.

  “Tyson,” I get out. My fingers grip the sheets, needing something to cling to. I’m so close already, but I know he’s not going to let me come until he gets what he wants.

  My Tyson doesn’t need or want a lot of things, but when he does, he can become a bit obsessive about whatever it is. Me being one of his obsessions means he knows everything about me. That includes my body. He can get me off better than I ever could myself. He can draw it out for me or have me coming before I even know what’s happening.

  “Want my fingers on your clit, baby?” he asks, but we both know he’s not really asking. He already knows what I need. It’s just a matter of when he’s going to give it to me.

  “Please,” I beg.

  His fingers slip between my thighs, quickly finding my clit as he keeps rutting into me from behind. It doesn’t take me long to lose it. My whole body tightens as I come undone. Tyson keeps me on my knees as I pull him over with me. He groans my name as his heat spills deep inside of me.

  He drops to his side, rolling me with him. He moves my body around as if I weigh no more than a doll. His cock stays seated inside of me as he spoons me, his face buried in the side of my neck.

  “I know this body, and I’ve given you three days to come clean,” he whispers against my ear.

  “Seriously?” I huff. “I only realized last night, and I was saving it as a gift! Do you know how hard it is to get a present for a man who can buy anything he wants?”

  “I don’t want for anything. You gave me all I could have ever wanted when you let me marry you. My life is full with our little family.”

  “Let you?” I burst out laughing. He rolls, pinning me under him. I slip my hands up his bare chest and around his neck. It never gets old waking up to this man.

  “You agreed to marry me,” he huffs right back, making me smile up at him. I did. Who wouldn't? Marrying him was the best decision I ever made in my life. Us being together was inevitable. The things Tyson has not only done for me but the boys has him owning every part of me. He showed me the kind of man he is. One I’ll never let go. One that I want to have my own babies with.

  “I did. I let you put a baby inside of me too,” I tell him. I was going to give him the positive test in a little box I wrapped for Christmas today.

  I’d been feeling off the past few days. I was sure it was too soon for me to be pregnant. I hadn’t been off my birth control long. The only thing that had been holding me back from us having a baby is wanting my brothers to grow up a bit more. They deserved as much attention as I could give them. Logan is about to hit his teens and has his own little life with his friends.

  Dean is a senior in high school now. He’s graduating with a full ride for football. I wanted a bit of space between them and any children Tyson and I had. I also wanted to enjoy some time alone with my own husband before we had little ones under foot.

  “I knew it!” he shouts.

  “Yeah, apparently before I did.”

  “I know this body.” His hand comes to my belly before he presses his mouth to mine in a soft kiss. It doesn’t last long before he’s springing from the bed. “I’ll make breakfast.”

  “It’s Christmas,” I remind him before he tries to make a feast thinking he needs to feed me more than I’ll ever be able to eat. We always have a giant dinner in the afternoon on Christmas.

  “I know. Parents will be here in a few hours.” I glance at the clock on the nightstand to see it’s nine. “I’ll make something light.”

  “You can tell them.” I reach out and snag Tyson around the wrist. “They’re going to be excited.”

  “Yeah, Mom is going to lose it.” He leans back down over the bed, brushing some of my hair out of my face. His eyes lock with mine. “Love you.”

  “I love you, too.” He kisses me again before leaving me in our bed. I sit up, thinking how different my life is.

  My mother has been out of our lives for years. I don’t have any idea where she is. Tyson and his father Rick pulled some strings and got me custody of the boys. I’ll never forget that day when Tyson handed me those papers signed by the judge.

  I had no idea how much anxiety I was holding in until he cut me free with that piece of paper. I cried for hours. Tyson held me close, never letting go. Now they’re ours. Not only Tyson’s and mine but Rick and Cherie’s too.

  They’ve not only been parents to me but in a way to the boys as well. They fill the spot as grandparents to them too. They're both good at being what any of us need them to be. Last year, we all got our last names changed to Carter.

  Dean had asked about it when his name was starting to get noticed. Both Cherie and Rick lost it when we showed them the final papers last Christmas. I suppose a new grandchild is the only way to beat last year's gifts.

  I snag my robe from the bathroom before I can go in search of my boys. I pass the living room to see Dean in there with his girlfriend Cara, giving her a present.

  They both give me a Merry Christmas as I walk by toward the kitchen. I know Dean and Tyson aren’t related, but sometimes they can be so alike it can be freaky. Like Dean’s obsession with Cara. When I hear her little squeals, I know he gave her the promise ring I’d help him pick out a few weeks ago when we went shopping.

  “Do I smell cinnamon?” I ask, stepping into the kitchen.

  “My wife is knocked up. Of course you smell cinnamon. I’m making your favorite.” He lifts me off my feet and sets me on the giant kitchen island. He’s already got a cup of hot chocolate waiting for me. “You feel all right?” he asks as Logan comes strolling into the kitchen, plopping down in one of the chairs. He always shows up when the smell of food starts to fill the house.

  A house Tyson built for me not far from his parents. Think that’s what I love most about it even in all its beauty.

  “I feel amazing.” Tears fill my eyes. “How do our Christmases keep getting better?”

  “You,” he says simply, making my insides melt. Tyson always thinks I’m the world. I suppose to him, I am. I shake my head.

 

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