I giggle as Dasher kisses my neck, and the short hairs of his beard tickle my skin. “Merry Christmas.” He grabs my leg and pulls it up and over to spread me wider. He cups my sex, and I moan at the way he handles me.
“Merry Christmas,” I say back. The smile on my face is so big, I bet my cheeks will ache by the end of the day.
“How do you feel?”
“Sore,” I admit. His eyebrows pull together in concern, so I clarify. “A good sore.” I roll over to fully face him. “I think the bath helped.” I tilt my head for a kiss, and he’s there, ready to connect.
“Hey! This is locked.” Dasher and I both look toward the bedroom door, and we see the handle on it wiggling. “Why is this locked?” Rae shouts through the door before she knocks harder. “Anyone in there?” I bury my face in Dasher’s neck to keep from laughing. She is too adorable.
“One day that will be our kids,” Dasher whispers.
My stomach explodes with butterflies at the thought, and I shake my head. “Christmas Eve, they are all going to sleep in bed with us. It will be miserable and wonderful.”
“That sounds perfect.” He kisses my forehead before getting up from bed, and I watch as he walks to the bathroom naked.
“I know you’re in there!” Rae shouts. “Is she in there too?”
“Rae!” I hear Jillian shout. “Leave them be.”
“It’s fine!” I shout and start to get up.
“We’ll meet you guys downstairs.” Jillian says, but not before I hear Rae’s squeal of delight that I’m here. It makes my eyes fill with tears.
“Are you crying?” Dasher comes over to the bed, and I see he’s slipped on a pair of gray sweatpants. He really needs some Christmas pajamas, and I make a mental note to get him some next year.
“Happy tears.” I blink quickly, trying to get them to go away. He cups my face and leans down to kiss me. I close my eyes as I savor the tender feel of his lips on mine. “I love you.” I didn't know I could love like this, but here it is, and I’ll never let it go. I feel closer to my parents now and understand how deep their love for each other was. They would both be so happy to know I’ve found the same thing they shared.
“I love you too.” His hands drop from my cheeks, and I open my eyes to see him on his knees in front of me. I’m sitting on the side of the bed, making us eye level as he looks at me intently. “You’re going to marry me.” I feel him slip a ring on my finger, and I actually let out a bark of laughter.
“You’re lucky I find your bossy attitude attractive.”
“I’m more than fucking lucky.” I don’t think anyone outside of this house gets this side of Dasher, and I realize how fortunate we are that he saves it for the people he truly cares for.
“I know you’re not technically asking, but yes, I’ll marry you.” I look down at the ring, and I’m shocked to see a large green emerald with smaller diamonds all the way around it. “It’s perfect.” I’m overcome with emotions again, and I sniffle as I try not to cry.
I throw myself at him, and he catches me easily, standing with me in his arms. “I’m going to make sure every Christmas you have from this moment on is full of family and love.” I cry harder as he holds me tight, letting me get it all out.
“I love you so much. You have given me more than you’ll ever know.” I pepper kisses on his face until I get to his mouth. His hand tangles into my hair as he deepens the kiss.
“Love you too.” He drops his forehead to mine. “If we don’t get out of this room right this second, we never will. We have a big day, and no doubt if we aren't downstairs in the next five minutes Rae will be back here banging on the door.”
“Right,” I agree but glance at the bed. It wouldn't be bad to not leave the room all day either.
“You’re going to kill me.” He kisses me again. “When we get into this bed tonight we won’t be leaving it for a few days.” He smacks me on the ass, and I squeal. “Now put some clothes on.”
I jump into action, trying to find at least some pajamas to put on until it’s time for the party tonight. Then I remember I left all my stuff downstairs in the entryway.
“My clothes—”
“In the closet.” He nods, and I step inside his massive closet to see my bags are not only in here, but everything is put away. I see a pair of green and red flannel Christmas pajamas sitting on the big island in the center of the closet. I put them on, knowing Dasher must have gotten them for me, along with some fuzzy socks.
When I step back out of the closet I almost fall over. Now Dasher is wearing matching pajamas, and he’s got a smirk on his lips.
“I thought you’d like the idea of a new tradition,” he says as I walk over toward him. He picks up a wrapped present I didn't see a moment ago and hands it to me.
“You already got me this.” I show off my ring that fits perfectly.
“This one isn’t for just you.” I pull off the bow first before unwrapping the gift. When I see what’s inside, I once again burst into tears. It’s the same matching pajamas we have on now, but for a baby.
“You’re crazy, you know that?” I say, but I don’t care if we’re going too fast. I guess maybe that makes me crazy too, but life is short, and this love is forever.
“And you love it.”
“I really do.”
My dad was so over the moon for my mom, so I knew I wanted the kind of love they had for each other. I know that’s exactly what I’m going to get with Dasher because he’ll do anything to make our lives perfect.
He takes my hand as he leads me out of the bedroom and downstairs to where Rae and Jillian are already sitting on the floor by the tree.
Rae jumps up and runs over to me, wrapping her little arms around my waist. Jillian watches with a smile as they both make it clear they want me to be a part of their family.
“Can we give it to her now?” Rae asks when she unlocks her hold on me. Before Dasher and I answer her question, she’s grabbing my hand. “They are getting married!” She jumps up and down. “Can I be the flower girl?”
“I don’t see why not,” I tell her.
“I thought you were going to be my best man,” Dasher says.
“Oh.” Her eyes widen, and I can tell she’s fighting an inner battle of which she would rather be. “Mommy could be your best man.”
“We have time to work out all the details.” Jillian stands up and comes over to give me a hug. “Welcome to the family. You’re stuck with us now,” she whispers into my ear before placing a kiss on my cheek. She was right to warn me about Dasher. He’s an intense man that stops at nothing to get what he wants, and it’s one of the many things I love about him. I’m just happy to be the lucky girl he wants to have for the rest of his life.
“Not too long,” Dasher grumbles.
“No, not too long,” I agree. He tucks me into his side.
“Now can we show her?” Rae asks. She’s wiggling all around, clearly excited about whatever it is she wants me to see.
“I think she’s ready.” Dasher smiles down at me.
He’s my life now, and I’ll never need another Christmas gift. I was happy with only Dasher, but I lucked out with so much more.
“We want you to feel like this is your home too.” Gosh, when I think he can’t get any sweeter, he proves me wrong. Who knew this would be the same man who shouted at me through a phone a week ago?
Rae and Jillian walk over toward the fireplace. It’s then I realize a sheet is hanging over the top of it. Jillian reaches up to grab it and gives it a small tug. The sheet drops to the floor, and I stand there in shock.
The picture over the fireplace is of my first Christmas. I’m sitting in my mom’s lap in front of the tree, and my dad has his arm wrapped around my mom. We’re all smiling and I’m thinking Dasher must have snagged the picture from my place and had it done. I turn my head, burying it in Dasher’s chest.
“You’re home, Eve,” he says softly, and I look up at him to meet his eyes. This man, who has changed my whole world from the moment he came stomping into it, has made this truly the best day ever. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I say back, pulling Dasher down for a kiss.
I have no doubt my Dasher will live up to his word, and every Christmas here will be filled with love and happiness. How could it not be when Dasher is at my side?