New Year’s Eve
The next year
Pulling me flush against his long, lean body, Jax asked huskily, “Are you going to find me under the mistletoe at midnight?”
“You bet your sweet ass I am. Why tempt destiny?”
My hand gave that sweet ass of his a slap before it slipped underneath the black button-down shirt he’d left untucked, skirting up his muscled back, feeling each muscle tighten and ripple at my touch.
He kissed me behind my ear on the spot that always made me melt for him. His gravelly voice sent shivers down my spine. “I thought you didn't believe in destiny.”
My hands roamed to the front of his shirt, feeling the light smattering of hair along his rock-hard abs and traveled up his smooth skin until my hands covered his pecs. Jax smiled down at me knowingly. I couldn’t get enough of him or stop touching him when he was near.
Leaning up on my tippy toes, I kissed the side of his neck. “It brought me you, didn’t it? Let’s not tempt fate.”
“I like the way you think,” he murmured as our lips touched. My hand cupped his cheek as my thumb traced along his scar. Pulling back, he smiled down at me. “Say hi to Alex for me. I’m going to go find Luke and the guys. See you at midnight, if not sooner.” He gave me one last kiss before sauntering off to find his friends.
I stood watching as Jax moved through the crowd, how his dark jeans hugged his tight ass with every step. It wasn’t lost on me how many women at the party turned their heads as he walked by.
I was still in awe at how quickly Jax had done a complete one-eighty after I’d decided to stay a year ago. After only a month, his whole demeanor had changed, and he’d become more outgoing. From the impression I’d gotten when I’d met him, and the way he’d talked, Jax had seemed extremely anti-social. His ex leaving him had nearly destroyed his self-esteem. Now, you’d never know that Jax had once had a complex about his scar. From the beginning, I’d thought it was hot, so I made sure to let him know every chance I got, which was daily.
When Luke and Jax had met, their friendship had been instant. They were like two peas in a pod. It had made me so happy that they had clicked so well. Jax had hardly any friends, and I was used to the hustle of LA, so I wanted to be able to hang out with my friends when they were in town and available.
Fairlane had been a culture shock with its limited shopping and no one giving a damn about who I was. Missouri was nothing like California, and it had taken me a good while to get used to it, if that was even possible. The weather was crazy unpredictable with one day being in the high sixties and the next day being in the twenties. I never knew what to wear and was constantly hot or cold. Jax and Alex always made fun of me.
When Luke had introduced Jax to a bunch of guys Alex had gone to high school with, I had been a little nervous, but I’d had nothing to worry about. They’d brought him into the fold, and now they all got together once a week, either to watch sports or to play poker. Luke had even managed to get the guys into watching soccer.
While the guys did their thing, Alex and I usually sat around drinking and singing. She wouldn’t admit it, but she had a great voice. She transformed from this tiny girl into a powerhouse whenever she sang.
Hearing Alex’s laugh from the other room broke me out of my thoughts and sent me in search of her. I headed to the kitchen, where I was sure I’d find her. She was always in her kitchen, eating or making something. Not that I blamed her; her kitchen was as gorgeous as the rest of the house. I’d never been one into design or knew the type of style a house was called, but it reminded me of what you’d find in Tuscany. It was warm and cozy and made everyone feel at home with its rock walls, exposed wood beams, and the comfortable furniture that went impeccably well with the house.
Just as I’d expected, Alex and her friend Taylor were standing at the kitchen island, laughing and eating.
“Hey, girls!” I greeted as I came up on them, putting my arms around them both and giving them a hug at the same time.
“You’re finally here!” Alex exclaimed in excitement, hugging me back. “I was starting to think you’d never show up.”
Shaking my head, it was all I could do not to smile. “You’re being ridiculous. We’re only twenty minutes late. Jax decided to join me in the shower, and well, you know how that goes. I’d say I’m sorry I’m late, but I can’t. It was too good.”
“Oh, please, don’t start talking about all the sex you guys are having,” Taylor replied, trying to give us a stern look, but didn’t manage it in the least. “I can’t even remember the last time I had sex. I forgot how little sex drive I had after Ben was born. I’d much rather sleep or read than have sex with my husband.”
“I like sleeping and reading too, but sex is so much better than the two combined. No, let me take that back. Good, no, amazing sex is so much better.” Alex laughed before taking a sip of her drink.
“You know, I don’t begrudge you for having great sex,” Taylor said hugging Alex and rubbing her back. It was obvious now that they had both been drinking. Taylor always became even nicer, if that was possible, when she drank, and all touchy-feely. Alex, on the other hand, laughed and got loud, and then tried to jump her husband. “If anyone deserves it, it’s you, but you don’t have to remind me how often you’re getting it. I mean, you guys should be past the stage of every day.”
“Every day?” I questioned. I could feel my eyebrows were almost to my hairline with Taylor’s proclamation. How the hell did they have sex every day? They’d been together for almost three years, if my math was correct.
“More like twice a day, at least,” Taylor interjected. “I don’t know how they ever make it out of the bedroom.”
“Because it’s not all in the bedroom. We’ve had sex all over the house and outside.” Alex blurted and then blushed.
It was sweet. I wasn’t going to tell them that Jax and I were the same way.
“I don’t even know how you even have the energy.”
“All I have to do is look at Luke, and he gets my engine fired up. When he takes his shirt off, it’s all I can do not to jump him on the spot. Well, I mean I do, if we’re at home and alone. I swear he gets hotter as he ages. I’m seriously going to have a complex when I start going gray and getting wrinkles. I don’t think I’m going to have the same luck and keep getting better with age.”
“How drunk are you?” Taylor asked, affronted. “You are gorgeous, and you’ve gotten better looking over the years. Don’t act like your hottie of a husband doesn’t tell you all the damn time that you’re beautiful.”
“Yeah, because that’s his job,” she cried out, loudly.
Yep. Drunk.
“And do you tell him how hot he is because it’s your job?” Taylor and I asked at the same time. We already knew the answer before Alex ever opened her mouth.
“No! I tell him because he’s hot as fuck. Hence, why I jump him every chance I get.”
“Alex,” I laughed as I put my arm around her shoulder and gave her a side hug, “Luke feels the same way about you. He doesn’t tell you that you’re beautiful because it’s his job. Speaking of jobs, I need to go find my boyfriend so I can kiss him underneath the mistletoe at midnight.”
“Oh shit! I thought someone was supposed to tell us when there was five minutes before the countdown. I put the mistletoe by the doors leading out to the deck. Good luck and happy kissing!” Alex called as she scurried out of the room in search of her husband. I had a feeling we wouldn’t be seeing her for the rest of the night.
“Go find that handsome boyfriend of yours,” Taylor said after she took a large chug of her wine. “I need to go find my husband. After all this talk, I plan to get lucky tonight.”
“Good luck,” I called as I walked out of the kitchen to find Jax. I couldn’t say I was shocked to find that Jax had beat me there. He was leaning against the door right underneath the mistletoe. A big smile broke out on my face as I walked toward him. The past year of my life had been the best, and I knew it was only going to get better.
“Ten”
“Nine”
“Eight”
“Hey, do you come here often?” I joked as I slid up next to my man.
“Seven”
“Six”
“Five”
“Every New Year’s Eve,” he replied as he looked me up and down.
“Four”
“Three”
“Two”
“One”
Our lips crashed against each other as I wound my leg around his. If the room hadn’t been full of people, I would have climbed him.
Blinking away the heat and stars from our midnight kiss, I gazed up at my handsome boyfriend who looked so nervous he could puke. I wasn’t sure how it was possible to go from giving me one of the best kisses of my life to this sudden change.
Cupping his face, my brows furrowed as my thumb tried to rub away his worry lines. “Jax, sweetie, what’s wrong?”
Slipping from my hands, I watched as Jax went down on one knee and gazed up at me with so much love in his eyes, it took my breath away. His large calloused hand held mine, both trembling.
Was he doing what I thought he was?
In the background, I thought I heard a gasp and someone clap.
“My beautiful brown-eyed girl, I never thought I’d be down on one knee, or finding the love of my life, but that all changed the moment I found you on the side of the road. That ice storm a year ago was the best thing that has ever happened to me. Every day, I’m thankful that you didn’t get on that plane and took a chance on me.” He drew in a deep breath and let out a nervous chuckle. “I know it wasn’t easy moving here, but you’ve never once complained about leaving your life behind and moving to this small town where the weather is as unpredictable as you are. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how happy you’ve made me – made me the man I am before you. I want to kiss you at midnight under the mistletoe for the rest of my life.”
We both looked up at the mistletoe above us with a smile.
“I vow here and now to never let a day go by without showing you how much I love you. Gabriella Santina, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Tears slipped down my face, my smile so big I watched him slide the most beautiful princess cut engagement ring on my ring finger. I had no idea of the size, but it was perfect. Just like my gorgeous Jax.
Falling down to my knees, I wrapped my arms around his neck and placed kisses all over his face as we both laughed happily.
A deep rumbling laugh filled the air. His arms holding me tight. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes! How could you ever think it would ever be anything but yes?”
“Just wanted to make sure.” He winked at me. “Now, let’s say our goodbyes because I can’t wait to get my fiancée home and ravish her.”
“Yes, please,” I answered as I laced our fingers together and started pulling him to the front door.
We said our goodbyes to those we knew, and I was surprised to see Luke and Alex waiting for us by the door. I had a feeling they’d known what Jax had planned. I would talk to Alex about that later. Right then, I had better things to do.
After a short drive, we made it home. We stumbled into the house, ripping each other’s clothes off as we went, knowing instinctively where we were headed. This New Year’s Eve wasn’t as cold as the last, but it was still too cold to be running around outside naked. The cover was already off the hot tub as we slipped into the hot water, and I straddled Jax on the bench seat.
“Touch me,” I moaned as I angled myself above his thick cock to take him deep within me. “I love feeling your hands all over my body.” His hands cupped my breasts, kneading and squeezing, tweaking my nipples.
Lowering myself, I took in every inch—at the slowest pace. I wanted to remember this night forever and savor every bit of his large cock.
“Oh God,” he moaned when he was all the way in. “You feel so fucking good. I need you to ride me now, baby.”
“Your wish is my command.” I nibbled on his lower lip as I started to glide up and down his cock slowly, rocking back and forth, until his hands left my breasts to hold onto my hips. Jax’s fingers bit into my skin as he moved me faster and faster. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I licked up his neck as my fingers threaded through his thick black hair and tugged.
He growled. “Fuck, baby, you know what pulling my hair does to me.”
Yes, I did know; that’s why I did it.
Pistoning his hips, I ground down on his cock, hitting my clit with every long stroke. Bracing my hands on the side of the hot tub, I rode him just the way he wanted. Hard and fast. His hands clenched, and the thick cords of his neck tightened to let me know he was close to coming. Thank God, because I was so close, and I wanted us to come together this first time as an engaged couple. When I thought he was going to fall over the edge, one of Jax’s hands slid between us. One rough fingertip rubbed my clit in furious circles until I clamped down, milking every last drop from his throbbing cock as we both fell over the edge.
Panting, I laid my head on his shoulder, placing kisses anywhere I could reach from my little perch.
“Happy New Year’s, Jax. This is going to be the best year yet.”
“Happy New Year’s, baby.”
“Thank you for finding me on the side of the road.”
“Thank you for taking a chance on me and kissing me underneath the mistletoe.”
He kissed my shoulder and up my neck. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world. I love you, Gabi.”
“And I love you, my angel.”
~The End~