Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
“My mom used that say that.”
Carrie sits up. “She did?”
“She did. She wanted us to have a great holiday and she did everything in her power to ensure it happened.” I shift my legs and Kesha jumps off the bed. That’s my opening and I roll Carrie to her back and settle on top of her. “She always started the day off with something sweet, cinnamon rolls, usually, and the whole house smelled like them.”
“Oh, I love that idea. Let’s get some today so we can do that tomorrow.”
“I need my something sweet now.” I lean in to kiss her and Kesha literally jumps on the bed and shoves her face between us. We both laugh and pet her before I throw away the covers and drag Carrie’s naked, perfect self out the bed. “What are we doing?” she laughs.
My gaze rakes over her breasts, and I pick her up. “To the shower for safe sex, the kind that doesn’t include furry animals.”
“Nikki has to go out.”
“I got up at four and took her out.”
“You did? Why?”
“She had her nose in my face,” I say, crossing to the bathroom and setting her down by the shower while I turn on the water. Kesha follows us.
I quickly maneuver Carrie into the shower and shut the door. My fingers tangle in her hair and I push her into the corner. “Morning fuck. That’s the way to do Christmas Eve day.” My mouth closes down on hers, and I drag her knee to my hip.
Carrie looks over my shoulder. “They’re watching.”
I glance to my left to find Kesha and Nikki sitting at the glass. “Pretend they aren’t,” I say, grabbing my cock and pressing it to her sex.
“I don’t think I can.”
I press inside her. “Okay, maybe I can,” she moans.
“I knew you could,” I murmur, kissing her again, a deep, hungry kiss that drives away all the demons of the holiday season. This year I’m going to celebrate the way my mother would want me to celebrate.
Carrie and I spend the afternoon shopping for our day with Cat, Reese, and Gabe tomorrow, and end the night with roasted chestnuts we buy from a street vendor, a fire and a whole lot of furry cuddles while we watch a movie. Christmas morning, I wake to Kesha and Nikki on top of me and Carrie missing, but there is also the distinct smell of cinnamon rolls. I look skyward and whisper, “You’re whispering all your secrets in her ear, aren’t you, mom?” because this is the smell I woke to every Christmas morning most of my early life.
I convince Nikki and Kesha to allow me to get up and pull on sweats, a tee, and then brush my teeth. I walk to a drawer where I’ve hidden Carrie’s gift, and pull out the ring box, sticking it in my pocket.
I find Carrie in the kitchen, where I expect to find her and she’s all smiles. “Breakfast is ready!” She points at the plate of iced buns. “And I just brewed a cup of coffee and made it your way to come wake you up.”
I round the island and accept the cup, kissing her before I sip the coffee. “Good stuff, baby. Just like you.”
She smiles that perfect smile of hers, and we sit down at the counter, stuffing our faces, and talking about the wedding. It’s after we finish eating, with both of us sitting on barstools facing each other, that I pull out the box. “It has a special meaning. I’ll explain.”
Her eyes soften to and she picks it up, lifting the box to display the ring that is a star of diamonds with a ruby inside. “It’s stunning,” she says. “Absolutely stunning.”
“My mother used to tell us to wish upon a star, to find one, make a wish, and then to make that wish come true. Not to count on luck. To count on the positive energy of that wish. And the ruby was her birthstone.”
Carrie tears up. “Thank you for such a special gift.” She tries to pick up the ring, but her hand shakes. I take over and slip it on her finger.
“My turn,” she says, opening a drawer and setting a box in front of me.
I pick up the small square box and pull open the lid to find an incredible pocket watch with the world etched on the outside, a familiar watch. “Gabe told me your mother gave you one for your graduation and you were upset when you lost it. He helped me find a duplicate.”
Emotion wells in my chest, and I stand up and pull her into my arms. “I love the hell out of you. You know that, right?”
I look up at him. “Good thing. You’re marrying me in two days.”
Since dinner isn’t until six, we pretty much have a lazy morning and afternoon, and come five o’clock, I’m in black dress pants and black sweater, and Carrie is in a skirt with a red sweater, and thick tights I complain about. “I can’t get to you,” I say, pulling her to me and cupping her backside under her skirt.