Page 11 of A Constant Christmas

“Oh, don’t thank me yet. There’s much more to see.”

Before I can ask him what he means, he is getting out of our SUV and walking over to open my door for me. He takes my hand and leads me up the beautifully decorated walk to the front door.

As we step inside, I stop dead in my tracks. I have always loved this house, and I’ve always loved the way it’s decorated, but now, it is simply magical. The entire place is adorned with Christmas decorations.

I have always loved Christmas ever since I was a little girl, but it’s even more special now that I have kids. I love the trees, the lights, the pretty colored wrapping paper. Everything.

I pride myself on making our house look like a winter wonderland every year, but the house we just walked into definitely has me beat.

The entryway has a giant tree that is covered with white lights, gold ribbon and tinsel, and silver and gold ornaments. It must stand over twelve feet tall and is probably just as wide as I am tall.

As we walk further in, and I see the living room, it’s just as beautiful. Two smaller trees sit on either side of the large fireplace, both with multi-colored lights and ornaments to match.

On the mantle of the fireplace is fluffy fake snow with all sorts of small buildings making up an ornate Christmas village.

And I don’t know how, but the entire house smells like sugar cookies…even though it doesn’t look like anyone has been here today to make some.

“Ty, this is beautiful. How did you do all this?”

“I wish I could take the credit, but you know I’m not exactly the decorating type. I enlisted help. Mom came up and decorated it for me.”

I nod. Of course, Maria came up and did this. She is the party-planning extraordinaire, and the queen of decorating. She seems to make everything she touches shine a bit brighter.

A small chuckle escapes my lips.

“What’s so funny?” He smiles.

“Remember the first time we came up here? Your mom still hated me, and we could only come when your dad had taken her out of the country for a few days.”

That gets him to laugh with me. “Oh, yes. I remember.”

“She hated me back then.”

“She didn’t hate you. She just didn’t know you.”

I pointed my eyes and gave him a knowing look.

He nods. “Okay, maybe she hated you. But that’s all in the past. Look how close you two are now.”

He’s right. His mom gained a great deal of respect for me when I stormed into her house and told her I would go to war over her son…even if it was against his own mother. I think it was then that she started to get the idea that I wasn’t going anywhere.

After that, we became closer than ever. My mom died when I was in high school, so Maria started treating me like one of her own. I can’t believe she came up here and did all of this though.

“What are you thinking?” Tyler asks. His arms are crossed as he leans against the wall.

“How lucky I am to have you and your family.”

He shakes his head. “Nah, I think we are the lucky ones.”

Grabbing my hand, he pulls me towards him and wraps me in a hug. It feels like so long since we’ve even stood like this. Our arms wrapped around each other while we gently sway and enjoy the moment.

And damn, he smells good.

Without waiting another moment, I pull him in for a kiss, pressing my lips to his hard and fiery. It’s mere seconds before his tongue seeks entrance, and my lips part for him.

As much as I am looking forward to the foreplay and everything else wonderful that goes along with our sex, right now, I just need him inside me. It’s been too damn long, and I don’t want to wait another moment.

“Take me, Ty. Right here,” I say, breathlessly between our kisses.

---