Page 61 of Husband for the Holidays

“Oh, Konstantin.” Her mouth wouldn’t form the smile that wanted to bloom. Her lips were quivering because she was too moved. “You realize this is one of those minutes right now? That I’m really, really happy just because you’rehere?”

He swept forward and gathered her up so she was eye to eye with him. She looped her arms behind his neck and their noses grazed and her legs were draped against his. He started to kiss her, then drew back. “Is this okay—?”

“It’s perfect. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The press of his mouth against hers was so sweet it was painful. They held it to just that, a press, waiting for the agony to pass before the joy of reunion tangled with need and combusted into deprivation. In mutual attunement, they moaned and began to kiss hungrily. Passionately.

As he walked up the stairs with her in his arms, she peppered kisses against his throat.

She smiled when he set her on her feet in his massive bedroom. “Are you going to throw these away while I’m asleep?” she asked as she began to undress.

“Whatever it takes to keep you here for the rest of our lives.” He paused in stripping his own clothes to throw back the covers.

Seconds later, they were under the sheets, naked bodies brushing and hands moving with familiarity over each other. She paused to trace his ear and study his rugged features, savoring this moment.

“I’ll be gentle,” he promised.

“I’m not worried, just letting myself feel it. This is my dream come true. I really, really love you, Konstantin. Don’t break my heart again.”

“I won’t. I swear.” His expression flexed with emotion. “I really love you, too. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it.”

They kissed again and this time, the need to be reunited in the most basic way overtook them. They shifted and caressed. She opened her legs and he slid between them. His flesh prodded hers and found a warm, sleek welcome. They both sighed.

When he was deep inside her, he rolled, bringing her atop him and they lay like that a long time, kissing and caressing and simply reveling in the joy of being intimately connected.

All good things come to an end, though. And when they rolled apart a few minutes later, still panting and breathless, they smiled at each other because, really, it was only the beginning.

EPILOGUE

Five years later...

“KONSTANTIN,”ELOISEWHISPEREDand poked him in the side.

“Is Ilias up?” He yanked his head off his pillow and threw his leg toward the side of the bed. “I’ll get him.”

“No, shh. Look.” She curled into him as she showed him the baby monitor where their four-year-old daughter, Rhea, was sneaking into Ilias’s room. “Someone can’t wait for Christmas.”

“This one is for you.” Rhea dropped a wrapped gift over the rail of the crib. “I got it for you.”

“It’s not even six,” Konstantin said with wincing glance at the clock, but he shifted so he could get his arm more securely around Eloise while they watched their children.

Eighteen-month-old Ilias was sitting up, blinking with sleepy confusion in the glow of the night-light. His sister climbed onto the hamper and into the crib with him. Once she was inside, Ilias grinned and crawled toward her. They shared a little cuddle, something they did every morning, but it still made Eloise clasp a hand over her heart.

“God, they’re magic,” Konstantin whispered, even though the kids couldn’t hear them. “They’re the best thing you’ve ever given me. Except you, of course.” He kissed her brow.

“Back at you, handsome.” She curled her leg onto his strong thigh, sighing with bliss.

Aside from caesarian deliveries due to late term preeclampsia, both pregnancies had been uneventful, with the added bonus and delightful coincidence of their son being born on Konstantin’s birthday. Konstantin didn’t like to tempt fate, though. Much as he adored their children, he’d had a vasectomy and they’d agreed that if they wanted more children in the future, they would foster or adopt.

“You can open it,” Rhea was saying to Ilias, pushing the present she’d brought him toward him. “Like this.” She picked at the paper to start a tear, showing him.

Ilias tore little bits, making Rhea giggle.

“No, like this.” She showed him how to get a longer strip.

There was some rustling and tussling and more giggling from both of them until the box was revealed.

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