Page 41 of Silent Night Temptation

“Three... two... one... Happy New Year!”

We all cheer, our voices filling the room as the new year arrives. Ethan pulls Coco into a kiss, a smile on her face as they hold each other. I turn to Nyree, drawing her close, and pressing my lips to hers. The kiss is soft and tender.

We pull apart, smiling at each other, and then the champagne is popped. The cork flies with a satisfying sound, and the glasses are filled. Except for Coco, of course.

“To the new year,” I say, raising my glass.

“To the new year,” they all echo, clinking glasses before taking a sip.

The celebration feels light and easy. Everything feels right. Laughter fills the room, and we talk about the year ahead, the plans, the hopes, the dreams. But soon enough, Coco and Ethan start to fade, the long day catching up to them.

“I think we’re going to head to bed,” Coco says, stifling a yawn.

Ethan nods beside her, looking just as tired. “Yeah, it’s been a long day.”

“Alright,” I say, giving her a quick hug. “Happy New Year, Kiddo.”

“Happy New Year, Dad,” she replies, hugging me back. She turns to Nyree, hugging her too. “And congratulations again, Nyree. I can’t wait to read the book.”

“Thanks, Coco,” Nyree says with a smile. “I’m excited for you to read it.”

With that, they head off to bed, leaving me and Nyree alone in the soft glow of the fire. The room feels quieter now, more intimate. The air is filled with a kind of stillness that makes everything feel heavier and more meaningful.

I turn to Nyree, my heart pounding in my chest. I’ve been thinking about this moment all night, waiting for the right time. Now, with the fire crackling softly and the world quiet around us, it feels like the time.

“Nyree,” I say softly, taking her hand in mine.

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with warmth and curiosity. “What is it?”

“I need to tell you something,” I say, my voice low, steady. I feel the gravity of the words pressing against my chest, but I don’t hesitate. “I love you.”

“I love you,” I repeat. “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, and I can’t hold it in any longer. I want to be with you. I want us to be together, for real.”

Her lips part, and for a moment, she just stares at me. Then, slowly, a smile begins to spread across her face, a smile so genuine, so full of warmth, that it makes my heart swell.

“Marcus...” she starts, her voice soft, but I cut her off.

“I mean it, Nyree. I want you in my life. Always. I want to make it official.”

She blinks, her smile growing wider. Then she laughs, a soft, breathless sound. “Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”

I laugh too, the tension in my chest easing. “Yes, I am. Officially.”

She doesn’t hesitate. “Yes,” she says, her voice full of certainty. “Of course, yes.”

Relief floods through me, and I pull her into my arms, kissing her deeply. There’s passion in it, a hunger. But more than that, there’s love; a love that feels strong and solid, like it could last forever.

When we finally pull apart, I rest my forehead against hers, my heart still racing. “I’m so glad you said yes,” I whisper, my voice low.

She smiles, her fingers tracing the side of my face. “How could I not? I love you too, Marcus.”

Hearing her say the words makes everything feel complete. We stay like that for a while, wrapped up in each other.

The air between us thickens, charged with a tension neither of us tries to diffuse. It’s like we’ve silently agreed to let it simmer, let it build, until it’s impossible to ignore. I can feel it as we sit there, the crackling fire behind us a distant murmur compared to what’s happening between us.

I turn to her, and almost as if on cue, she turns to me. It feels planned, like a dance we’ve both known the steps to all along. Our eyes lock for the briefest second, and then the moment snaps. We kiss, hard and hungry. It’s a ferocity between us that feels like we’ve been starving for each other all night.

Her lips part, and her tongue slides into my mouth, warm and insistent, as mine meets hers with the same urgency. The need for her pulses in me, growing stronger with each passing second. Before I know it, she’s on me. Straddling my lap, her knees sink into the couch as my hands find their way around her waist, pulling her tighter against me. I press her deeper and harder, feeling the heat of her body against mine. The soft brush of her clothes only heightens the intensity of it all.

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