Page 36 of Holiday Surprise

As he shook with passion giving into his own release, it triggered yet another orgasm for me, so violent I thought I might pass out on him. I was truly seeing stars around the blackened edges of my vision.

We didn’t speak. The only sound that filled the room was our labored breaths as we clung to each other in the dark. I bit down on my swollen lips and grinned into the night. We were bonded forever now. Luke Larken was mine.

He shuddered next to me and squeezed me a little harder as he held me tight, almost as if he could hear my thoughts. We didn’t say another word as our breathing leveled then faded into the rhythmic sounds of sleep.

Christmas morning! I awoke early buzzing with excitement. My eyes first flew to Luke’s neck. With an enormous grin spreading across my face, my hand felt for a welt on my own neck where he had marked me. We were really mated. I gave it a second to let the panic seep in, but there was none to be found, only joy. There was no doubt in my mind this was not only what I wanted, but where I was meant to be.

I carefully unraveled myself from our intertwined limbs and rolled out of bed. I didn’t want to wake him. I knew it had been a long emotional day for us both, but once I was awake, there was no going back to sleep. With so much to do, I couldn’t see wasting another second in bed, unless my mate wanted to wake and have his way with me some more. I felt my cheeks heating from the thought, and quickly walked to the bathroom.

After taking care of business and dressing, I found my way to the kitchen. As I passed through the living room, still lit from the night before, I stopped to enjoy the work we had done decorating the place. It almost felt like a home even.

Moving on to the small kitchen, I opened the refrigerator to find it packed with food. He must have spent a fortune. There was such an odd assortment, but mostly a whole lot of meat. It was obvious a man had done the shopping. I grinned and shook my head before pulling out several hams and turkeys. I knew I needed to get them on quickly if they were going to be done in time.

It wasn’t hard to find my way around the place, and I made myself right at home as I pre-heated the oven and prepped two birds. I knew they would take longer than the hams, so I started with those. I doubted Luke had any idea how long some of this took to fix, but I would do my best to make it the best Christmas he’d ever had.

I grabbed my phone and turned on some Christmas tunes. As I prepped and danced around the kitchen, singing along, I didn’t hear Luke get up.

I squealed when his arms wrapped around my waist and I clung to him as he turned me then dipped me. He leaned down to kiss my lips.

“Merry Christmas,” I sighed smiling up at him.

He righted me and I shivered when he let out a low growl and kissed my bond mark.

“Already the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” he confessed.

“Do you want to open presents?” I asked.

He gave me a heated look as his eyes scanned my still naked body. “Looks like I don’t have to.” He growled. His hand covered my breast as he tried to kiss me again.

I knew if things progressed the turkey would burn, and we would accomplish nothing all day.

“That’s not what I meant,” I scolded.

“Fine,” he pouted. “You can open your present.

“Wait, you got me a present?” I asked, surprised. There was nothing I loved more than presents, both giving and receiving. I also loved helping others find the perfect gifts for their loved ones. It was one of the many things I loved about my boutique.

“I don’t know. Were you a good girl this year?” he teased.

“Well, you certainly seemed to think so last night,” I teased back.

He was momentarily caught off guard with my reply, but then let out a full bellow of laughter, though his eyes sparkled with heat that nailed me in my lower belly.

“Come on,” he finally said, taking my hand and leading me to the Christmas tree. He stopped and stared, looking a little confused.

“What’s all this?”

I grinned. “It’s our first Christmas together. Did you really think I didn’t go shopping?”

We walked across the room to the den side and Luke shook his head and frowned at the pile of gifts I had put under there.

“Syd, you didn’t need to buy me all that,” he insisted again.

“It’s nothing. Just a few things I picked up yesterday when Lily stopped into the shop and gave me a few minutes of a break. Just open them.” I knew the navy-blue sweater I’d picked up would look great on him and really highlight his eyes.

He opened the gifts I’d expertly wrapped: the sweater, two new flannel shirts, and a new pair of jeans because I’d seen him shred a pair the night of the winter solstice.

“They’re perfect,” he finally said. Then he reached under the tree and pulled out a small box handing it to me. “Your turn.”

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