Page 109 of A Merry Mountain Christmas

“Called it,” Marcus mutters.

“I got you a puppy,” Jonah continues.

I wonder if he’s about to admit to making out with Maeve Mayberry “for me,” but before he can say anything else, Rowan rumbles, “No, you didn’t.”

Then he’s walking toward me, and I forget everything else. I certainly forget Jonah and whatever he’s muttering about Jester.

“You don’t have to do this,” I say as Rowan comes closer. Because I know what this means, and I know very well whatit will cost him. His privacy, so dear to him. His anonymity, even dearer. As he takes my hands, the warmth of him instantly dispels the chill I’ve felt all day.

“No, I don’t.” He swallows. “I should probably do the noble thing and say that I want to. But we both know I don’t. You’re worth it, though, Kennedy, a million times over, and I’m sorry if I’m such a stubborn jackass that I made you feel for one second like you’re not.”

Tears burn behind my eyes, and maybe I’m the jackass, because I don’t care that we’re in front of the four guys I was supposed to be dating, or that no one other than Harry knows that we’re together, or that we haven’t properly talked things through…

I put my arms around his neck, lean up, and kiss him.

He kisses me back as if he’s unaware of the cameras taking it in—as if he really doesn’t care so long as he can be with me.

When he pulls back, I keep holding his hand, because I don’t want to stop touching him.

“Well,” Harry says with a look of victory. “It would seem you two havequitethe story to tell us.”

EPILOGUE

ROWAN

It’s Christmas morning. Kennedy and I spent the last several days on the mountain, just the two of us…and Harry and the filming crew. I won’t pretend I haven’t hated being filmed, having our private moments pulled from us. We’re not done, either. We have today off, but we’re supposed to film the big finale next week. It’s when she would have traveled home with one of the remaining dipwads. There’s only me, though, and she’s already met my entire family. In fact, we’re going over to my sister Bryn’s house later today, where she’ll be buried in them. Willow and her fiancé, Alex, will be driving up from Asheville. Cole and his daughter, Jane, are coming, and so are Harry and Oliver, although Oliver’s mother is probably going to curse me in at least twenty different ways for taking her son away on Christmas, even if it’s only for a little while. Tina and Zach won’t be there, but only because she has a big Italian family, and she claims they’d both be murdered if they didn’t show up for Christmas.

I have big plans for Kennedy and me before we go over to Bryn’s. Right now, though, I’m content to just lie with her, Jester snuggled between us.

I feel grateful.

I’m not going to pretend I’ve started believing in the holiday spirit or miracles, or any of that bullshit, but life is good. Better than good. Kennedy’s boss has agreed that she can work remotely, with once-monthly trips to Chicago to check in, and she’s moving into this house with Holly, Harry, and me. It won’t feel empty anymore, the way it did when it was just me, the echoing walls, and the dust bunnies that Harry later banished. I doubt it’ll be long before Holly up and moves in with her boyfriend, and fuck, it sounds like Harry and Oliver are moving fast, but for now it’s going to be a full house. No one’s as surprised as I am that I actuallylikethat idea.

“You’re awake,” Kennedy says, curling into me. Jester gets up, moves around until he’s found a comfortable spot in the new alignment, then circles in place until he curls up too.

“I’m awake,” I confirm, putting an arm around her waist.

“Oh, you’rereallyawake,” she says as she pushes into me.

I laugh at the little grumble of complaint Jester makes when I lift him from the bed and lower him softly to the ground.

“Let me prove to you just how awake I am,” I tell her, sliding my hand around and beneath the band of her underwear. She’s wet for me, and I feel the same thrill I do every time.

I push her underwear down, and she helps me. Mine go next. I keep working her with my hand slowly, enjoying the little responses her body makes, the sounds that come from her mouth.

“Now,” she says, her voice demanding in a way that makes me grin. “Now, Rowan.”

“I want you on top,” I say. “I want you to ride my cock so I can watch your tits bounce.”

She rocks back against me, then turns and mounts my hips, her eyes sparkling. “You have a mouth on you.”

“You like it. You especially like it when it’s sucking your sweet pussy.”

“I do.”

She lifts up, then adjusts my cock, and slowly sinks down. It feels so good, my eyes almost roll back. “Merry Christmas, Kennedy,” I say, then lean forward and capture her nipple in my mouth.

She grinds against me, my cock buried deep, gasping as I move to her other nipple. “MerryChristmas, indeed.”

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