Page 59 of Bound and Blitzed

“Okay,” I agree, kissing his cheek good night. “Merry Christmas, Grandpa.”

“Merry Christmas, Vale,” he replies warmly.

Avery and I slip into his SUV, and he drives us home.

“What’s that?” he asks, pointing to the box his grandfather gave me.

“I’m not sure,” I say, recounting my exchange with Grandpa.

Once we’re home, I open the box carefully and sigh.

Nestled into the paper is a delicate, blown glass, hand-painted ornament. It’s decorated in vibrant reds, dark greens, and festive golds. Delicately etched into the glass, I read:

Our First Christmas

Valentina & Avery

“Wow, this is so thoughtful,” I breathe out, staring at the ornament. “It reminds me of my abuela. She would love this.” I smile at Avery. “Let’s call her tomorrow.”

“First thing,” he promises, wrapping an arm around my waist and turning me toward the tree. “Give it a home, sweetheart.”

I pick a branch closer to the top and hang the ornament. It shimmers in the warm lights of our Christmas tree. Avery wraps his arms around me, and I lean back against his chest.

Staring at the ornament, at the tree Avery and I decorated, a sense of peace, of belonging, washes over me.

I finally feel at home.

Chapter19

Avery

I breathein the scent of her hair, vanilla and raspberries, and tighten my hold on her waist. Valentina leans against me, the weight of her body reassuring and soothing against mine. I don’t ever want to let her go.

Standing like this with her, before our Christmas tree, in our home, shouldn’t feel this good. It’s amazing. The loneliness that used to eat at my stomach has dissipated. The restlessness that used to spin through my limbs has eased.

Instead, I feel content. Full. Happy.

I press a kiss to the side of Valentina’s head, and she tilts her neck back to look up at me. God, she’s beautiful. Her blue-green eyes glitter in the soft light of the tree and a sweet smile spreads across her face.

I lift my hand to her cheek, cradling her face between my palm and my shoulder, before I dip down to kiss her. She turns into me then, wrapping her arms around my waist and lifting her face to meet mine.

Our lips touch and desire jolts through me. It’s a pull unlike any I’ve ever experienced. It’s more than a moment. I want my wife; I want to claim her and keep her and love on her. I want her in more than name only.

Valentina’s fingers curl into the back of my shirt, gripping hard. I band an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against my chest, until her breasts press into me. Slanting my mouth over hers, I deepen our kiss, our tongues dancing together.

She moans and my blood heats. I want to capture every sound that falls from her lips.

Her hands travel up my back, her palms splayed wide. I step back to tug her shirt up. It slips from the waistband of her silk skirt and as I roll the material up her torso, Valentina lifts her arms overhead. I pull it off quickly, discarding it on the floor, and admire Valentina.

Clad in a gold, silk skirt and a black lace bra, she’s a fucking vision.

“I don’t deserve you, Lena,” I whisper, cupping one of her delectable breasts.

She arches into me, guiding my face back to hers. “Yes, you do,” she murmurs, kissing me.

I lose myself in the taste of her, in the feel of her skin, soft and smooth, and the texture of lace as I unclasp her bra and hear it drop to the floor. She pulls my sweater off, her palms gliding down my bare chest before her fingers deftly pop the button on my pants. I step out of them, shaking them off my feet as she shimmies out of her skirt.

When we’re in only our underwear, we pause, drinking each other in.

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