Page 128 of Darkness of Mine
My fingers tremble a little as I take the box from him. I slide the lid off to reveal a thin gold chain with an emerald ring looped onto it. I gasp. The stone is gorgeous, a circular gem set in a gold bracket with two smaller diamonds on either side.
“The ring was my grandmother’s,” Oz says. He picks the necklace up and twirls his finger for me to turn around.
I hold my hair up out of the way as he secures it around my neck.
“One day, when you’re ready, I’ll put this ring on your finger.”
I suck in a sharp breath as the gold chain settles against my skin.
“Until then,” Oz says, “it will rest just here, right above your heart.”
I clasp the ring in my fingers, my love for Oz overwhelming. Family never meant anything other than pain to me until I met Oz, River, Jude, and Eli. But I’ve seen how much Oz’s family means to him. Wearing his grandmother’s ring feels like an incredible honor.
“I love it, Oz.” I go up on tiptoes and kiss him. He tastes of chocolate and eggnog.
“Come on,” he whispers against my lips. “Let’s go join the party.” Oz interlocks his fingers with mine and draws me right into the middle of the game of charades. We sit down on the couch between Eli and Jude while River stands with the timer.
Luke ignores him when he calls time and continues to move in a way I don’t think he even realizes is quite so suggestive until Josh and I are practically on the floor laughing and Rebekah is covering Sam’s eyes with her hands.
“What were you even trying to do?” Diaz asks once Luke finally gives up.
“Charles Dickens!” he exclaims. “Dick-in.” He mimes the coarse gesture again and Josh and I die in a fit of hysterics.
I roll onto my back, my head resting in Jude’s lap as I catch my breath, my cheeks aching from grinning.
Jude smiles down at me, his eyes twinkling.
Everyone around me is laughing and smiling and I have never before been surrounded by so much love and happiness.
I decide right then that I really like Christmas, and I really love my guys for giving me it to me.
EPILOGUE
FREYA
Later that night, after everyone has gone, Jude brings out all our comforters and pillows and we huddle up on the floor in front of the TV. I’m sandwiched between Jude and Oz with Eli’s head on my legs and River running his thumb over the arch of my foot.
Snow falls outside, big flakes catching in the moonlight. I sip on the hot chocolate Oz made me and bite my lower lip.
“You have a good day, Angel?” Jude asks, his thumb pulling my lip free.
“It was perfect.” I snuggle up against him and rest my head on his shoulder. “But this is even better.”
Eli grins up at me, his smile a thing of mischief. “Just wait till we get you upstairs. Christmas is like birthdays. It comes with orgasms.”
Laughter bursts free. I can get on board with that.
Oz winks at me and I reach for the ring he gave me, twirling it between my fingers. I like that I have something from each of them now.
River’s bracelet, Eli’s initials, Jude’s tattoo, and Oz’s ring. I’m forever marked by these men, it seems only right I should have something to show for it.
River digs his thumb into the arch of my foot and I tilt my head back in pleasure. I was telling Jude the truth. The party was fun but this here, just me and my guys, this is heaven.
It took me a while to realize it, but being with the guys doesn’t mean losing myself. Actually, it’s kind of the opposite. When it’s just the five of us, I am so utterly sure of who I am. I don’t have to put on a mask or hold anything back.
I’m not hiding my identity.
I’m not the daughter of a serial killer.
I’m just Freya.
The End
