Page 17 of Connected By Christmas
Skye nods excitedly when she sees the question in my eyes. “I start in the fall. I’ve never taught second grade before, but I’m excited for a change. Sophia assures me that it’s not that much different than kindergarten. Plus,” she looks over at Travis andgrins, “rumor has it that I’m going to have the cutest second grader ever in my class. I’m looking forward to spending time with Max and getting to know him more.”
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” I whisper.
“It’s happening, Em. Life has a way of bringing people together who are meant to be.” Noah kisses my hair as I lean back into him. I blink back the tears and look around the room at the people I love most in this world. His hand finds mine as he places them both on my belly.
There was a time when I never thought I would be happy again, but here in this moment, as I watch our friends laugh and talk to one another, I’ve never been happier. I lost one family, but through that loss, it led me here, where I gained another.
Chapter Seven
Maverick and Bella
BELLA
“How is Luke?”Maverick walks into the bathroom as I’m getting ready for bed. Mav left Luke in charge of his surf shop while we were gone. With the opening of the second store further up the coast, he’s had to delegate a lot of his responsibilities and hire more people to keep things running smoothly.Lane’s Surf Shackhas quickly become the place to go along the coast of Florida. With Mav’s knowledge of surf and my videography and social media management skills, we’ve grown exponentially over the past couple of years.
“He’s good. Both stores were packed with our holiday sales and people spending their Christmas money, but he’s on top of reordering inventory and getting our new boards in for the New Year Sale.”
I finish applying my moisturizer to my face and watch him in the mirror as he comes up behind me. I’ve loved this man since before I knew what love even was. I kept it a secret for years,even from my best friend, Sophia. She had no clue the boy I was saving myself for was her older brother. I wanted to tell her so many times, but the words always failed, and I let the fear of rejection control me.
I finally got the courage to let him see exactly what I felt for him in a moment of weakness. I had no clue if he felt the same or would even be capable of giving up his playboy ways. He resisted our attraction at first. The fear of being vulnerable and giving someone your heart is not an easy thing to overcome. It was easier for him to put me in the category ofNoah’s little sisterthan to face the fact that his protectiveness towards me through the years went way deeper than he wanted to admit.
Once we both faced our feelings, though, it was like trying to keep a moth away from a flame. It was easier to confront our fears than it was to try and resist the pull. He was the first boy I loved, and he will be the last.
His bronze arms come around me, and I run my hand down the tattooed sleeve on his arm. Burying his face in my neck, I feel his tongue come out to taste.
When he steps closer to me, I feel him hard against my backside, and that’s all it takes for a yearning in my body to start to simmer. Turning around to face him, he hauls me up on the counter and immediately steps between my legs as I eagerly wrap my legs around him.
When his lips find mine, I’m more than ready to dive in deep. I weave my fingers into his silky waves as he presses further into me. Moaning softly, I feel him swollen against my center. He breaks away, breathing hard, and his green eyes burn into mine. His dimples come out to play, and when I see that devilish grin on his face appear, I know he’s got something up his sleeve.
“When I was talking to Luke, I stepped outside our balcony.”
“Okay.” I warily look at him, wondering where this is going.
“Did you know that we have our own private hot tub?” His eyes dance with excitement.
“A hot tub?”
“Uh-huh.” His hands slide up my stomach, and he lifts my pajama shirt over my head. The cold air hits my nipples, immediately hardening them. His eyes hungrily take in the sight of me as he rubs a thumb across the hardened peak. “It just so happens that I was able to uncover it and turn it on while you were getting ready for bed.”
“Is that right?” I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling. His eyes darken as he leans forward and releases it with his teeth.
“That’s right,” he growls against my lip before lifting me and carrying me to the bedroom.
“Wait. I need to get my suit on,” I say seconds before he slides the door open.
“You won’t need a suit, Bell,” he chuckles softly. “Not for what I have in mind for you.” The cold hits my naked chest as I bury deeper into him to shield myself. I glance over to where Sophia and Travis’s bedroom is and see the lights out. They must already be sleeping. Everyone stayed up talking until midnight before finally calling it a night and saying goodbye to Cole and Skye before they headed home.
He walks around a wooden privacy wall, and my face lights up when I see the hot tub bubbly from the jets. Steam rises from the blue-lit water, and I can already feel the heat hitting my cold skin.
“I thought you might enjoy this,” he grins when he sees my reaction. He sets me down and lowers his pajama bottoms. Standing to full height, his body never ceases to take my breath away. He’s toned and built from surfing and working out in the gym. The moon is full tonight, casting enough light to bathe his body in the warm glow.
“Your turn.” His voice is husky and pulls me out of my thoughts. I feel his eyes on me as I step out of the rest of my pj’s. I don’t feel the cold at all like I should. The heat coming from his gaze is enough to flood my body with warmth. He walks towards me, and I’m lifted in his arms. He walks us up the two wooden steps before sinking down in the hot water.
“God, that feels good,” I moan as the heat seeps into my body.
“Don’t make me jealous of a hot tub,” he murmurs in my ear. “I bet I can make you feel better.” He moves me so I’m straddling him, and his lips are on my breasts before I know what’s happening. His teeth and tongue tease my nipples as I grip his hair tight.
“You win,” I whimper. A deep ache has formed between my legs as I rub against him.
