Page 184 of A Very Merry Enemy
He takes my hand and we stand. He places his other hand on my waist and we sway back and forth, dancing without music.
I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes, letting myself live in this moment. The fire crackles beside us, and the tree lights twinkle. I’ve never felt more complete in my life.
“I love you so much,” he whispers against my hair.
“I love you, too.” I pull back to look up at him. “This has been the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”
He spins me around. “Big agree.”
We sway like that for a few more minutes, just holding each other, both of us smiling and laughing.
As his hands slide down to my hips, the energy shifts.
The playfulness melts into something hotter and more urgent.
“Take me upstairs,” I whisper against his mouth.
He doesn’t need to be told twice. Lucas carries me up the stairs to our bedroom. He flicks on the bedside lamp and golden light fills the room.
For a moment, we just stand there looking at each other. Then he slowly pulls my sweater over my head. I reach for his shirt, and we undress each other piece by piece until we’re both naked.
“You’re so beautiful,” he says, his voice full of want.
“So are you.”
He guides me to the bed, and I pull him down with me. His weight settles over me, and I wrap my legs around his waist.
Our eyes stay locked on each other, and it feels different when he slides deep inside me. It’s more intense, full of emotion, like we’re sealing this promise between us. He lowers his forehead to mine, our noses brushing, our breath tangled in the same small space. We just look at each other, every second stretching longer until the whole world seems to fit between our hearts as he thrusts deeper inside me.
The kiss that follows isn’t rushed. It’s like we’ve waited our whole lives for this one chance. Every place his hands touch feels like a promise for our time ahead.
Everything around us fades away. It’s only us, finally letting go of all the years that kept us apart.
When we move together, it isn’t about need. It’s about finding home. It’s about forgiveness and having the kind of love that can survive everything.
Lucas whispers my name like a prayer. All I can do is hold him tighter, afraid that if I let go, the moment will disappear.
We make love until we’re both trembling and shaking with satisfaction. Lucas collapses beside me and pulls me into his arms. We lie there tangled together, breathing hard, staring upward.
“Can we add glow-in-the-dark stars to your ceiling?”
He shifts to his side and grins, pulling me closer so he can steal a kiss. “Absolutely.”
We stay wrapped in each other’s arms, hearts pounding, our bodies sticking together. The firelight from the fireplace in the bedroom dances against the ring on my finger, scattering sparks across the room like tiny stars.
He strokes my hair and breathes against my temple. “Merry Christmas, HoHo.”
“Merry Christmas, my fiancé.”
“Oh, I love the sound of that,” he says, leaning forward to kiss my shoulder.
“Really? Just wait until you’re my husband.”
“I can’t wait,” he admits. “Because honestly, I’d marry you right now if I could.”
“What about the Fourth of July?” I smile against his lips. “Make it super special.”
“Love the sound of that,” he says as I trace his jaw with my lips.
