Page 45 of Merrily Mine
15
emily
Even though I loved Mason’s cozy cabin, we were snuggled up on the couch at my parents’ house on Christmas Eve. He’d asked me to stay with him until Christmas, but it just felt right beinghomefor the holiday. We’d already agreed to spend tomorrow night with his parents, and it was strange how easy everything felt so completely normal.
Like I wasn’t going to his family’s house as his girlfriend for the first time.
The last week with him had been like a lens into what our life could look like together, and I wanted it so desperately. After our do-over night at the bar—where he’d kissed me passionately on the dance floor, not caring who saw—I knew that this was somethingmore.It was obvious, when he’d taken me home, laid me in his bed, and buried his face between my thighs, making me come twice on his mouth and once on his fingers before he’d ever slid inside of me, fucking me slow and sweet. It was tender, the way he made love to me, and I’d almost blurted out how I felt right then and there.
We talked about nothing and everything—what we liked, what we hated, our hopes and dreams for the future. The wayI’d been thinking about what came next for me. That I loved traveling, but I wanted something of my own. Something more. I didn’t know what it was yet, but Mason was sure I’d find it.
We hadn’t shared our feelings yet, but I knew what I felt.
I couldn’t help but snuggle against his chest as we watched the fire flicker. The tree was decked out in lights—and all of my family’s ornaments. Mason had started the fire in the fireplace when we’d arrived, and we didn’t bother turning the lights on, letting the glow from both illuminate the room, making everything feel so cozy and perfect.
“I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas,” I told him. “It feels like I blinked, and the two weeks are over.” My parents landed the day after tomorrow, and then I’d go back to living in their basement like nothing had ever happened. Unless Mason asked me to stay with him.
Secretly, I wanted that. To move my things into the free closet in his cabin. The master had two walk-ins, and the second one felt like it had just been waiting for me. No other woman had ever slept in his bed or spent the night in the house with him. He’d confessed that to me the second night with his body curled around mine.
I still got warm thinking about what that meant. That he’d chosenme.
“Why are you blushing?” Mason traced my cheek.
I shook my head. “Not important.”
He leaned over me until my back hit the couch, and he propped himself up on top of me. My thighs fell apart, letting him straddle me. “Tell me.” He pressed his erection into my core, and I let out a small whine. He knew exactly what he was doing to me.
Covering my face with my hands, I whispered, “I still can’t believe that we’re here. That you wantme.Me, the girl who was obsessed with you as a kid. Your best friend’s little sister.”
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Well, you better get used to it, baby. Because I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.” Mason kissed me, rubbing his hard bulge against my entrance and making me ready to beg for him to put it inside of me, when the doorbell rang.
“Why?”I cried out, letting my head fall back against the couch. “Maybe if we ignore them, they’ll go away.” I pressed my lips to his mouth again, not wanting to interrupt this. It was hard to keep my hands off this man.
He frowned, his brow furrowing. I wanted to smooth it with my thumb. “Maybe we should check to see who it is. I can’t think of who would be here at this hour.”
Mason was right. It was getting late, and the only people I could think of who might be there—like Hannah and her husband, my parents, or his—all would have called first.
Last night, we’d gone over to his parents’ house for dinner. He’d finally stopped monopolizing my time and shared me with them, and they’d clearly been ecstatic to see their only son so happy. I’d known them both since I was a baby, and Mason’s mom was the warm, welcoming mom that I always wished mine had been.
But when I opened the door, it was none of those people standing at the front door. “What are you doing here?” I blinked a few times, but they were all still standing in front of me.
My brothers—Hunter and Benjamin—and their wives and kids were all here. At my parents’ door. Holding armfuls of presents and wearing silly Christmas pajamas. Plus Hunter and Gabbi’s dog Rowan, who barked excitedly at me as she tugged on the leash in Hunter’s hand, eager to say hi.
There was no stopping my eyes from filling with tears.
“I thought you guys couldn’t make it,” I said, choked up. “Mom said…” I shook my head.
“Hey.” My older brother grinned.
Mason’s deep voice called out, “Who’s there?” He walked towards the door, wrapping an arm around my waist before freezing as he realized who, exactly, was standing on the porch.
Hunter’s eyes widened. “Mason? You two…”
It was pretty obviouswhyhe was here, considering he was wearing flannel pajama bottoms—and no shirt. And then there was the fact that I was wearinghist-shirt. Thank God I actually had panties on this time—and a pair of Christmas horse fleece pajama bottoms. I’d never have heard the end of it from either of my brothers if I’d opened the door in just a shirt.
“Um… surprise?” I let out a nervous laugh.
“Alright boys.” Angelina pushed inside, carrying one twin on her hip. “You all figure that out. I’m going inside where it’s warm. Hi, Emily.” She gave me a one-armed hug. Gabbi followed behind her, holding my niece, and did the same.
