Page 17 of Heat Haven Holidays

“Because I haven’t been able to find a single present in this house all day or any clues for what we’re doing for Christmas. I know you all are up to something.”

“Mmm,” is all he says as he hugs me tightly against his body. His hand drifts to the back of my scalp, his fingers massaging lightly; it makes me hum. “You really think we’re dumb enough to leave your presents just lying around the house?” he asks, and I shrug my shoulders. “You wound me,” he jokes, and I push his shoulder.

Harry, our Great Dane, comes rambling into the kitchen and nudges Dean’s knee for affection. Dean scratches underneath his chin and behind his ears.

“Is there something you’re hoping to find, Liv?” he asks.

“Maybe,” I say playfully. “I have everything that I could have asked for, though. I know this Christmas is going to be the best one I’ve ever had.” It’s not like there’s much competition. My dad took whoever he was dating on vacation and I sat home alone. Sometimes my brother Stephan was home with me, but even then he would find a friend’s house to go to. I remember always feeling so bitter and wondering why I couldn’t go on those trips. It’s actually pretty funny how much affluence I grew up in while still being so under traveled. I only just recently got my first passport a few months ago, because Dean said he never knew when he might have business out of the country.

“Baby, anything you want for this to be the best holiday ever, you just need to let us know.”

“We can start with some Chinese food tonight.”

“Maybe,” he replies just as playfully as I did before. His lips pepper my neck and jawline with kisses and his grip on my hips tightens. “I’ve been thinking about you all day, Livy. Thinking about how amazing you smell,” he says while inhaling against my neck. “How much I love talking to you and listening to your beautiful laugh. How I’ll never get tired of looking at your gorgeous face. I even love how many fucking dogs are in this house and how they follow you around all day. If I were home, I would do the same.”

I perfume at his words and my breathing picks up. Dean takes every single opportunity to tell me how much he loves me and how special I am. Probably making up for lost time; it hurts my heart when I think about all the time we could have had, should have had. Even though we’re still young and he was there for my first heat. He should have been mine from the start. But I suppose everything happens for a reason, maybe if he was mine from the start I wouldn’t have River and Grayson. Just the thought of not having those two makes me feel sick.

“This sweater needs to go,” he whispers against my neck as he grabs the hem and pulls it over my head. He tosses the sweater to the ground before he grips my ass and lifts me against him. I greedily wrap my legs around his waist and drape my arms around his neck.

He carries me over to our kitchen island where he sets me down. He kisses my neck and collarbone, taking extra care to kiss along my bond marks. Dean licks all of them, not just his own. Strong hands knead my thighs, and I grab his hair and bring his lips against mine.

Kissing Dean will never get old. I can’t imagine a day where I don’t want to spend all day just kissing his perfect face. Our tongues tangle against one another and he moans against my mouth. One of his hands slides against my throat where his thumb circles against my pulse point.

He breaks our kiss and removes his hands from my thigh and throat so that he can slide the cups of my bra down and expose me to him. His tongue laps hungrily against my taut nipples and he suddenly cups my breast and sucks on my nipple firmly, causing me to moan.

“Fuck, baby. I’ll never get tired of sucking on these perfect tits. Just imagine what they will look like when you get pregnant,” he says.

We both pause and he looks up at me with concern. “Shit, did I just ruin it? I’m sorry,” he says.

“You didn’t ruin anything,” I whisper and grab his hair again, smashing his lips to mine. We’re still not ready for kids. I have too many goals right now that I need to accomplish. Plus, I selfishly want my men all to myself for a little while longer. I would be lying if I said it didn’t turn me on how badly they want to have a baby with me.

Dean’s hands cup my breasts and his thumbs circle my nipples. He slides me to the edge of the counter so I can push my body against his hard length. We’re so into each other at the moment that we didn’t hear the front door open. Grayson and River stand in the kitchen, Grayson with his arms folded over his chest and River adjusting his pants.

“Dean, what was it about us having plans tonight that didn’t register?” Grayson asks in his dad voice. I like it when he uses it, but in a fun way.

“What plans?” I ask.

I’m ignored as Dean turns to Grayson. “She was wearing a really cute Christmas sweater,” he replies.

“Checks out,” River replies and smiles at me. He walks over to the counter and gives me a quick kiss on the lips before pinching my nipple and making me squeak.

“We have plans tonight that involve not getting naked,” Grayson responds.

“That doesn’t sound very fun,” I reply.

“Going to Bora Bora for Christmas doesn’t sound like fun?” Grayson asks me with a devious smile on his face.

I know my eyes are wide, and my jaw is nearly on the floor. “We’re going on a Christmas vacation?” I nearly shout in excitement.

“Yes, and it’s going to take us a day to get there.” Grayson looks at his watch. “The jet leaves in two hours. You need to finish packing.”

“Finish?” I ask.

“I already got started for you, but you should double-check and make sure you have everything you need,” Grayson says. I smile at him. We’re all thankful for Grayson, honestly if we didn’t have him I’m not sure how we would all function.

“Where is this said suitcase hidden?”

“Sweetheart, it’s in your closet. I figured you wouldn’t go snooping in your own room and that it was the safest place to put something,” Grayson says.

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