Keylan closed and locked the door. Mia walked farther into the house and turned to face Keylan. “What’s going on?”
“This is the first vacation home my parents bought. My brother and his wife, China, spent their honeymoon here.”
Mia bit her lip. “Really?”
“Really,” he murmured before pulling Mia into his arms, kissing her with such passion her knees went weak. He scooped Mia up and carried her into a vintage design bedroom. He placed Mia gently on a solid, metal framed, king-size bed and hovered over her. “I want to make love to you. Right here...right now.”
“Yes,” she whispered, her body already on fire for him.
Clothes were removed and thrown haphazardly across the room.
Keylan came down on top of Mia, kissing his way along her neck to her breasts. He teased her nipples, while his right hand slid between her legs. He inserted one finger, then another, inside her and Mia’s hips matched each magical stroke of his hand, pushing her over the edge. He kissed, licked and nibbled his way down her stomach. He used both hands to widen her legs, opening her up to him. Mia watched as he inhaled her scent with his eyes closed.
Keylan raised his head and gazed into her eyes. “You’re mine.” His voice was low. He lowered his head and devoured her with such passion that before long she began to tremble and her hips rose from the bed. He sent Mia over the edge.
“In...now...inside. Pl-please,” she demanded incoherently.
Keylan pulled out a condom from the nightstand and rolled it on before he hovered over Mia, allowing his shaft to tease her sex. “Do you trust me?” he asked, his voice husky and eyes dark with desire.
Keylan looked as though he was ready to ravage her and Mia couldn’t wait. “Yes...”
“Do you love me?”
“Yes...please.” She wrapped her legs around his waist.
Keylan whispered, “Roll over, baby.”
Mia eagerly complied. He pulled her up on her knees and had Mia rest on her forearms. She gripped the bed rails, presenting her backside to him. Keylan kissed and licked his way up her back while he cupped and massaged her breasts. He brushed her hair to the side, snuggled her neck and whispered how much he loved her. He shared in graphic detail all the wicked things he was about to do and Mia was more turned on than ever before.
Keylan gripped Mia’s hips with both hands and entered her from behind. His initial slow and deliberate thrust instantly pushed Mia over the edge. He set a pace that had them both savoring the peaks and valleys of pleasure. Together they reached a level of satisfaction that had them both breathing hard and lying flat on their stomachs.
“Are you okay?” Keylan asked, reaching over and brushing her hair from her face. “That was a little intense.”
“That was perfect, baby.” Mia’s stomach growled.
“Hungry?”
Mia smiled. “Very.” Keylan’s phone rang and his mouth twisted. “You okay?”
“Yes. Check the bathroom. There should be a couple of robes behind the door.”
Mia walked into the bathroom and glanced in the mirror. “Girl, you look a mess—happy, but a mess.” She bit her bottom lip. “Yep, he’s a keeper.”
Chapter 26
After reading through Aunt Mavis’s latest email, Keylan breathed a sigh of relief. He knew he had to tell Mia what was going on with Colby, and soon. Keylan didn’t want there to be secrets between them, especially when it pertained to her son, but he also knew the moment he told Mia what was going on with Colby, no matter how much he tried to convince her that he was fine, she’d insist on cutting their trip short. Give her one more day. She deserves it. He placed his phone on the nightstand and went to join Mia in the bathroom. After cleaning themselves up and wrapping their bodies in a pair of thick robes, they made their way over to the small kitchen.
“So what’s for...?” She checked the time on the microwave. “Oh, man, it’s almost six, so I guess it’s dinnertime.”
“Yeah, we slept through lunch.” Keylan opened the oven door and removed a warm pan of chicken and rice.
“That looks good.” Mia moved over to a cabinet and pulled down two plates. “How much time do we have before the car comes back for us?”
“All night,” he replied, taking a bottle of wine from the refrigerator before removing two glasses from another cabinet.
“What?”
“They’ll pick us up in the morning. Being here with you feels special.”
“Why didn’t we just come here in the first place?”
“You needed to see The Resort, remember?” he reminded.
They sat in front of the fireplace and ate. Mia marveled at the snow that had just begun to fall. “Beautiful,” she said.
“Yes, you are,” Keylan said.
“I was referring to the snow.” Mia placed another bite of food in her mouth.
“I wasn’t.”
“Let me see your phone. I want to call and check in on Colby. He would just love to play in this snow.”
“I’m sure he would. It’s in the bedroom. I’ll go get it.” He retrieved his phone and handed it to Mia.
Mia took another bite of her food before accepting the phone and placing her call.
Keylan sat back expressionless as he watched Mia dial her aunt. He knew she would be mad once she found out that he’d withheld information about Colby but he was sure she’d understand. He hoped that she would, anyway. This was the first break Mia had had in years, and he wanted her to relax and enjoy herself. She had to know she wasn’t alone anymore. Everything was going to be fine. After all, they loved each other. I’ll come clean tomorrow.
“Keylan? Keylan...” Mia called, holding his phone out to him.
“Sorry.” He took the phone back and placed it facedown on the table.
“Where did you go?”
“Nowhere, just tired, I guess.” He finished off his wine.
“Aunt Mavis said Colby was asleep. Apparently, he and Uncle Rudy had a busy day.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it seems more gifts arrived today.” Mia tilted her head and quirked her left eyebrow. “You’re going to spoil him.”
“A little bit,” he promised.
Mia stood, walked around the table and sat in Keylan’s lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “Why don’t we go back to bed so I can spoil you a little bit?”
They spent the rest of the night enjoying each other in multiple ways before falling asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.
The next morning, Mia was still so exhausted from their night of aggressive lovemaking that she was certain she’d sleep the entire trip back to The Resort.
Keylan left Mia alone to change while he went to get everything ready for their return trip home. He returned to the bedroom and found a blue-jeans-and-sweater-clad Mia sitting on the bed. Her arms and legs were crossed, her nose in the air and her jaw set.
She knows.
* * *
“Do you want to tell me what the hell you were thinking?” Mia was finding it hard to keep her emotions in check when all she wanted to do was scream.
Keylan started approaching her. “Your aunt assured me—”
“Don’t!” Mia held up her right hand and he stopped in his tracks.
“Colby was fine. We didn’t want to spoil our getaway.”
“So you, the man that claims to love me, lied to me.”
“Claims.” His jaw clenched. “I do love you, and I didn’t lie to you.”
“You just withheld vital information from me about my son.” She pointed at herself. Mia couldn’t deal with any kind of secrets or half truths when it came to her son, no matter how good the intentions.
“I agreed with your aunt that waiting to tell you would be the best option
so you wouldn’t overreact. Like now.”
“You think my being angry about this is an overreaction.” She placed her right hand on her hip.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Your aunt had everything under control and she didn’t need you hovering.”
“I’m his mother, dammit. It’s my job to protect him. You’re not a parent, so you can’t understand.”
“Of course it is, and I don’t have to be a parent to understand, but you’re not doing that job alone. Everything doesn’t have to be taken to the extreme.”
“So you think my feelings are extreme.”
“Yes...I do.”
“Then you’re really going to love this.” Mia reached behind her back, picked up her phone and tossed it to him. “Check out those headlines. How do you think I should react to that?”
Keylan looked down at the phone, which was open to an internet browser. “Oh, God...”
Mia folded her arms. “My personal favorite is the shot of the two of us on the slopes with the headline ‘Mia Ramirez Enjoys a Lavish Holiday While Son in Hospital.’ Oh, yeah, and of course the one that says, ‘Mia Ramirez Chooses Sex Over Her Sick Son.’”
“Mia, you can’t pay attention to this garbage. We talked about this.” He came and sat next to her on the bed.
“Yes, and you keep saying the same thing. It doesn’t matter, I should ignore it.”
“Because you should, and sooner or later they go away and focus on someone else.”
Mia rose and walked into the closet. “You just don’t get it.” She started packing her clothes. “My son was sick and you didn’t tell me, and that lack of knowledge is splattered all over the internet. What if something had happened to him?”
Keylan followed her into the closet. “Nothing did, but you have to know that if it had, I would have told you and moved heaven and earth to get you to him,” he said, placing his hands in his pockets.
“No, I don’t know that, and something bad could have happened. Bad things happen all the time, and you had no right to make decisions regarding my kid for me. You’re not his father and all the money in the world doesn’t make it so.” Those words left a bitter aftertaste but Mia was too angry to do anything about it.
“You’re right, I’m not, but I love him, too.”
“So do his doctors. Can you call for the car? I want to go home. Now!”
Keylan nodded, turned and walked out the room.
* * *
The helicopter ride to the airport and the plane trip home were made in mostly silence. Mia couldn’t figure out what she was angrier about: the fact that Keylan had decided she didn’t need to know her son was sick, the idea that she was being labeled an unfit mother or the hurtful words she’d said to Keylan when he’d been more of a father to Colby than his biological father. Mia wanted to kick herself for the hurtful words she’d used and the possible hurt they might have caused but she was just too overwhelmed by all the emotions she was feeling: anger, betrayal and love.
She walked into her house to find the Christmas presents under the tree had tripled. Her aunt greeted her with a big hug. “Hello, sweetheart. I hope you haven’t given this man too hard of a time.”
“It’s fine, Aunt Mavis,” Keylan assured her, setting Mia’s luggage down and keeping his distance.
“Aunt Mavis, how’s Colby?”
Before she could respond she heard, “Mommy... Keylan.”
Mia knelt and Colby ran into her outstretched arms. The moment she felt his heartbeat against hers, a calming wave came over her. The pain in her chest had eased but it hadn’t disappeared. “Mommy missed you, man. How do you feel?”
“I’m good. Keylan.”
Colby wiggled away from his mother and ran into Keylan’s arms. “Hey, buddy. I’m happy you’re feeling better.”
“I did what you said.”
“I know.” Keylan stood and ran his hand through Colby’s hair.
Mia frowned.
“Keylan told Colby to be like steel...like a superhero, while the doctors gave him his breathing treatments,” her aunt explained.
Mia turned to face Keylan. “You told him that?”
“Yes.” His jaw set. “We were trying to shield you from unnecessary worry, not him from us. I figured one parent figure was good enough for a day or so. I guess I was wrong.”
“Oh...” Mia returned her attention to Colby, feeling even more confused.
“Keylan, let’s play.”
“I’m sorry, man, I have to go. I have a plane to catch.”
“You’re leaving?” Mia’s heart dropped.
“Yes, I have to get to California. We have a game tomorrow night.” He smiled at Colby. “I’ll call you, man, and come see you when I get back—” he looked over at Mia “—if it’s okay with your mom.”
“Okeydoke.”
“Back to bed,” Aunt Mavis said, following after him.
“I should go.” Keylan turned for the door.
Mia nodded. “Thanks for everything. I’m sorry things had to end—”
“It’s fine.” Keylan leaned down, kissed her on the cheek and walked out the door.
Mia brought her left hand to her cheek and held it there as she watched Keylan drive away.
“Did Keylan leave?” Aunt Mavis asked, walking into the living room.
Mia nodded, unable to get words past the lump in her throat. Her feelings of anger and sadness were in a battle of wills and Mia had no idea which team she was rooting for. Mia collected her bags and brought them farther into the living room.
Mavis stood in her path with her hands on her hips. “Where do you think you’re going, young lady?”
“I’m going to go put my things away.”
“No, you’re not. Sit down.”
“Auntie—”
Mavis narrowed her eyes at Mia and said, “Sit...down!”
Mia reluctantly complied. She felt like a child about to be scolded for something she’d done wrong and in that moment she wasn’t sure if she actually hadn’t.
“That man, the one that you basically just ‘kicked to the curb,’ as you young people say, is about the best thing that has ever happened to both you and Colby.”
“Auntie, he—”
“He what? Didn’t tell you that Colby was sick? That’s because I asked him not to,” she explained.
“And why would you do that?” Mia’s tone harder than she intended.
“Because you needed this break. You haven’t had one moment to yourself, let alone in the company of a man who loves you, since you brought that beautiful boy home,” she said, pointing to the area where Mia’s son slept.
“I’m his mother. Keylan’s not even his biological father.” Mia’s eyes filled with tears and she brought her hands to her heart. It was beating so hard she felt as if she had to keep it from bursting through her chest. “I’m the one that’s been there whenever he’s been sick. The one that’s supposed to be there—that’s my job.”
Mavis tilted her head slightly. “By your logic, because your uncle Rudy and I aren’t your biological parents, we shouldn’t have been the ones that nursed and cared for you all those times you got sick. We shouldn’t have been your only support system, holding your hand through all Colby’s doctor’s appointments and hospitalizations. I mean, we’re not his grandparents—you’re my niece and he’s my great-nephew. The fact that we raised you...loved you...doesn’t count. Right?” Her comments were laced in sarcasm. Mavis was clearly trying to send Mia a message.
Mia lowered her head and dropped her hands. Her tears were flowing too fast to even try and swipe them away. She knew what her aunt was trying to say. “I... I just...”
“Just what? I know you trust us with Colby.” She reached for Mia’s hand and squeezed it.
&n
bsp; “Of course I do,” Mia replied, looking up at her aunt. “And I know nurture supersedes nature. You and Uncle Rudy are the best parents I could have or ever want.”
Mavis freed her hand, reached for the Kleenex box that sat on the table behind the sofa and handed it to Mia. “Then what’s this really about? You have to know if something was seriously wrong with Colby, I would have told you and Keylan would have had you by his side in no time.”
Mia dropped her shoulders and sighed before saying in a voice barely above a whisper, “I just don’t want to be like her.”
“Who?” Mavis frowned.
“My mother,” she confessed.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Mavis pulled her into her arms and Mia laid her head against her aunt’s shoulder and cried. “You’re nothing like your mother.”
“I don’t know.” Mia shook her head.
“I do. My sister was young and she had...issues. She knew her limitations and did the best thing possible for you. Your mother gave you to people who would love and cherish you. You are the highlight of our life. I never thought I’d have a child. You made that dream come true and you didn’t come from me.”
Mia burst out laughing and raised her head. “Auntie...”
Mavis’s cell phone beeped. “Wipe your nose,” she ordered as she reached for her phone. After responding to the text she said, “Your uncle is so spoiled. Anyway, where were we?”
“I just don’t want Colby to ever think I did or would leave him for anything or anyone.”
“Sweet child, your son loves you so much and he knows how much you love him. But being overprotective isn’t good for either of you. Colby enjoys having a little independence. And I hate to break it to you, but your uncle and I had everything under control and Colby was fine. The only reason Colby spoke to Keylan is because Keylan insisted on it.”
“He did?” Mia bit her lip.
“Yes, he wanted to make sure Colby was okay and that he knew you’d be home soon. If Colby had asked for you, he would have told you everything and brought you back. He loves Colby.”
An Unexpected Holiday Gift Page 18