He parked on the top level of the garage before leaning into the backseat and grabbing two gigantic down blankets. It was unseasonably warm for December in New England at fifty five degrees, but the down would make it feel like it was summer again.
I got out of the car as he laid the thick quilted one down and sat, pulling me into his arms and wrapping us in the other.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked, kissing my head.
I looked up at him. “Right now?”
He nodded.
“How happy I am with you.”
“You didn’t seem too happy in the car,” Adam said as his eyes raced over my face.
I leaned my elbows on either side of his body and looked down at him. His hand slid up my arm to cup my face as his thumb traced my jaw.
“I’m happy now…this is perfect, even if it is a bit flawed,” I reassured him.
He leaned up on his forearms so our faces were only inches apart.
“Are you trying to say I’m flawed?” he whispered as he cocked his head at me.
I smiled and let my fingers run over his scar and to his lips where he cupped his hands over mine and kissed them.
“Beautifully flawed,” I murmured as my heartbeat slowed.
His eyes continued to search mine as he leaned forward and let his lips grazed mine.
“You torment me with your perfection,” Adam whispered into my mouth.
“I’m not perfect,” I replied as his mouth trailed down my neck, and he softly tilted my head.
“Every time I look at you I think to myself that I’ve found perfection,” Adam said as he shifted his weight over me.
I looked up at him and smiled. “Now that’s flawed perfection.”
He shook his head and slid my shirt off my shoulder so he could kiss it.
“Never,” was his reply as his hands moved to my hips and his thumb traced the skin of my belly.
My back arched at the pleasure of his soft caress, and I could feel him smile as his face buried in my neck. His arms slid around my back to hold me tightly against him as I sighed.
I let my hands slip under his shirt and pull it over his head before I buried my fingers in the muscles of his shoulders. His kisses burned, leaving a trail over my skin and down my chest. I could feel the goose bumps rise over his skin under my kisses.
“Are you cold?” I asked as I pulled the blanket that had slipped down to his waist over our heads.
“Not at all,” he answered as he pushed my arms over my head and let his fingers glide down them and then up my shirt as he pulled it over my head.
“Are you cold?” he repeated into my ear as my skin had the same reaction to him.
I shook my head as his hands found my inner thigh, and my back arched again. My hands slid to his pajama bottoms, and I pulled them off as he hovered over me, my lips stroking his bulging arm muscles as he held his weight.
He lowered himself to me and his mouth found mine, breathing life into me as he stole my own breath away.
The hollow ache slowly dissipated as he held me to him—every moment with him slowly healed the pain.
“All I’ve ever wanted is you,” he sighed, his breath hot in my ear.
“You’ll always have me,” I replied, breathless as his hands entwined in mine.
His answer was a soft moan into my hair as I wrapped my legs around his and pulled him tighter into me.
Chapter 49
I woke the next morning barely knowing how we’d gotten from the garage back to the apartment. I figured at some point I’d fallen asleep in Adam’s arms, and he’d carried me to the car and then up the stairs without waking me. I blinked my eyes against the bright sunlight that streamed through the curtains and let out a contented breath. I couldn’t help the smile on my face as I heard the sound of Adam in the kitchen, along with Bobby and Tara’s laughter as he told them something funny.
I rolled out of bed and was glad Adam closed the bedroom door, because all I had on was the blanket we’d been wrapped in. I slipped on a pair of yoga pants and one of Adam’s comfy sweatshirts before joining them.
Tara was the first one to turn, eyes narrowed with a smile. “You never sleep in—something must have tired you out!”
Adam chuckled softly in front of the stove and Bobby gagged.
“Come on, seriously?” Bobby asked.
Adam looked over his shoulder at me with a wink, and I couldn’t help but giggle to myself.
Bobby’s upper lip twitched, and he shook his head.
“Don’t act so innocent,” Tara shot back at him, spinning in the chair to face him and wrap her arms around his bulky shoulders.
Bobby raised his eyebrows and pulled her into his arms, kissing her brazenly in front of us.
I averted my eyes as I walked past them and kissed Adam’s cheek.
“And I thought you were a freak,” I teased him.
“Hey, you’re the one that seduced me on a rooftop,” he fired back so only I could hear.
“I’d do it again,” I said as I bumped my hip against his, looking down at the French toast. “Especially if it means you make breakfast.”
“We’ll need to burn it off later,” Adam said as he pointed the spatula at me with one eye closed.
“Mhmm,” I said as I wrapped my arms around a cup of coffee, one eye brow raised as I thought of what I could do to him. The sound of Bobby sucking off Tara’s face stopped me mid-thought.
“Are you guys going to stop?” I asked over Adam’s shoulder. “Or do you need to go back home? It is right across the way.”
Bobby came up for air.
“Sorry, French toast makes me horny.”
We all burst into a fit of laughter at the awkward comment.
“I’m not making it on Christmas then…and I was going to do Eggnog styled toast,” Adam said.
“Speaking of Christmas…what are we going to do?” Bobby asked before taking a big bite of his food.
Adam and I looked at each other.
“Neither of us has been invited anywhere,” I replied.
Tara looked down at her food.
“Why don’t we just do something here? Then Bobby and I can do New Year’s with the parents?”
“Mom will probably blow a gasket if you guys don’t show for Christmas,” Adam answered. “Plus, you can’t change your plans when it’s next week.”
He handed me my plate with a sad smile as we leaned on the opposite side of the island from Tara and Bobby.
The room was silent for a moment before Bobby spoke, “Screw it! I’m not letting you spend Christmas alone.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Adam said. “Riv and I have each other.”
“No,” Bobby pushed. “We’re a family. We’re spending it together.”
“Good luck getting Mom and Dad here,” Adam chuckled, but it was pained.
I watched as Bobby’s lips curled downward and he shook his head. “No, I mean us four. We’re a family. We got over our issues with each other because that’s what family does.”
I let a deep breath out and smiled.
Adam locked eyes with his brother.
“Thanks,” Adam said.
Bobby nodded before cramming another whole piece of gooey toast into his face.
“So…” Bobby continued through his mouthful, “Eggnog toast? Sounds fabulous.”
Adam leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Hide the mistletoe, K, babe?”
I nodded as his lips grazed my earlobe.
Chapter 50
I sat on the couch staring at the boxes of ornaments and the scattered pieces of a Christmas tree, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I sighed and stood, ramming into Adam who was standing with his arms crossed at the edge of the couch.
“I know it sucks,” he said, his hands clasping my upper arms as he looked down at me. His thin lips were partially open as if he had more to say, but didn’t know how to put it into words. Adam’s mouth closed and his lips twitched. “I’m kind of glad,
though.”
“Why is that?” I asked as his hands slipped up to my neck, and I placed my own on his wrists.
He took a deep breath and looked away before his eyes came back to mine.
“It’s just us…it’s kind of nice, right?”
“Christmas is for family,” I whispered as I tried to keep the tears welling in my eyes in.
“Oh, Riv…I’m sorry,” he said as he pulled me into his arms. “I know you miss your dad.”
“What about Mom?”
Adam pulled away slightly and looked down at me with his brow risen, crinkling his forehead. “Really?”
I heaved a sigh. “I was trying to be fair.”
“You know your dad would be here, or at least have you there if your mom didn’t wear the pants,” Adam reminded me.
I nodded as I looked over my shoulder at the boxes.
“I knew Bobby couldn’t get away from your parents to be with us,” I said.
“What’s that?” Bobby’s voice boomed into the room as the door flung open.
“Bobby!” I yelled as I raced into his arms.
He picked me up and spun me around before setting me on the ground. His lips pursed in amusement as he said, “If you always greeted me like that you wouldn’t be with the skinny-mini-me.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You totally just ruined it.”
He pulled me into a bear hug. “Did I? I don’t think I did!”
I couldn’t help but smile into his warm chest covered by a plum-colored cotton Henley.
I pulled away, crossing my arms as I looked up at him squinting. “Purple?”
Tara moved her head around his arm, appearing around his large mass.
“I’ve got him wrapped around my little finger,” she joked as she stepped around him and slapped his ass. “Right, honey buns?”
He looked down at her and raised and lowered his eyebrows quickly. “Mhmm…honey.”
My chin tucked into my neck as I looked from them to Adam who was standing with his lip ring in his mouth as he chuckled at my disgusted expression.
“Grossness aside,” I replied as I brought Tara into a hug. “I’m so happy to see you two!”
“I know it’s kind of late, but can we still have eggnog toast?” Bobby asked as his stomach growled.
“Didn’t you eat at Mom’s?” Adam asked as he looked at our spent Chinese food containers in the trash.
“Yeah, but I saved room for dessert,” he replied with a shrug.
“You didn’t eat dessert?” I asked as Adam went into the kitchen to look in the fridge.
“I saved room for more dessert,” Bobby clarified with a wink.
“What about you, Tara?” I asked.
She looked at me and burst into a huge smile. “Like I could eat like I normally do while I’m trying to impress his mother!”
“You up for them, Riv?” Adam asked as he held up the carton of eggnog.
“I’m always up for your cooking!” I exclaimed as I bounced into the kitchen to help him.
“You hid the mistletoe, right?” Adam whispered into my ear as I grabbed a bowl from the cabinets.
I nodded as he wrapped his arms around me to place the ingredients on the counter. His chin tucked into my shoulder as I replied, “In the bed.”
“You’ve been a naughty girl,” Adam said as he nipped at my neck.
I turned to face him and wrapped my arms around him.
“I guess you’ll just have to punish me later,” I said as he pulled my hips to his.
“I thought eggnog toast was supposed to make me horny,” Bobby called from the living room as he laid back on the couch with Tara cuddled in his arms.
“Yeah!” Tara added.
“Yes, but Adam cooking makes me horny!” I shot back.
“The imagery,” Bobby said as he gagged. “Adam only in an apron…”
“Hell, yeah!” I called back.
“Just make the food, God-damn it!” Bobby ordered as he turned on A Christmas Story.
“Hey!” Adam’s head shot back around. “You turn that off—that’s for when we’re putting up the tree!”
“Right, I totally forgot…” Bobby began as he changed it to the hockey on-demand channel I’d special ordered for him ages ago; “not.”
“That’s better,” Adam said as he began to break eggs into the bowl.
“What can I do?” I asked as I hopped onto the counter next to him.
Adam looked up at me with one of those looks that took my breath away— all chocolate eyes with thin lips in a dangerous smile—happiness and love.
“Sit there and be my River,” he answered.
I smiled back at him…my River. I would never get used to how perfect it sounded coming from him.
We ate at the couch, screaming at the hockey players on the television before Adam and Bobby did their victory dance when the Bruins won. It wasn’t like they hadn’t seen the game already, but it was always just as good the second time.
“Alright!” Bobby clapped his hands together. “Tree time?”
Adam flicked the channel to A Christmas Story and Tara and I watched as Bobby and Adam struggled to figure out the pieces to the tree.
“I know Bobby is all hockey hands, but you think with Adam’s musical genius they could figure out how to put a tree together,” she said as we watched them argue over what limbs went where.
“Should we help them?” I asked.
She cocked her head. “It’s so cute watching them sweat, though.”
“True,” I replied.
“Are you guys having fun?” Adam called over his shoulder at me with a suspicious glance.
“Are you asking for help?” I shot back.
Adam narrowed his eyes at me before Bobby turned and full out pouted.
“P-P-Please?” Bobby whimpered.
Tara shot up. “I can’t say no to that face!”
I rolled my eyes as I stood with her. In a matter of minutes the tree was fully up, and we began decorating it.
“Why didn’t you help us earlier if you knew exactly how it went together?” Adam asked as I handed him another plastic icicle.
“Your puzzled expressions were just too cute to interrupt,” I answered with a tilt of my head.
“Thanks,” he said, drawing out the word.
“Any time,” I replied as I stepped back to take in our work.
“One last thing,” Bobby said as he took the star out of the box. He reached up to the top and placed it there. I grinned—only he could reach up there without the assistance of a ladder.
“Now!” Bobby clapped his hands together. “It’s time for presents!”
“Someone can’t wait to spoil me!” Tara said as she plopped back down on the couch.
“Sit, River,” Bobby ordered as he took two small packages out of the bag he’d come in the door with.
I sat down next to Tara, and he handed us our gifts before sitting down in the recliner diagonal from us.
We both pulled the wrapping paper off at the same time to reveal matching blue boxes with a silver swan etched on them. Tara and I glanced at each other quickly before we opened our boxes together. We each had a matching Swarovski encrusted angel wing necklace.
We looked up at Bobby, and he smiled at us both.
“Angel wings for my two angels,” he said as his face flushed.
I could feel my throat thickening as I looked back down at the glistening wing. Bobby stood and took Tara’s box from her hand to take the necklace out. He placed it over her neck and clasped it before taking mine and doing the same for me.
I looked up at Adam who was sitting on the edge of the couch with a blank expression on his face. He was tolerating it, but I knew his mind was unsettled by the way his eyes flashed across the TV screen.
“That was so sweet!” Tara whispered into my ear, taking my hands in hers. “Ugh!”
I smirked as I stood and went to Adam. I put my hands on his shoulders and he looked up at me.
; “You okay?”
He lowered his eyes, putting his hands on my arms. He nodded and looked back up, eyes settling on me.
“I guess I can’t be mad at him for doing something that’s true.”
“Thank you,” I replied.
He nodded again. “You want your present? I’m not sure I can top that.”
“Sure.”
I turned and sat back down on the empty couch as Adam disappeared into our bedroom. Tara had moved onto the recliner and was curled up in Bobby’s arms.
I could feel my breathing quicken as I anticipated what Adam could be getting from our bedroom. I was so organized that I wasn’t sure if he’d hidden something I wouldn’t have found it. When he came back out my breath caught in my throat.
He had his red guitar with him, the one with the chip out of the bottom of it because I’d dropped it on the floor when he was teaching me how to play. He placed his miniature amplifier on the floor beside him as he sat on the edge of the couch before strumming the guitar. My breath came out in a whoosh as I closed my eyes at the sound of his voice as he began to sing, his foot tapping to the beat with each strum. Each vibration settled into my chest causing it to tighten with happiness.
Take me to the River
The River where I’ll find my heart
Let me peer into the water
Let me see my reflection in your eyes
And I’ll know after all this time
You were always the one I was meant to find
Take me to the River
The River where I’ll find my heart
I’ve always been lost
Now as I drift on the waves of your love
I’ve never been so sure
That I’m where I’m meant to be
Take me to the River
The River where I’ll find my heart
Flawed Perfection Page 21