by Brynn Paulin
“Okay,” I said as he pulled into the hotel lot. When we got to the lobby, Nix dragging our bags, I saw my cousin Aspen at the desk. Breaking free of Nix’s hand, I ran over and gave my cousin a hug.
“Dessie,” he said, swinging me around. “When did you get back?”
“Just today. I’m here with—” I turned to find Nix scowling.
“Her boyfriend,” he growled.
“My boyfriend, Nix,” I finished. “Nix, this is my cousin, Aspen, my Aunt Willow’s son. Who…” My brown furrowed. “Why are you even working tonight?”
“Sick call,” Aspen said. “So I’m helping out.”
“Is there anyone you’re not related to?” Nix asked me.
Aspen laughed. “There are a ton of us.”
“Four main branches, all with different last names—Campanello, Woods, Donovan and Rose. They’re all connected through my grandma and her three sisters. And yeah, there are a lot of us, but there are a ton more in town who aren’t part of the family.”
I turned to Aspen. “So we’re supposed to have rooms.”
“Oh, okay. Let me get you checked in.” After heading back around the desk, he started clicking on the keyboard. “Mmm, looks like just one room. Will that be a problem?”
“No,” Nix replied before I could react. It wasn’t a problem for us to share? His hand rubbed up and down my side, wordlessly reassuring me. “How much?” he asked Aspen.
“Nothing. Family doesn’t get charged other than a housekeeping fee and Dessie mom and dad already paid it.”
“Thanks,” I replied, taking the card.
“You okay?” Nix asked as we walked away.
“Fine. Just fine.”
Except for the butterflies bombarding my stomach.
As soon as we got to the room, Nix pulled me into his arms. I thoughts he’d kiss me quickly, but it immediately grew passionate.
“I know it’s probably too soon,” he said when we came up for air, “but I just want to hold you and kiss you tonight. I can be patient. I know what I want, and if I have to wait for you, I will. It’s okay. So please don’t feel pressured because we’re sharing a room.”
No, I didn’t want that.
“It’s not too soon,” I said, surprising him. My hands flattened on his chest. “We’ve been getting to know each other and dancing around this for ten months. If you’re sure, if it’s not just circumstances, then I’m sure.”
“I’ve been sure since the first week you worked for me, when you politely told me to come back and talk to you when I could speak civilly.”
“I still can’t believe I said that to you. You should know I was shaking in my boots.”
“You were brave. I’m glad you were. It opened my eyes to you and they haven’t blinked since. And Dessie, you never need to be frightened of me. I would never hurt you.”
“Or fire me?” I pushed, unable to hide my grin.
“Well… If you deserved it, but then yes, but then I’d make you feel better.”
“Nice,” I said dryly.
He pulled me into my arms. “But let’s talk about how I’d make you feel better.”
“How’s that?”
Our coats dropped and Nix pulled me toward the bed. At the side, he pushed my sweater up and off. Then went for my jeans. “You’re sure?” he said when I stood in my underwear.
“I’m sure you need to get your clothes off and join me.”
“With pleasure.”
I tried to swallow as I watched him bare that muscular chest. It was just as I’d imagined. Rugged, muscular, tattooed, though not as heavily as his arms were.
He didn’t bother leaving on his briefs. In moments, he stood naked before me.
“So beautiful,” he whispered, stroking his fingers along my shoulder.
“So are you.” My hands returned to his chest, My breathing was uneven, taken over by my arousal and trepidation. Not fear of him, just not knowing, because I had no idea what I was doing.
“Nix,” I murmured. “I don’t know.”
His hands paused. Then he smiled softly. “Baby…I’m your first?”
I bit my lip. “Yeah.”
“God…I never thought…” Rather than finishing, he pulled me to him, kissing me passionately. The next thing I knew, we were on the bed. Nixon slowly pushed off my bra, kissing a path along every inch of exposed skin. I cried out as he captured a nipple between his lips and sucked hard. “So pretty,” he said, going for the other.
One of his hands stroked down to my core, separating and caressing me there. I shuddered as he circled my clit. Fire surged through me and my hips bucked.
“Nix,” I cried out.
“Yeah, love. That feel good. You’re so wet for me.” A finger pushed inside and I bucked, screaming out. He froze. “You okay?”
“Yes, yes, don’t stop,” I urged. I grasped his wrist, trying to keep him there. But Nix wasn’t going anywhere. He finger fucked me. My head rocked back and forth, half-delirious from the pleasure.
His mouth returned to my nipples. I couldn’t take it. The pleasure from my breasts collided with that from my center and I exploded. Stars flew before my eyes. I gasped, unable to move or breathe.
When I finally came down, Nix had moved over me. His head was notched against my opening.
“Yes, please, now,” I begged.
“You feel so fucking good,” he groaned as he slowly inched forward. “So good. So mine. Forever, December. Forever.”
“Forever,” I echoed, overwhelmed as his thick length pushed open my tight walls. There was a slight pinch of pain, then he was all the way.
“Always mine,” he repeated. “Finally. We waited so long.”
We’d been officially together a day, but I got it. This moment was a long time in the making.
I wiggled beneath him, trying to move. Nix grinned, getting the hint. He pulled back then surged back in. “Yes,” we yelled together.
“Oh my God, Nix,” I cried as he took up a hard, driving rhythm that pushed me toward the edge of oblivion again.
“I’m going to fill you with all of me,” he growled.
“Do it. I want it.”
I didn’t know how, I couldn’t even begin to comprehend, but he had me right at the pinnacle again. Reaching between us, he rubbed my clit. Everything in me clenched and pulsed. My channel squeezed Nix as he tried to power though.
“Oh, fuck,” he growled, but I barely heard him through the haze of sensation. Then heat joined them as he filled me. And somehow, the most overwhelming calm ebbed through me. No matter what, he’d marked me his for all time.
“I love you,” he whispered above me, cuddling me as was collapsed to the bed.
“I love you, too.” I grinned throwing my arms wide. “That was pretty spectacular for a first time.
“Oh, love, it’s only going to get better.”
Chapter Five
~ December ~
I was alone. I reached out, trying to find Nix, but he wasn’t there. Sitting up, I stared around me. Was he in the bathroom? Sitting at the corner table? No.
He left me! All the promises and—
The electronic door lock rolled, before I could get too irrationally worked up. I pulled the blankets to my chest as he walked in with a cardboard tray holding two coffee cups, a paper bag and a giftwrapped package.
Coming over, he set the food on the bedside table then sat on the edge of bed. “I was hoping I’d be back before you woke up. I had to go talk to your dad.”
“Why?”
He hands me the gift. “Open it.”
“But I don’t have your present. I mean I have one, but it’s in the car for later at my parents’.”
“This is for both of us. The rest of your gifts are at your parents’ house, too. By the way, they’re expecting us for breakfast in an hour, so we need to get a move on. Open the gift.”
“Okay…” He vibrated with excitement and I was a little leery. He’d been really into the white elephant thing.
I pulled the tissue paper from the bag, then looked inside. My heart stopped at the small box. Earrings. It had to be earrings. Telling myself that, I pulled it out then gasped at the solitaire inside.
“I know it’s fast but—”
“Yes. Of course, yes.” I interrupted. We’d been over this. It was fast now that we were actually together. “I’ve been in love with you for so long, Nix.”
“I love you, too, December. But let me do this right.” Nix took the ring from me. “December, my love, will you marry me, be my partner and keep me on the straight and narrow, forever—and not just at work? Will you be my wife and the mother of our children?”
I could barely breathe. “Yes, I want you to be my forever, too.”
“And will you live with me here—”
“What?” I exclaimed, practically yelling.
“I’ve been looking into an extension office somewhere outside of Chicago. Of course, everyone there will keep their jobs, but Grand Rapids isn’t so far from here that we couldn’t establish a new headquarters. I was thinking maybe.”
“Okay…”
“And your parents want us to get married next week.”
I pulled him down over me. “We’ll need to talk about that.”
Taking my hand, he slid the large solitaire on it. “Mine,” he whispered then kissed me already yanking at the blankets.
* * * *
~ Nix ~
One Week Later…
I would never forget that moment. I stood there beside Decker and Eli while we watched our brides come up the aisle. They’d decided to come down oldest to youngest, since the aisle wasn’t wide enough for all three women to come down at once.
Belle was just days older than December, so she was first. Then my reason for living came down the aisle on her father’s arm. As he handed her to me, I barely noticed Maisie coming up the aisle to Eli.
“So beautiful,” I murmured to my girl. She wore a sheath dressed that showed off her delicious curves as beautifully as that body con dress had last week. This one was sleeveless with beads and lace embellishing it. My hands landed on her hips as I we waited. I knew better than to do more. I’d been warned.
“Thank you,” she whispered back. “You look fantastic in that tux. I can’t wait to take it off.”
Naughty girl. This was the woman I’d have for eternity. Thank God!
“Dearly beloved…” the officiant started before I could reply. I smiled at December, promising her everything my future could live.
“I love you,” I mouthed.
“You better,” she mouthed back with a wink.
And I knew our future would be like this, full of fun and passion. As long as it was forever, that was perfect with me.
About the Author
Author Bio Here