The family took their seats in the living room again, each one turning their cake over for inspection and then looking to one another, as if for reassurance.
“Who’s going to go first?” Gabe asked. “Oh, never mind. I made it, so I’ll take the plunge.” He cut off a piece with his fork and popped it into his mouth without hesitation. Anna held her breath. She had never wanted someone to be successful more in her life. Gabe’s eyes went wide. “Oh, my God,” he said. “It’s good. I’m not even kidding—it looks weird, but it tastes delicious.”
Everybody followed suit after that, and Anna took a bite. Oh, it was delicious. Soft and wonderful, with a hint of vanilla. Gabe had done an excellent job. Anna leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
“Save it for when you’re alone,” Chase teased.
“No way,” Gabe said, leaning over to kiss her again.
* * *
Gabe crawled into the bed beside her at the end of the day—the longest, happiest day of Anna’s life. Christmas Eve with the Elkin family had run late—and Elin had retired much earlier, exhausted from the fun and her illness taking its toll. Jonas and Chase had stayed to talk by the fire, while Tana and Lindsey had slipped out together over her protests.
It was only when Anna finally whispered to Gabe that she was ready for bed that he’d made a move to leave. The truth was Anna just wanted to be alone with him. And now he was here, stretching out beside her and running a hand over her face. “I love you,” he said.
“I want you,” she said, a huge grin keeping her from making it a seductive invitation.
His eyebrows rose. “Yeah?”
Anna reached over and tugged down his boxers, revealing the thick, hard length of him. “You want me, too.”
“I don’t deny it.”
She climbed on top of him, and Gabe slid his hands up underneath her big, soft sleep shirt. The higher his hands went, the wider his eyes got. Anna wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
He finally reached her waist and pulled her down over his chest to kiss her, deep and hard and fierce, and she pressed herself down on the hard ridge of him and rocked her hips back and forth. Anna was already slick, already wanting. There was a time for elaborate foreplay and lingering between her legs, but this wasn’t it.
Gabe groaned into her mouth, his hands digging in hard on her hips. He stuck a hand out, and it collided with the bedside table, almost knocking the lamp over. His low growl showed his impatience as he wrenched the drawer open and dug inside for a foil packet. Gabe ripped it open with his teeth, and in one swift move, rolled it on, his knuckles teasing at the soft, slick parts of her.
Anna lifted herself up, feeling on top of the world, and worked herself down over his shaft with a breathy moan that she couldn’t have stopped if she wanted to.
Gabe swore. “You’re a beautiful sight to see like this,” he said, voice strained, eyes sweeping over her.
“I’d rather—focus—on feeling.” She rocked her hips over him, grinding into the stretch and the pleasure, and as she touched his base, he thrust up into her with startling power. It didn’t matter if she was on top. He was still in control, always there for her. Anna bent down and kissed the exposed flesh of his neck where it rose from the collar of his shirt, and his arms came around her, caging her there.
There was nowhere else she’d rather be in the world.
Gabe pumped into her, and she met him thrust for thrust, rock for rock, the pleasure winding and curling low in her belly until the next graze of his skin on her clit set her off like a Christmas firecracker, and she came, shuddering, digging into Gabe’s shirt with her fingers and holding on for dear life.
Then she pushed herself upright and leaned into the wash of sensation. Each breath was a new miracle, and the steady back and forth of him inside her, a perfect fit. It brought her slowly up into another wave of pleasure.
Anna tipped her chin down and met his eyes, loving how they burned with intensity for her. His whole body was a picture of longing—all tight muscles, a freshly bitten lip, and restless hands that caressed every inch of her skin.
Gabe held her gaze as he came, gritting his teeth and sucking in a short, sharp breath, and Anna collapsed on top of him. They rolled together over the sheets, Gabe landing on top of her.
Her handsome billionaire.
Her dream come true.
Gabe bent to kiss her lips, and a pleasant tiredness descended along with him. “You did good today,” he said softly. “We did good. Now sleep. Tomorrow’s Christmas.”
This is what it must be like to be excited for Christmas.
Turning over, she snuggled in his arms and drifted off to sleep.
22
It was, without a doubt, the best Christmas morning of Gabe’s life.
He came awake all at once, his arm still slung over Anna, and breathed in her essence. Definitely the best Christmas ever.
She stirred underneath his arm and swiped her hair out of her face, then turned and stretched. “Merry Christmas,” she whispered.
“Merry Christmas,” he said. This was the best Christmas in his memory. Her body next to his was the most incredible gift. They lay together, savoring the silence for several minutes.
“What do we do now?”
“It’s still early,” he murmured, preferring to stay in bed with Anna. Thirty minutes later, they headed for the bathroom. A long, leisurely shower with Anna was the perfect way to start the morning. He washed her hair and soaped every inch of her skin like it was another gift. In fact, it was his third gift of the morning. First had been waking up next to her, second had been what they did after, and third...the shower.
They walked hand-in-hand to the elevator, and Anna took a deep breath. “How’s my hair?”
“Perfect.” He kissed her on the temple.
“You didn’t look.”
“I don’t have to look to know it’s perfect.” The elevator whisked them upward and he took both Anna’s hands and spun her around. “There—now I’ve looked, and you’re gorgeous.”
She pressed a kiss to his jawline and then it was time to go in. Anna’s wide smile sparked something like childhood excitement in him—pure and fresh.
Tana and Chase were there along with Lindsey. Jonas and his grandmother sat opposite, and they all got up to greet one another. For once, Gabe didn’t have to focus on whether they were judging him. He just settled next to Anna until it was time to head into the dining room for breakfast. Gabe might have moved away from home, but these old habits hadn’t left—he knew the rhythm of the holiday with his family, and it was comforting in a way it hadn’t been in years.
The staff came out with serving platters piled high with fluffy pancakes and sausages and crispy bacon. Another tray was decorated with a fan of fruits. English muffins. Gravy. It was an embarrassment of riches, and Gabe saw it through Anna’s eyes for the first time. This was when all the high standards and expectations came together to make something lovely—a breakfast table with laughter and helpfulness and rules for everyone to follow. Those weren’t always a bad thing, he realized. They were meant to give everyone a framework so they could relax.
And the framework had relaxed, too. Grandmother didn’t lean forward as often to scan everyone’s plates and guide the conversation. She enjoyed it while they served to the left, passed to the right, and waited for everyone’s plate to be filled before they started. Gabe caught himself watching his grandmother carefully, appreciating the matriarch of the family with a deeper understanding.
After breakfast, they took turns freshening up in the bathroom and then gathered in the living room for a Christmas photograph.
Gabe put his hand on the small of Anna’s back as the photographer set up her tripod and helped everyone into what she considered the proper placement. She was a tall woman with jet black hair and a full smile. Gabe liked her instantly, especially when she took the time to compliment the silver-and-white decorations used to turn the room into a winter wonderland. His gran
dmother beamed with pride. Gabe looked around and finally understood so much about his life and his family. For so many years, it had faded into the background for him. But not tonight. Never again.
“Are you sure I should be here?” Anna whispered, her eyes darting up to his. “I can step out if you’d rather have the photos without me.”
“I’m completely sure. If I’m supposed to be here, then so are you.” It hit him like a flash, like a bolt of lightning. He wanted her by his side forever. Not a single thing in the world could keep him away from her now that he had her back.
The photographer raised a hand. “And let’s all look this way, natural smiles, no need to overdo it. Just imagine you’re enjoying a relaxing Christmas morning with your family.”
All of them laughed, all except Jonas. His brother was acting odd, and Gabe made a mental note to ask him what was wrong when they had a chance.
The shutter clicked away, capturing family memories. Normally, Gabe would have been irritated with this kind of exercise and with Jonas’s insistence on making his gift take center stage. But Anna had shown him something different. She’d shown him that these kinds of gestures were meant to be thoughtful—and not in a competitive way. They were for the future versions of themselves who would have to take family photos with members missing. Gabe’s heart squeezed.
“And we’re good,” the photographer said, lowering her camera. “Would you like couples photos?”
“Yes,” Jonas said, his voice firm, brooking no opposition. Was it for the benefit of those in the room who might object, or the benefit of the photographer and issuing orders in Jonas’s typical abrupt fashion?
“Anna and Gabe first,” Tana said, pushing them front and center.
Whatever was wrong with Jonas would have to wait.
It was Christmas and Gabe had every reason to be joyful. Pulling Anna into his arms, as easily as he’d done anything in his life, he kissed her. Chase whooped at the sight, the clicking of the camera alerting him that the kiss would be solidly documented. Anna put her arms around his waist and posed again. It was so easy. He’d suffered through a hundred corporate photoshoots, but this was nothing like that. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face, and he couldn’t keep his eyes off Anna. She was his kind of lovely.
“Would you like to see a few of the shots?” the photographer asked.
“Yes!” Anna grabbed Gabe’s hand and they went to stand next to the woman.
The images took his breath away. Anna’s eyes shone up at him, and it was clear from the way they touched each other that it was love. Real, deep love. He put a hand to his chest and caught the photographer’s eye. “Do you do wedding photography?”
Anna gasped.
“I mean it,” he said, the knowledge breaking over him like a wave. “I want to be with you. I want to marry you.”
Everything fell away except for Anna and the happy tears in her dark eyes. Gabe was dimly aware of the photographer hustling to detach her camera from the tripod and whisk it away. He took both of Anna’s hands and was surprised to find that his own were trembling. This seemed way more momentous than his first throwaway proposal at the Top of the World. This was probably the most important thing he’d ever do. The significance of it settled over his shoulders and made his heart beat hard, and Anna bit at her lip, smiling through her own surprise.
He didn’t have a new ring—but he did have the old one in his pocket. Anna had handed the old engagement ring back to him when she left, and he hadn’t been able to leave it behind. Gabe had carried it with him all the way to Vegas and never went anywhere without it. It was a testament to his love and kept him close to her even when they were apart.
Gabe sank down onto one knee and put his hand into his pocket. The room went silent, all eyes on him. For one heart-stopping instant, he couldn’t find the ring. Relief filled him when his fingers closed over it, Gabe eager to ask the biggest question of his life. “Anna, you’ve changed everything about my life for the better,” he told her. The click of the camera’s shutter was the only sound that could be heard. “I want you to be by my side forever, and I want to be by yours. Will you marry me?”
He held up the ring, and Anna burst out in delighted laughter, tears streaming down her face. The pictures would be priceless—something to remember and tell about for generations to come. “And I know,” he went on, “that this is our fake engagement ring, but we picked it out together. I’d like it to be a real one now.”
“I love it,” she cried. “It’s my dream ring.” She dissolved into happy laughter again, and someone started clapping, the others joining in just as he slid the ring onto Anna’s finger.
Back where it belonged.
She bent down to kiss him, her hands on either side of his face. He stood, taking her in his arms to deepen the kiss. “We don’t have to do this until you’re ready,” he said so only she could hear. “There’s no rush.”
“But there is,” she whispered, a hand stroking down the back of his neck. “I want your grandmother to see us get married. And I don’t want to wait. If we could do it right now, I would.”
“Me too,” he answered. “Me too.”
Excitement hummed through him as Chase and Tana took their photos with Lindsey, and then Jonas and their grandmother. And finally, his grandmother posed for a portrait in her favorite seat in the house—the left-hand corner of one of her leather sofas. Happiness and grief tightened Gabe’s throat as he watched. He was going to miss her. They were all going to miss her, but they’d have this photo. That was more than some people got.
And they didn’t have to miss her yet.
The photographer spoke with Jonas and then disappeared. There were more rounds of family portraits scheduled for later this afternoon, but they had enough for one session. Now it was time for some good old-fashioned Christmas fun.
His grandmother rose from the couch, holding her hands up high. “Who’s ready for presents?”
Lindsey whooped, and then there was a rush for seats around the tree, and Gabe settled back into their spot on the sofa with Anna tucked under his arm.
Anna’s my gift and all I need.
“Merry Christmas,” he told her, kissing her hair. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Let’s always make Christmas special.”
He drew her in, savoring the feeling of her body close to his. “Deal. But only if I can unwrap you every year. I’ll never need another present.”
End of The Billionaire’s Fake Christmas Engagement
Elkin Brothers Christmas Book Two
The Billionaire Athlete’s Christmas Fling, December 3rd, 2020
The Billionaire’s Fake Christmas Engagement, December 10th, 2020
The Billionaire’s Christmas Son, December 17th, 2020
PS: Do you want to be swept off your feet? Then keep reading for exclusive extracts from The Billionaire’s Christmas Son and The Sheikh’s Christmas Fling.
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About Leslie
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.
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BLURB
Golden boy of the family empire and billionaire CEO of Elk Lodge, Jonas Elkin is in for the shock of a lifetime after he hires a photographer to shoot family portraits a
s a gift to his dying grandmother. When Rachel Alexander, his steamy one-night stand, shows up, Jonas must face the unexpected consequences of their actions three years ago: he has a son.
Rachel never expected to see the father of her son again. She definitely didn’t expect him to be in charge of the ski resort she met him at. She almost wishes she could say no to Jonas’ request for family portraits, but without enough money to pass up the job, she’s not only forced to work during the Christmas holidays, but has to push aside her lingering feelings for Jonas and what they could have been.
But then Jonas reveals he still has feelings for her and wants to get to know his surprise son; on one condition: they have to keep the baby a secret from Jonas’ traditional family. He’s used to being the alpha male, in control of every situation, but Rachel refuses to be told what to do, especially when it comes to her son. Will they be able to overcome the differences that threaten to tear them apart, or will Jonas’ family finding out about their past destroy their chance at a future?
Grab your copy of The Billionaire’s Christmas Son
Available December 17th, 2020
www.LeslieNorthBooks.com
* * *
EXCERPT
Chapter One
The Christmas Day photo session had been excruciating.
Jonas hoped that the rest of his family hadn’t noticed how unbelievably tense he was—how sweat prickled at his hairline. How he couldn’t stop looking at the photographer he’d hired. She was utterly professional and charming, and everyone had loved her. And the problem was that Jonas had loved her, too.
The Billionaire’s Fake Christmas Engagement: Elkin Brothers Christmas Book Two Page 14