From the moment I picked her up off that sidewalk and saw the fight in her eyes, my heart had attached itself to her in ways even I wasn’t strong enough to break.
I love her, the way her perfect ass kept rubbing back against me while she still slept was slowly killing me.
My arm was slung over her, my hand gently cupping her tit in natural possessiveness as we slept, but now I needed to move before I woke my sleeping beauty. I only made it a few inches before her fingers wrapped around mine and held my hand in place.
“Where are you going?”
“Didn’t want to wake you.” I planted a soft kiss on the back of her neck.
“I was trying to wake you,” she murmured and then wiggled her ass against my throbbing cock again.
A long, low groan emerged from hibernation in my chest.
“You’ve been awake this whole time?” I murmured, sliding a hand down the side of her thigh, slowly lifting her leg and pulling it up and over mine.
She hummed in response as I shifted myself between her legs.
My hand drifted along the inside of her leg until my fingers dipped into the slick heat of her pussy.
“You have been awake this whole time,” I confirmed, my fingers sliding through her soaked folds, searching out her clit. “You’ve been teasin’ me this whole time…”
I pinched her clit and she jolted against me.
“One of these days, you’re goin’ to have to let me give you a break, darlin’,” I hissed as I grabbed my cock and wedged it at her entrance before returning to her swollen nub. “One of these days, your hot” —I grunted, arching my hips, and slowly slipped inside her—“perfectly tight pussy is goin’ to need a break.”
I knew because I could feel it. I could feel the subtle wince of pain spread through her body as my cock pushed through tender muscles. Still, she wanted more, bowing her back and encouraging me to sink deeper.
With a low growl, I thrust all the way, tugging on her clit the moment I was fully seated and seeing stars with the jab of pleasure that rocketed through me.
“Please…”
I couldn’t deny this woman. I’d never deny this woman.
My body began to move, driving into her with long, powerful strokes while my fingers toyed with her, making her writhe and grind against me for more.
It didn’t take long for me to unravel her. With my cock jamming against her sweet spot as my fingers swirled and tweaked her clit, she exploded around me in minutes, shaking and gasping my name in a way that made my balls tighten and seize just before I erupted with a drawn-out growl, flooding her with fresh cum.
“Merry Christmas, darlin’,” I grunted.
She felt so good. So damn good I never wanted to move.
But there were so many more things I wanted to give her—to share with her—besides my body. And those required putting aside my lust for the day.
“Merry Christmas, Mick,” she finally whispered, turning her head to try and look back at me.
I couldn’t help but notice the sparkle in her eyes. My breathtaking princess had never had a Christmas morning before, and hell if that didn’t make my heart and every other part of me swell possessively to know I was the one to share it with her.
“We should get up,” I said regretfully, sucking in a breath as I pulled out of her.
Throwing off the covers, she slid from the bed and, tossing my shirt over her head, darted for the bathroom in the basement with a smile that grew wider by the minute, not because there was something left by a fat man for her under the tree but because she had a family who wanted nothing else but to spend the day with her.
Quickly wiping myself off, I tugged on my briefs and sweats, grinning to myself because I had something in store for her.
When she returned a few minutes later, she stopped short seeing me sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a gift wrapped in what was a brown paper bag with a red plaid ribbon tied around it.
“W-What is that?” she stammered.
“Your gift.” The two words barely out of my mouth when tears pooled in her eyes.
“Why?” She shook her head, rephrasing her thoughts. “I mean… I didn’t get you anything. You shouldn’t have—”
I stood, reached for her hips, spinning her and sitting her on my knee. Pulling her hair away from her ear, I replied, “Jules, I told you the best Christmas present I’ll ever get in my entire life is wakin’ up with you in my arms this morning, knowin’ it’ll be every mornin’ from now on.” She shivered. “You couldn’t get me a gift better than that, darlin’.”
She turned to me. “I know… but I still could’ve got you—”
My mouth cut her off with a hard kiss.
“Gifts are like love—given because they have to be not because anything is expected in return.” My hand slid out and pulled the present onto her lap. “Now open it.”
The present was a long rectangle extending off the sides of her legs. Gingerly, her hands reached for the bow and tugged.
“Did you wrap this?”
“Yeah. But don’t judge it by the paper bag wrap job—”
“I love it,” she cut in, and I could hear the teary thickness in her voice. “I’ve never… opened a Christmas present before. From someone who loved me.”
I tried to not let my anger cut down this moment that I wanted to be special.
I found myself holding my breath as she peeled back the paper, suddenly nervous she wasn’t going to like it. I knew she liked it, but maybe it wasn’t something that was good for a Christmas gift. Maybe she was expecting jewelry.
My heart hammered loudly as she tore the paper away to reveal the sanded and polished wooden plaque underneath.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. Always with love.
Her index finger traced along her grandfather’s words on a similar plaque to the one I’d made for Roasters.
I’d started making it weeks ago when I caught her staring at it at Roasters’ re-opening. Then, I couldn’t encourage her like I could now. Then, I had to keep my distance for her safety. Still, I wanted to give her this—give her the words from the one man who’d encouraged her to find her own voice, who would have been cheering alongside the rest of us to see her break away from her parents.
I’d wanted to give her this in the same way I wanted to love her—not because I ever expected her to know it came from me but because she deserved it.
“Mick…” Her shoulders began to shake in silent sobs.
“He’d be so proud of you, darlin’. Just like I am… just like we all are. And I just don’t want you to ever forget that.”
She spun and kissed me even as she cried, her lips slipping and sliding against mine with the salty wetness of her tears.
“I love you,” she choked out, holding on to the slab of wood and holding on to me.
“I love you too, Jules.” I kissed her hair and held her for a few minutes until she calmed. “Didn’t mean to make you cry, beautiful.”
“I know.” She took a deep breath, running her hands over the etched wood once more. “It’s just so thoughtful… and beautiful. When… how…”
My hand rubbed slow circles on her back. “After that day at Roasters, I just wanted you to have something to remind you that no choice… no word… no action… is too small when it’s a step in the right direction for the right reasons. Wanted to remind you that you weren’t alone, even if I couldn’t be the one to be there for you.”
“Guess that didn’t go quite according to plan,” she said with a watery chuckle.
I laughed. “No. Looks like I was chased down by a princess in a maintenance truck. I figured my best bet was to surrender.”
Our laughter broke at the steady thud of footsteps echoing through the ceiling.
Wiping her eyes, she pushed up off my lap and suggested, “Why don’t you go up? I’m just going to take a minute to calm down. I want to call Laurel, too.”
“You sure, darlin’?”
&nbs
p; She smiled and my heart faltered. “Never more.”
Jules only took a few minutes more before she joined me and my family upstairs.
“Jules!” Jessa exclaimed, hardly giving me time to hug my woman before she skipped over and pulled her into a huge hug. “Merry Christmas!”
Immediately, Jules was co-opted by Jessa and Miles to assist in preparing our traditional pancake breakfast while my dad and Chance argued over how to work their espresso machine.
I didn’t have to tell my sister that Jules was my one, she already knew. I might be tempted to say it was her tarot cards that told her so, but then again it seemed like the rest of my family was under the same impression, so it probably had more to do with the shit-eating grin that was perpetually plastered on my face rather than any psychic reading.
“I love seeing how happy she makes you.”
I looked down to see my mom who’d snuck up by my side, watching the rest of our family work in a strange blend of joyful yet borderline chaotic harmony.
“Never thought I’d have this,” I admitted.
“Well, you always deserved it, sweetheart, and somehow I knew that meant you’d find it.”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her to my side. There was never a doubt in my mind that Donna Madison was my mother in every sense of the word.
Even though I knew it didn’t matter, my fears continued to speak. “I can’t give her the life she was used to…”
My mom scoffed as she looked up, offended at me for myself.
“Mick Madison,” she harrumphed. “Someone may have a life where everything is provided for them—a place to sleep, three catered meals a day, designated recreation and social activities…” My head ducked. I wasn’t expecting her to list out all of Rock Beach’s benefits. “Some may even be able to afford better accommodations than most.” The weight of fear grew.
“Mom—”
She waved her hand and faced me. “But havin’ all those things doesn’t mean you’re in any better position than a person in jail.”
Oh.
Shit.
“It doesn’t matter how much stuff you have if you don’t have choice—if you don’t have freedom, and especially if you don’t have love.” She pointed a finger over her shoulder. “You make that girl happy. Don’t you dare try to put a value on something so invaluable like that.”
I raised my hands in faux-defeat and nodded.
There was no questionin’ my momma when she was like this—mostly because she was right.
“Good.”
And with that, breakfast was announced as being ready and any lingering doubts disappeared from my thoughts.
The morning meal went as though I hadn’t added another member to the group—as though Jules had always been part of the family.
We talked about the snowboarding school that Chance ran along with his sister and her husband. Apparently, they were already needing to hire more staff because interest in enrollment was so high.
Jessa took her time sharing about her job; she’d been promoted to the chief physical therapist at the Porter Adventist Outpatient Facility where she worked. My parents talked about the new girl they were fostering in a few weeks. I shared about business up in Carmel, trying to engage my brother in the conversation even though he stayed stubbornly silent.
And Jules, they asked her about the things that fed her soul—her application to nursing school, what area of nursing she was thinking about going into. I loved them for encouraging her to talk about her dreams because they were my dreams for her, too.
After we’d made an admirable dent in the stack of chocolate chip pancakes, everyone wandered into the living room and sank down onto the couches and chairs surrounding the tree. My family didn’t exchange much, not because we couldn’t afford to, but because it wasn’t necessary. It was being together that made this holiday special for us, not so much the presents. Still, I’d made an ornament for my sister and Chance, bought my dad a few kinds of coffee from Roasters, and made my mom a wooden chess set.
“Jules.” My sister looked around before jumping up with a smile. “We have a little something for you, too.”
This time when she turned and gaped at me, my expression mirrored her own. I didn’t know they’d gotten her something either.
“Y-You really didn’t have to do that,” Jules stammered, shaking her head. “It’s more than enough that you’ve let me spend Christmas with your family—” she broke off and covered her mouth.
My momma, who was sitting next to her on the couch, reached an arm around her shoulder and pulled her tight. “Oh, dear, we didn’t let you come. You’re with my son—you’re family. You belonged here.”
I wanted to hold her, seeing how her eyes blinked rapidly as she tried not to cry.
“It’s not a lot,” Jessa spoke again, returning with a long, thin box. “But I bought it a few weeks ago when Mick told me about you. I was going to send it home with him but I’m glad I don’t have to.”
Her hands shook slightly as she took the box from Jess, murmuring her thanks.
I was so focused on Jules opening her gift that I jumped slightly when my dad patted his hand on my back. I quickly met his proud gaze and warm smile.
Turning back to Jules, she pulled the rest of the paper off and lifted the lid off the black box, pulling aside the tissue paper inside.
She gasped as her hand flew to cover her mouth for a split second before she reached inside and reverently lifted out a stethoscope. Jules faltered as she examined the gift, her fingers rubbing along both of the metal pieces before she burst into tears.
“It’s a little presumptuous, but I’m pregnant so I couldn’t stop my happy, hopeful, and emotional self. I hope you like it—” my sister began.
“Jessa—” I growled and stood, prepared to burn the damn things if my sister and her damn cards made her do something she shouldn’t have.
But then Jules jumped up and wrapped Jess in a huge hug as they both laughed and cried while I stood there floundering, wondering if I needed to sit or have a stern word with my sister. A few seconds later, I got my answer.
Jules stepped back from my sister and walked over to me, presenting me with her gift.
The stethoscope had been engraved on either side. The one side read, ‘Listen to your heart.’ I smiled because that couldn’t have been more appropriate.
And then I looked at the other side.
‘Jules Madison, RN.’
My eyes swung up to Jules.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to give you my name if you’ll have it,” I promised thickly. “But if you don’t want to wear this until that moment, I’ll make her—”
Her hand on my arm stayed me.
“There’s nothing I want more.” I knew she was talking about wearing the stethoscope and my name. And I was about to say to hell with my family and kiss her right there, but she turned back to my sister and said with a weak laugh, “I just hope I get in now…”
Jessa’s face split with that all-knowing grin of hers before she confidently sauntered over to us and put a hand on Jules’ shoulder. “Oh, you will.”
If she wasn’t my sister—and if she wasn’t pregnant—I would’ve staked my claim and kept my woman by my side, but I had to admit seeing them walk away to the tune of Jessa explaining what exactly her cards had said about Jules’ future made me pretty damn happy, too.
“Did you know about this?” I turned on Chance.
His eyebrow arched.
“If I did, you think I’m going to mess with Jessa? Yeah, right.” He snorted. “You’re not the one who has to get in bed with her at night.” He shook his head. “And I like my place in her bed far too much to risk ruining her surprises. Especially when she’s pregnant.”
I rolled my eyes with a grunt. “Sometimes you’re a dick.”
“Sometimes?” He laughed. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said about me.”
We both stood, half-la
ughing as we watched our women clean up absentmindedly from breakfast while they talked. I only caught Miles slipping out through the door to the garage from the corner of my eye and winced, wishing he would just talk to me.
We’d done nothing to make him feel like the seventh wheel, still it was like he designated himself as a loner—as the Grinch.
My eyes roamed back to Jules.
She was going to have to tell her parents about this. No, she didn’t have to, but I knew she’d still want to—not to hurt them but because she had a forgiving heart.
She’d tell them because they were her parents, and this would be the last opportunity for them to realize that just because she didn’t want what they had planned, didn’t mean they had to lose a daughter over it.
I wanted to believe the best in people, especially for Jules.
But in this case, I had a feeling they hadn’t seen her as a daughter in a long time, only as their pretty little doll.
No matter what happened I’d be there. I just prayed my girl was prepared for both the best and the worst.
Jules
I didn’t want to leave Aspen.
Christmas afternoon, Mick and I went sledding with Jessa, Chance, and a group of their friends, including Chance’s twin sister, Channing and her husband, Wyatt, and Chance’s younger sister, Ally and her fiancé, Emmett, and their close friends, Tammy and Nick and their daughter Lila.
And just when I thought my heart couldn’t be any more full with laughter, we’d spent the night eating leftovers with his family in front of the fire, listening to stories of Mick and Miles and Jessa volley back and forth between the group, each trying to outdo the next with the title of ‘most embarrassing.’ The holiday finally ended with the promise to return to Aspen in a few short weeks for when Jessa had their baby.
But as much as I’d loved even just the few days with Mick and his family out in Aspen, the turn onto Ocean Avenue still felt like coming home. The bright sun, the crisp salty air. It felt familiar and fresh at the same time.
Even after the betrayal of my parents, it was a strange sense of peace and pride to return to a place I was determined to make my own. I came back knowing I’d overcome something.
Bespoken: An Opposites-Attract Standalone Romance (Carmel Cove Book 2) Page 30
