"You're probably right about that, but that doesn't mean I didn't think about it."
"See, I know you so well. You're a good girl, except when we're alone, and I think that's one of your most endearing attributes."
"Does this mean you're giving me free rein to be naughty when we're alone?"
"I don't think you need my permission for that; you do quite well at being naughty."
"And you like that?"
"Harper, only you—only you—could excite me the way you do. No one else, ever. When I told you that I would be faithful to you forever, I had no idea it would be so easy. Not that I would ever stray, anyway. You know I never did with Aileen, and we had a very rocky marriage. Even if you and I weren't so in sync, I'd never do that to you. But you make it easy; it wasn't always so easy with her. Did that make any sense? I'm sort of rambling here."
"See, you have your principles, too. I like to keep our spicy love life behind closed doors, and you're loyal, no matter what. Maybe we really are a good match, after all."
"There's not a doubt in my mind." He grinned at her, the special one, reserved just for her.
"Oh, here we are back at the beach house already. Thank you for the walk and for the talk, Parker."
"Anytime, baby, anytime," he said as he opened the back door of the house.
"Well, it's about time you two got back. We thought we were going to have to send out a search party," Ellie said as they walked into the kitchen.
"Were we gone very long? It didn't seem like it," Harper replied, looking at the time on her phone nervously.
"It's all right, honey, it's just that it's starting to get dark. Dinner's just about ready. If you two had a nice time and got to spend some time alone, then more power to you. I just had to tease you a little, because it embarrasses you so."
Parker threw his head back and chuckled. "They've all got your number, baby."
"I don't think getting embarrassed easily is such a bad thing," she retorted.
"It's not. It's just another one of your endearing little quirks. Let's not keep them waiting any longer." He winked at her, given the conversation they'd just had about punctuality. Besides, I'm starved." And as they walked into the dining room, he whispered, "For more than just food."
They spent the rest of the evening with their family. And when they retired for the evening, Harper properly satisfied his hunger for her as only she could do. They did get a little more adventurous this time, trying different positions. He even blindfolded her with one of her own scarves, only after asking her if it was agreeable to her. She had readily agreed. Harper couldn't have been happier. Her marriage, even though one of convenience, had turned into the real thing. If only he would tell her that he loved her. Then, all would be perfect.
On Christmas Eve, Parker and Harper picked Grace up at the airport, and the festivities really began. The women worked in the kitchen, while the men kept Ava and Aiden from being underfoot. The two little ones were very excited, and Parker finally came up with a plan to take them for a walk. Maybe by getting them out of the house, the women could get things in order for the evening's celebration.
Harper enjoyed the day, busily readying things for the children. They were all planning to attend Christmas Eve services at the church Harper and Parker had been married in. After the service, they would return home for a light dinner and a family gift exchange. Christmas morning was reserved for Ava and Aiden. Harper had told them all that she wanted to spend the morning enjoying their excitement, when they saw the things Santa had brought them.
"Mama Harper, can you fix my hair?" Ava came skipping into the master bedroom carrying a hairbrush and a ribbon.
"I sure can, sweetie; sit here on the edge of the bed for me." She brushed the little girl's long, blonde hair, pulled the sides up, and securing it with a ponytail holder she took from her nightstand drawer, she tied the red satin ribbon around it. "There you go, look in the mirror and see if it's okay."
"It's pretty. Thanks." She skipped back out of the room as Parker walked in, smiling.
"She looks happy."
"I brushed her hair," Harper answered as she continued getting ready for church.
"And that's all it takes? You have her wrapped around your little finger, don't you?"
"More like she has me wrapped around hers. Come here, and I'll tie your tie for you. You always seem to get the knot just a little crooked."
"Are you insinuating, Mrs. Bentley, that before I met you, I wore crooked ties?"
"If the shoe or, rather, the tie, fits." She laughed as she finished the knot and kissed him before turning to finish getting ready.
They were greeted enthusiastically by many of the local people when they arrived at church. After a beautiful service, they drove back to the beach house.
"Kids, you need to settle down. We're going to eat a little bit before we open our gifts. Ava, why don't you set the table? And, Aiden, go see what Daddy's doing," Harper told the children as she was taking food out of the refrigerator.
After a quick meal of homemade soup and sandwiches, they all assembled in the living room, where Parker began doling out the gifts. He saved his gift for Harper until last.
She had bought him a pocket watch, which he had admired when they were at the mall. She'd had the words Our Time engraved on the back. "Harper, it's so appropriate. This is our time."
He handed her a small box. With the others watching, she opened it. There was a small white box and, inside that box, a blue velvet box. When she opened it, she gasped. "Parker, oh, it's perfect." She took the tiny ring out of the box and slipped it onto her right hand. She proudly showed it to the rest of the family as they admired it. It was a family ring with the birthstones of Parker, Harper, Ava, and Aiden embedded into a beautiful setting.
"I'm glad you like it, baby. And there's room for another stone or two, should we ever need them."
"Now you're talking, son," Mary said approvingly.
Grace laughed. "I think your mom is hinting, Parker."
"She throws those hints, every now and again, Grace. We just ignore her, for now," he told his mother-in-law.
"Well, at least he said, 'for now,'" Mary replied.
"They'll surprise us one day with a big announcement, Mary," Grace answered. She looked at her daughter and son-in-law and smiled. "Until then, let's just let them be newlyweds."
"They've got that part down pat," Mary replied.
Harper blushed. Parker laughed.
Ellie and Annie offered to clean up the mess of wrapping paper and bows. Parker announced it was time for two munchkins to get ready for bed so Santa could visit.
"Mama Harper and I will read 'The Night before Christmas' to you if you get your baths now."
"Daddy, it's Mama now," Ava said solemnly.
"What, princess?" Parker asked, not sure what she meant.
"Not Mama Harper, just Mama now."
"Yeah, she's my mama," Aiden chimed in.
Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing.
Tears welled up in Harper's blue eyes as they met Parker's green ones. He gestured for her to come to him. Putting his arm around her, he said, "Little one, is that what you want?" He looked at his daughter kindly.
"Yes." Ava ran to Harper and hugged her. Harper leaned down and kissed the top of her daughter's head.
"Ava, you can call me Mama if you want."
"Can I?" Aiden asked, watching the scene unfolding in front of him.
Parker scooped the small boy up in his arms and said, "Of course, you can, Master Aiden." He leaned over, so Aiden could kiss Harper, too.
"Let's go see about those baths now." Harper took Ava's hand, and Parker carried Aiden as they walked up the stairs, leaving the rest of the group watching in awe.
When the children had been bathed, read to, said their prayers, and had been properly kissed and tucked in, Parker and Harper went to their own bedroom for the night. It was their first Christmas Eve together.
"That was
quite a Christmas present, wasn't it?" Parker asked as he sat on the bed, referring to the children's decision to drop the Harper when addressing her.
"The best ever, I'll never forget it."
"It kind of makes what I had in mind pale in comparison."
"What do you mean, what you had in mind? Your ring is beautiful. It was a very touching gesture as well."
"I was planning to give you your real Christmas present, later tonight, after Santa makes his visit to the Christmas tree."
"Really now, and what might that be?"
"Me." He grinned wickedly.
"And that would only make this Christmas even more perfect. I'd say, Santa, we have a date after you make your midnight run."
"So, Mrs. Claus, you'll be waiting for me when I return?"
"I wouldn't be anywhere else."
"Come here, baby, let me give you a preview." She fell into his arms as he kissed her with a promise of things to come.
And that Christmas Eve, her first as Mrs. Parker Bentley, Harper felt more loved than she had since she was a child. He wore nothing but a Santa hat, and that was very provocative to her. As they role-played as Mr. and Mrs. Claus in bed, they both experienced some truly magical moments.
"Tell me, Mrs. Claus, have you kept the home fires burning for this weary old jolly man, this Christmas Eve?" he asked in a deep voice, adding a few ho-ho-hos for effect.
"Oh, yes, Santa Sir. But instead of hot cocoa, I thought you might enjoy a glass of bubbly," she responded as she a poured glass of champagne from the bottle she'd brought up earlier and handed it to him.
"So, Mrs. Clause is feeling naughty; is that what you're telling me? You know what happens to naughty little girls, don't you?"
She looked at him with wide-eyed innocence. "Why, no, Mr. Claus, I don't. Will you leave a lump of coal under my tree?"
He laughed, a deep, throaty sound. "Not for my big, little naughty girl. Oh, no, I have something quite different in mind for you, my bad girl."
"Oh, Santa Sir, what could it be?" she asked, really getting into the spirit of things by this time.
He had sat down on the edge of the bed and effortlessly pulled her over his bare thighs.
"Oh, but Santa Sir, what are you doing?"
"Showing Mrs. Santa what happens to naughty big, little girls. No coal for you."
His hand crept up her thigh, moving the nightgown he hated up. When he came to her lace-clad bottom, it didn't take long for the panties to end up at her ankles. She kicked them off, fully anticipating the spanking he had in store for her.
She felt the cool air in the room from the overhead fan blowing on her skin, and she shivered slightly. As his hand gently caressed her creamy white globes, she shivered again, this time, not from the cold. Drawing circles on her cheeks with his fingers, he slipped to her channel and touched her swollen clit briefly before inserting two fingers into her already wet woman parts. He rammed then hard, causing her to gasp and cry out, "Oh, Santa!"
She heard his deep chuckle as he began to pump in and out for a few minutes before pulling out the fingers and landing a hard smack to her right buttock. She jumped. Another fell and then another. He was rotating between cheeks and then started on her sit spots, raining down on them with stinging smacks. As soon as he'd begun, he stopped and caressed her skin then inserted his fingers again. He grinned as he found what he was seeking.
"Mrs. Claus seems to have liked that," he commented. "The proof is right here, so don't even try to deny it."
By this time, Harper was growing quite needy. She moaned, "Santa Sir, do you think we could, um, you know, now? Have I been properly punished for being naughty and having bubbly instead of cocoa for you on this cold winter's night?"
"Ho, ho, ho, my naughty Mrs. Claus, who is in charge here?"
"Y-you are, Santa Sir, but I-I really want to—"
Her husband interrupted with, "So you do, little one, so you do. Promise to have my cocoa for me, tomorrow night, and we'll do whatever you want."
Harper giggled. She didn't even know he drank cocoa. Was he serious?
"What's it to be? More spanking or cocoa, tomorrow night?" he persisted.
"Hmm, let me think."
Smack! A hard one landed on her thigh, followed by a gentle caress.
"Okay, Santa Sir, you win. If I promise to make you some cocoa tomorrow night, will you pleasure me now?"
He snorted. "Pleasure you? Have you been reading a romance novel?"
"Mr. Claus, please!" She was really in need of him by now, the added spank only stoking the fire more.
"Well, since you said please, I guess I can accommodate you, Mrs. Claus. The playful punishment has made you horny, I take it?"
She growled, "You know darn well it has."
He laughed at her again. In a quick move on his part, she was soon lying on her back on the bed.
"This thing has got to go!" he said as he pulled the nightgown that was bunched around her waist up over her head and discarded it on the floor.
She giggled.
"You know how I feel about that," he murmured as he moved his body onto hers and got ready to kiss her.
"Umm, maybe I like it when you forcefully take it off. Did you ever think of that?" she asked with a sheepish smile.
He rolled his eyes at her just before taking her lips, her neck, her breasts, and finally, he moved to the place where she most needed him.
"Ahhh," she moaned as his tongue touched her swollen button and began to lavish it with love. He didn't let up until she was panting, ready to explode.
When he stopped abruptly, she whimpered, "D-don't—"
"That's right, Mrs. Claus, don't come," he interrupted.
"Why n-not?" she asked, near tears.
"Because Santa said no. That's why."
He moved up and, without another word, he thrust into her hard, barely giving her time to catch her breath before he began moving in and out at a furious pace. When she was able to focus, she began to match his thrusts, arching her hips up and urging him again not to stop.
"I couldn't stop now if I wanted to, baby. And, yes, you can come," he ground out as he continued to pump into her.
The heat was building to volcanic proportions as she kept up the pace with him. She was almost over the edge as the friction between their bodies grew, sweat beading, hearts racing. He grabbed her ass and landed a stinging slap, and she was there! Wave after wave of glorious sensations washed over her.
Her body shuddered in his arms, and, still, he kept at her, pumping, rubbing her bottom, smacking here and there before he, too, cried out, "Ahhhhh, Harper!"
She was still shaking in the aftermath of their encounter.
When he finally rolled off of her, exhausted but sated, he said, "And a merry Christmas to you, too, Mrs. Claus."
Later, as she slept in her lover's arms, he whispered, "Merry Christmas, my only love."
"Don't you want to play, Mama?" Parker looked over at her from the board game he and the children had going on New Year's Eve.
"I'm content to sit here with my cup of cocoa and cookies and watch you."
He smiled and went back to helping Ava and Aiden play their game.
They are my family, and they are perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday. I love them all so much, she thought.
When the clock actually struck midnight, Parker pulled her into his arms and kissed her. For once, Harper didn't care that everyone else was watching. After all, it was the start of a new year.
"Goodnight, everyone, I'm taking my wife to bed now." Parker chuckled as Harper turned beet red from the roots of her hair all the way down to her toes and everyone else just shook their heads. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs.
"I couldn't resist; you aren't angry with me, are you?" he asked as he deposited her on the bed.
"No, I'm not angry. I'm getting used to all the teasing, by now."
"So, since I'm not in the doghouse, does that mean I get to ravis
h you for the first time this year? It's a whole new year now."
"Ravish away. I'm not going anywhere."
"Want to take a bubble bath?"
"Can you do it quietly?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"We tend to get a tad bit noisy splashing around, if I recall."
"Harper, we're all the way down the hall from everyone else. And the bathroom is even farther away. I don't think you need to worry that anyone is going to hear us. They all know what we came up here to do, anyway. Remember?"
"How could I forget?"
"And we are married. Have you forgotten that fact? It's not like I'm taking advantage of my beautiful young nanny."
"Now, that's an angle we haven't tried—"
"What?"
"We could pretend I'm still your nanny and you're the hot, sexy boss—more role-playing."
"Oh, brother."
"Kiss me, husband; I'm tired of talking."
"You? Tired of talking? I'd better take advantage of that—fast."
"Parker!"
"Kidding, baby, just kidding. Now, shut up and kiss me," he said as he leaned his handsome face toward hers.
Chapter 12
There had been no further contact from the Laramie family, although Parker wasn't convinced that was a good thing.
Bonnie Jameson called Harper at the office one morning. "How was your holiday?"
"It was great, how about yours?"
"Good, we stayed home this year, so it was quiet. You went to Hilton Head, didn't you?"
"Yes, we took everybody, mothers, staff; it was great."
"Parker has always treated his staff well. That was one thing he and Aileen agreed on. I'm sorry; I shouldn't talk about her to you."
"It's all right, Bonnie. Parker and I have no secrets from each other. I know all about his marriage to Aileen. After all, she was the mother of his two children."
"And she was a good mother; I'll give her that. Anyway, the reason I'm calling is to ask if you'd like to meet me for lunch, today. I thought we could go to the Riva. Have you been there?"
Her Convenient Dom (Dominant Men Book 2) Page 17
