He drew her into his arms. “You could have done anything on your weekend off, and you chose to do all of this for us?”
“I got a little carried away, didn’t I?”
“No, babe. It’s awesome. You’re awesome. I’ve never had a real Christmas like this. I didn’t even know what to get, and you…” He pressed his lips to hers. “Thank you.”
“I definitely went a little overboard,” she said as they started unpacking the bags. “Before we got together, I was dreading the holidays without Gram. I thought if I was lucky, maybe I’d get a text from you, if you hadn’t already given up on me by then.” She was talking fast, putting packages on the table. “But then you burst into my life with your decorated truck and marshmallows and hand-holding and kisses and made me fall in love with you, and since it’s our first Christmas together and I wanted it to be perfect for you, I—” Her head spun toward him, eyes panicked. “Ohmygod! I didn’t mean to say that.” She pushed to her feet and paced as he tried to find his voice, her confession singing through his head. “We haven’t been dating long. I messed up. Girls aren’t supposed to say it first, are they? I’m sor—”
He hauled her into his arms, silencing her with the firm press of his lips. His heart thundered in his chest. You love me. Please don’t take it back. He intensified the kiss, savoring her confession. When their lips parted, he kept her close. She was looking at him like he was the answer to all her prayers, which was so fucking fantastic that he wanted to holler it from the rooftops, because he knew without a doubt that she was the answer to his.
“I love you, too, Roni. I’ve felt it for a while, and I don’t know or care who is supposed to say it first. The only thing that matters is that we’re in this together. You—beautiful, talented, big-hearted Veronica Wescott, who I have thought about every single day for the past six months—love me, despite all my faults and my ugly past. I love you so much, baby, I ache with it.”
“I love all of you, Quincy, but what I feel is so much bigger than those three words. I love that we understand each other and what we’ve each had to overcome. I love how we support each other. How when I hear your voice, my heart goes wild, and when you reach for my hand, that simple touch fills me with so much happiness, I want to live in those moments.” Tears dampened her eyes, and she said, “When you’re studying and I’m reading or working on choreography, even though we’re just sitting on a couch or lying on a bed doing our own thing, we’re doing it together, and it feels so good, like I’ve finally found the place where I belong.”
“You have, baby, and so have I. Let’s make this our best Christmas ever.”
“I have a better idea.” She went up on her toes and kissed him, and then she picked up a string of lights and said, “Let’s make this our best Christmas yet, only to be outdone by next year’s.”
And that was exactly what they did, winding colorful lights around the tree and hanging the ornaments they’d bought, stealing kisses in between. They strung lights over the kitchen alcove, around the balcony doors, and around the bedroom doorframes. They decorated the bookcase with garland and a few ceramic holiday knickknacks. Roni had thought of everything, including a red runner for the table, a red-and-white tree skirt with silver glitter, and a wreath hanger for the door from the shop.
Quincy went into the bedroom to get the bag of throw pillows and saw that she’d already hung up lights around the headboard. She must have done it before he’d gotten off work, which made sense, since she’d met him downstairs and they’d gone straight to the tree farm. As he grabbed the bag of pillows, he noticed a light-blue frame on the nightstand and picked it up. It had the year written in white across the top and held a picture of them kissing on the slide the night of the scavenger hunt. God, he loved her.
When he returned to the living room, she’d turned off the overhead lights. The Christmas tree shimmered with color, as did the other lights in the room. Roni was placing two stocking hangers, which looked like presents, on the edge of a bookshelf.
“Can you grab the stockings?”
“For a kiss.” He leaned in and kissed her.
He set down the bag of pillows and picked up the stockings. She’d had their names embroidered on them. She was full of surprises. As he handed her a stocking, he said, “Thank you for putting up the lights in the bedroom, and I love the picture.”
“It’s one of my favorites,” she said as he gave her the other stocking.
“You’re making this place a real home.”
“Is that okay?” she asked softly.
“It’s better than okay.”
They hung up the stockings, and she stepped back, admiring them, and said, “There.”
“Perfect.” He slipped his arm around her as they turned to take it all in and said, “One more thing, beautiful.”
“The pillows,” she said. “I almost forgot.”
She was so cute. He’d meant the star, but she was so happy, flouncing around as she placed red-and-white pillows on the couch and a white one shaped like a snowman on the orange chair. When she stepped back to admire them, he grabbed her by the waist from behind and lifted her off her feet. She squealed as he put her on his shoulders.
“Quincy!” Their laughter filled the room. She tried to lean over his head to kiss him, which only made them laugh harder. “What am I doing up here?”
“You have a star to put up.” He carried her to the kitchen, where the star lay next to the second wreath they’d made. They were going to hang that one at her place.
“How could I forget the star?” she said as he handed it to her and went to the tree. “Our artificial tree was only about three feet tall. I’ve never done this before.” She leaned forward, reaching for the top branch.
“Careful, babe.” He grabbed the trunk near the top, bending it forward so she could put the star on.
“This is so exciting. I wish we could take a picture.”
“Your wish is my command.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and took a picture of her holding the star and another as she put it on the top of the tree.
He set her down so he could connect the plug for the star, and she took pictures of him doing it. Then they stood arm in arm, admiring their tree. “Baby, that’s the most beautiful tree I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s because it’s ours.” She looked around the room and said, “I’ve always liked Christmas, but it’s never felt like this.”
“This room is full of love, babe, and that makes everything better.” His arms circled her. “You make everything better. I love everything about you, and it feels incredible to say that and not have to hold back.”
“I hope you never hold anything back from me.” A spark of something dark and sexy glimmered in her eyes. “I got you one more surprise to prove it.” She ran her fingers down the center of his chest all the way to the waist of his jeans, sending heat to his groin. “Give me a few minutes to put it together.”
“That sounds promising.”
She looked over her shoulder, cheeks pink, and said, “Stay there.”
RONI HURRIED INTO the bathroom, her nerves flaring as she washed up. Quincy was on the phone with his back to her when she slipped into the bedroom to change. She pulled out the holiday lingerie she’d bought with Angela that would turn her into a human Christmas gift. Or rather, a naked human gift-wrapped with a red satin bow. She opened the package with trembling hands, placing the two long strips of satin on the bed.
Oh Lord.
This had seemed like a much better idea when Angela was egging her on.
Inhaling deeply, which did nothing to calm her nerves, she stripped off her clothes. She picked up the shorter satin strip, trying to remember how to wear the darn thing, and looked at the packaging for directions.
There were none.
Great.
She wrapped the satin around her chest twice, crossing the strips diagonally over her breasts, and tied them in the middle. That wasn’t so hard, but the other, longer strip w
ould be trickier. She threaded it up between her breasts, under the other ribbon, and over her shoulder. Then she reached between her legs to grab the end, but it kept swinging out of reach like a freaking leaf blowing in the wind. She threaded more satin over her shoulder and tried again to grab it.
“You okay in there?” Quincy asked through the closed bedroom door.
She froze. “Don’t come in! I’m fine.” She unthreaded the strip and laid it on the bed. Then she lowered herself onto her back on top of the satin strip. She grabbed the bottom of it and the other end, which was over her shoulder, and wiggled off the bed holding both, bent over. She caught sight of herself in the mirror and stopped cold.
Holy crap. I look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Was she really doing this?
She looked in the mirror again and cringed, turning away. It had looked so sexy in the store, and she wanted to do this so badly for Quincy, to let him know she was his through and through. She was not going to let the ribbon rob either of them of the special gift.
She straightened her spine, holding the top piece draped over her shoulder, and threaded it down between her breasts under the other satin strip, then fed it down between her breasts again. She pulled the bottom end up between her legs, covering her private parts, and ran it up the center of her body, over the ribbon covering her breasts, and threaded it down behind that ribbon, then tied the two ends into a big red bow. She looked in the mirror and could not believe she was standing there wearing nothing but two strips of satin. Her chest and cheeks were bright pink. But she was not going to let that dissuade her from turning on her incredibly sexy boyfriend with a gift he’d never expect.
She fluffed her hair, trying to ignore the feel of the ribbon riding her butt crack as she put on the skimpy, see-through red kimono she’d bought, and closed her eyes for one brief moment to try to calm down.
As if anything could work that miracle.
She drew upon every trick she’d ever learned about calming stage fright, which was nothing like setting out to seduce the man she loved, and threw a silent prayer up to the powers that be that she wouldn’t pass out from nervousness.
She grabbed her phone, queued up “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt on repeat, and did her best to strut out of the bedroom. Quincy was standing by the bookcase. He looked up from the book he was holding, and it fell from his fingers as she slinked toward him. Flames ignited between them as she twirled around. She held his predatory gaze, swaying her hips and shoulders, opening the kimono, and shimmying as it dropped to the floor.
“Holy…” he said huskily as she put her hand on his stomach, dragging her fingers along his side and back as she pranced around him, and then twirled.
“You li—”
“I fucking love.” He hauled her over his shoulder and carried her into the bedroom.
“Quincy! Wait, I have a dance for you!”
He laid her on the bed and took off his shirt, coming down over her. “Devour now. Dance later.” His eyes bored into her as he untied the bows.
Oh, how she adored him! He made the pesky outfit worth the trouble.
“You’re so fucking sexy.” He captured her mouth in a ravenous kiss, futilely trying to tug the satin free without breaking their kiss. He tugged and yanked, frustration rolling off him as he tore his mouth away and growled, “What the ever-loving hell? I need scissors.”
She giggled and began unwrapping herself. “Take your clothes off.”
He pushed from the bed, getting naked in three seconds flat, and reclaimed her mouth. His erection rested against her center, thick and enticing. She wanted to do so many things: slide down and feel him filling her until they were one, taunt him until he was begging her to make love to him, and this—allow his magnificent mouth to make her shudder and shake with pleasure. But tonight was supposed to be about him, so as his hands roamed over her body, she tipped her head back, arching beneath him so he’d rise. She knew her man so well. He was a passionate, caring lover and always gave her room to move. She rose, too, and pushed his chest, taking him down on his back. He reached for her ass as she straddled his legs, kissing his chest, teasing his nipples with her fingers and tongues. His cock twitched eagerly beneath her.
“Oh, yeah, baby, that feels good.” He grabbed her hips, tugging her forward. “I need my mouth on you.”
Her body ignited. “I have a better idea.”
“You want to fuck me, baby?” He squeezed her hips, lifting his beneath her.
She loved his dirty talk, and he knew it. He was a master at it, whispering such naughty things he could get her wet without ever touching her. “I want to love you with my mouth, and I want you to love me with yours.”
He made a guttural sound, and she wanted to repeat what she’d said just to hear him do it again. She shifted and turned, straddling his face, and wrapped her hand around his cock. He grabbed her hips, lowering her center to his mouth, as she took him to the back of her throat. They’d explored each other’s bodies so often, they knew them by heart. Some nights they made love multiple times, and others they just lay in bed talking and kissing. But tonight, especially after they’d declared their love, she wanted everything.
He moaned against her, and the sound vibrated up her core, heightening her arousal. She quickened her efforts, stroking him faster, sucking harder, and then teasing the tip, making him moan and thrust.
“Christ, baby, you’re gonna make me come.”
He was always so careful not to let himself go, but she wanted to feel that passion, to taste his arousal. She wanted him to lose his mind.
“Good,” she said around his length, earning that sinful sound again.
He ate at her more rigorously, bringing his fingers into play, teasing and taunting the way he knew drove her mad. She matched his efforts by quickening her own, and soon they were both moaning and thrusting, on the verge of release. He hit the spot that sent heat searing through her, and she cried out around his cock as her climax engulfed her. She cradled his balls the way she knew he loved, and he followed her over the edge. His hips jerked and thrust as she swallowed everything he had to give, and they stayed there, loving each other through the very last shudder.
Then he reached for her, bringing them face-to-face, and rubbed her jaw, taking her in a sweet, sensual kiss. Her body tingled and hummed, and she ran her hand over his hip and grabbed his butt, pressing them together. As always happened, their bodies took over, turning that kiss to a feverish devouring, and within minutes he was hard and she was aching for him.
He sheathed his length, and as he lowered himself to his back, guiding her over him and onto his shaft, he said, “I want to watch you come,” sending heat raging through her. She lowered her lips to his, her hair tumbling around them as they found their rhythm. He tangled his fingers in her hair, and she freaking loved that possessive hold. He intensified their kisses, thrusting harder, and moved one hand to the top of her ass, pressing down as he thrust up. The pleasures engulfing her were overwhelming, and she rose up, arching her back, using his chest for leverage as she rode him. He kept one hand on her ass, the other teasing her nipple.
“So fucking sexy,” he gritted out.
He sat up, covering her breast with his mouth and sucking so hard, her orgasm crashed over her, pummeling her in erotic waves of heat and ice, sending her up, up, up, then careening down, until she collapsed, panting and shuddering against him. His strong arms circled her as he shifted her back to the mattress, showering her with kisses and whispering in between every touch of his lips. “Love you…never get enough of you…so beautiful, baby.”
When her eyes fluttered open and his face came into focus, he laced their hands together and made love to her until they were both blissfully sated and too worn out to move.
A long while later he took care of the condom, and they lay together, nose to nose, kissing and whispering, the lights on the headboard casting colors around them and “Santa Baby” still on repeat in the living room.
“You’ve already granted me more wishes than I ever knew I had.”
Chapter Twenty-One
RONI AND ANGELA sat across the table in the break room of the studio, going over the final details for the production with Elisa. It had been three weeks since Thanksgiving, and everything in Roni’s life felt like it was falling into place. She and Quincy were stronger than ever, and the Winter Showcase was coming together beautifully. Elisa had met with Gemma and Crystal the week after the holiday, and Roni and Angela had since met with them twice about the costumes. Not only were they able to save the families money, but they were also willing to do fittings for each of the girls. As a bonus, Roni had gotten closer to Gemma and Crystal. They texted often and had even met for lunch a few times.
“You two have done a phenomenal job, and with the gals at Princess for a Day on board to make the costumes, I think this is going to be our best showcase yet,” Elisa said.
Angela and Roni exchanged excited glances.
“You girls work so well together. I’m proud of you both.” Elisa closed her notebook, her eyes shifting to Roni as she said, “Your grandmother would be very proud of you for the way you’ve triumphed since her passing.”
“Thank you,” Roni said. “I hope so.”
“Of course she would. She was proud of you for everything you’ve ever done,” Angela reminded her.
“And she’d be even prouder if you added a certain solo to our lineup,” Elisa said with a hopeful glint in her eyes.
“Maybe one day, but I’m not ready yet. I’m just getting used to dancing in front of Quincy.” She and Angela had been working longer hours to prepare for the showcase, and Quincy had wanted to know every little thing about the productions and the dancing she used to do. He loved to watch her dance so much, one night she’d surprised him when he’d come to see her on her dinner break, and she’d performed one of her favorite dances just for him. She enjoyed dancing for him so much, she’d given him several more private shows at his apartment, many of which had ended halfway through with them naked and wrapped in each other’s arms.
The Gritty Truth Page 24
