“Anyone ever say you need to loosen up?” Seb chuckles as Adam gasps when he pretends to drop the couch. “You’re in LA now, bud—you can shake all that New York ice off and be one of the cool guys.”
Adam rolls his eyes at Seb’s favorite line, and my heart squeezes when bright blue eyes meet mine and the grin I love hitches to one side of his gorgeous face. Everything always fades into nothingness when he looks at me, and when he smiles, the world falls away, leaving just me and him and the distant racket of Seb’s teasing.
“Fucking hell!” Kate rolls her eyes with a deep sigh, shaking her head at Seb. “Does he take anything seriously? Ever?”
A chuckle is all the answer I can give her as we both watch four men tackle one piece of furniture into Adam’s and my little beachfront haven.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy,” I say, and I mean it. Wholeheartedly. Adam is my Prince Charming. This is what I’ve always wanted. In fact, it’s a better version of the fairy tale I’d imagined for myself. It involves compromise and decisions that really do require the deepest, most resilient kind of love.
“Good,” she breathes, a clear note of sadness tinging her voice.
“I’m sorry, I don’t want to gloat,” I sigh, wrapping my arm around her.
“It’s okay, Mills. You didn’t cancel the wedding last minute and…whatever…fuck him,” she grits out with a shrug as she heads out to the hall to grab another of the lighter boxes we can manage.
“Dick by name and dick by nature.” My statement earns me a small smile and an “Amen” from her.
I could kill Richard for what he did to her, and if I ever see him again, I can’t say I won’t. I’m sure Adam and Seb would help me hide the body too.
What an asshole!
“Everything happens for a reason, and look at us,” she sings, putting the box she’s carrying down on top of Adam’s. “This is a fresh start with new homes, a new office, and the beach on our doorstep, or in your case, you have your own private strip…”
“What’s mine is yours!”
With our stack of boxes moved, I start opening them to get the essentials unpacked. Figures the first box has the champagne glasses. It’s a sixth sense.
“We have glasses—let’s see just how much of a legend that man of yours really is.” Kate pulls the fridge open, adding, “But of course, he stocked up good! Take your pick, Mills.”
Assessing the different bottles of bubbly in the fridge, I pick the bright bottle of Veuve as my belly swoops at the sight of the Krug in the back. That one will only be opened when everyone leaves. It’s Adam’s and my champagne. From the jingle text to our snowball fight…
“Let’s crack it open and celebrate!” She takes the bottle and starts removing the foil.
Laughing, I pull a couple of champagne flutes wrapped in bubble wrap out of the box and unwrap them.
Popping the bottle open, she fills both our glasses until they’re overflowing and our laughter fills the room.
“Your toast, sweetie,” she tells me.
Before I can open my mouth, Adam says, “To new starts. New homes. And happy endings.”
Lifting our glasses, we toast, clinking our glasses to the bottle he’s holding.
We take a sip, and just as Adam is about to drink from the bottle, Seb comes in complaining about how we’ve officially broken him.
“Wait, where’s mine?” he asks, and in reply, Adam shakes up what’s left in the bottle, spraying him with it to the sound of laughter echoing around us. True happiness.
Having another sip, I toast to myself, To rewritten fairy tales.
One year later…
It seemed only fitting that for our first official Christmas together, we spent it back where it all began, at our little cottage in the middle of buttfuck England—as Adam likes to call it. He insisted that Seb come with us so I could continue my traditions with my brother, and damn if that didn’t make me fall for him even more.
Looking around the festively decorated cottage, I can’t help but smile at how much has changed in the last year. Adam and I split our time between LA and New York. Seb and I go to Santa Monica Pier on the first Saturday of every month. Kate’s no longer getting married to her dick of an ex. Sweet Vine Co. is officially launched and open for business, and business is better than ever. Although this was a concern to the normal we created for ourselves, Adam’s father has handed over the reins of the company to him. And still…life is good. Better than that, it’s great!
Turning to glance over to the kitchen, I smile as the man himself walks over to me with a cup of hot cocoa in an “I’m on Santa’s Naughty List” mug. Dressed in the Christmas sweater that I bought him last year and a Santa hat, you’d think he was as holiday obsessed as me. Leaning down to drop a kiss on my lips, he pulls back and says, “I’ve got one more gift for you.”
“What?” I scrunch my nose in confusion. We’ve already opened all the presents. It’s the first thing I do when I race down the stairs on Christmas morning—that and coffee.
Seb’s gone out to explore the little village, leaving Adam to deal with my overexcitement. I watch as he makes his way to the tree and gently pulls our newest ornament off. It’s a little glittery red telephone box. He gave it to me when we decorated the tree, saying seeing it on our tree would always bring a smile to his face and a twitch to his dick.
Of course, he’s still corny as that first text he sent me a little over a year ago.
Walking toward me, he hands me the ornament, laughing at my confused expression as I twirl it around in my hand.
“Open it,” he says, pointing to the little hinge in the middle that I hadn’t noticed before. I flick it open and gasp. Sat in the center on a red velvet cushion is a beautiful vintage diamond ring with a ruby on either side of the sparkling stone. It’s stunning.
Adam sinks down onto one knee in front of me, and my breath catches in my throat as time stands still. This can’t be real.
“Bit of a role reversal—usually when telephone boxes are involved, you’re the one on your knees,” he jokes with a waggle of his eyebrows, and I feel my face flushing as I giggle.
He takes the ornament turned ring box from my hand and slips the ring out, leaving the box on the floor.
“Amelia Harding, you came into my life when I needed you the most. You showed me that there is so much more to life than just breathing and being successful. You’re sweet, funny, kind, terrible at jokes, obsessed with Christmas, a saint in the kitchen, a sinner in the bedroom, and the most incredible human I’ve ever met. The thought of not spending the rest of my life with you is too much to bear. Would you do me the honor of becoming my Mrs. Claus forever? Will you marry me?”
The tears are falling freely now, and no words will come, so I just nod and throw myself at him. I’m overwhelmed. All of my dreams are coming true, and I’m tied up in knots. This man is my whole world, and knowing he wants me to be his wife, that’s everything. It makes my heart the fullest it’s ever been, to the point where my chest threatens to burst.
Pulling his face to mine, I kiss him with every fiber of my being, telling him everything I want to say with my kiss.
Adam pulls back and lifts my left hand up so he can slide the beautiful silver ring onto my finger. It’s truly unique and so very me. I couldn’t have chosen anything more perfect myself.
“It’s my grandmother’s ring. Well, your ring now.” He beams at me with his thumb stroking over my finger. “She wouldn’t have given it to anyone else. I know it’s only a ring, but it represents a promise and commitment that led to this moment, and in sixty years, if we’re as happy as they were…” With a slight pause, he presses a kiss to my finger before tucking my hair behind my ears and cupping my face. He draws me closer to him. “Even half as happy, I’ll be the luckiest man in the world.”
I can barely breathe with the way he’s looking at me, as though I am his entire universe.
Pulling him back to me, I cradle his face in my hands, and as he leans
down to rest his forehead against mine, I smile. “I love you, Adam Cohen, and I think we’re going to be the happiest we could ever be…maybe more.”
With a nod, he brushes his lips over my forehead while I savor the moment and my man.
Breaking the contact, I look him in the eyes before standing on tiptoes and kissing him with every ounce of my love and affection for him. With all I have inside of me. And still it’s not enough to show him everything he means to me. He’s given me everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more, and the only thing I can give him in return is the promise to care for him the way that he cherishes me. With every inch of his body. Every beat of his heart. Every echo of his soul.
“Here’s to forever,” he whispers with a nip to my lips before ghosting his way to my ear. “And ever.” With a murmur, he traces his hands down my body to the hem of my sweater dress and works it up my body slowly, leaving me in nothing but my red lacy underwear.
Without warning he throws me over his shoulder and takes me up to our room, throwing me on the bed with a groan when the barely there lingerie slips, exposing my breasts.
“You’re so damn beautiful, Mrs. Claus,” he rumbles, standing at the foot of the bed.
All I can do is smile breathlessly in return as he pulls his sweater over his head along with the T-shirt he’s wearing beneath it. And as I watch him undress for me, I am burning with a need that surpasses anything I’ve ever felt.
Pulling me to the edge of the bed by my ankle, he rids me of my panties and my bra. His fingers trace over every line of my body as he lifts me up his body and sits me astride his thighs.
“Naughty or nice, spitfire,” he murmurs into my ear before kissing down the column of my neck.
Rising onto my knees, I crush my lips to his, my hand stroking down his chest to his erection. As he licks into my mouth, I fist his dick, guiding him to my entrance while he holds me to him, and I lower myself onto him. The way he stretches me, filling me completely until I might burst at the seams, is almost more than I can bear.
“What do you want, Amelia?” he asks, hands molding to my jaw as he thrusts deeper into me.
“You, Adam, always you,” I moan in return.
“Any way and any how.”
“Forever and ever…” And it will never be enough.
I can’t get enough of him. I’ll never have my fill of Adam.
And knowing he’s mine forever…that’s the best Christmas gift of all.
Want to know more about Kate and Seb?
Read on for the prologue of L2HU.
L2HU
Prologue
Kate
Hmm...everything is perfect, I sigh to myself looking around the rooftop venue.
It’s stunning with floor to ceiling windows and a three-sixty view of LA at its most beautiful moment. The sun is getting ready to set and the yellowing light hits the crystal chandeliers just right so that rainbows ping in all directions from between the leafy arrangements hanging overhead.
Perfect.
Or it is until I get the text from Amelia on the floor below where she’s getting ready.
Mills: Heeeeeelp!
I know she’s freaking out about having hers and her fiancé’s family in the same room. They’ve left it to the last minute to introduce the two, and like I pre-empted, she’s beyond nervous about it now. A part of me is on tenterhooks about the entire thing.
Weddings and Kate don’t go together. They used to at one point, but that changed the day my fiancé decided he didn’t want to marry me anymore. A week before our wedding. I’m getting all clammy thinking about it even though I told myself I wouldn’t. It was a lot easier said than done.
Knocking on her door, I take a deep breath before I head inside. She looks as beautiful now as she did at the bridal store when she tried on this dress for tonight. The sculpted skirt finishes just above her knee with the top emphasizing her growing baby bump and generous bust. Demure, but sexy. It’s perfect for Amelia.
“If you’re that nervous about it, why are you getting married?”
“Shut up, Sebby, you’re not helping. Besides, I’m not nervous about marrying Adam.”
Her brother gets up from where he’s sitting on the chaise by the window. Hazel eyes flicker to mine with a roll when I tell her, “It’s going to be fine. Take a deep breath and—”
“Hi, Kate.” The way he says my name is enough to make me beg the universe for patience. A lot of patience when he gives me one of his grins—the one that tells me he’s up to something. Sebastian always has something up his sleeve. He’s like a magician with pranks and stupid jokes. The very definition of man-child.
“Can you fix my dress?” Amelia turns to show me the loose neck ties of her dress.
Replicating the bow that the seamstress showed me how to tie into the statement accent of the backless number, I can sense her worry. Of the two of us, she’s usually the cool, calm and collected one. Nothing fazes her.
“It’s going to be okay. I’ve made sure that your parents are sitting at opposite ends of the table to Adam’s and I’ve told the waiting staff about booze control. You’re all good, babe.”
“I hope so. I don’t want anything to ruin tonight, it’ll set the tone for tomorrow and I don’t want my wedding to be about anything other than Adam and me. No drama.”
“But you still have time to back out,” Sebastian spins her to face him. “Who actually gets married nowadays anyway?”
“Me,” she blows out a breath at the same time as I snap, “Your sister.”
Does he actually think that she can turn around and walk out of here as if it’s no big deal? Is it a man thing?
With a nod, Seb takes a step back, towards the door at the low knock. He looks happy enough for her as he tells her, “You look pretty...even if you’re knocked up.”
That’s something I can’t argue. With her red hair pinned to the side in loose waves, Amelia looks like a fitting Hollywood siren from the old times, and that cute little bump she’s finally sprouted actually suits her. From behind you can't tell she’s pregnant but from the front and sides, she’s got the maternity catalogue look going on.
“Adam’s definitely a lucky man.” I’ve barely finished when the door opens and her fiancé walks in with his parents peeking into the room behind him. “We’re going to make sure everyone is in the right seats and that everything is as perfect as I left it.”
“Thanks,” Amelia sighs, already looking up at Adam with all the hearts in her eyes while he cradles her rounded belly.
I’m glad she’s one of the lucky people to find the right person and to be so deeply in love with them. It’s good to know that true love does exist, it’s not all lies and last minute ditches.
“What’s crawled up your ass?” Seb asks as we take the lift up to the top floor.
Ugh. “Don’t talk about my arse.”
“It was a figure of speech, but now…”
If he wasn’t Amelia’s brother I would’ve poked his eyes out by now with the way he’s tilting his head to the side, obviously ogling my bum. But...no drama. Instead of carrying on the to and fro, I press the button for the door to close one too many times and turn to face him.
“Nice...ah…” he gestures at his chest before fixing the lapels of his navy suit jacket and the open collar of his shirt.
The thing about Seb is that he’s fucking gorgeous with his perfectly groomed dirty blond hair and lightly stubbled chiseled face. Even his nose is the perfect size. Sharp but tipped up slightly to make his cupid’s bow even more pronounced and his lips fuller. Past the six-foot mark, he’s got at least three inches on me even with my sky-high Louboutins.
“Are you checking me out Miss prim and proper?” he smirks, lips tipping to one side to show off his one odd feature—the dimple on the right side of his face, just like his sister’s.
“No.”
“Sure. Okay.”
“You need to get over yourself. Contrary to your belief, you are not God’s gift t
o women.”
“Mhmm.” The grin on his smug face doesn’t budge until the doors ping open and it falters the slightest bit.
“Don’t do anything stupid tonight,” I grumble at him, spinning to walk out of the lift.
Immediately, my heart starts to race at the sight of the group of people gathered around the small cake table in the far corner of the space. There are a couple of sniggers here and there but for the most part people look a mixture of baffled and disgusted.
I don’t even need to ask what the hell he’s done, because knowing Seb, he’s played some stupid prank or…
Oh. My. God.
If it wasn’t so fucking inappropriate, I’d actually laugh at the monstrosity sitting beside the groom’s cake. People must know that I’m about to blow a fuse or something because they start walking away in all directions.
“What the fuck?” I slap his hands away as he tries to grab the dick cake from the table. “To have and to hold? You realize getting married isn’t wanking someone off, right?”
“Again, it was figurative.”
He’s gone too far. Seb always goes too far, but today of all days to do something this stupid. Amelia will be mortified—hell, I’m embarrassed on her behalf and every other woman in this room that’s probably wishing they could thump him one. This is all the guests will talk about, the handjob cake at the rehearsal dinner.
“It was one request. A simple request might I add,” I grit up at him as I pick up the cake. The thing is heavy enough that I almost drop it. “Do not ruin tonight. One thing, Sebastian! One. Fucking. Job!”
Trying to take the cake from me, he touches my hand and I’m so mad that my first instinct is to swat it away. The cake board flips toward me and creamed dick covers my chest, splatting to my feet.
We’re both frozen for the smallest fraction of a second. The periphery of my vision fraying red and all he can say when I glare up at him is, “Boob job.”
“I hate you.”
Love 2 Jingle U: A Sweet Vine Christmas Romance Page 16
