by Penelope Sky
My phone started to ring.
It was Damien.
I answered right away. “Hey.” It’d been a few days since the conversation with my father, and that meant Damien knew about it.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m at home watching TV.”
“I just went by your apartment, and you weren’t home.”
I didn’t even realize what I’d just said. “Sorry…I meant I’m at Heath’s.”
Damien didn’t respond to what I said. “Wanted to swing by and talk to you. Can I come over?”
“Uh…sure.” It was Heath’s house, but I didn’t think he would mind. I gave Damien the address.
“Be there soon.”
I whipped up something to eat in the kitchen, making enough leftovers so Heath would have dinner whenever he came home. The doorbell rang throughout the house when Damien was on the front doorstep.
I walked down the stairs, undid all the locks for the vault door, and then got to the normal ones on the outside.
Damien stared at the two-foot-thick metal doors, his eyebrow raised like he was surprised by what he saw. “He doesn’t fuck around, does he?”
I shook my head.
He came inside and watched me pull everything shut before the mechanisms loudly clicked into place. There was a TV on the wall, showing the different camera feeds of the property. Damien looked around and followed me upstairs to the second floor. “Is he home?”
“No. He’s at work.” I moved to the pan on the stove and plated the food. “Hungry?”
He eyed the pan with interest. “I mean, if you’ve got it ready…”
I smiled and handed him the plate. “Wine okay?”
“Sure.” He carried it to the dining table and sat down.
I opened a bottle of wine then sat across from him.
“Wow, pretty good,” he said after his first bite.
“Why the tone of surprise?”
“Last time I checked, all you could make was a frozen pizza.”
“Well, Heath has taught me some things.” I grabbed the bottle of wine from the center of the table, and that was when I realized the ring was on my finger. Thankfully, Damien’s gaze was on his food, so I discreetly put my hand under the table and pulled the ring off my finger, slipping it into my pocket. I hated hiding the ring, like it was a secret to be ashamed of, but Damien was finally in a better place, and I didn’t want to provoke his wrath. “So, what brings you here?”
“Do I need a reason?”
“You never stop by without one, so yes.”
He kept eating, holding his fork and knife correctly. “Dad told me about his conversation with Heath.”
“I figured.”
“And that Heath would step down.”
“Yes.” I lifted my gaze and looked at him.
He chewed as he stared at me. “I’m surprised he agreed.”
“Dad didn’t give him a choice.”
He took another bite and chewed slowly.
“If Dad can get on board, I don’t see why—”
“I said I would try. I will.” He cut into his food and kept eating. “Actually, I was going to ask if you wanted to come over for Christmas morning.”
“Me? Or me and Heath?”
He stared at me for a long time, like he had to think about it. “Both of you.”
That was music to my ears, finally allowed to wear the man I loved on my arm. Because if I had to choose, I wasn’t going to leave Heath alone on Christmas while I spent time with my family. We were a set. “Thank you.”
He shrugged in response. “I know if he’s not invited, I won’t get to see you.”
“And by inviting him, you just made me very happy.”
He grabbed his glass and took a drink. “Dad handled the whole thing a lot better than I expected.”
“Because he understands what Heath means to me.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“And I wouldn’t ask him to look past the situation if this wasn’t the only man I want to be with.”
He swirled his glass and took another drink.
“How have you been?”
“Fine.”
“That’s it? I figured you’d be really happy.”
“I am,” he said. “I just… This whole thing with Heath is a lot.”
“All you have to do is accept him. I’m not asking you to be his brother.”
“I know. It’s just weird. I hoped Dad would lay down the law and get rid of him…but guess not.”
“I know you don’t mean that,” I whispered. “Because I would be really devastated…”
A guilty look came into his eyes, like he did feel bad about what he’d said.
“When do you think you guys will get married?” Just as I finished the sentence, the door downstairs closed.
Damien heard it too, because he went rigid.
Heath didn’t usually come home until much later, so that was a surprise.
His heavy footfalls became louder as he headed up the stairs. My back was to him so I couldn’t see, but Damien’s serious expression told me that it was him. Heath opened the cabinet, got a plate, and scooped the food onto it. Then he came to the table, joining us. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey.” Once he was beside me, I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. It wasn’t the way I would usually greet him, but I felt awkward doing anything else with my brother sitting across from me.
Damien kept eating, not looking at him.
Heath didn’t say anything either, his eyes focused on his meal.
The men preferred silence to forced conversation.
“Damien.” I said his name quietly, giving him a nudge.
He stared at me, his eyes hostile.
I gave him a kick under the table.
He kicked me back and stayed silent.
Heath grabbed the wine bottle and filled his glass. “Damien. What do you think of Catalina’s cooking?” When my brother couldn’t bring himself to break the ice, Heath stepped up.
Damien took a while to answer, like he wanted to resist. “Good. Surprisingly good.”
“I taught her how to make this. And it’s better than mine.” Heath ate like he was starving, always scooping all of his food into his mouth like he was in a rush.
Damien went quiet again, picking at his food. “I like your front door.”
“A tank couldn’t get through it,” Heath said, his elbows on the table.
“So, are you living with him now?” Damien asked, looking at me.
“Not technically,” I answered. “But yeah, I guess. I mean, I like his place a lot more than mine—and not because of the door.”
Damien finished his food, so he sat with his elbows on the table, his fingertips at his lips.
“Tell Heath why you came over here.” I had to hold both of their hands and get them to talk, like they were boys who didn’t get along on the playground.
Damien gave a quiet sigh. “Wanted to invite you to Christmas.” He cleared his throat. “Both of you.”
Heath raised his gaze and looked at Damien, like he’d just extended a lifeline. “Thank you.”
Damien still wouldn’t look at him. “I guess I should get going…” He started to rise.
“Sit your ass down,” I said as I pointed my fork at him. “It’s rude to leave a meal when other people aren’t finished.”
“I’m a pretty rude guy, so…” He shrugged.
“I’ll stab this fork into your eye, alright?” I moved the fork back to the plate.
Damien stayed put and finally looked at Heath for the first time. “When are you going to quit?”
I imagined their conversations went much better when I wasn’t there, even if their discussions were hostile. But in peacetime, they had no idea how to behave around each other.
“I just need to take care of a few things.” Heath drank from his wine.
“That wasn’t what I asked,” Damien barked.
“Damien, chill,” I sa
id, giving him the eye.
“Baby, it’s fine,” Heath said. “I told them I would. They have a right to ask.” He took another bite and swallowed. “Two weeks, probably. I can’t just drop everything right this second. I’m in the middle of something.”
Damien seemed satisfied by that answer and looked away.
This was not the kind of relationship I wanted them to have, but at least it was a start. They were in the same room, at the same table, eating together.
“What are you in the middle of?” Damien asked.
“Damien,” I snapped, knowing it was none of his business.
Heath answered without an attitude. “I’m hunting down a traitor.”
Damien shifted his gaze to him, as if he knew exactly what he was talking about. “Vox?”
“Yes,” he said between bites.
“You haven’t killed him yet?” Damien asked.
Heath kept the same stoic appearance. “He took off. Your conversation must have tipped him off.”
Damien sighed.
“I have to kill him before I leave,” Heath said. “I hope it won’t take that long.”
“Yeah, me neither,” Damien said. “So, after you leave, is the next Skull King going to come to my door and demand money?”
“Probably,” Heath said bluntly. “And I hope you learned your lesson…”
Damien looked away, visibly annoyed. “I should get going.” He rose to his feet and set his plate in the sink. “You’ve got a nice place, Heath. Let me know where you got your door.” He left without giving me a proper goodbye, taking the stairs to the front door.
Heath finished eating like nothing had happened.
“You’re home early.”
He chewed as he stared straight ahead, his mood suddenly turning sour. He finished the last bite then abruptly left the table and stepped into the kitchen. His shoulders were tight with anger, his entire body fuming.
I got to my feet and joined him at the sink. “I didn’t think it would be a problem having him over—”
“Where’s your ring?” He stared at the pile of dishes at the bottom of the sink as the water ran. He watched the bits of food and sauce wash away down the drain at the center before he slammed his fist onto the lever, stopping the water.
I tensed at the question, feeling the large ring stuffed in my pocket.
He turned toward me, looking down at me with a potent look of disappointment. “Either wear it, or don’t wear it. But stop going back and forth.” He pivoted his large body toward me, towering over my small stature. “I didn’t drop two hundred grand for you to shove it in your goddamn pocket.”
Guilt washed over me when I saw how much I’d hurt him.
“You’re either with me, or you aren’t. Choose.”
“I just didn’t want my brother to find out like—”
“Then tell him. Or don’t wear it. That fucking simple.” He walked past me.
I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back to me. “Heath, I’m sorry. I’m not embarrassed of you. I’m not unsure if I want to marry you. I just…don’t want to announce it that way.”
“Isn’t that how women announce they’re engaged? Walking into a room with a diamond on their hand?” He looked down at me with annoyance, like all he wanted to do was go upstairs to his gym and work out for a few hours. He didn’t want to spend his time with me, even though he always wanted to spend his time with me.
“I thought my father said you couldn’t marry me until you quit—”
“Yes. Never said I couldn’t give you a fat ring and ask you to marry me. I already asked his permission. He said I could have you if I do this—and I’m fucking doing it.” He came closer to me and held up his hand. “I don’t give a shit whether you want to wear the ring or not. But I do give a shit when you take it off the second someone comes around. It’s a commitment. You’re either in, or you aren’t. Fucking choose.” He turned away to head down the hallway.
“Heath?”
He sighed and turned around, like he wanted nothing to do with me.
I walked up to him as I fished the ring out of my pocket. I returned it to my finger—where it belonged. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
His eyes burned into mine, as if he was searching for my sincerity. “That means when we go over there on Christmas—”
“Yes, I’ll wear it.”
Now he didn’t look so angry, but he was still in a bad mood, so he walked away.
He’d just gotten home, so he probably wanted to take a shower first, kick back with a drink on the couch, decompress after all the shit he had to deal with all day, so I let him go—and let this go.
After getting dressed, I went into the kitchen and grabbed my purse from the hook at the top of the stairs. My keys and wallet were inside, and this was my last chance to get this taken care of before Christmas.
Heath emerged down the stairs, in workout shorts and shirt, his skin shiny with sweat. He yanked off his headphones when he spotted me digging through my purse, knowing I was trying to leave if I was dressed up like that. “It looks like you’re leaving, but that can’t be right…” He reached the bottom stair then walked toward me, the promise of retribution bright in his eyes. “Because I specifically told you to not leave the house without me.” He stopped in front of me, calling me out on the spot.
“Look, there’s something I wanted to get you for Christmas—”
“I don’t need anything for Christmas.”
“I know, but I—”
“I’m not a child expecting presents under the tree on Christmas morning. I’m a grown-ass man who only cares about one—my fiancé. So, keep your money and keep your ass home.” He turned around and started to walk away.
“Heath?”
He turned back to me, clearly still angry about the fiasco with the ring.
“I really need to do this.”
He shook his head slightly. “No.”
“Can Damien take me?”
“I don’t need another man to protect my woman.” His eyes narrowed. “Ever.”
I sighed. “Then can Balto take me?”
“I’m sorry, is Balto another man?” he said sarcastically.
I kept my mouth shut.
“Then no.”
“Then I guess I need you to take me.”
“Doesn’t that negate the whole point?”
“I’ll drive, and you’ll keep your eyes closed.”
He didn’t look the least bit happy about that.
“I’ll place you at the entryway, looking out away from the store so you don’t know where you are. And then you’ll close your eyes again when I escort you to the truck. Come on, please. I know you’ll like it.”
“I don’t need anything, Catalina.”
I stomped my good foot. “Just do what I say. Please.”
When I said that final word, he softened, knowing he couldn’t deny me even if he was still a bit resentful. “Let me shower.”
The tree was decorated with white lights and red and gold ornaments. It brought light into the house, a special sense of merriment that made this place less sterile. Now it really felt like a home rather than a bachelor pad.
I sat with him on the couch, my arm hooked through his. “Want to watch a Christmas movie?”
“Sure.”
I grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels until I found a good one. “I love Home Alone. The first two are great. The third one is weird…it doesn’t even have the same kid in it.”
He stared at the TV blankly.
“Have you seen it?”
He shook his head. “Never seen a Christmas movie.”
“Ever?” I asked incredulously. “What did you and Balto—” I stopped speaking when I remembered his childhood, that their father had been an abusive drunk and killed their mother. I cringed because I realized how careless I was.
His arm moved behind my shoulders, and he pulled me close. “Baby, it’s okay.”
“I’m so
rry…”
“Really. It’s fine.”
“Well, we’ll watch all the Christmas movies together.”
“Really?” he asked, slightly sarcastic. “I think I’d rather just have sex.”
“Come on, that’s not very Christmassy.”
“If sex isn’t part of the holiday, then I’m probably not going to be a big fan of it.”
I smacked his arm playfully. “Are you and Balto getting together?”
“We don’t usually.”
“Why don’t we invite them over for Christmas dinner?”
“What’s Christmas dinner?” he asked blankly.
“Just dinner on Christmas night.”
He shrugged. “Sure, if you want.”
“I think it’ll be nice. The four of us are family now.”
He turned to me, watching me with a subtly soft expression. “Yeah…I guess we are.”
“And next year, we’re going to have a nephew.”
When he heard me describe our life together, calling his family my family, his expression changed, like that was a future that got him excited the way Christmas excited everyone else. “Yeah, that will be nice.”
“It’ll be really nice.” I got off the couch and dropped my shorts along with my panties while the movie played on the TV. “And there can be lots of sex at Christmastime.”
His eyes ignored the TV altogether, moving straight to the apex of my thighs as he sat up, eager for me like he hadn’t just had me this morning. He pushed his sweatpants down so his cock could come free. His entire countenance changed, tightened in a sexy way, like the conversation we’d had never happened at all.
I straddled his hips and moved on top of him, lowering myself until my sex pressed against his.
His hands gripped my hips, and he looked into my face, the Christmas lights reflecting in his eyes, giving him a special glow that was indescribable. It was timeless, like it would stay ingrained in my mind forever as one of those moments that was special to me, even though there was nothing different about it compared to other moments.
His fingers slid up my shirt to my belly, not carrying about the couple pounds I’d put on in the last six weeks. He didn’t care that my ass was bigger either. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it more, judging from the way he liked to take me from behind so often. My tits were bigger too—and he definitely liked that. “Now I understand why everyone loves Christmas…”
