I tossed it to the side.
Who gave a shit about lingerie when the woman I loved finally admitted to loving me back, so much sooner than I anticipated or expected.
“Hudson.” She gasped against my mouth and clung to my shoulders, shifting until I could fall between her opened thighs. “I love you. I love you so much.”
“Same,” I grunted, rolling my hips against her center. “Now, we’re going to go into that room. You’re going to put that fancy little get-up on, and I am going to show you exactly how much you mean to me.”
She turned her head toward the tree. “What about my gifts?”
I rocked into her until she groaned with pleasure and her eyelids fluttered close. “I’ve got your present right here, woman. Now get.”
She laughed against my mouth but slid out from beneath me, whipping up her sexy little nightie set as she clamored to her feet.
And when I met her in my room a few minutes later after giving her time to change, I found her spread out on my bed, looking every bit like the sexiest and naughtiest Mrs. Claus I could have ever imagined.
I took my time, showing her exactly how much I fucking adored her and her sexy little show.
Then after, I ripped it off and showed her how much I loved her, possibly even more, when she was wearing nothing at all.
30
Hudson
A dull buzz followed by the phone vibrating against my nightstand woke me up. Peeling open my eyes, I first inhaled the scent of Lilly’s shampoo. Her head was resting on my chest, her body pressed to my length. I had one arm curled behind her with my hand resting on the dip of her side above her hip.
She breathed slowly and deeply, not waking at all while I reached to silent the phone buzzing and vibrating for another round.
I grabbed my phone, intent on answering it when I noticed it hadn’t been a phone call but a text.
Charlotte.
She lived with us for two years until her mom successfully completed rehab. The mom had fallen into prescription pain pills to ease the loss of her husband, who died during an accident at a manufacturing plant. It didn’t help he’d been drunk at the time and injured three others.
She became good friends with Melissa and kept in touch. I hadn’t seen her since the funeral.
Stopping by later today. Want to show Julio the man who loved me more than any other until him.
I grinned at her text and then it rapidly fell. Today was not going to be the Merry Christmas Dad wanted to give everyone. Not this year when the day would be filled with similar texts like this. Visits. Phone calls. Where Dad would feel obligated to let everyone know about his diagnosis and treatment.
He’d spend the day reassuring everyone he was fine, that he’d beat this and that they had no reason to worry or be afraid.
Typical Dad. Comforting everyone when he was the one who would need the help. I had no doubt many of these conversations would end with abundant use of tissues.
Still I texted back Charlotte.
Are you talking about me or Dad?
Smart ass. You were just the annoying pseudo-brother who would never leave Melissa and me alone.
Not my fault you two were loud and obnoxious. Dad will be thrilled to see you.
And you?
I’ll be the one making sure this Julio guy of yours is worthy of you.
So overprotective as usual. See you this afternoon. Oh. And I think Mom’s coming.
I set my phone down on the nightstand and then rubbed my hand over my face, shoving back my hair and then scraping my jaw that needed a good trim.
It still amazed me how some of the kids who lived with us still held Dad in such high regard. We helped them through the worst moments of their lives and often, had to send them back to scenarios where they were still in danger. In Charlotte’s case, her mom got the help she needed and has stayed clean. For the first few years after Charlotte returned to Marni’s home, Marni would come over for dinner. She was that thankful we were there to help her daughter when she couldn’t. Which meant I knew Charlotte had a great support system. She had her mom, and she was a smart, intelligent woman. She didn’t need Dad’s approval or blessing.
But it meant a lot, and it would to Dad, that she wanted it.
She wouldn’t be the only one who