Chapter 25 #2
She tried to find disappointment in his face or hurt hiding in the gold of his eyes. The only thing she found was love and happiness. He’d meant every word he said.
He rubbed the tip of her nose with his own. “Now, are you going to see what Santa brought, or not?”
“Yes!” She hopped down and lifted the stocking with her name embroidered across the top.
After plopping on the floor, she pulled out each item inside.
He’d filled her stocking with pop-fidget toys, modeling clay, sparkly band bracelets to decorate, LEGO sets, and nail polishes.
She felt like Aladdin going through his treasure cave.
Every new discovery made her giggle or squeal or gasp in delight. Her hands were flying, her mind spinning with wonder and amazement, and Connor’s gaze followed her like she was the only person in the world.
Her favorite was a large set of washable Tattoo Pens. Connor looked on, smiling and commenting on what Santa had brought. He even let her draw a tiger on his arm with her new pens.
Just as she pulled the last gift from her stocking, Sadie’s precious voice reminded them they were not alone.
Jumping up, she dashed to the girls’ rooms. Even though they still all slept in the shared nursery for now, each had a bedroom to call her own.
They all branched off a shared nursery that could be turned into a playroom when they got older.
The twins were standing in their cribs, arms outstretched and waiting. Bliss and Connor each took a twin and made quick order of getting the girls changed. The room filled with giggles, coos, and the rustling of blankets. Bliss’s heart swelled at the sheer chaos and love in front of her.
Sadie did her best to break into a run, while Sophie kept her hand wrapped around Connor’s fingers.
He’d already been holding the girls and helping with feeding and changing diapers, but now he dropped all his walls and relaxed with them.
He talked with them and fed them. He never rushed them or raised his voice when they made messes. And they adored him.
They all sat on the floor between the fireplace and the Christmas tree like a real family. Connor helped the girls go through their stockings. They were too young to understand what was going on, but she didn’t care. They were laughing and babbling. It was Bliss’s favorite present yet.
“Okay,” Connor said when the twins showed the first sign of growing bored. “Time for Daddy to feed his girls. I don’t suppose anyone is interested in Christmas yogurt and reindeer pancakes.”
Bliss leaped to her feet. “Oh, that sounds yummy, doesn’t it?” The twins caught her excitement and toddled behind Connor to the kitchen, squealing with delight. In her bouncy bed, Nori awoke and joined them at the table, watching her sisters gobble down pancakes while she enjoyed a warm bottle.
The morning sunlight spilled across the kitchen, hitting the steam rising from the pancakes just right. Bliss felt perfectly, like the world was exactly as it should be.
The pancakes were adorable, and Bliss ate until she was stuffed. Turned out, Christmas yogurt was vanilla flavored with colorful sprinkles shaped like Christmas lights.
“Who’s ready to open gifts?” Connor asked after they’d all had reindeer pancakes for breakfast and regathered in the living room.
“Meeee!” Bliss cried out, raising her hands and waving them in the air.
“I’ll be the Christmas elf and hand out the gifts. I know just the one I want to start with.” Connor picked out four matching red boxes held closed by thick white ribbon. “I want you to all open them together.”
Bliss bounced in anticipation, waiting as Connor took turns helping Sophie, Sadie, and Nori open their gifts.
Bliss almost melted into a puddle when he pulled out the stuffed animals he’d gotten for each of the girls.
He nailed the choices, giving Sophie a purple kitten, Sadie a pink bunny, and Nori a yellow elephant.
She clutched her hands to her chest, eyes wide, as the girls squealed and hugged their new friends. Her heart felt so full it could burst. Connor had thought of every single detail, every perfect little choice.
“Your turn, Trouble. Go ahead and open your present.”
Unable to stop herself, Bliss ripped off the ribbon and yanked out the tissue paper. “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!”
Tipsy stared up at her, golden eyes gleaming in the Christmas lights. She lifted her friend with gentle hands and hugged her to her chest. Connor had given the girls stuffies of their own so she could have Tipsy back.
He’d had her spruced back up, so she looked brand new. Having her lynx back in her arms meant the world to her. She nuzzled Tipsy, closing her eyes, savoring the small miracle of having her old friend restored.
Soon, it was time for the girls to go back down for their naps. Bliss wasn’t sure, but what she needed one herself. Well, she wanted to go to bed anyway, although sleep was the furthest thing from her mind. After Connor pulled the girls’ door shut, she took his hand and led him back to their room.
“Are you tired of opening presents already?” Connor asked with a smile.
She allowed her eyes to slide from his face, down to his cock, and back up. “Not exactly,” she said.
Heat flared in his eyes. And his grin told her he was just as thrilled as she was by this private party in the middle of the chaos. This morning was theirs, all theirs, and it was perfect.