Chapter 23 In Private
In Private
After last year’s Christmas trip, our little family has decided to make this an annual thing.
We continue to expand with Kodi and Maverick adding Aurora to their family just under two months ago.
Very brave of them to drive multiple states with a newborn and a five year old but I know they loved every second of it.
While Harley and I aren’t adding children anytime soon, I will officially be making her mine forever come Christmas morning and proposing here, where our journey started.
Where it was all supposed to be fake and end after the holidays but here I am lying in bed with Harley, my wildest dream of her telling me she wanted to be mine, having come true just ten months ago.
What she doesn’t know is that my parents are coming up on Christmas Eve and will be present for our engagement.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to have them involved in our lives going forward.
We’ve taken the time to reacquaint ourselves with each other, to bond and rebuild the relationship we once had.
It’s not perfect, and there are times when I can tell that they wish Jordan were here however, I feel that too.
I don’t feel neglected or ignored like I did as a teen.
I wonder how different our holidays would look, how excited Jordan would’ve been to help me design Harley’s engagement ring, or one day being the uncle that chases his nieces or nephews around the ice.
“Are you excited for tomorrow?” I ask her as we settle into bed on Christmas Eve.
“Very, last year was a core memory and I’m ready to make more with everyone.”
“Me too.” The elation over my plans for tomorrow laced beneath my tone.
“You seem a little too excited.” The slightest bit of suspicion comes through as she speaks, so I try to stay cool as our conversation continues.
“Just ready to spend the morning with everyone, eat whatever Nik is cooking up, and see what gifts everyone gives. I feel like everyone’s love language is gift giving.”
“I’m inclined to agree, Freckles. I have your gift ready, and I’m so excited to share it with you.”
“You sure you don’t want to give it to me now?” I tease, knowing that she absolutely will not. She’ll want to see mine and everyone else’s reaction when I open it.
“Nope.” She pops the p. “You won’t be getting it until tomorrow night…”
“Tomorrow night?” I find myself boxing her into the bed with my body, now very curious as to what it is.
“Mhmmm in private.” A sensual grin painting her full lips.
“Well in that case, I can’t wait.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her before planting a kiss on her lips, settling behind her and pulling her back into my arms, “Better get some sleep then. Goodnight, I love you.”
“Goodnight, Collins. I love you.” She chuckles at me as we resettle back into bed, watching a light snow fall outside the cabin’s window.
“Merry Christmas!” A chorus of voices greets us as we step into the main cabin.
The smells of Christmas fill the space—cinnamon, spices, peppermint, and maple syrup.
Nik has his back turned to us, working away on something that looks like cinnamon rolls by the stove, Kodi feeds Rory on the couch while Hayden and Bella play with a train set on the living room floor, and Darcy appears to be piecing together a charcuterie board at the table.
Looking around the area, I don’t see my parents, but I confirmed with Mav via text that they’re up in their room and will join us for breakfast shortly.
“Merry Christmas!” We shout back in unison.
Then my Mom’s voice fills the air, “Merry Christmas, honey.”
Harley turns toward the steps leading up to the second level of the cabin—confusion then awe passes over her features.
“What are your parents doing here? Why didn’t you tell me?” she asks me before hurrying toward my parents to wrap them in a hug.
“We just didn’t want to miss Christmas with you all. We made it in late last night and didn’t want to wake you.” My dad affirms, winking at me over his shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re here.” I smile, approaching to embrace my parents once they’ve released Harley.
We spend the next twenty minutes talking to my parents about their drive before Nik bellows, “Breakfast is ready, let’s eat!”
After we’ve all eaten our weight in breakfast foods and accoutrements, we gather around the tree to open gifts.
The ring sits heavily in my flannel pajama pant pocket that matches Harley’s nightgown.
I try not to fiddle with it too much to avoid drawing Harley’s attention.
Everyone laughs, smiles, and even a few tears are shed as gifts are passed around the room.
Once all of the wrapping paper and boxes are thrown out, we get ready for photos.
Harley and I stand in front of the tree smiling toward Sin’s camera for a moment before I drop to one knee and the room erupts in gasps.
Harley glitches for a moment when she sees me beside her with the dark green velvet box opened up—looking at me then Sin in shock and back to me honing in on the ring and my shaky hands.
Her head begins to nod before I even have the chance to pop the question, and I hear my mom chuckle through her sniffles as she watches on.
“Peppermint?” I choke on her nickname.
“Collins?” Tears already welling in her eyes.
“Getting to know and love you over the past year has been all the time I need to know that I don’t want to spend my life with anyone else. No one else to share my heart, my tears, my life, or my home with. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
She surprises me when instead of saying yes, she says, “I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.”
“I thought I had wandered into a dream.” I pause, adding, “That’s a yes for those of you who are not nerds.”
The room erupts in cheers, I’m sure the rest of our friend group has no idea that we were referencing an epic love declaration, but it doesn’t matter—in this moment, all I see is Harley looking down at me as I slide the intricate ring onto her finger.
The seminavette-shaped diamond has moss running through it, the band an intricate intertwining of vines.
Harley pulls me up from my kneeling position, crashing her lips into mine before pulling back and letting everyone else celebrate with us.
After more pictures, and spending time with our family, we’re now back in the A-frame. Harley stepped into the bathroom to clean up and get my gift ready, so I’ve busied myself with tidying up downstairs.
“Collins,” Harley purrs from the top of the staircase.
My eyes may have popped out of my head, and my cock hardens immediately when I lay eyes on the vision that is my future wife.
Her curls sit around her face, wearing a bright red lipstick, but the star of the show is the red, satin body suit fit to her curves.
If I pulled the bow sitting on her chest, her entire body would be exposed to me and I intend to do just that.
Running up the stairs, she steps backward toward the bed, taking a seat and spreading her legs wide, welcoming me to the space.
“This is my Christmas present?” I ask, pulling gently on the bow so as not to unravel her outfit quite yet.
“Mhmmm,” she says breathlessly.
“And I get to unwrap you?”
“You can do whatever you want.”
“Oh, I have so many plans for you tonight, fiancé.” That’s when I tug on the bow, releasing her breasts for me.
“Up, Peppermint. I want to see the rest of you.” She stands quickly, and I pull the rest of the lingerie off. Looking to the corner where a small tree sits, an idea comes to me.
“You up to trying something new for me tonight?” I ask, holding her chin up to me.
“Always.”
“That’s my girl. Lie back for me.” I head toward the small tree, unraveling the lights and coming back to her.
“What’re you going to do with those?” She questions, not concerned, but curious. I’ve tied her up a few times as we’ve explored our sexual interests together, but never like this.
Rather than answering, I get to work. Plugging the lights in beside the bed, I make quick work of tying Harley’s wrists together, wrapping them around her chest and rendering her unable to move her upper half.
“Everything feel okay?” I want to make sure she’s comfortable and give her the option to stop.
“Better than.” I catch her rubbing her thighs together in anticipation of what’s to come.
“Good, I’ve been waiting to see you like this since last December.” I let my eyes roam over her, the way her chest is pushed out, the slight tension from the lights causing her nipples to pucker, and the wetness gathering between her thighs.
“Where should I start?” I ponder aloud as I undress before placing myself between her thighs again.
“Here?” I let my thumb smear her red lipstick across her cheek, she sucks it into her mouth for a moment, causing my dick to twitch against her.
“Or here?” I leave a smattering of kisses along her face, neck, and chest before pulling a taut nipple into my mouth.
Sucking and pulling as she moans beneath me, I know she’d love to run her fingers through my hair, but making her desperate and needy so that when I sink inside her she’s ready for me is my priority.
“Or maybe here?” I ask, moving even lower on her body, gently blowing air on her wet pussy, which causes her to squirm beneath me.
“There, please, Collins, there.” She begs.
“Already so needy for me, Baby?” I toy with her, leaving barely there touches along her pussy.
“Since you put this ring on my finger. All I’ve been able to think about is riding your cock.”
“We’ll get there. Right now I’m going to make you cum for me…
a few times.” I let my fingers spread her cunt before running my tongue up her slit and circling her clit.
Her hips jerk up to my mouth, seeking the friction she needs to get there.
I spread her legs wider, holding her down so she stays right where I want her.
Whimpers fill the air as she gets frustrated with me keeping her on the edge. Her hips continue to cant toward my tongue as I enjoy the taste of her.
“Collins, please.”
“Please, what?”
“Let me cum. I need it.” She whines. I let her legs free, inserting a finger into her cunt she pulls me in and I ease another in while my tongue continues to ravage her clit.
Her moans crescendo into a scream as her orgasm takes over.
I let her ride it out, and when she relaxes into the bed, I gently unwrap her from the lights, massaging her wrists before flipping us so she’s on top of me.
“I think I remember you telling me you wanted to ride my cock?” I tease.
“I did.” She grinds over my dick, rubbing her wetness over me.
Pulling her down to me, I grip the back of her neck, pulling her in for a rough kiss, “Do it for me then.”
She moans into my mouth as our tongues tangle together, and she continues to rub herself over me. When we separate, she lifts herself off of me, positioning my cock at her entrance and sliding down slowly, causing me to groan as she buries me in her pussy.
She sits for a moment, not moving, looking down into my eyes as she plucks at her nipples. It’s driving me crazy, I’m teetering on the edge of taking over, and I want her to move so badly but I can’t blame her for playing games with me after I tied her up and teased her.
“Harley, Baby, I need you to move.” I growl out my comment just as my cock twitches inside her, causing her to swivel her hips.
My hands grip her ass tightly as she lifts herself off me, her pussy is choking my cock as she continues to bounce up and down.
Her speed increases, and I know my piercing has hit its mark when she begins to spasm around me, a sob of pleasure escapeing her throat.
It takes me right over the edge with her.
Once we’ve cleaned up, we watch snow fall out the window, Precious curled at the edge of the bed as Harley tells me about her dream wedding. I fully intend to make her every wish come true, not just now but for the rest of our lives together.