Chapter 8
EIGHT
“Knock, knock,” Joshua calls, opening the slightly ajar door wider.
I sit on the bed in only my underwear, a towel wrapped around me. My hair is in two braids, and I’m searching the laundry basket for my leggings.
I know we all have a lot to talk about, but I needed a shower first.
It was already afternoon when I was finally discharged from the hospital. Now, back at their place, I have chosen to occupy one of Sophia’s guest rooms beside Chiara’s.
The room is decorated in soft shades of pink, and since it’s a guest room, it is pretty empty beside a bed, dresser, and en suite bathroom, but it’s the nicest room I’ve ever had.
And it’s the first time I will have one to myself since my parents died.
So, I am more than grateful, especially considering I didn’t have to return to Roberto after everything that happened.
I shudder at that thought.
I look up to see Joshua standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, looking bitable, dressed in blue jeans and a black Christmas sweater with Santa’s head on it. The writing around the image reads, Sleighin’ these Hos.
I burst out laughing, clutching the towel to my chest to keep it from falling. “Dio, what is that?”
“This, my sweet Carolina, is our Christmas tradition, and you’re not spared from it.” He smiles, pulling a sweater from behind his back and offering it to me.
Traditions are something we lost when we lost our parents, and it makes me miss them and not for the first time today.
Sophia and the guys were and still are amazing in supporting and being there for me, but lying in the hospital and celebrating Christmas are probably two of the top ten things you’d want to have your mom and dad by your side for.
I stand and walk over to Josh as he closes the door and leans back against it.
The towel drops to my feet as I reach for the sweater, leaving me standing in my underwear.
I want to bend and grab it, but his eyes dart to my chest, taking on a hooded look, so I leave it on the floor, appreciating his gaze on me.
I unfold the black sweater and read Santa’s favorite Ho. “This is so ridiculously absurd. It must be Sophia’s doing.” I cackle.
“It sure is,” Joshua affirms, snatching the sweater from my grasp and letting it drop to the floor too.
His hooded eyes make my heart flip, and as he steps closer, he places his hand on my hip. With his other hand, he brushes aside one of my braids, and his lips descend to the spot where my neck meets my shoulder. I shudder, goose bumps erupting in the wake of his lips.
It feels like forever since he touched me like this, even though I slept most of the time. But my body knows, and it’s craving him now.
“I’m trying really hard to remind myself that you need rest,” he murmurs against my skin, his breath hot, and I gasp as he’s squeezing my hip.
I close my eyes, my voice barely above a whisper as I reassure him, “I’m fine.”
“You’re not,” he counters, trailing open-mouthed kisses along my neck.
I clutch his sweater tightly, seeking something to anchor me. His hands slide to my ass, pulling me closer, so I can feel his hard-on through his jeans.
“I know you’ll be gentle with me,” I breathe out, my hand sliding to his belt buckle, my finger slipping between the waistband of his jeans and his hard abdomen.
He pulls back slightly, lifting my chin with a finger. “I’ll always be gentle with you, but you’re still hurt,” he states, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “And the others are waiting next door for us.”
“They can wait a bit longer.” I pout, making Joshua chuckle softly and squeeze my ass. I can’t help but gasp, pressing my thighs together.
“My Carolina, I am going to fuck you nice and slow, drawing out all those beautiful sounds from you,” he vows, cradling my face in both hands.
“But it will be when you’re fully healed, and it will be in my bed.
” He leans in, sealing the promise with a deep kiss.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you. Remind me again why you’re in Sophia’s guest room and not in mine.
Or hell, even sharing my room? I’ve learned to share these past few days.
” He grins, his eyes dancing mischievously.
What does that mean?
“You know I want to be where Chiara is,” I mumble, though truthfully, I’d rather be with him.
“Then you’ll have to deal with me coming over every night,” he retorts, bending down to trail his tongue across my chest. My breath catches, and I let my eyes fall close, but just when I want to grip his hair, he steps back.
“Fuck, please get dressed, or I can’t promise anything.
” I smile, glancing down at the evident bulge in his jeans.
“No, Carolina, seriously, get dressed,” he insists, pointing a finger at me, turning and exiting Sophia’s guest room as if it were on fire.
Letting out a long sigh, I pick up the holiday sweater and shake my head. Despite the reasons that brought me here, I can’t deny the sense of happiness settling in.
Chiara is safe. Something I didn’t think would be possible until she turned eighteen.
A smile spreads across my face as I get dressed, and there is a slight pep in my step as I make my way to Joshua so we can join the others on their side of the duplex.
It feels like we’ve stepped into a Christmas village. Sophia’s home is also festively decorated, but Christmas music fills the air here, the scent of cookies and mulled wine wafts around, and a Christmas tree stands proudly in the living room near the large couch.
It looks like one of those cringy Christmas movies Clay likes so much.
I love it.
Xander and Clay stand next to the couch. Xander has an arm wrapped around Clay’s waist, and they both hold a cookie. My eyes drift to their sweaters, and I nearly choke on a laugh.
Clay’s sweater is red and says, It’s not going to lick itself, accompanied by an image of a candy cane. Xander’s is green and reads, If you jingle my balls, I’ll give you a white Christmas.
“Oh Dio,” I wheeze.
Clay’s eyes meet mine, and he smirks. Letting go of Xander, he comes over and teases, “Kitten, have you had your candy today?”
“Shut it, Clay. We have young ears here,” Sophia calls out from the kitchen, pointing a spatula at Clay.
I turn to see Chiara hopping off a stool at the kitchen island and rushing over to embrace me tightly. “Pensavo di averti perso. Non puoi lasciarmi anche tu. ” She sobs into my shoulder.
“Sai che sono troppo testardo per andare da qualche parte, ” I reply, holding her close.
Holding her in my arms, in a home where no one is out to hurt us, a tremendous weight lifts from my shoulders, leaving me almost breathless.
“I bet this particular teenager knows more dirty words than I do. And besides, those sweaters were your idea,” Clay states.
Chiara steps back, pushing away the tears with the arms of her sweater, and I glance at her pink one, which reads, Sleigh all day.
At least hers is age-appropriate.
My gaze then shifts to Sophia’s white sweater, which reads, I’m so good, Santa came twice.
I can’t help but chuckle. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Thanks, I know.” She smiles, stepping in front of me and pulling me in for a quick hug. “Merry Christmas.” She nearly shoves a cookie into my mouth. “Try, they turned out delicious.”
I take the cookie and nibble on it. It’s sugary awesomeness, but my stomach hasn’t fully recovered yet. Not eating solid food for several days has taken its toll. Still, I’m hoping to eat something later so I’m not just filled with pain medications and birth control.
“They’re so good,” I tell her honestly, a warm smile spreading across my face.
“I know. Time for presents,” Sophia exclaims, nudging me toward the couch. “Since you needed to rest yesterday, we thought we’d celebrate Christmas today.”
And here I thought I could have avoided this, but not even being in a coma spares me from Hurricane Sophia.
I mentally slap myself, realizing my ingratitude.
They’ve done all of this for me.
They waited for me.
The least I can do is be grateful and make an effort for them.
“I don’t have any presents for you guys,” I admit, pulling my shoulders to my ears in a weak shrug and scrunching up my nose.
“Oh, really? You couldn’t spare a moment during the last seven days when you were unconscious to get us some presents? I’m deeply hurt, kitten,” Clay jests, feigning pain as he clutches his chest.
I shoot him a disapproving look, but a smile tugs at my lips.
That little jerk.
Joshua settles down on the couch, gently pulling me to sit beside him and draping my legs over his lap. Xander sits down next to Josh and cradles my feet in his lap. Finally, Clay sits on my other side, so close that my back rests against him.
Sophia settles on the other side of the couch, a warm smile gracing her lips as she remarks, “That looks cozy.”
Joshua, however, shoots a sharp glare at Clay and then shifts his gaze to Xander. His grip on my knee tightens, and I feel the tension radiating from him as his jaw clenches.
I start to withdraw, feeling the weight of the situation and not wanting to upset Joshua.
Tentatively, I try to pull my feet from Xander’s lap, but he simply reaches out for them again and grips them gently yet firmly.
He doesn’t allow me to go anywhere before he starts massaging my toes, and I feel guilty when it sends a soothing wave of calm through me.
Chiara, her hands tightly clutching a present from the pile beneath the Christmas tree, comes to stand before me.
Her gaze shifts from Clay to Josh, then to Xander, and finally back to me.
Furrowing her brows, she starts to open her mouth as if to speak but then hesitates, closing it again.
With a sigh, she turns to look at Sophia, searching for some guidance.
Sophia just shakes her head lightly, to which Chiara shrugs.
“Tutto bene, piccola? ” I ask, searching her face.