Chapter 9
NINE
We all enjoy our Christmas together, and it feels like our family is finally whole with Carolina and Chiara here too. We eat the delicious meal Sophia and Xander made for us and talk for hours about everything and nothing.
After the mention of their parents, Chiara opened up, sharing some stories about how she remembers celebrating Christmas when their parents were still alive, with Italian Christmas songs and a cake called panettone.
She smiles while telling us, a smile I’ve never seen on her before, but Carolina becomes sad and quiet again.
I also miss my parents at Christmas, even though they’re just on the other side of the world and I can call them. I can’t imagine how she must feel.
We settle on the couch, bellies full. I noticed that Carolina ate only a little, and I hope her stomach feels better soon. She seems to be slowing down after the busy day. She lays on the couch with her head in my lap, and I stroke her hair.
Chiara is showing Sophia how to apply blush the new, right way, and Clay sits in Xander’s lap.
We all watch as Sophia is transformed into a clown, and I silently laugh at her.
The others wear the same tight-lipped smiles, which tells me they, too, are holding back giggles.
The sight before us is comical, and I’m not sure Sophia quite gets it.
She shoots me a glare, but I notice Carolina’s eyes growing heavy and eventually closing. Instead of saying anything to Sophia, I nudge Carolina gently. “Come on, let’s go to bed,” I suggest, and she nods, slowly getting to her feet.
Taking her hand, I wish everyone in the room good night.
Carolina pauses to grab her plushie from beside Clay and Xander. “Night,” she tells them with a yawn.
“Sleep well,” Clay murmurs, looking at her with such longing that I almost feel sorry for him.
Almost.
I’m going to cherish my alone time with her for as long as possible. I noticed the way she looked at him when he gave her that plushie. Clay is right. She’s definitely in love with him too. But she needs to realize that on her own.
Until then, I’ll be a bit selfish.
Surprisingly, the plushie wasn’t what made me jealous. He made her happy tonight. He gave her something meaningful I didn’t even know she wanted. All I could think of was how grateful I was that he knows her so well and could get her something that brought her such joy.
What made me jealous were the glances and the closeness, them acting as if it was completely normal to touch and smooch her the whole time.
The last time I checked, she was still my girlfriend.
If things change, and let’s be honest, they will, I am going to have to come to terms with this.
But as it is, I reserve the right to be upset when someone gets too close to my girl, even with the best intentions.
Although it wasn’t as bad as I initially thought.
Maybe this situation will turn out better than I expected.
As we make our way over to Sophia’s, my hand stays firmly on Carolina’s lower back. And when we reach her temporary room, I close the door behind us and guide her to the bed. Sitting on the edge, I gesture for her to sit beside me, which she does after she places the plushie on the bed.
“Aren’t you curious about what I got you?” I ask with a grin.
Her eyes go wide with surprise. “You got me something? I already got the phone from you.”
I chuckle softly. “Of course I did.”
Her brows knit together, and her lips curl downward. “I don’t have anything for you.”
“I think you have an excuse.” I smile at her warmly. “And like I said, you waking up and being okay was the best present ever.”
Leaning in, I gently press my lips against hers, feeling her melt against me.
Being able to do just that is all I could have wished for.
Her eyes reflect a sense of guilt when I break the kiss, and she murmurs, “I still don’t like not having something for you in return.”
“I can take it back if you’d prefer,” I teasingly offer.
“Please don’t,” she whispers, her voice laced with sincerity and a hint of vulnerability.
Brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, I gaze into her eyes with pride and admiration. “You did good today with accepting all the presents,” I tell her, my voice filled with warmth. “I am proud of you.”
I really am. I was worried that Christmas would be too much, especially after only being out of the hospital for not even a day. But she managed everything like a real trooper, even receiving all her gifts. I only felt her being uncomfortable for a little while.
A faint smile graces her lips, and she shrugs modestly. “I tried.”
Her eyes are red, and she looks worn out from the long, exhausting day.
I can’t help but worry. “Does your head hurt too much? We can do this tomorrow if you’re too tired.”
“As if I could sleep now.” She huffs. “What did you get me?” Her gaze finds mine, her golden eyes shimmering with anticipation, making me thrilled that she’s honestly excited about my gift.
I reach into my jeans pocket, where I had carefully stashed the small box before we left our side of the house, and hand it to her with a smile. “Merry Christmas,” I whisper.
She delicately unties the ribbon and opens the box. Her eyes widen in awe and quickly find mine. “It’s so beautiful.” She carefully lifts the gold necklace from the box and holds it up to admire the pendant resting in her palm. “Joshua,” she whispers, her gratitude evident in her tone.
“I want you to always remember that you are strong and fierce on your own,” I tell her, touching the golden ‘C’ pendant in her hand. Flipping it over, I show her where the word my is engraved on the back. “But also, I am yours, and you’re mine, and I’ll always have your back.”
A tear slides down her face, and I wipe it away with my thumb. “I love you,” she whispers.
I take the pendant from her hand and gesture for her to turn around. She gathers her hair to hold it out of the way. As I fasten it around her neck, I whisper into her ear, “And I love you, my Carolina.”
I kiss her neck once, twice, and she lets her shoulders drop, turning slightly to give me better access. I can’t help but give in to the temptation, letting my mouth wander to her collarbone, sucking and nipping, and eliciting a soft moan from her that gives me an instant hard-on.
“Joshua,” she breathes out, grabbing my upper arm.
I lean back to take her in. I’m greeted by her face flushed with passion, her eyes closed, and her mouth slightly open.
Needing more of her, I grab her chin and turn her face to me, lifting it slightly to kiss her deeply.
My tongue glides over hers, tasting the sweetness of the Christmas cookie she was nibbling earlier.
I groan into the kiss but reluctantly pull back, pecking her full lips one more time before I let go to stand and shed my jeans.
Her eyes widen as she looks at me, standing in front of her, my crotch at eye level, and I don’t miss how her breath hitches. When she licks her lower lip, I suppress the groan I want to release.
The air around us heats, and a sheen of sweat covers her skin.
I feel myself getting even harder as visions of her sitting before me, her golden eyes looking up at me from those full lashes, her lips wrapped around my cock, me holding the back of her head, my fingers gently pulling her hair at her scalp flood me.
Fuck! She is still injured, still hurting. I can clearly see the exhaustion in her eyes, and all I can think about is this?
I remove my Christmas sweater, leaving me in a black T-shirt and boxers, and I know if I get any harder, the thin cotton will not keep me contained.
Carolina keeps her eyes on me, and I have to remind myself, again, that she’s still recovering.
As I reach for her hand, it’s a struggle not to guide it to my crotch, but I manage to pull her to her feet instead. Lifting her Christmas sweater over her head, I lean in to kiss her throat above the C pendant as I unclasp her bra, sliding it off her.
I let my eyes linger on her beautiful breasts, taking in how her nipples are peaked, taunting me to lean in and have a taste. Pulling my T-shirt over my head and slipping it over hers seems like a monumental effort.
The adorable scrunching of her nose betrays her initial expectations, and I can’t help but smile.
With a gentle touch, I stroke my thumb over her nose, attempting to smooth out that cute little wrinkle, but it stubbornly lingers.
So I lean down and press my lips to her forehead.
Sliding under the covers, I hold them open, inviting her to join me.
Without hesitation, she slips in, snuggling up to me and letting out a contented sigh.
As I teeter on the edge of sleep, she whispers, “So, you know everything?”
I kiss her forehead and pull her even closer. “Chiara told us quite a bit. I don’t know if it’s everything, but you can tell me whenever you’re ready. For now, I know enough if you’d rather not talk about it.”
“I don’t think I can,” she murmurs, and I can practically feel the hurt radiating from her.
“That’s okay. I’m here whenever you change your mind.”
“What’s the plan? If we upset him, he will—” she begins but stops short, choking on her breath.
“You’ll both stay here until she turns eighteen at least. We’ll continue to cover his rent, groceries, and drinking habit. I believe he won’t mind where you guys are as long as it doesn’t disrupt his lifestyle,” I reassure her, gently stroking her back.
“I can’t afford two rents, or I would have done this already,” she mutters softly.
“You won’t be paying two rents,” I state.
“But—” she starts, but I cut in.
“Would you let me pay you rent if I needed a place and you had room for me?” I ask.
“No, but—”
I silence her with a kiss. “Everything will be okay. Don’t overthink it. Honestly, I should be paying you for spending time with me. This feels too precious to be free,” I tease with humor in my tone.
“Damn, Joshua, did you just call me a prostitute?” she asks, her tone icy.
“What? No, I—” I fumble for words, suddenly wide awake again. But then she starts giggling. Cupping her face in my hands, I lean in. “You’re evil,” I murmur against her lips, sealing them with a kiss.