11. Torch
TORCH
It had been another long one, and it was late when I finally got to Beck’s place.
I kicked off my boots by the door and dropped my keys on the counter before heading down the hall to the bedroom.
Just as I’d expected, Beck was already in bed and out like a light.
I slipped out of my clothes, and being careful not to wake her, I crawled in next to her.
The bed creaked a little under my weight, but she didn’t stir. I lay there for a moment, just watching her. After a few moments, I reached over and pulled her close, and that’s when it hit me. The rough days didn’t matter so much when they ended with her in my arms.
She had become my home, and there was no place I’d rather be.
I brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her temple, letting the quiet settle around us. I was home, and as far as I was concerned, there was no better feeling.
The next morning, I awoke with Beck trailing kisses along my neck. I smiled and said, “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Morning,” she whispered.
She continued to kiss me just below my ear, and the touch of her lips against my skin made my cock start to stir. “Beck.”
“Mm-hmm,” she purred.
“What are you doing?”
I glanced over, and her lust-filled eyes locked on mine as she answered, “If you have to ask, then I’m not doing a very good job.”
I nodded toward the tent I was pitching in the sheets. “No, darlin’. You’re doing great, but where’s Ava?”
“And that’s why I love you.” She continued kissing me as she whispered, “You’re always so thoughtful.”
It was just three little words but hearing them come from her lips made my world stop turning. I eased up on my elbow. “Say it again.”
When she looked up at me, I could feel it radiating off her, and I had no doubt she meant it when she repeated, “I love you.”
Unable to control myself, I leaned down, crashing my mouth against hers in a hungry kiss. I felt the sparks fly as soon as her lips touched mine. Her arms wrapped around me, and everything around us slowly disappeared, along with the past and doubts. When I was with her, nothing else mattered.
She turned my world upside down, making me want things I’d never thought I’d want. A family. Kids. A house with a white picket fence. I wanted it all, and I wanted it with her. A smoldering heat rushed deeply through me as her grip tightened, pressing her body to mine.
“You’re mine, Beck.”
She looked up at me with love in her eyes as she whispered, “Didn’t you know... Nothing’s changed. I’ve always been yours.”
She let out a heated moan as my fingers slipped between her legs.
Her hand slid against my growing erection, and I groaned in response.
With one simple move, she’d made me want her even more.
Hell, there didn’t seem to be any limits to my desire for her.
She was everything I’d ever wanted and needed, and I was completely consumed by her.
Her head fell back as I moved her panties to the side and slid my fingertips inside her.
The blood rushed to my cock when I found she was already soaked.
I’d just begun to stroke her when she moaned, “I’ll always be yours, Thomas. ”
The sound of my name coming from her lips spurred me on, and I couldn’t wait a moment longer to be inside her. Before she could protest, I withdrew my fingers and quickly lowered her panties down her long, lean legs. Once I’d removed my boxers, I grabbed a condom from my wallet and slipped it on.
A sense of contentment washed over me as I settled between her legs and drove deep inside. I drove into her again and again, fucking her deep and hard. A fevered moan vibrated through her as she started to grind against me, taking more of me with every shift of her hips.
Knowing what she needed, I slid my hand from her hip down between her legs, and her breath quickened when I reached her clit.
Pleasured cries echoed through the room when I began to stroke her with a tormenting rhythm, and it wasn’t long before I could feel her muscles contracting all around me as she pleaded, “Don’t stop! ”
She felt so damn good, so fucking perfect, and she was mine.
Her body started to tremble around me, urging me on as I relentlessly drove inside, over and over, until she let out a tortured groan and clamped down around me.
There was no better feeling in the world, and I felt my release building as the muscles in my abdomen and legs grew taut.
With one final thrust, I pulled her to me and came deep inside her, growling with complete and utter gratification.
Neither of us moved. We just lay there nestled close together as our breaths started to slow. She reached for my hand and laced her fingers through mine as she asked, “When do you have to head to the clubhouse?”
“I should’ve left a half hour ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Nothing for you to be sorry about, babe.” I leaned over and kissed her on the temple. “Late or not, there’s no better way to start the day.”
Beck giggled as she replied, “I can’t disagree with you there.”
“I better get going.”
I gave her a quick kiss, then stood and quickly tossed the condom in the trash before taking a shower.
I got dressed and headed to the clubhouse.
Wrath and I spent the day running errands.
We had some stuff to do for Dad, and we both had our own lists to get done.
Like me, Wrath had waited until the last minute to do his Christmas shopping, and it was after dark before we got it all done.
When I finally got back to the house, Beck was curled up on the sofa, reading one of her books. She looked up with a smile on her face. “You’re home.”
“I meant to be here sooner, but I got caught up with Mom.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, she was helping me out with something.”
“Okay. Good.”
I removed my cut and then sat down next to her. “Where’s Ava?”
“She crashed about an hour ago.” Beck pointed to the mantle as she smiled and said, “We made cookies for Santa, and the excitement got the best of her.”
“I bet she’ll be up bright and early tomorrow.”
“You can count on it.”
Beck’s eyes widened with excitement when I placed her Christmas gift in her lap. “Merry Christmas.”
“Wait. We’re doing this now?”
“We can wait until tomorrow...”
“No, that’s okay. We can do it now. Just give me a second!”
She jumped up off the sofa and raced over to the tree. She quickly grabbed the gifts she’d gotten me, then returned to her spot on the sofa. She looked like she was about to bust as she handed them to me and said, “Ava helped me pick them out.”
“You don’t want to open yours first?”
“No, you go ahead. I want to see what you think of it.”
“Okay, but if you bought it, I’m gonna like it.”
“Whatever,” she scoffed.
Beck watched impatiently as I began to unwrap the first present. I carefully opened it and was pleased to see a new pair of black ROCKbrOS winter gloves. I started to slip them on as I said, “These are great, babe.”
“Are you sure? I have the receipt if...”
“Don’t need the receipt, babe. They’re just what I wanted.”
“Okay, good! Now, open the other one.”
I opened the gift and was surprised to find a photo album filled with various pictures.
I flipped through the first couple of pages and chuckled when I saw several old images of Beck and me when we were kids.
As I continued turning the pages, there were several that were more recent, and even a couple of me with Ava that I didn’t know about. “This is great, Beck.”
“I thought we could add to it over the next year or so.”
“We definitely can.” I glanced down at the small box on the table as I told her, “Your turn.”
She nodded, then picked it up and started tearing away at the paper.
Seconds later, her eyes grew wide, and a soft smile crossed her face as she pulled the ring from the box.
It wasn’t an engagement ring—not just yet, but it was a ring that was full of just as much promise.
I took it from her hand, and as I slipped it on her finger, I told her, “It was my grandmother’s. ”
“Oh, Thomas, it’s beautiful.”
“You like it?”
“I love it.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me. “It’s perfect.”
“Everything ready for tomorrow morning?”
“I think so.” Beck looked over at the gifts beneath the tree and sighed. “We basically bought out the store, so surely she’ll be happy with everything.”
“I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“We should probably get to bed. There’s no telling when she’ll get up.”
I nodded, then followed her down the hall to her bedroom. I waited for her to crawl into bed, then sat down next to her. “I should get going.”
“What? No.”
“It’s Christmas and...”
“And I want you to stay.” Beck reached over and placed her hand on mine. “She would want you to be here, too.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely.”
I nodded, then eased out of my clothes and climbed into bed next to Beck.
She snuggled up, and in a matter of minutes, we were both out.
I felt like I’d barely closed my eyes when I felt little arms and legs crawling on top of me.
Knowing it was Ava, I didn’t move. I just laid there until I felt her nudge her mother and say, “Momma... Momma, Santa came.”
“Hmmm,” Beck groaned.
Ava nudged her once more. “Santa came!”
“Okay, sweetie. I’m coming.” Beck sat up in bed and eased the covers back. “I’m going to need coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.”
“On it,” I muttered, still lying there with my eyes closed.
“Tom-Tom.” Ava gave my shoulder a push. “Get up! Santa came!”
“Yeah, yeah.” I opened my eyes, and I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the excited expression on her little face. “I’m coming.”
With that, she darted out of the room, and the rest of the morning was a blur.
We had our coffee, and she tore through her presents like there was no tomorrow.
Big and Josie stopped by, and Ava showed them everything Santa had brought.
We hung out and watched her play for a bit, and then they helped us clean up, and we all headed to the clubhouse.