Chapter 1 #2
Plush leather furniture greeted us, and a garland with twinkling lights had been draped along the mantelpiece. And finally, a giant Christmas tree stood in the corner, already decorated with gold and red ornaments that caught the firelight.
Everything smelled like pine and cinnamon, with undertones of wood smoke and that indefinable scent of home.
"This is beautiful,” Estelle breathed, slowly removing her hat and shaking out her hair. "How did you guys arrange all this?"
“We’re the fucking Eastons, princess,” Jax said obviously, settling beside her on one of the couches. Even with his Santa hat slightly askew, he looked like he'd stepped out of a winter fashion shoot.
"Dibs on the room with the best view," Adrian announced, dropping his bag and immediately beginning to explore.
"Too late," Jax called from the couch. "Already claimed the master suite for Estelle and me.”
"Of course you did, you territorial bastard," Adrian growled. "Fine, but Isla and I get the one with the private hot tub."
“What else is there?” I asked, suddenly very interested in our sleeping arrangements.
"Sweet girl," Connor murmured in my ear, "we get the room with its own fireplace. I plan to keep you very warm in front of those flames."
The promise in his voice made heat pool low in my belly, and I had to bite my lip to keep from making an embarrassing sound.
He always knew exactly what to say to turn me into melted butter.
"Okay, enough talk about sleeping," Estelle interrupted, cheeks flushed with more than just cold.
"I need hot chocolate and I need it now. And someone needs to help me figure out how to survive in this weather without freezing my fingers off."
"That's what fireplaces are for," Isla said practically, already settling onto a couch near the hearth. "And layers. Lots and lots of layers."
"Or," Adrian said to Isla with a wicked grin, "we could explore the benefits of shared body heat. You know, for survival purposes."
Isla just stared at him, shaking her head with a grin on her face.
“I'm being practical, angel. It's basic wilderness survival. You conserve heat by staying close to your partner."
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Jax asked dryly. "Wilderness survival?"
"Among other things," Connor added, his hand finding the small of my back in that familiar possessive way.
I let Toffee out of his carrier, watching as he immediately claimed the spot closest to the fire, his little striped sweater making him look like a festive loaf of bread.
He began grooming himself with the kind of dignified air that suggested he'd always lived in luxury mountain cabins.
“He’s adapting well," I smiled, settling into Connor's lap once he settled in one of the massive armchairs. His arms came around me immediately, and I melted into his familiar warmth.
“He’s got good instincts," Connor agreed, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Just like you.”
I hummed softly, nuzzling into his large warmth and familiar scent. The red Santa hat on his head looked funny, but so perfect there.
"So," Estelle started, accepting a mug of hot chocolate from Jax, who’d apparently gotten up to serve her, "what's the plan for our week in winter wonderland? Besides freezing our sun-born butts off."
"Well," Adrian started, finally removing his jingling hat and running his hands through his tousled hair, "I was thinking we start with the basics. Snowball fights, snow angels, maybe some sledding if we can find a good hill."
"Sledding?" I perked up. "Is that as fun as it looks in movies?"
"Better," Jax assured me. "Assuming you don't mind going fast and potentially crashing into trees."
"And whatever's in that mysterious black bag you guys brought," Isla added with a knowing smile, settling beside Adrian on the couch. "Don't think we didn't notice it."
The guys exchanged glances that were heavy with meaning and mischief.
"That," Jax said with a grin that made his blue eyes sparkle, "is a surprise for later."
"A good surprise or a 'we should be worried' surprise?’” Estelle asked suspiciously.
"The best kind," Adrian replied cheerfully. "The kind that makes Christmas unforgettable."
The conversation continued around us, comfortable and familiar, but I found myself getting lost in the sensory experience of it all.
The warmth of Connor's body against mine, the snap and crackle of the fire, the taste of chocolate and rum on my tongue when we all got drinks.
Outside, snow continued falling, visible through the windows like nature’s snow globe.
I knew this was what family felt like. The contentment that came from being exactly where you belonged, with exactly the right people, in the most magical place imaginable.
"Earth to Sierra," Adrian's amused voice broke through my reverie. "You look like you're about to fall asleep in Connor's lap."
"Maybe I am," I admitted with a yawn. "The combination of warmth and rum is dangerous."
"The combination of you in my lap is dangerous," Connor growled in my ear, low enough that only I could hear.
His hand found my thigh, his thumb tracing patterns through my tights that made heat spiral through me despite the innocent gesture.
"Connor," I whispered, suddenly very aware of his body beneath mine, of the way his breathing had changed.
"I know, sweet girl. But we have all week." His lips brushed my ear. "And I plan to use every single day to show you how much I love having you here with me."
The promise made me shiver—not from cold this time, but from pure anticipation. Whatever Connor had planned for our week in the snow, I was ready for all of it.
"Alright, lovebirds," Jax interrupted with a knowing smirk, "save some of that heat for when you're not traumatizing the rest of us."
"Says the man who had his hand up Estelle's dress five minutes ago," Adrian pointed out cheerfully.
"That was completely innocent!" Estelle protested, cheeks flaming.
"Sure it was. Just like how Sierra squirming in Connor’s lap is completely innocent."
"Adrian," Isla laughed, pushing him.
“What? I'm just observing! It's like watching a nature documentary—‘Here we see the natural mating behaviors of the festively crazy family...'"
A pillow hit him in the face, thrown with deadly accuracy by Connor.
"Ow! Violence! Uncalled for violence!"
"Keep talking and I'll show you real violence," Connor warned, his arms never loosening around me.
“Sure,” Adrian grinned, completely unrepentant.
"You're all weird,” I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in months. "But I love you anyway."
"Even me?" Adrian asked with exaggerated hopefulness.
I laughed. “Yes, you. Someone has to keep spoiling Toffee when he steals Connor’s bacon.”