Chapter 4 #4
"I love you," he murmured eventually, lips brushing my temple with infinite tenderness. "My perfect, bratty, festive girl."
“I love you too," I whispered back, meaning it with every fiber of my being. “My perfect, handsome man.”
When we finally emerged from the warming hut, the cold air hit us like a gentle sting, but Jax's arm immediately wrapped around my waist, pulling me against the solid warmth of his side.
My cheeks were still flushed from more than just the cold, and I caught the knowing looks from Sierra and Isla—smug little smiles that said they knew exactly what had transpired behind that closed door.
The guys pressed steaming cups of hot chocolate into our hands without comment, but Connor looked at Jax in amusement while Adrian's eyes danced with mischief.
"My feet are absolutely killing me," Sierra announced, shifting her weight from one foot to another. "These rental skates are torture devices disguised as winter fun."
"Same," I groaned, suddenly very aware of the ache spreading through my ankles. "I think I've lost all feeling in my toes."
"Can we please go home before we lose any actual digits to frostbite?" Isla added, laughing. "I'm thinking we should stop for something on the way. Maybe that little bistro we passed?"
"Oooh, yes," Sierra perked up immediately. "Something hot and yummy.”
Connor made a sound that was equal parts grunt and sigh. "Because apparently my cooking isn't good enough."
"Your cooking is amazing," we assured him quickly. "We're just feeling indulgent after pretending to be Olympic athletes all day."
"Speak for yourself," Adrian interjected with a grin. "Some of us actually have natural grace on ice.”
"Some of us are natural show-offs," Jax corrected.
The drive back to the cabin was filled with gentle teasing and comfortable chatter, Christmas music drifting softly from the radio while snow continued to dust the windshield.
By the time we pulled up to the cabin, warm golden light was spilling from every window, and I could see the twinkling fairy lights that adorned the wraparound porch like a holiday movie.
Inside, the atmosphere was pure Christmas magic. A fire crackled merrily in the stone hearth, casting shadows across walls adorned with garlands of fresh pine and holly.
The air was redolent with the scent of cinnamon and cloves, something indefinably festive that made my chest warm with contentment.
"Hot tub," Isla declared the moment we shed our coats and scarves. "I need to soak these poor muscles before they seize up completely."
"Best idea all day," Sierra agreed, already heading toward the stairs to change into her swimsuit.
Twenty minutes later, we were making our way out to the covered patio, where steam was already rising invitingly from the massive hot tub.
The deck was a winter paradise with Christmas lights strung around the support beams, garland wrapped around the railings, and even a small evergreen tree in the corner decorated with waterproof ornaments that sparkled in the light.
The contrast between the heated deck and the cold night air made my skin prickle with anticipation.
Snow was falling steadily beyond the covered area, flakes drifting down like confetti in the glow of the string lights, accumulating on the deck furniture and creating a pristine white carpet that stretched into the darkness.
I slipped into the bubbling water with a sigh of pure bliss, the heat immediately penetrating muscles I hadn't even realized were tense.
The water was perfectly heated, hot enough to make my skin flush pink but not uncomfortably so. Steam rose around us in lazy spirals, creating an intimate cocoon that felt separate from the rest of the world.
"Oh my god," Sierra breathed, wading deeper into the water until only her shoulders were visible. "This is heaven. Actual heaven."
"I could live in here," Isla agreed, sinking down to her chin, letting her hair fan out around her like a halo.
Jax settled behind me, his strong arms circling my waist as he pulled me back against his bare chest. The skin-to-skin contact with his muscles made me shiver despite the heat, and I could feel his satisfied smile against my hair.
His hands were warm and possessive on my skin, thumbs tracing idle patterns down my torso that made my stomach flutter.
Across from us, Connor had claimed a corner of the tub with Sierra curled sideways on his lap, her head resting on his shoulder.
His frame dwarfed her completely, one large hand holding her while the other trailed through the water absently. He looked more relaxed than I'd seen him all day, the tension finally leaving his shoulders.
Isla was nearly submerged nearby, her head tipped back to gaze at the snowy scenery and stars above.
The sound of the patio door sliding open made us all look up expectantly.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Adrian announced with theatrical flair, appearing with an elegant silver tray that caught the Christmas lights and scattered them like dancing stars.
The tray was laden with professionally crafted cocktails, steam rising from several of the glasses, and I could smell cinnamon, nutmeg, and something boozy.
"Only the finest liquor for my favorite little elves perched on their highest shelves."
He set the tray down on the small table beside the hot tub like a bartender.
"Spiked eggnog with nutmeg, vanilla, and enough bourbon to make Santa himself blush," he announced, handing Sierra a mug topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick. "For our sweetest bee."
Sierra accepted it with wide eyes, immediately taking a sip and sighing with pleasure.
"Cranberry Moscow mule with ginger, lime, and just a hint of rosemary," he continued, passing me another mug that was beautifully garnished with sugared cranberries. The rim was dusted with cinnamon. "For our shining star."
I took a sip and nearly groaned with pleasure. It was tart and refreshing, the cranberry balanced perfectly with the spicy ginger and the smooth burn of vodka.”
"And peppermint hot chocolate with chocolate bark, mint, and enough Baileys to make it perfect,” he finished, handing Isla a mug filled with rich, dark liquid topped with whipped cream and crushed candy canes. "For our heavenly angel."
Isla accepted her drink with a grateful smile, immediately taking a sip and sighing contentedly. "Adrian, you're a god among men."
"I know," he replied with a grin, finally stripping off his shirt and sliding into the water beside her. "It's a gift, really."
The addition of alcohol created a pleasant warmth that spread through my limbs, adding to the already intoxicating combination of heat and holiday magic.
Adrian hadn't been kidding about the strength of these drinks—I could feel the vodka working its way through my system, creating a soft, pleasant buzz that made everything seem more golden and magical.
Around us, the snow continued to fall in lazy flakes that caught the light and sparkled like tiny diamonds before disappearing into the darkness.
The Christmas lights strung around the patio cast everything in a warm, golden glow that made our skin look luminous and the steam shimmer like something out of a fairy tale.
"This is perfect," Sierra murmured, her voice already slightly slurred from the bourbon.
She was practically melting into Connor's embrace, her small frame completely relaxed against his massive chest. "I don't ever want to leave this moment."
"We don't have to," Connor offered quietly, his voice unusually soft. "We have all night."
"All week, actually," Jax added softly, his lips brushing against my ear in a way that made me shiver. "No schedules, no obligations. Just us and Christmas."
The conversation drifted into comfortable quiet as the alcohol worked its magic, loosening tongues and melting away any remaining inhibitions.
We talked about everything and nothing—childhood Christmas memories, Easton Christmas vacations, dreams for future holidays.
The drinks kept flowing, Adrian periodically disappearing inside only to return with fresh rounds that were somehow even more delicious than the last.
“I’m so happy,” Sierra smiled suddenly, her cheeks flushed pink from the heat and alcohol. “This is my first Christmas with family in a long time.”
"And now?" Connor asked quietly, his hand stroking through her wet hair.
Sierra smiled up at him, the love in her expression so pure. "Now I have you. All of you. And Christmas is magical again."
“Me too,” I agreed softly. "Christmas was always... complicated. It never felt like the warm, happy celebration you see in movies."
Jax's arms tightened around me, pulling me closer against his chest. "And now?"
I looked around at the faces surrounding me—Sierra's gentle smile, Isla's warm eyes, Adrian's affectionate grin, Connor's quiet understanding, and Jax's smoldering blue gaze that promised forever.
Steam rose around us like incense, the Christmas lights twinkled like stars, and soft carols blessed our little gathering.
"Now I understand what Christmas is supposed to feel like," I whispered. And I’d get to see Leo soon and hold him all Christmas morning.
The night deepened around us, but our little bubble of warmth and light felt timeless.
Adrian began regaling us with stories of past Christmas chaos, his animated gestures making us all laugh until our sides hurt.
I found myself sharing memories too—quiet moments with my late sister or Leo on Christmas mornings past, how I'd tried so hard to make the holidays magical for him even when I didn't understand the magic myself.
"He deserves this," I said softly, thinking of my sweet nephew who was finally getting the Christmas he'd always deserved. "A real family Christmas, with people who love him unconditionally."
"He has it now," Sierra said gently. "We all do."
Isla talked about holiday traditions from her childhood, painting pictures with words that made us all nostalgic for Christmases we'd never had.
Connor remained mostly quiet, but his occasional observations had us all in stitches, and the way he held Sierra spoke volumes about his contentment.
As the night progressed, I sank deeper into Jax's embrace, my head resting on his shoulder as I watched the snow fall beyond our heated sanctuary.
The combination of the hot water, the strong drinks, and the overwhelming sense of belonging had created a state of perfect peace I'd never experienced before.
“Princess,” Jax murmured suddenly, his voice soft enough that only I could hear. "Look at me."
I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, struck by the tenderness I saw there.
"This is your first real Christmas," he said quietly. "Your first Christmas surrounded by people who love you unconditionally. Your first Christmas where you get to be yourself completely, where you're cherished exactly as you are. And Leo's first Christmas with a real family, too."
The words hit me, emotion rising in my throat so suddenly I could barely breathe. Because he was right.
In all my years of holidays and celebrations, I'd never felt this sense of complete acceptance, this certainty that I was exactly where I belonged.
And Leo, my precious Leo, was finally experiencing the kind of Christmas magic I'd only been able to dream of giving him before.
"Yes," I whispered, feeling tears prick at my eyes. "It is."
“And it won’t be the last,” he breathed, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. "Because you both deserve every moment of magic, every single day of happiness, every bit of love we can give you. This is just the beginning. This is your life—yours and Leo's."
Around us, our found family continued their gentle conversations, unaware of the profound moment Jax and I were sharing.
But somehow that made it even more special—this quiet revelation happening in the middle of ordinary Christmas joy, like a gift wrapped in the simple act of belonging.
I closed my eyes and let myself sink completely into the moment—the heat of the water, the strength of Jax's arms, the laughter of my friends, the soft Christmas music floating in the snowy air.
This was what home felt like. This was what family meant. This was what Christmas was supposed to be.
And when we get home, Leo would be there waiting, ready to hear about our adventures and share in this new kind of Christmas magic we'd discovered together.
A Christmas where love wasn't conditional, where acceptance wasn't earned, where family was chosen and cherished.