Bonus Epilogue
Bonus Epilogue
REN AND IVY THAT CHRISTMAS…
It was one week before the 25th of December, and I was struggling to find any kind of Christmas cheer.
This was the first Christmas I would be spending away from my parents. Even after I left home for school, I still went back for the holidays. This year, Ren and I had decided to stay in the city to celebrate on our own together. He wasn't quite ready to go back to our hometown.
My parents were understanding, and even decided to take the opportunity to travel to a sunny resort destination for the holidays, now that they didn't have to worry about me being alone for Christmas.
Even though I was excited to spend this special holiday with my boyfriend, there was one thing I was fretting over.
The exchanging of gifts.
For one, I was worried Ren would go overboard and buy me something extravagant and over the top. I would end up feeling guilty about it, he would notice and feel bad, and it would put a damper on our whole day.
Even worse than that, I had no idea what to get Ren. What did you give a guy who could afford to buy anything he wanted?
But even aside from that, I didn't want to give him something normal and standard. I wanted to give him something special. I wanted to give him something that no one else could. Something only I could give him.
I had been worrying for weeks, months even, over what to get him.
"Are you feeling okay?" Ren asked, squeezing my hand in his.
"Of course," I said, bringing my attention back to my surroundings. "Why wouldn't I be?"
There had finally been a sunny afternoon after what seemed like days of cloudy skies, so the two of us decided to go for a walk and window shop. We wanted to enjoy the festive atmosphere with carolers singing outside shops and twinkling lights lining the streets.
We didn't have to fight with the crowds doing last minute shopping because we'd each already bought gifts for our other loved ones.
Aside from, that is, my gift to Ren.
I blew out a frustrated breath and watched as a puff of white air left my lips.
Ren stopped in the middle of the street and turned to face me.
"No, really," he said, putting a gloved hand on my cold cheek. "What's wrong? You haven't been yourself lately."
"Just…" I couldn't explain the real problem, but I did have one other small thing that had been bothering me. "Just missing my parents a bit, I suppose. This is the first Christmas I'm away from them."
Ren's dark brown eyes turned understanding as he pulled me into a hug.
"It's not too late to crash their vacation," he said. "We can show up at their resort. I know where they're staying."
I let out a soft laugh.
"We don't have to go that far," I said. "I'll just make sure to call them. It's okay." I pulled back to look him in the eyes. That loving gaze warmed me from the inside out, making me forget all about the cool air.
But it didn't make me forget about my dilemma.
"Why don't we get something to eat or drink?" I suggested. "I think there's a vendor selling warm cider on that street corner over there."
Ren gave me one last concerned look before nodding and tucking me against his side.
"So, tell me what you got the guys for Christmas," I said, hoping to turn the conversation in another direction.
Ren's face lit up as he began eagerly explaining which gift he got for each band member and their respective girlfriends. I listened with half an ear, keeping an eye on the displays in store windows for any hint of an idea for Ren's gift.
Ren trailed off as his gaze drifted over to something across the street. He paused for a brief moment, halting in his steps, before he moved on, pulling me along with him quickly. I looked up to see his cheeks were redder, redder than they should have been even with the chill air.
"Anyway," he said, hurriedly continuing his story. "Kell's always talking about this weird animated show he likes, so I got him a graphic tee with the characters on it dressed like Santa's elves. He's going to love it."
"I'm sure he will," I said, but my attention had zeroed in on a store across the street. Was that what Ren had seen, that had made him stop in his tracks and turn red?
An inkling of an idea began to form in my mind. Something both naughty and nice.
This might be the solution to my problem.
I pulled my silk bathrobe around myself as I nervously paced around Ren's apartment.
It was Christmas Eve and we'd been getting ready to settle in for an evening of cookies, eggnog and cheesy holiday movies. Before Ren could pull me over to the sofa, I'd made a disappointed face as I closed the fridge.
"We're out of eggnog," I'd lamented.
"Want me to run out and get some?" he'd offered.
"If you don't mind," I said with an innocent, wide-eyed expression.
I hadn't told him there was still a full bottle of eggnog in the back of the fridge hidden behind a milk carton.
As soon as Ren left I began preparations. It didn't take long, so I was left spending twenty minutes wandering around the apartment, hoping he'd like my 'gift.'
Finally, I heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. I made a beeline to the bedroom and closed the door until it was open just a crack.
"Ivy?" Ren asked when he came into the apartment. There was rustling as he put a bag down. "I'm back."
"In here," I called out. My voice shook, both in anticipation and nerves.
Every thump of Ren's footsteps as he made his way to the bedroom made my stomach leap.
"What are you doing in here?" he asked, opening the bedroom door wide. "I know it's late, did you want to go to bed early?"
I swallowed hard and stood up from where I'd been perched on the edge of the bed. My fingers trembled as I undid the knot tying my bathrobe closed.
Ren's eyes went wide, his hand still clutching the bedroom doorknob.
I let the robe fall to the ground. Ren made a strangled sound in the back of his throat.
"Merry Christmas, " I said softly with a wavering smile.
"Fuck," he choked out.
The store that had caught Ren's eye had been a special kind of store. The kind that carried the item of clothing I was currently wearing.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, the scrap of clothing, because it didn't cover very much.
The two piece lingerie set was all satin and lace, red and green just like Christmas colors, and trimmed with white faux fur. The panties were low on my hips and the strapless bra was practically see through.
"I didn't know what kind of gift to give you," I said, lowering my eyes, feeling shy in a way I hadn't since I'd first began my relationship with Ren. "I wanted to get you something no one else could."
"Fuck, Ivy," Ren said again, his voice rough. He strode over in three quick steps and crushed his mouth to mine, his hands already curling around my ribcage and tugging me close. "You have no idea what you do to me, do you?"
I let out a little moan as he trailed his lips from my mouth down to my throat, just as his hands traced a path up my sides to cup my breasts.
"I think I have an idea," I breathed out, then put my hands on his chest before he could get any further. "Wait," I said, and he immediately stilled. "This store didn't only sell lingerie."
I reached behind me pick up a small gift bag sitting on the bed. I handed it to Ren. His eyes were already dark with heat but he humored me and took the bag. When he opened it and looked inside, his eyes went wide, then narrowed in hunger.
"Is this part of my gift?" he asked, his voice low.
I nodded and took out one of the small vibrator toys to place place in his hand.
"I want you to use this on me while you fuck me," I said, that expression on his face making me bold, daring.
He grabbed the toy, tossed it on the bed, then pushed me down, immediately crawling on top of me and spreading my legs with his knees.
I was already wet, just from having spent the last twenty minutes wearing this skimpy two piece and thinking of all the things Ren would do to me tonight.
He pressed his lips to mine again, kissing me breathless as he quickly divested me of my bra, sending it flying. I'd thought the outfit was sexy and cute, and I was a little disappointed he didn't have much time to appreciate it.
But I wasn't disappointed for long, because his hands immediately cupped my breasts, his thumbs circling my nipples. A pleasurable tingle started up where his thumbs played with me, then zipped further down to my belly, and finally to my core, making my insides throb.
"Ren," I gasped into his lips, "don't make me wait."
He groaned softly then hooked his fingers under the faux fur elastic of my panties and pulled them down. Soon I was bared to him, my legs spread open so he could see every curve and fold.
"Where's that toy?" he said, eyes blazing with an inner fire.
I flailed around on the mattress until I found it, then placed it in his hand. My stomach muscles tensed, knowing what he was about to do.
The buzzing sound as he flicked on the toy sent spike of need coursing through me. Ren touched it to my ankle, sending a little vibrations through me, a quick sample of what was next. He trailed it up my legs and inner thigh. Then he lifted it and brought it to my stomach, rubbing it in circles.
"Ren…" I groaned and squirmed on the bed. "Stop teasing."
"Don't you want me to thoroughly enjoy my gift?" The wickedness in his tone was something that only came out when we were in bed, and I loved it.
"I think you'll enjoy it more if you get inside me already," I said, wanton and impatient.
Ren quickly kicked off his jeans and boxers then tore off his shirt, leaving him just as naked as me. He was hard and weeping at the tip, and my inside pulsed, feeling painfully empty.
He shifted until his hips were nestled against mine, his shaft placed right at my entrance. I moaned again and rotated my hips, urging him on as the head just parted my folds.
"Fuck Ivy," he grunted, squeezing his eyes closed. "You're going to be the death of me."
I panted out a plea as my whole body flushed. "Please, Ren. I need you."
He finally brought the toy to the apex of my thighs at the same moment he slid inside me. We both let out long, low groans together, his voice low and deep in his chest, my voice high pitched and keening.
My whole body quaked at the onslaught of sensation, the vibration against my most sensitive spot, and the fullness of Ren parting my inner walls.
He rolled the toy in circles, using just the right amount of pressure, while continuing that delicious push and pull.
I knew I wouldn't last long. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and clung to his hips with my thighs.
"Ren, I can't—" I choked out a whimper. "I'm going to?—"
He picked up the pace, the friction sending shocks of pleasure through me as he pressed his mouth against mine.
"Come for me, Ivy," he murmured. "I want to watch you fall apart."
It only took one more twist of the toy and I was sent reeling, sparks flying across my vision as every muscle tightened at the tsunami of pleasure washing over me. Ren let out a long, low groan as his hard length twitched and pulsed inside me, sharing the pleasure between us.
It took several minutes of panting into each other's mouths before either one of us could speak.
"Merry Christmas," I said weakly.
"Merry Christmas," he replied with a chuckle, then buried his face in my neck. "I love you, Ivy," he whispered.
My heart ached sweetly as I let out a happy sigh.
"I love you, too, Ren," I told him.
"This certainly beats my gift to you," he spoke up.
I was about to open my mouth and tell him I'd love anything he got me, before he continued.
"I only bought you a Luca Brizzi cello."
My brain went blank for a second before I sat up. Ren hissed at parting so abruptly.
"Are you kidding?" I asked. "Do you know how expensive those things are?"
"Yes," he said simply, rolling onto his side to smile at me. "We made that much in the first two days of streaming our song."
"Oh." I paused. "I guess you're right."
Ren laughed and pulled me back down into his arms.
"Think of how often you'll use the cello," he said reasonably. "When you do the math, it's not that expensive."
"I suppose," I said, giving in and snuggling into his chest.
"I loved your gift," he told me, pressing a kiss into my hair. "And I'm going to make sure to use it even more often than you use your cello."
"I don't know, I use my cello an awful lot," I said, teasing lightly.
"Yes, I know," he said smugly. "That's why I said it."
I shifted on the bed until I was on top of Ren, staring into his eyes.
"You know, I played my cello twice today," I told him with a sly smile.
The heat in his eyes flared up again as he pulled me down into a blistering kiss.
I no longer had to worry about whether or not he'd like his gift.