Chapter 10
KATHRYN
CHRISTMAS DAY…
Snow is falling outside, the tree is glowing, and presents lie wrapped beneath. Kathryn and I are snuggled up on the couch, listening to Christmas music. Things couldn’t be more perfect.
Which is good, considering how early I got up this morning to get things started.
My job doesn’t give me much time to cook—or bake like I used to love doing with Mom before she passed—so I took an hour to make Blake and me some Christmas cookies. We decorated them with homemade frosting.
We made the decision to celebrate at my house, rather than Blake’s “dingy apartment,” as he put it.
He helped me string up more lights and hung the last of the decorations on the top of the tree that’s beyond my reach.
As he leans in and kisses me on the cheek, I realize just how much my life has changed since he walked in.
I’m a different woman.
No, that’s not true. I’m the same woman as I was before, only with my secret side unlocked—a side I didn’t even know was there before Blake.
He looks down at me, and my heart gets all fuzzy and warm, like the fire crackling in the fireplace.
“You love me?” I ask him. There’s no doubt in me; I just want to hear him say it.
“You know I do.” He smiles back. I stare back at him, and he immediately understands. “I love you, Kathryn. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I giggle back, opening my lips for a kiss.
He leans in to give me one, and like in a movie, his phone buzzes beside him. We both groan.
“That must be my parents,” he replies, reaching for it. “Yep, it’s them.”
“You should take it.”
“Won’t be long. Should I tell them you say hi?”
I actually don’t know how to respond. I don’t even know if Blake has told them about me yet. “Um…”
“Don’t worry.” He smirks, answering. “Hey, Ma. Hey, Dad.”
Something inside me shifts. It’s not like I haven’t heard people talking to their parents on the phone before. But for some reason, when I hear Blake conversing casually with his, I feel an ache deep down.
I thought I’d dealt with the loss of my folks. It’s one of the reasons I hate Christmas so much and have avoided it. Not having a family to celebrate with just hurts.
But now, listening to Blake chat with his mom and dad, I wonder…Could I be part of this family one day?
I almost feel guilty for having this feeling—like I’m yearning to be part of something that isn’t mine. But I am Blake’s, aren’t I?
“Yeah, Mom,” I hear him saying. “You and Dad enjoying the sun down there in Florida?”
A pang of guilt hits me.
After hearing Blake wasn’t going to be getting Christmas off—thanks to me—his parents decided to take a vacation to Florida until the New Year.
If it wasn’t for me, we’d be having them over for a nice dinner tonight.
“Yeah, I love you too, Mom,” I hear him say. “Tell Dad I’ll call again tomorrow. Right now I’ve got to go spend time with my fiancé.”
My heart leaps. I nearly jump out of my pants.
Did he just say what I think he said?
My whole body feels tight as he hangs up and stands. His strong hands grip mine, and he leads me over to the tree. Before I can react, he’s on one knee in front of me.
“Oh my God…”
Smiling like a prince, he pulls a small wrapped gift from beneath the tree and hands it to me.
“Kathryn, my life hasn’t been the same since I met you. I thought I was just going to grind out an internship, but then everything changed.”
Is this really happening?
“I may be in control, but I have no power over how I feel when I see you, when I hold you, kiss you, and make love to you.”
I’m melting. My eyes are swelled with tears as he looks at me with such strength. His gaze tells me that without a doubt, this is a man I can trust with my life. A man who will never let me down.
My hands are trembling as I look at the gift wrapped in shiny red paper, bound with green ribbon.
It looks professional, but I know Blake did it himself. There’s nothing he can’t do.
“Do you want me to open it?” I ask, my voice quivering.
“If you want,” he teases back.
My heart is racing as I slowly peel back the ribbon, then use my fingernail to gingerly cut through the tape. I want to save this wrapping paper.
As it falls back, I gasp. I think I knew what was inside, but seeing it is a whole different matter.
A jewelry box. Nothing fancy, but when I open it, that’s when I almost fall apart.
The most gorgeous engagement ring sits on a layer of felt, sparkling up at me like the most glorious future.
Like the box, the ring is humble, and I know that’s because it’s all Blake can afford right now.
But that doesn’t matter to me. It’s beautiful.
I don’t need a thousand carats or a platinum band; I just need him.
And wearing this on my finger every day to show the world that I’m his will be the biggest privilege of my life.
“Kathryn Emily Meyer,” Blake says, his voice so strong and calming. “Will you make me the happiest man—”
“Yes,” I blurt out before he can even finish. “Of course I will! Yes!”
I hand him back the ring box, and he removes the ring and slips it onto my finger. My whole body goes hot, and I collapse into his arms.
He catches me like I weigh nothing, spins me, and sets me down on my back beneath him.
The lights from the Christmas tree gleam off the brand new rock sitting on my finger. The fire warms my toes, and Blake’s scent and strong arms wrap me up in what can only be described as perfection.
My heart pounds loudly in my ears as he grinds against me, showing me just how hard he is for me.
“Take your pants off,” he tells me. It’s a command—a command which instantly causes my body to buzz with excitement.
I obey and pull my pants down, leaving me bare beneath him.
His eyes sparkle as he drags his gaze across my body. I used to feel anxious when he looked at me—even ashamed—but now I love it. He has the power, but I can also make him hard in an instant.
“Spread your legs.”
Yes…more…
I do as I’m told and open up for him. He’s already hard as a rock, and pride swells through me as he takes me, spreading me open with his thick shaft.
Every time he fucks me, I’m sure he’s going to split me in two. He’s just that big. But then I relax and let him overwhelm me, pound me through countless orgasms until I nearly pass out.
I let out a deep sigh as he fills me up, leans in, and kisses me down the neck, causing my whole body to shiver with warmth and delight.
The way he can deliver passion and dominance at the same time is mind-blowing.
He reaches down and presses a finger on my clit, and that’s all it takes. Just the right amount of pressure and I go off.
My pussy clenches down on him as he pumps me hard. I reach out with one hand and grab the leg of the coffee table. The other finds his hand, which he pins down by my cheek.
I’m coming so hard, milking his cock as his own orgasm rocks him and I feel his hot seed spray inside me. He presses his tongue into my mouth as his cock flexes hard, filling me completely.
I wrap my arms around him and let out a little giggle as a thought slips into my mind. “Can you imagine…?”
“Imagine what?” he asks, breathing heavily.
“If I gave you your time off?” He chuckles. “This…whole thing with us…it never would have happened.”
He frowns, giving me a playfully stern look. “Oh, it would have happened.”
How does he always know just what to say?
“Yeah?”
“Of course,” he replies, cupping my cheek with his strong hand. “Besides, my Christmas bonus made up for the time off.”
I frown, confused. “Christmas bonus?”
“Yeah.” He smirks. “You, Kathryn. You’re my Christmas bonus.”