18. Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
Kallie
A Christmas movie plays on the TV as I wait for Lance to get back. He has been gone for almost two hours now, and Mom has already started on another Hallmark movie.
Moments later, the front door of the cabin opens as my dad and Lance pull off their jackets and make their way into the living room.
“Dad,” I breathe, the word catching in my throat.
He meets my gaze, his own eyes full of a mixture of apology and shame. “I’m sorry,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “I shouldn’t have left like that.”
Relief washes through me. Without a word, I stand from the couch, the blanket falling to the ground as I throw myself into his arms.
“I’m sorry, Dad. We were going to tell you,” I whisper into his shirt.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m not mad at you.”
I pull back, looking up at him. “Really?” I ask.
“Yes. I’m so sorry you got hurt because of me.” He releases me, and I take a step back, bumping into something. Looking over my shoulder, Lance’s towering frame is right behind me, his hand finding my hip.
“It’s alright. Lance patched me right up,” I tell him, leaning back against Lance’s chest.
“Alright, we’re going to take off for the night,” Dad says, putting his arm around my mom.
“Already? You just got here.”
“Well, since you aren’t leaving town, we’ll be able to make up for lost time. Besides, Lance has a surprise for you.” My dad throws me a wink, and I give them both a hug before walking them outside.
“I love you, Kallie. And I’m proud of you, no matter what.” My dad places a kiss against my temple before opening the car door for Mom.
When I turn, I find Lance leaning against the door frame, watching me.
“Surprise, huh?” My hands find his chest, wanting nothing more than to be in his arms again. “Mhm,” he hums before bending down and placing a kiss against my lips.
We make our way down his driveway, and as soon as the cabin comes into view, I see the faint glow of lights on inside. Twinkling colored lights line each window, illuminating the whole place.
As we stroll to a stop, I whip my head toward Lance. He already has a smirk plastered on his handsome face as he takes in the excitement on mine.
Did he decorate? “Lance–” I begin, but he puts his truck in park and doesn’t say anything as he exits and comes around to my side.
“Come on, sunshine,” he says, holding his hand out for me.
I’m hit with the scent of pine and cinnamon the second we step through the door. Christmas music plays on the TV, and the fireplace is already burning.
“Lance, this is amazing. I thought you didn’t decorate?” I ask, wrapping my arms around his waist, needing to feel him close.
“No, I said I had no reason to decorate,” he says, pressing a kiss to my temple as he wraps his arms around me. “I have a reason now. Plus, we have a few Christmases to make up for.” This thoughtfulness is something I didn’t expect from him—or anyone, really. He not only was able to smooth things over with my dad somehow, but he also turned his house into something magical on such short notice.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” I say against his chest, never wanting to leave this spot.
I yelp as Lance picks me up, and I automatically wrap my legs around his waist.
His lips find mine, and I can’t help but get lost in the kiss. He palms my ass before pulling away. I can see so much love in his eyes but also something else. Tension builds between my legs, and I can’t stop myself from grinding on him.
Lance lowers us to the couch until I’m straddling him, his hard cock grinding against my center. A moan slips through my lips as his hand slides against the back of my neck, tangling in my hair and grabbing a handful before lightly yanking back. His lips meet the skin of my neck, and I can feel my body come alive under his touch.
“Fuck, I love you, Kallie.”
“I love yo–” I begin, but the sound of the door opening breaks the moment.
“Lance! Why the fuck are you not answering your phone—” a tall man with brown hair shouts as he steps through Lance's front door, his words dying on his tongue at the sight of Lance and me. Another man with longer hair and a short blonde girl step inside.
“Oh my God!” the woman yells before pushing past the two men into the living room. “Did you decorate your cabin, Lance?” the woman says, completely unfazed about me sitting on Lance's lap.
I go to get up, but he grips my hips, keeping me in his lap. “Lance, let me up,” I tell him, but he just shakes his head and motions downward with his eyes. His cock is hard as a rock.
“Give me a second,” he whispers, hoping no one else will hear.
“Oh, brother. This must be the pretty Kallie you’ve told us so much about,” the man who was first to walk in says. I’m pretty sure he’s the same guy I saw at Lance's bar my first night in town.
“Hi. I’m Kiernan, Lance’s younger brother. That’s Colt, the oldest, and that annoying girl is Shayla.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m the annoying one. Sure, let's go with that.” She rolls her eyes and steps farther away from Kiernan. Colt stays by the door, not saying anything, acknowledging me with a nod.
Deciding I need to get up, I go to stand, and this time, Lance lets me.
“Hi. Yes, I’m Kallie. It’s great to meet you all.” I look between them—Lance had talked to them about me. I knew Lance had brothers, but I’ve never met them personally. I’m not entirely sure who Shayla is to them, but she seems nice—though there is clearly something going on between her and Kiernan.
I look over my shoulder at him, and I can tell he’s uncomfortable. When his eyes meet mine, I raise a single brow. He reaches up and grips the back of his neck before standing and stepping up behind me.
“What are you guys doing here?” Lance has his hands on my shoulders, and it warms my heart that he doesn’t want to hide our relationship from his family.
“Well, we tried calling you but didn’t get an answer. And we know you usually spend Christmas with Robert, but we saw your truck in the driveway, so we figured we could stop by and see what had you all wrapped up. And now we know.” Kiernan winks.
“Okay, well, now you know. So please leave,” Lance asks, a forced smile on his face.
“This must be pretty serious if you got Lance to decorate for Christmas.” Kiernan plops down on the couch, his arms stretched out alongside the back.
“It was a surprise,” I tell him.
Colt steps forward, finally bringing his own opinion to the table.
“You mean to tell me Lance did this all on his own…for you?” His deep voice controls the whole room, and everyone else goes silent, all eyes on Lance as he pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Good lord. Yes, okay? I decorated so Kallie and I could celebrate together. I wanted to see her smile. Is that enough of an explanation?” No one says anything for a few seconds—they all just stare at Lance, and I can’t help but join them. How the hell did I get this lucky?
I turn around to face him and pull him down for a kiss. “I love you.”
“And I love you, sunshine.”
Kiernan clears his throat before standing and walking over.
“Alright, love birds. We’ll let ya celebrate alone. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.” He claps Lance on the shoulder before wrapping an arm around Shayla and pulling her out the door. Before they can get too far, she shrugs him off while telling him to fuck off. Oh yeah. Definitely something going on with those two.
“Merry Christmas, guys,” Colt says, a small smile on his face before he closes the door, leaving us alone once again.
“So, what do you wanna do for the rest of the night, sunshine?” Lance asks, and I gaze up at him in awe, completely and utterly under his spell.
“I just want to be wrapped in you.”
The End