Be My December

  How was I meant to say goodbye?

  The night progressed smoothly. I would sneak quick glances at Ky and more often than not I would find him staring back at me and every time my heart would sing a brand new note. Ashlyn hadn’t left my side, and it was great to spend some time with her. The beers flowed, the laughter got louder, and as more time passed, my confidence began to grow.

  I left Ashlyn chatting to Josh and walked down the hall toward the bathroom. I heard someone at the door and just as I was about to call out busy, the door handle turned. The door suddenly flew open, and Ky’s large frame filled the space. His presence caused a flash of heat to rip through me. He closed the door, and with a click of the lock, he was stalking toward me with lust-filled eyes. The sexiest of smirks played on his lips, but I knew he had no intention of talking.

  “Are you having a good time?” Ky questioned, his voice lower then I had ever heard. His body rested against mine, causing my lower back to press against the vanity; my hands rested on the cold porcelain.

  “I am,” I hummed in return.

  “My urge to kiss you, to touch you, to fuck you overwhelms me. I crave being near you; I need to be near you. You are completely and utterly destroying me Miss Rivers, and I couldn’t be happier about that.”

  I didn’t know what came over me. It was like I was possessed by another being, but I loved it. Freedom swirled through my veins. I hurled myself up onto the edge of the vanity and by the leather of his belt I pulled him forward until his body slammed into mine.

  My actions spoke louder than any words I could say. I opened my legs in invitation he stepped in then I felt his erection against my thigh.

  His tongue swept across my bottom lip before completely engulfing my mouth with one scorching movement. Nothing but lust, need, and expectation lingered with every swipe of our tongues. Ky’s teeth nibbled at my swollen bottom lip, and I groaned at the sensation. Kissing him was like nothing I could have ever imagined. His arms wrapped around my hips, dragging me along the porcelain top of the vanity until his erection was hard against my heat. My hips moved, grinding against him, begging for friction to calm the ache that was growing by the second.

  The moment he released my mouth from his, I felt like I was caught in his web. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t do anything but stare at him. Every plausible emotion smashed together within me, twisting, turning, and pulsating until I had a need greater than anything I could have imagined; I connected with someone in the deepest of levels and for once it invigorated me.

  “Ky, make me yours,” I whispered, the double meaning not lost between us.

  “I’d love to.” Ky’s mouth fell to the crook of my neck as his hands slid up my thighs, pushing the thin black fabric of my dress up over my hips, exposing my aching heat. My hands fell to his zipper, tugging it down without recourse and then my hands slipped into his jeans, sliding them and his boxer briefs over his slim hips. My hand circled the thickness of his hard cock, and he growled his pleasure into the silent space of the bathroom and that was all it took.

  With eyes locked onto mine, Ky pushed into me so slowly, so intensely, watching my every reaction. The feeling of being completely full of him cascaded within me and my breath left my lungs. At an excruciating slow pace, he pulled out. His hand encased his glistening wet cock as he teased my desperate clit. I moaned into the still air and if anyone was in the hall they would have heard my cries of desperation. I was willing to beg, but he didn’t give me a chance. Before my eyes the smirk that I craved appeared and he thrust into me without warning in one animalistic, hard movement.

  “Ahhh!” I hissed against his shoulder as his relentless pounding overtook me. My teeth bit into his flesh every time he hit that magical spot while his fingertips kneaded into the softness on my hips. My head flew back as he slowed his rhythm, allowing me to roll my hips and take control. Our breathing danced together in a battle and was lost to the intensity of coming together.

  “I warned you that I would never get enough of you Eden.”

  His hands slid under me and lifted me clean from the vanity. My legs wrapped tightly around his body, locking at the ankles, accentuating the deepness of his cock still embedded within me as he crossed the room. Ky spun us around and I slammed heavily against the back of the door.

  “Are you ready to come baby? I want your pussy to squeeze my cock until I’ve got nothing left.”

  I pulled my face away from his shoulder and opened my eyes to watch him. His gaze met mine and his lips twisted into the most devilish of smirks. I knew he loved seeing my face when I came completely undone. His thumb hit my clit in perfect circular motions, and I cried his name as my body trembled with delight. The growl from Ky that followed as he unloaded his seed deep within me was the most satisfying sound in the world, like waves crashing on a deserted beach.

  “Holy shit.” He breathed heavily against my sticky skin as I came down from what was probably the most intense orgasm of my life. I remained locked in his arms as our heavy breathing filled the air. My arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders for fear of what I’d lose if I let him go. Ky remained buried deep inside of me, slowly moving in and out, never breaking our connection and allowing the constant spark of heat to soar through me. I lay my head on his chest, falling into bliss at the rhythmic beats of his heart.

  With soft steps, Ky moved us across the bathroom and placed me back on the top of the vanity gently. The moment he pulled out, my heart sank and I felt the loss of connection. His penetrating gaze never left mine as he turned the tap on beside me and wet a wash rag. Lips so soft and full landed on mine as he delicately cleaned me up. I liked the softness of this Ky.

  Ky’s hands cupped my face and the sweetest of smiles appeared. “So beautiful and all mine.”

  “I like hearing you say that,” I admitted honestly through a thick voice. Ky stiffened under my words and dropped his gaze from mine, which confused me.

  “I should get back to the party.”

  “I’ll be out soon. I am just going to go to the bedroom for a minute.”

  “Are you okay?” he asked, tucking a piece of loose hair behind my ear.

  I nodded in response. I was better than okay. I was falling way too fast, and there was officially nothing I could do about it.

  ••••

  “Eden where are you?”

  Ky’s voice sounded through the apartment when he arrived home from work. I laid in the bath enjoying the warmth and bubbles as his deep tone shot straight through me. I had spent most of the day locked away in a darkened studio finalizing shots of an up-an-coming pop star that was getting interviewed for the magazine. The moment the threat of snow arrived I packed up for the day. I hadn’t seen snow in four years and the thought of seeing the angelic fall of snow through the air was exciting.

  “Bathroom,” I replied.

  He smirked as he stepped through the door, his eyes taking in my bubble covered body. “I come home from work to this! Be careful Miss Rivers, I could get used to this.”

  I shook my head at his honesty and allowed my eyes to take him in. I was becoming a big fan of the days when he would return to the apartment wearing a tailored suit; today he didn’t disappoint.

  “Are you ready for tomorrow?” He leaned against the vanity and crossed his arms over his chest. Him being in the bathroom while I lay naked in the bath didn’t seem to bother him but my emotions were running riot.

  “Tomorrow?”

  “A little thing called Christmas.”

  Crap. I had been so distracted that I hadn’t even realized Christmas was here but Christmas was never a big holiday for me. My parents would usually be traveling to some tropical island and Tori and I would spend our Christmas watching holiday movies and eating way too much food for two.

  “I was planning on spending it here while you were with your family. I have a load of books on my Kindle I’d love to read; I was thinking of cooking myself a big batch of my favorite brownies and ea
ting them till I was in a food coma and then pass out. Christmas. Done.”

  Ky’s face dropped as he stared back at me, trying to digest my words like I had just announced the beginning of world war three. His brow pinched and then he said, “We need to leave at eight a.m.”

  He walked out of the bathroom without another word and without letting me speak. There was absolutely no way in hell I was spending Christmas with him and his family. No way in fucking hell.

  My bath was all but forgotten as soon as he uttered those words. I scrambled out and quickly jumped into the shower to rid myself of bubbles. Once I was clean I ripped the fluffy gown from the back of the door and wrapped it around my body. I stormed out of the bathroom like a woman on a mission and halted as I hit the entry to the living room only to find Ky lazing on the couch, shirt off, sweatpants on, and football game playing on the television.

  “You got something to say Eden?” he asked without turning toward me. What was it with this guy knowing my every move? “We leave at eight a.m.”

  “Ky, you cannot be serious?” I huffed in defeat.

  “Very serious. I don’t mess around about Christmas.”

  “You cannot be serious,” I repeated under my breath.

  “We should go to the store so you can get the stuff for those brownies.” He rose from the couch. His face was full of amusement with a twinkle in his eyes. “You’ll be a hit if you bring brownies.”

  It was then that I wished a hole would open up below me and swallow me. He was being absurd. I couldn’t spend Christmas with his family. I just couldn’t. I could barely keep my cool being around him the majority of time so the thought of being around strangers just couldn’t be imagined.

  “Eden, look at me.” His hands cupped my face softly and maneuvered my jaw so I had no choice but to look at him. “Spend Christmas with me? My family will love you.”

  “I have no choice.”

  “You always have a choice Eden.”

  ••••

  “Merry Christmas.”

  I woke to warm breath dancing over my lips and the feeling of Ky’s body hovering over me. I opened one eye and noticed the room was still in darkness. I didn’t have a chance to complain about the earliness of the wakeup call before Ky’s lips stole my breath, and I completely fell into the wake-up kiss. My arms wrapped around his shoulders instinctively pulling his body closer. His knee probed between my knees, pushing my legs wide so his strong body could collide with mine. As his lips continued to completely devour me, his body tormented me with every intense move and grind sending fireworks through my very awake body. “You are the best present Eden Rivers.”

  He could have asked me to do anything in that moment and I would have.

  When Ky finally allowed me out of bed, we were running late. I showered in the guest bedroom while he took the master shower. What in the hell do you wear to Christmas with parents? Seriously what the hell was I getting myself into? Last night after I complained for what was the hundredth time, he had told me that if I wasn’t ready that he was going to lock me out of his apartment and I would have to spend Christmas in the hall. Why the hell had my parents decided to be out of the country this Christmas?

  Once I showered, I entered Ky’s bedroom with the towel wrapped firmly around my body with my hair and makeup already done. Simple yet pretty was the look I was going for. I styled my hair in loose curls that hung to the middle of my back; my makeup consisted of a little blush, mascara, and a soft pink gloss. My nerves were shot, and I kept imagining everything that could go wrong; I wasn’t a chatty girl at the best of times. Fuck, to outsiders I was sure I came across as a snobby bitch, and now I had to meet Mr. and Mrs. Crawford. Did I call them Mr. and Mrs. Crawford? Would Josh be there? God I hoped he’d be there. I had absolutely no experience meeting parents, but in a matter of an hour I would be walking into the family home of the guy who I’d been sharing my body with, and who had opened his bed to me, and I had no clue what I was to him beside his December.

  “Eden we have to leave in ten—” Ky stopped in the doorframe and found me sitting on the edge of the bed. He was dressed in dark denim jeans, a dark grey sweater, and was wearing a black beanie over his thick brown hair. Why was it so easy for him to get ready?

  “What’s wrong?” He took two steps until he stood before me and crouched down, resting his hands on my bare knees. When his concerned eyes met mine, my eyes glistened with the enormity of what was about to happen. Tears welled before spilling over and sliding over my cheeks.

  “I’m sorry,” I whimpered in pure brutal honesty.

  “Hey, come on now. What are you sorry for?” Ky took a seat beside me on the bed and grabbed both of my hands in his. My eyes dropped to our hands entwined in each other’s and that set my emotions off once again.

  “What am I meant to do today?”

  “I don’t know what you mean. You’ve got to give me something here.”

  “Everything over the past month has just been crazy and fast and intense and now you are taking me to spend Christmas with your parents. That’s beyond insane. Ky, I’ve never met parents before. What happens if I have a flashback? What happens if I suddenly panic? What happens if I stutter the whole time? Fuck! What happens if they don’t like me?”

  “You are so fucking unbelievably out of this world sexy when you ramble.”

  My face dropped as another wave of insecurity hit me.

  “Eden, listen to me. You are the sweetest, confusing, most intense, and most beautiful person I have ever met. My parents are going to love you; they already know about you. Josh and Aunt Carole will be there, and I won’t leave your side. If you need time out just squeeze my hand, and we will escape somewhere. I cannot leave you here on your own on Christmas, and I can’t spend Christmas without my family, so you need to come with me.” He pulled me to my feet and gently wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Can you please get dressed so we can go?”

  All I could do in response was nod.

  Ten minutes later I was sitting in his car, dressed in dark denim skinny jeans, a cream sweater, and a baby pink scarf. It would take about thirty minutes to get to his parents’ house. I sat in the passenger seat and let my mind fleet back to the moment when I first met Ky.

  Never would I have imaged visiting his parents’ house for Christmas or that he could take over and rule my thoughts and body. I shifted in my seat so my back pressed against the door and watched him closely. His eyes focused on the road ahead and his lips were in a perfect pout as he concentrated on our destination. This man was becoming something so much stronger than just the guy paying for my photos; he was becoming the thief of my thoughts, the owner of my heart and my utter confusion. I was slowly but surely falling for him. After all of the internal battles I had, after all of the fight that I was determined to have, the idea of becoming something with him was now in the forefront.

  It was scary.

  It was exhilarating.

  It was undeniable.

  “I like you Ky,” I blurted out the moment he took a right hand turn and pulled into the driveway of a beautiful two story Victorian inspired home with pale grey exterior and white trimmings; a large wreath hung on the gleaming black double doors that I knew would lead to an even more stunning home.

  I heard Ky’s sharp intake of air the moment my admission hit the space in the car. He turned toward me after he killed the engine and stared at me. His mouth opened and closed like he wanted to speak but no words came. A loud shriek sounded outside of the car, ceasing our stare off, and we both swung around to look toward the house. A beautiful lady in her early fifties rushed toward the car, arms flailing, with dark brown hair bouncing around her shoulders; her face was overtaken by the biggest smile I had ever seen.

  “It’s time,” Ky muttered beside me. He opened the door and slipped out leaving me in a mass of nerves and confusion. I watched with a smile on my face as his mom wrapped her arms around him and his dad lovingly patted him on the back. Three sets of eye
s then fell to the car, and I realized I was still in the passenger seat with the seat belt tightly fastened around my body.

  With a shaking hand I opened the door and before I had a chance to put a foot on the ground I was being lifted and swung around excitedly in the air.

  “You are even prettier than your photos sweetheart!” His dad’s strong voice hit my ears as he finally let me stand. “This one has spoken about you constantly. Now come inside, it’s freezing out here, and I want to get to know the girl who has my son so smitten.”

  To say the day was nothing like I could have expected was an understatement. The Crawford family welcomed me with open arms and at no time did it ever feel like the first time meeting them. They fussed over me, fed me delicious food, and his parents even bought me a Christmas gift, which hung in pride of place around my neck. The moment Sue Crawford handed me the perfectly wrapped gift box, I felt a burst of unpredictable emotions hit me. What had I ever done in my life to deserve this level of kindness? Ky sensing my impending meltdown, pulled me into his lap and tightened his arms encouragingly around my waist as my body shook with emotion. As if forgetting we were around his family, a family who had been watching us for any indication of what was happening between us, he placed the most calming kiss on the side of my neck and encouraged me to open the gift. All eyes were on me and my hands shook as I lifted the lid from the box. Inside was a silver chain with an antique looking heart shaped locket dangling from it. I was at a complete loss for words. My fingers ran over the beautiful inscription on the back that read ‘The heart is there to be filled.’

  As soon as I read the inscription, they hit me full force. My heart had been dead, locked up and the key thrown away, but then somehow Ky had picked the lock and my heart was open to so many possibilities. Ky was filling my heart with words, actions, soft kisses and quiet moments and what was once an empty heart was now threatening to overflow.

  As day turned into night a ferocious snowstorm battered outside, with lashing winds and heavy snow fall. After dinner, James Crawford had informed us there was no way we were leaving that night and much to my shock Ky agreed without a fight. After I ate way too much food and drank my fair share of eggnog, my exhaustion hit at a rapid rate. I curled up on the sofa beside Josh, my head rested on his shoulder and what could have possibly been the most comforting hot chocolate of my life sat in my hands.