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7
Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas
Amber
Life had thrown me every curve ball imaginable, and I had never been happier than I was right now in this moment, sipping on eggnog with brandy while I watched my family splash around in the pool a few hours before Christmas.
Seventeen years ago, I fell in love with the man of my dreams.
Eleven years ago, I married my soulmate.
Ten years ago, I gave birth to our beautiful twins.
Seven years ago, I gave birth to our little monster.
Four years ago, I gave birth to another set of twins, and now, our home was constantly filled with their laughter and squeals, making my heart full.
Ryan was the one that had the perfect idea of getting the kids into the heated pool while I wrapped the remainder of the gifts so they wouldn’t see the few things I had picked out. Santa’s gifts were hidden away, ready to be brought out much later tonight when I knew all five of them were sound asleep.
I wasn’t ready for any of them to stop believing just yet. They needed this magic in their lives, especially with all of the uncertainty in our lives. This next year was about to be a rocky one. All I wanted was to keep the smiles on their faces, to keep them hidden from the evils of the world.
Ryan had the two youngest twins hanging off his arms, and he was trying to throw them off. Their shrill laughter could be heard through the impact windows, and I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face at the sight of that beautiful man.
He had come home every night for the last week completely exhausted. Big, dark bags hung under his gorgeous, blue eyes, and he dragged his legs from the front door to the kitchen table, his hair a mess from pulling his fingers through it numerous times throughout his day.
Yet, he still found energy for us. He would wrap me in his big, burly arms and brush his lips against mine, and then look at me like I was the answer to all his prayers. I wished I really was.
Christmas music played from the Alexa speakers that I had situated all over the house, giving a surround-sound effect. The sweet words falling from Dolly Parton’s lips washed over me.
“I want to cuddle up and cozy down with you . . .”
I let my eyes wash over Ryan’s body. His tattoos swirled over his biceps, and his strong muscles flexed as he threw the kids around in the pool. A playful grin bit at his lips.
He was sinfully gorgeous.
It had been a long time since we’d been intimate, since I’d felt his soft touch caress me. The problems at work had taken a toll on our marriage. It had made us fight, made me question if I was enough for my family.
Dolly Parton’s words reminded me of where I came from. Christmas wasn’t about gifts; it was about love and being around the people you love most.
Ryan pulled each kid out of the pool a few minutes later as the sun started to set and ushered them through the house to go shower for the dinner I had worked on preparing all afternoon. I watched from my perch on the couch, my eggnog still in hand I took another sip, watching Ryan get out from the pool. I licked my lips.
He was yummy.
He towel-dried his shaggy hair and came into the kitchen, followed by the grinning kids.
“What are you looking at?” His eyes drank me in, taking in all of me, and I felt the blush creeping at my neck already.
I had been caught in front of the kids.
“You.”
His eyes flashed with desire as butterflies flew around my stomach. I didn’t feel like a mom when he looked at me that way. I was transported back to the twenty-year-old girl who fell in love with her best friend’s older brother.
“Go shower and get ready for dinner,” Ryan directed the order at our kids who were just standing there in confusion, watching the exchange between us with puzzled eyes.
They nodded and passed by Ryan and then me, all trudging up the stairs, complaining about how cold the house was on their way.
“You are playing with fire, Ames.” He knelt in front of me, his towel hanging off his shoulders.
