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At times, I could read his mind, and, at that moment, when I thought my life was falling apart, that the future I had planned was gone, he reminded me that it wasn’t gone – that there was just a new obstacle in our path, and we would overcome it like we had every other problem thrown our way.
“I wish we could have gotten them more,” I whispered into his chest. His arms were tight around me, just like they had been all those years ago.
“They don’t need more than this, princess.” Seventeen years later, and this man still called me a princess. I guessed some things never changed, even though my appearance had changed drastically.
“I know, but I just want to give them everything I had as a child.” He pulled away to look into my eyes. I found a sense of peace and immediate safety when I gazed into his. Time had taken away his youth, giving him wrinkles around his eyes. His beard had turned from black to sprinkled with gray, and yet, he was still the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on.
“We have given them everything. They live in a mansion of a house. They each have their own bedroom, and they have enough toys upstairs to open their own toy store. You are a wonderful mother. Don’t you ever doubt yourself because you can’t buy the same amount of presents this year as we did in the past. Quality over quantity, baby.”
Like always, he grounded me in a way that no one else could, made me see reason without yelling. I only prayed that our daughter would be lucky enough to find men as good as her father when there were so many bad ones out there. I didn’t want her to doubt herself because of a man.
“I love you,” I whispered, leaning up on my toes to kiss him. He cradled my head in his two strong hands, his fingers tangling in my hair as goosebumps rose on my arms and a chill went down my spine. This man was too good to be true.
His lips melted against mine, almost like we belonged as one entity because there was nobody but him and I in this stolen moment. Our children’s laughter bounced off the walls upstairs as he kissed me breathless.
When he pulled away, his lips were swollen, his cheeks flushed, his eyes wild with desire. I smiled up at him.
“Time to put the kids to bed, baby,” I leaned forward and whispered against his lips, letting my own swollen lips brush against his one more time.
Sometimes, I wished to kiss him endlessly. Every kiss was as heated as the first one all those years ago.
“Then, I get you all to myself tonight, Mrs. Danvers.” He smirked before surprising me with a kiss on my forehead. He untangled himself from me, pulling his fingers from my hair, and grabbed my hand in his to lead me upstairs. “Ten minutes tops up there with them. Then, I want to show you just how much I love you.”
I threw my head back and laughed. This man still acted like a horny teenager while in his forties. “After Santa comes, baby. You know mommy has a thing for a Santa.” He laughed, pulling me against his body at the bottom of the stairs.
“Does she now? How come I never knew this?” His nose brushed mine.
“I couldn’t just tell my husband that I love to sneak out of bed on Christmas Eve to kiss Santa, now could I?” His lips briefly brushed against mine.
“I guess not, baby, but I really do hope he’s as good in bed as I am.” He snickered, pushing me up against the wall near the stairs.
“Ace!” I whispered, glancing up the stairs for the kids. “The kids!” I whispered again when his grin only grew.
“I wonder what the kids would think of their mom having a crush on Santa – an old man over me!” I giggled against him, feeling his body vibrate with quiet laughter.
“Shh! It’s our secret, baby. Plus, who said Santa was old?”
“True – the one that comes to our house isn’t old. He’s rather young, actually. I heard he was pretty – what’s the word Summer uses to describe boys these days?” He paused. “Smokin’ hot,” he whispered, his nose running along my jawline. This man could still set my skin on fire with his teasing words.
“Mommy, I’m ready for bed!” Jessie hollered loudly, breaking the sensual moment between us.
Feeling the blush bloom across my cheeks, I hid my face in Ace’s chest as he chuckled.
“Coming, boy,” he yelled back, one of his hands roaming down my body until he cupped my forever growing butt, his other hand cradling my head. “Whatever you are doing to make your ass grow, don’t stop, baby,” he grumbled, squeezing one of my cheeks.
I jumped in his hold and clutched his shirt with my hands. “First of all, don’t touch, Mr. Danvers!” I couldn’t help but giggle. He always brought out the youth in me. “Secondly, it’s the spiced eggnog you’ve been making me every night.” I looked into his bright, blue eyes – the same blue as the ocean on a calm day – and sighed, feeling the weight of the world crash down on me. “What are we going to do?”
He smiled as charming as ever and cupped my face with both hands before gently pressing a kiss to my lips. “We are going to put our beautiful children to bed, princess, and enjoy a few quiet moments together. Then, Santa is coming to town, baby.”
“Mommy! Daddy! Come on!” Jessie screamed from his room, his little voice bouncing off the walls.
“It’s Christmas Eve, baby. We will figure out a plan after the holidays. Let’s just enjoy this time with the kids before they think we are old and uncool.”
I shuddered at the thought. I’d like to think they would be my babies forever, but I could already see the subtle changes in Summer. I think this was the last year she would believe in Santa Claus. The idea was frightening.
“Lead the way, Mr. Danvers.” Together, we kissed our children goodnight, taking just a few minutes to listen to their animated stories and brewing excitement for the next day. I could only hope that everything lived up to their expectations.
We always put Jessie to bed first, and then Charlie, leaving Summer for last, who was usually texting Maddi until the last moment. When Ace knocked on her door, it sent a pang of chilling fear down my spine. She was old enough now to want privacy. What came next? A boyfriend?
