“I can’t believe I let you convince me to stay here. No, you coerced me into to staying, and you used the kids. You play dirty.”

Ryan smirked wickedly. “I knew you couldn’t say no to the girls.”

He was right; I couldn’t. I looked down at them, feeling my heart tug. I cradled Becky with my uninjured arm and Maxi curled up at my side. They’d fallen asleep watching cartoons. I was keeping an eye on them while Ryan had a few conference meetings via video. “Your sister sure passed on her looks to her two beautiful daughters.” He gave me strange look that made me wonder what he was thinking.

“Your children will be beautiful too.”

Our gazes locked for a few seconds. I was tempted to ask him what he was about to tell me a few days ago in my hospital room before we were interrupted.

Since I'd been released we’d talked about everything else, from my plans for my catering business to Eric’s acceptance of our relationship, but he didn’t mention anything more about what he’d been about to tell me, and I was reluctant to ask. I thought he’d been about to confess his love, but I knew I could be wrong and didn’t want to jinx it. Though he had made it clear that he wanted a real relationship with me, which was why I was staying in his house while I recovered. Ryan had refused to give up until I said yes, even going as far to set the girls on me.

“How did your meetings go?”

“Great, we have settled on a plan of attack for next year. Here, your arm must be tired. I’ll take the girls to bed.” He scooped them up, cradled one in each arm.

My heart melted. What was cuter than a gorgeous man holding two gorgeous kids? “I so want your babies,” I said under my breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” I smiled and watched him walk away. I sat for a moment before switching the television off. Before I could get up, Ryan returned and scooped me up. I squealed. “What are you doing?”

“Taking you to bed.”

“You’re moving in the opposite direction of my room.”

“Yeah, not happening. I meant to say I’m taking you to my bed, which should be our bed, but you’re so damn stubborn.”

Wrapping my good arm around his neck, I responded. “We have to be careful with the girls, Ryan, especially Maxi. If she sees me coming out your room, she’ll get her hopes up. I haven’t moved in… I’m going back home soon.”

His jaw clenched. “We’ll make sure you’re back in the guest room before they wake up.”

I stared at his profile as he carried me up the stairs. It was the first time he had touched me properly since I’d gotten out of the hospital. He had been treating me like a porcelain doll for days. Finally, he was going to make love to me. We made it to his room, and he laid me on his king-sized bed. He removed my clothes with care, his touch gentler than ever. I squirmed beneath his kissed his caress, needing more.

“Ryan, I have a broken arm. I’m not made of glass.”

He chuckled. “Patience, Luce.” He moved swiftly, laying a pillow under my injured arms for support. Then he stretched out beside me, propping himself up on an elbow. I stared up at him mesmerized by his smoldering gaze.

“Aren’t we going to... you know?”

His lips curled upward. “I want to watch you first. Watching you come is almost as much pleasure as being buried deep inside of you.”

I think I went bright red as my breath hitched and my inner muscles clenched with anticipation. He kissed me first, setting me on fire with the heated connection. Then, he began his exploration, massaging my breasts, pinching my nipples, caressing my abdomen. His gaze never left my face. He took in every emotion that flickered in my eyes and danced across my face. I was beyond trying to hide anything from him.

“Do my bruises look horrible?” I gasped when his hand slid between my thighs and his fingers brushed against my mound. He moved one finger against my folds and my hips lifted, wanting him to inside.

“You’re beautiful, Snow White."

I smiled. I loved when he called me that. Half of my face was a huge discolored bruise, and he told me I was beautiful. My heart fluttered because I was staring into his eyes and I could tell he meant it. I moaned, feeling the pressure on my sensitive bud. While he massaged my clit, two fingers penetrated me.

He set a steady rhythm, strummed me like an instrument until I was soaring. “Ryan,” I moaned as pleasure burst inside of me.

“I love it when you moan my name like that,” he said, still stroking and sending aftershocks of pleasure through me. “You’re so lovely when you come. I could watch you all night.” I couldn’t find words when he brought his fingers, slick with my juices and put them to his mouth, licking them. “Delicious.”

I could only gawk. Everything he did was erotic. “Up,” he commanded. I sat up, and he laid flat on his back. “I want you to straddle me.” His sexy commands made me shiver, my arousal escalating. I did as he ordered, mounting him.

“Now, I want you to ride me.” I’m sure my entire body flushed. Ryan grinned. “Amazing that you still blush after everything we’ve done.” He gripped my hips, lifted and eased me down on his erect shaft. I took him in inch by inch, slowly until he was buried to the hilt. Our sighs of pleasure mingled.

“You set the pace. I don’t want to jar your injury.”

“Okay,” I whispered and moved my hips. I started slow, my head falling back as I basked in the delicious feeling of being possessed so fully by him.

“What a lovely sight you make. You look like a raven-haired goddess” he mused, moving his hands from my hips to cup my breasts.

My eyes opened, and I smiled at him. “A goddess, huh?”

“A beautiful sex goddess.”

“In that case, allow me to fulfill your sexual desires.” My pace increased and my muscles clenched around him. Ryan groaned out an expletive and gritted his teeth. His hips bucked upward. I continued clenching, moving up and down, back and forth.

“If you keep that up, I won’t last very long, Luce.”

I grinned. Wanting him to lose control. The way he reacted to me was empowering, made me feel desired, sexy. I clenched again, and he groaned. “Minx.”

I giggled. I never thought I could be so comfortable or open with anyone to play around, especially during sex but he made it so easy. Every day I fell more in love with him. Soon my humor dissipated when he turned the tables, resting his hands on my hip. He thrust upward, sending fire through my core. He moved again, gentle enough to avoid agitating my arm but hard enough to send shards of lighting through me. I gasped, already near the edge. He grinned knowingly.

“Not fair,” I panted as I spiraled. My orgasm ignited and spread through me like wildfire. I remembered just in time that the girls were asleep and covered my mouth to muffle my scream.

Ryan followed, moaning out words that made my heart jolt. “I love you, Lucy.”

After we both recovered, I lay on my back and stared up at the ceiling. “Did you mean it?” I dared to ask.

He knew exactly what I meant. “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.” He sat up and helped me up too. Ryan cupped my face. “I love you. I think I have for a long time, but I couldn’t bring myself to accept it.”

“Because you saw me as nothing more than your best friend’s kid sister?”

“That, and as a valued friend,” he added.

“I love you too, Ryan. I’ve been in love with you since I had a full understanding of the emotion.”

He smiled slightly. “Eric was right.”

I gasped my horror. Did Eric know about my long-time crush on Ryan? And he had told him?

“I’m going to kill him,” I fumed.

Ryan chuckled. “Please don’t he’s still my best friend.”

I would have to settle for giving him a good scolding then. “So… what does this mean, for us?”

“It means that you and I are a couple now,” he declared with an open smile, “and it also means I can give you an early Christmas present which you can’t refuse.”

My brows furrowed. “We’re exchanging gifts? But I don’t have anything for you.”

“You’ve given me more than I deserve this past month, Luce.” He came back with a long velvet box and opened it revealing a rose gold necklace with a diamond-encrusted heart-shaped pendant.

My mouth fell open. “Ryan, I can’t accept—”

“You can and will accept it because we’re together now, remember? Maxi helped me pick it out while you were still in the hospital and Becky approved.”

I smiled “It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He took it from the box and clasped it around my neck. It’s more than just a gift, Lucy. It’s a promise.”

My brows furrowed. “A promise, what do you mean?”

“My love, one day I’m going to ask you to marry me. I can’t do it now, tomorrow or even next month because I know you better than most, Lucy Wells. You’re going to tell me that it’s too soon. And you’d be right. We have the girls to think of; we have to be careful with their hearts. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to get down on my knee right now and make you mine. I love you so damn much. So instead, I am going to court you.”

I snickered but my eyes filled with happy tears. “Oh, is that still a thing in this century?"

“If it’s not, we’re going to bring it back. I am going to wine and dine you and shower you with gifts and love because you deserve all of that and more. We are going to get to know each other even more than we already do. And until I officially propose, when you look at this necklace, remember that you hold my heart.”

Tears streamed down my face. “Oh, Ryan. I don’t know what to say.” The man I loved had just given me a lovely gift—a promise—that held such deep meaning. He’d poured his heart out, telling me everything I had wanted to hear and there I was a sniveling mess.

“Just tell me one thing: that you see yourself marrying me, and raising a family with me. Maxi and Becky adore you, and I know you adore them. But I want to have more kids… with you, Luce. It took me a long time to figure out that you’re the woman for me, but I did, and I just need to know that you have the same dreams as me.”

Sniffing, I hugged him, made awkward with my injured arm. “I do, Ryan, those are my dreams too. I see all of that happening. I want all of it with you; a family, a home, a life together. ”

He let out a breath and held my face. "You've made me a very happy man, Lucy Wells and now I'm going to make more of your dreams come true." As he leaned in to kiss me, we sank back onto the bed, his hands lovingly caressing my skin as our limbs tangled up in the sheets.

* * *

“Merry Kissmas!” Maxi shouted as she pecked me on the cheek, finally letting go my hand. She excitedly led me back inside the house and under the mistletoe, after a walk that left me confused. She had randomly asked for me to take her to the park. Why she wanted to go to the park when it was freezing outside, I had no idea. But it was Christmas, and she had pleaded. I had given in, of course, and bundled her up in as many layers possible.

“Merry Christmas!” a chorus of voices rang out.

I jumped, clutching my chest. Standing there was Ryan with Becky in one arm, Eric and his new girlfriend, Karen, and Charlie, all grinning at me. The dining table was gorgeously decorated, and various delicious looking dishes lined the center. I glanced at Ryan who winked. I had told him about the dream I’d had, and somehow he had made it a reality.

“When did you do all of this?” I directed my question at him. “I thought I was cooking today?”

“Charlie helped. We had everything prepared in your new kitchen and brought it over while Maxi distracted you with the impromptu walk to the park.” Understanding dawned as I grinned down at her. “You sneaky little thing.”

She jumped up and down. “Uncle Ryan said I couldn’t tell you anything. I can keep a secret.”

“You sure can.” I blinked. Wait, a minute. “What new kitchen?”

Ryan stepped forward. “The one in your new headquarters.” He held up a set of keys. “Merry Kissmas.”

I stood stock still.

Maxi tugged on my hand. “You’re supposed to kiss now… it’s the law!”

Indulging her Ryan leaned in, and we kissed, but it didn't erase the shock on my face.

“I don’t understand,” I mumbled as Ryan handed over a set of shiny keys.

“I helped to pick the perfect spot,” Charlie squealed. “It’s amazing I can’t wait until you see it.”

“And I worked out all the legalities,” Eric added.

I stared at them, speechless.

“Your kitchen at home won’t be big enough for all the business that you’ll get, what with all the advertising.”

My eyes landed back on Ryan. What advertising? I didn’t have the money for that or a new shop or anything. “I can’t afford advertising—”

“You don’t have to worry about money, Luce. You have investors now. Investors that want to make your dreams come true!"

My eyes narrowed. How much had he spent? A new shop couldn’t have been cheap. It would take me a while to get used to someone spending so much on me. My pride and independence never allowed for it before Ryan. I still thought it was too soon for him to do so much. “Ryan, please tell me you didn’t—”

Again, he interrupted that time with another kiss. “Merry Kissmas, Luce. Lecture me later when our guests are gone," he whispered in my ear. “I’ll just tell you about the new car now so you can get all the outrage out of your system.”

I gasped and hissed, “Oh my God, Ryan, I can’t accept a car!”

“But your old one was totaled.”

“I know.”

“Just relax and pretend that I’m Santa Claus,” he gave me another quick kiss, then winked at Maxi who was beaming up at us. Becky puckered her lips too and leaned toward me, making me laugh. I angled my cheek for a wet kiss from the baby, still giggling. She extended chubby arms toward me, but Ryan pulled her back. “Sorry kid, you have to wait until Lucy’s arm is better.”

Maxi, slipped her hand into mine and we all walked to the table as if the four of us had been a unit for a long time.

Chatter and laughter ensued. Eric and Ryan shared wild stories about past holidays and Karen, who was quickly adopted into the group, shared stories about her students.

Every so often, I caught Ryan’s gaze, and each time my fingers would brush his gift, the heart hanging around my neck. I thought of his pre-proposal, that’s what I had started referring to it as, and grinned happily.

That Christmas was the best I’d ever had, and I was sure that every single one afterward would be amazing because the life I dreamed of had only just begun.

* * *

Happy Holidays! Keep reading for a special bonus story; my way of saying thank you!