“Oh, fuck, Ethan,” moaned Carol, as the plane bucked beneath them.

“Told you,” said Ethan. “Turbulence makes it that much better.”

“It’s like fucking on your yacht,” said Carol, as Ethan slammed back into her.

The turbulence tipped the plane, so as Ethan pulled out, his cock pressed against Carol’s clit.

Carol gripped Ethan’s back with her nails, raking his back with her French manicure.

“This is your captain speaking,” said a voice over the intercom. “We’re experiencing some turbulence but will still make great time. We’re coming in for the landing.”

As the plane dipped down and came in for a landing, so did Ethan. He made a five-star landing, right down Carol’s runway, and as the plane dipped, he hit her at just the right angle to make her come.

“Oh, fuck,” moaned Carol, writhing on Ethan’s dick, her legs pulling him closer and closer to her, luring his cock into her pussy like an eel into an eel trip on the River Thames.

Carol was more than ready to cut herself a slice of stargazy pie. Ethan slammed into her one more time. He let out a groan that was half moan, half saying Carol’s name in a low, husky voice, and then, let loose into Carol’s canal which was also explaining turbulence.

Carol came around Ethan, hard, just as the plane landed.

“We’ve, uh, landed,” said the pilot. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“Thank goodness for that PA system,” said Ethan.

“Thank goodness for your dick,” said Carol. “I feel so much better. You’re right. That was relaxing. I promise I won’t be nervous about meeting the Clan. I’ll just imagine them all naked.”

“I’m the only person I want you to imagine naked,” said Ethan. “Round three? Before we head off?”

“Can we?” asked Carol.

“This is a private jet, and the staff is paid hourly,” said Ethan with a grin. “I’m sure they’d love to give us some extra time on the tarmac.”

“Uh, sir, we’re going to need to get moving,” said the captain. “Tarmac is reserved for another plane.”

“Well, there goes that plan,” said Carol, sitting up in bed. “I guess we have to get changed.”

“Let me help you,” said Ethan. Ethan reached into his clothing bag and pulled out a black velvet box. It was large and square. Ethan popped the box open and pulled out the necklace inside.

“What’s that?” asked Carol, putting on her bra, before Ethan passed her the box.

“A necklace, for you,” said Ethan.

Carol fingered the chain and ran a finger over the surface of the enamel surfaces of the pendants on the chain. There were three birds on the necklace. There was a big rooster, a mama hen, and, behind them, a chick. The jewelry wasn’t overly flashy, which was a problem they’d run into in the past. Carol didn’t have expensive tastes. She had no idea the enamel work was imported from France, and the necklace itself cost much more than many works made of precious stones due to the labor put into the jewelry. Ethan had no intention of telling her, lest she keep it in a safe rather than around her wide neck.

“You knew?” asked Carol.

“Trust me, I’ve known the whole time,” said Ethan. “I can’t believe you’re four months along and not showing.”

“Ha! I’m five months along,” sassed Carol. “Guess I kept it a secret from you for an extra month. Why didn’t you tell me you knew?”

“I just did,” said Ethan. “The necklace is made of modules. We can add on more chicks over time.”

“You mean…” started Carol.

“Baby, I wanna make so many cubs with you that we’ll have to start our own Clan,” said Ethan.

“Why did you pick chickens to represent us?” asked Carol.

“Don’t you remember how that old song goes?” asked Ethan. “On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…”

“…Three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree,” sang Carol. “What’s that got to do with us?”

“I fell in love with you on the third of December, when you put me in my place and made it clear you wouldn’t tolerate any of my shenanigans,” said Ethan. “That conversation led to me changing, led to me becoming a man worthy of your affections.”

“Uh, sir?” called the pilot over the PA system.

Carol smiled and pressed the PA button on their end.

“We’ll be right out,” said Carol.

“You sure I look okay?” asked Carol.

“You look great,” said Ethan. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” said Carol.

“Come on,” said Ethan. “You can tell me anything.”

“I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful for anything — this romance has been a real-life Cinderella story for me. Better than Cinderella — I bet her prince wasn’t a billionaire. That said…even though it’s a ‘rags to riches’ story, I still feel like people look at me like I’m in the ‘rags.’ I never feel like I fit in with the wives of your colleagues,” said Carol. “I didn’t go to some fancy East Coast liberal arts college. I don’t know designer brand names. I don’t know about what’s going on the world of opera and museums and other fancy stuff. I spend most of my time running our new charity.”

“Then you’ll fit in perfectly with the rest of Clan Marron,” said Ethan. “They aren’t snooty or snotty. You’re going to be fine. Carol, you’ve always been a princess — you just didn’t have the fancy dresses and shoes before. What matters is your inner beauty, although of course, your outer beauty doesn’t hurt matters.”

“And this outfit’s okay?” asked Carol, motioning down to her plain blue jeans that had room for a Thanksgiving belly, her festive turkey sweater, and her worn sneakers that she always wore while cooking.

“I wouldn’t wear anything to Clan Marron Thanksgiving that you aren’t prepared on having ruined,” said Ethan. “There’s going to be kids who don’t quite know how to eat chili without splattering it on everyone. There’s going to be cranberry sauce dripping out of bowls. Once, in my younger days, an absolute food fight broke out.”

“Don’t tell me,” said Carol. “You were the one who started it?”

“You caught me,” said Ethan. “That’s why I’m just wearing this shirt and these old pants. I’m not there to make appearances. I’m there to have a fun time…and to introduce my awesome fated mate, and future wife, to every single member of Clan Marron. By the way…if anyone’s a Cinderella in this story, it’s me.”

“How the heck is it you?” asked Carol.

“Well, you taught me that love’s more precious than money,” said Ethan. “I’m the one who got the riches in the end.”

“You’re such a corn dog,” said Carol with a laugh. “I think that means we’re both Cinderella.”

Ethan pulled into the Clan Marron parking lot and spotted the first person he wanted to introduce to Carol.

“Come on,” said Ethan, before getting out of the car. “I want to introduce you to someone special.”

Ethan went around to the other side of the car to let Carol out. Carol followed Ethan as he walked toward a woman in the parking lot.

“This is my first time seeing you without a kid in your arm in how long?” asked Ethan. “Emily, I’d like to introduce you to Carol. Carol, meet Emily.”

“Carol, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Emily. “Are you the one I have to thank for teaching Ethan that the true meaning of Christmas is charity, and not being a stingy Scrooge?”

“That’s me,” said Carol. “Are you the one who kicked Ethan’s butt up North for me to tame?

“That’s me,” said Emily. “I have a feeling we’ll be fast friends.”

“Ethan tells me you have quadruplets,” said Carol.

“They’re inside,” said Emily. “We recruited a bunch of teens from the Clan and have them on babysitting duty.”

“You think they’ll want a business lesson?” asked Ethan. “I’m kidding. I know the rules. No shop talk during get-togethers.”

“Well, speaking of business, you and I do have some business to attend to,” said Emily. “The council needs you.”

“For what?” asked Carol.

“Let’s just say Ethan’s not the only bad boy in Clan Marron that’s needed to go up North and have his ass kicked in all four directions by Santana Claus, and he certainly won’t be the last,” said Emily.

Ethan gave Emily a smooch on the cheek.

“I’ll meet up with you soon, my love,” said Ethan, wandering off towards the lodge.

“Ooh, ‘my love’?” asked Emily. “I don’t think I’ve heard him use the word ‘love’ in regard to anything but his bank account before. You’ve really done a number on him, Carol. He’s a changed man.”

“You think so?” asked Carol.

“I know so,” said Emily. “Shizz. I was hoping we could keep this conversation going longer. But you see that man over there?”

Emily pointed. A man in a red sportscar had parked in the lot. He got out of the car and pulled off his sunglasses, revealing dazzling amber gold eyes. His flowing auburn locks streamed over his shoulder.

“Is that…” started Carol. “Sorry, I know some people think they’re trashy, but I’m a big romance reader, and…”

“That’s him,” said Emily. “Cain. Cain Pellichero. He’s a model, specializing in romance novel covers. Believe it or not, but he’s never found a fated mate.”

“And let me guess,” said Carol. “He’s the next man you’re going to boot up North, to get his pretty boy bad boy self whipped into shape by Santana Claus?”

“Exactly,” said Emily. “Carol…you’re going to fit right in with the rest of Clan Marron. I’ll see you soon.”

Emily shot Carol a wink before she headed over towards the cocky romance novel model and guided him down the path that would lead to him learning that he shouldn’t judge a book by its cover…even if he were the one on that cover.