Bad Romeo Christmas: A Starcrossed Anthology (Starcrossed #4)(21)

We stay there for long, pleasure-filled seconds, and after we've both ridden out the aftershocks of our orgasmic high, Ethan collapses onto the bed beside me and enfolds me in his arms.

I run my fingers through his damp hair and sigh. "Do you know the best thing about what we just did?"

He looks down at me while trying to catch his breath. "What's that?"

"I know for damn sure Vanessa has never had an orgasm like that in her life, and what's more, she never will. Because the only man who can deliver that kind of expert sexage belongs to me."

His expression morphs into pure joy as he grazes his fingers over my face. "Damn straight, he does. Forever and always."

Seeing how he's looking at me now - how he's always looked at me - I can't believe I ever doubted him. He said his heart is too small to hold all of his love, but that's not right. His heart is so big, it also takes up space in my chest. In moments like this when he stares at me in wonder and his eyes sparkle and burn, I can feel his heart inside me, pressing against mine in perfect synchronicity.

He's right. First love. Last love. And every love in between. That's what we are to each other. Now and forever.





FIVE


Ethan




When Cassie and I can finally breathe again, we fix ourselves up and head back down to my family. Cassie had to do a quick repair job on her hair and makeup to cover most of the damage, but apart from a very faint hickey on my neck, you'd never know we'd just had hot animal sex on my twelve-year-old duvet.

Note to self: spill something on that duvet before you leave tonight, so Mom is forced to wash it.

Apart from the great sex, I'm relieved we finally resolved the Vanessa issue. Now Cassie knows exactly where she stands as far as my heart is concerned, and I aim to never let her forget it.

"Perfect timing," Dad says, as he lays out fresh plates for dessert. "Your mother was about to send out a search party."

"Did you find the pictures of you and Liam in Romeo and Juliet?" Josh asks, and I swear I see him exchange a look with Elissa.

"Uh, no, actually. I thought they were in my bottom drawer, but I must have moved them when I collected my journals."

"Oh, sure," Elissa says with a knowing smile. "That makes sense."

Josh winks at Cassie. "Oh, well. If you still want to check out pics from that production, Elissa has a whole set at our place. Quinn was shirtless for most of the show, so naturally she has several copies, all stashed in different locations in case she needs some 'alone time'."

Elissa elbows Josh. "If you want to live to see the New Year, Kane, I suggest you stop talking. Now."

We all take our seats again, and Mom appears with platters of decadent desserts. My mouth waters. Mom wasn't wrong when she said dessert was my favorite meal. If it has chocolate or cream or custard, my mouth is all over it.

Immediately my brain screams that I've never tried food play with Cassie. Jesus. Need to rectify that ASAP.

After twenty minutes of eating our own weight in sugar, Dad stands and holds up his glass. "To my darling Maggie, for always making Christmas special. I don't know what we'd do without you."

"To Maggie!" we all toast. I lean over and kiss Mom's cheek. "Great dinner, Mom. Thank you."

She touches my cheek and smiles. "Any time, sweetheart. You know that."

We all adjourn into the living room where Tribble is on her bed, snoring loudly after eating a mountain of leftover turkey. Beside her, taking pride of place in the room is the giant tree Dad searched half of New York to find. Clearly for him, size does matter. Mom has decorated it beautifully with hundreds of designer decorations and tiny blinking lights.

“Okay,” Dad says, rubbing his hands together. “Who’s going first?”

Every year the Holt family does this whole thing where we open each present, one at a time. In between are stories and jokes, and Dad clicks away with his camera so we have fifteen thousand photos to commemorate the event.

This year, Josh is part of the fun. Elissa gives him a new pair of Captain Kirk pajamas. He's so happy, I think I see a tear.

Dad presents Mom with what looks like an incredibly expensive set of chef’s knives. She cradles them to her chest as if they were a precious newborn baby.

I give Dad the usual, which is his favorite brand of single malt whiskey. He gives me a one-armed man-hug before presenting me with Sir Lawrence Olivier's biography. Yet another example of how far he's come. In past years, a subscription to a medical journal would have been common.

Cassie and I present Mom with a watch from Tiffany. It's the kind of luxury she'd never buy for herself but something she absolutely deserves. Mom cries as she hugs us.

When all the other presents are given out, only Cassie and I are left to exchange gifts.

I hand her a sparkly gift bag filled with tissue paper. It's my version of wrapping. Years ago I tried to wrap my beloved copy of The Outsiders after getting the author to personalize it for Cassie's 21st birthday. Although she adored the gift, Cassie mocked my pathetic wrapping skills for months afterward.

She takes the bag from me and hands me a neatly wrapped rectangle. I hold it up excitedly. "Wow, a pony? You shouldn't have."

She pushes me in the chest and smiles. "You're hilarious. Open it, wise guy."