Fever (Breathless #2)(78)

It hurt him that she’d ever lived that life. He’d give anything to be able to erase it. But he couldn’t change the past. He could sure as hell change the future though.

After a few moments, no longer able to withstand the temptation, he reached his finger out to trace the soft lines of her face. He followed the curve of her cheekbone, enjoying the satiny skin.

Her eyelashes fluttered and her eyes opened, immediately finding his gaze. Her eyes were soft and oh so sweet, cloudy but welcoming as if she were the most content woman in the world. What man wouldn’t love his woman waking up with that kind of look on her face? Like there was no place on earth she’d rather be.

“Merry Christmas,” he murmured as he leaned down to kiss her.

“Merry Christmas,” she returned.

He pushed the box across the bed so it was right in front of her. “I got you a present. Well, it’s only one of the presents I got you.”

Her eyes widened. “Jace, we agreed no presents.”

She sounded genuinely distressed and Jace’s chest clenched. He put his finger over her lips to hush her.

“No, you agreed no presents. I never made any such agreement,” he said gently.

“But I have nothing to give you,” she said in agitation.

He smiled, his entire heart softening. “After what you gave me last night, you can honestly say that this morning?”

She flushed and dropped her gaze. He wouldn’t allow it, though. He tipped her chin up with his finger, forcing her to look at him again.

“Bethany, you gave me something more precious than I will ever give to you. You gave me your trust. You gave me yourself.”

Her cheeks went pink but pleasure sparked in her eyes.

“Now open this present. I wanted to give this one to you separately.”

She pushed herself upward so she could sit cross-legged in front of the box. She stared down at it as if it would bite her. Then she hesitantly pulled the bow from the top and tore the paper off.

It took two attempts before she managed to open the box and then she pulled out an intricate leather choker with a huge diamond teardrop in the very middle, designed to rest in the hollow of her throat.

He’d spent a lot of time searching for just the right piece of jewelry. It wasn’t just a necklace. Far from it. It was a stamp of his possession. A signal of his ownership. It was a . . . collar. Not that he would tell her that. Later. When she was more comfortable in their relationship. For now, he was content with the knowledge that he knew what it was and that she would wear it.

He’d looked at diamond chokers. He’d looked at beautifully rendered precious stones in an array of decorative patterns. But nothing had stood out as being something that suited Bethany. Until he’d seen the rustic leather design. He’d had the diamond teardrop added because it elevated the leather choker from simple to elegant and expensive. Something more worthy of the woman he considered his.

“Jace, it’s beautiful,” she whispered. “Will you put it on me?”

Even as she spoke, she held out the choker to him and when he took it, she turned, presenting her back to him. She reached back to lift her hair and he arranged it around her neck, securing it in back. It fit perfectly, snug against her slim neck.

When she turned back around, he was able to see the full effect, and it was magnificent. His c**k swelled and his body surged to life at seeing his collar around her neck. She was his and now the world would know it.

The leather bands flowed in a delicate pattern, crisscrossing as they made their way around her neck. The diamond dangled in the middle, making the necklace look dainty and delicate. Just like Bethany. It was bloody perfect. She was perfect.

“I want you to always wear it,” he said in a low voice. “Never take it off. Promise me.”

Her eyes widened, but her face was flushed with happiness. “I promise.”

He leaned forward, taking her mouth, plundering it with his tongue until they were both gasping for breath.

“Put on one of my robes so you don’t get cold. I’ll go turn on the fireplace and you can open the rest of your presents.”

Her lips twisted into an unhappy frown. “I wish you hadn’t gotten me presents.”

He grinned. “Tough, baby. You need to get used to the fact that I’m going to spoil you at every opportunity. Getting you Christmas presents is my present. Seeing you happy is the best gift I could ever ask for. Watching you opening the stuff I bought for you will make this the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

She surprised him by launching herself into his arms. She tackled him and knocked him flat on his back on the bed. She hugged him fiercely, peppering his face with kisses.

“Thank you. You can’t know what this means to me,” she whispered.

He smiled tenderly up at her as he smoothed the hair from her face. “Not as much as you mean to me. That I can guarantee.”

He patted her on the ass and then said, “Now, let’s get up. You have a surprise in the living room.”

She heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Jaaace.” His name came out as a plaintive wail but he only grinned and rolled her off him.

“Come on. It’s Christmas morning. Time to get your ass out of bed so we can celebrate.”

She grinned, her eyes lighting with excitement. Regardless of the fact that she’d been adamant that he not get her presents, there was no way in hell he wasn’t going to make the most of their first Christmas together.