Page 92 of Unwrapped

We are oil and vinegar, salt and pepper—everything that clashes yet nothing else fits with better.

“Tell me it’s only me. That there’s no one else. Swear it.”

“I swear it, Shi. All I see is you. All I want is you. Please be mine, even if it’s only for this Christmas. Give me all your love and I’ll give you all mine. You’ve unwrapped my heart, babe. This Christmas it’s all yours.”

Nodding, through tears, I give my consent for him to take me to the stars. “Take it all away, all the lonely years I spent wishing for things I’ve never had. Give it all to me… every Christmas wish that was unanswered. Give it to me tonight, tomorrow night, and every day until we leave. Promise me.”

“I’ll give you more. Will you try for more with me? Because all I want is to be with you, distance and all—I want to go all in and try with you.”

I cup his handsome face. Laughing and crying at once. “I’m still kind of pissed you tricked me like that.”

“I told you I was it for you. That I was your dream man… I dropped hints babe.”

“I never thought a bad-ass, bas boy biker/CEO would go for that.”

“It was a favor, but then it gave me a chance to seduce this sweet ass when you froze me out.”

“I’m not freezing you out now. Come right on in.”

“Baby,” he moans, walking me backward against the tiled pool wall and hooking my legs around his waist. “I’ve been dying to RSVP to that invite.” In one bold move, he ruts back and surges forward. We both groan as we come home. Found home together; two unwanted lost ones who dreamed of the other, the someday that we both hoped would one day come.

“I guess I do believe in Santa after all,” I whisper as he plunges deep again.

“You know it,” he winks. But then there’s no more talk with words. Our bodies take over and I see stars as my heart and body get what it wanted for Christmas after all: my sexy Santa and my bad boy, biker CEO.

21

DARE

TOO MANY EMOTIONS swirl inside. Her tiny arms wrap around my waist. “This was the best Christmas ever, Dare.” Helplessly, I watch as Roque takes her hand in his and walks her out to the waiting car.

My fist meets the wall.

I should be the one tucking her in tonight. She belongs with me. When she’s safely in the car, Roque turns back to the Inn. “I’ll keep her safe.”

“You better.”

I stand out on the porch until the car carrying a huge chunk of my heart disappears.

“You okay?” Rog comes out wearing a dishtowel around his neck. I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak. He rests a hand on m shoulder. “I should’ve got you out of the system. I failed you. But I was still practically a kid myself, running guns and drugs…there’s no way they’d ever let me your guardian.”

“You saved me Rog.”

“Did I?”

I nod.

“Because it seems to me that sometimes… you’re still lost. I raised you the only way I knew how then. Now that I’m having a kid with Dev…I realize how fucked up it was. The things the MC did…”

“Enough,” I raise my hand. “I won’t have you beating yourself up over the past. You were the only person to give a shit about me. Besides, I always lived in the darkness…it’s a part of me.”

“Not anymore.”

“I guess not. It’s been quiet for a while now.”

“Good. I’m damn proud of ya’ taking on that little girl as your own. You’re gonna be the best father, Dare.”

I turn, staring at his wise face, he’s still as big and strong as an ox. Rog was always my idol and in so many ways still is. “No, you are.”

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