I push up until I can look him in the eye. “What do you say? Should we go for a round two to make sure?”

His spent dick is nestled between the folds of my sex. He’s still thick and I know it won’t be long before he can take me again.

“My God, you’re beautiful. I could fuck you morning, noon and night. I’ll never deny you anything you want. Especially when it's me you want. I’ll never leave you in need. Ever.”

He pulls me closer, crushing his lips to mine. I open for him just like I opened my body and heart even when I was scared.

I shimmy my hips and wink at him. The crown of his cock is already nudging my entrance. Our mixed releases make his reentry easy and I fully accept him a second time. I whimper low and long as he takes me, my cunt milking him with each thrust and stroke. We’re both panting hard as I ride his cock and he’s gripping my hips, thrusting up into me with just as much force.

We both have impeccable timing and my release hits the same time his does. Together we tumble over the edge, his strong arms holding me tightly as I lose myself to him. Nothing in this world could ever compare to the way I feel at this moment. Safe. Loved and cherished. This Christmas could never be topped.

“Merry Christmas, my love,” he whispers into the crook of my neck. “Your mine and I’m yours.”

He buries his hands in my hair and pulls me in tight. “I love you, Noella, you’re my everything,” he purrs, groaning a little when I kiss him gently.

“And I love you, Aron. I always have. I have no idea how any of this came to be.”

Wait. The fog of lust clears from my brain and it all comes back to me in a rush of awe. My eyes go wide a little and I begin to laugh.

“What’s so funny, baby?”

“Magic. That’s what’s funny. Christmas wishes, old bookstores, a southern redhead and magic.”

He smiles slowly. “I don’t care what it took to get you in my arms. I know being together will cost us. Your parents alone will create a scandal. I only hope you find me worth the price because I could never live another day without you in my life.”

He kisses me again and I send up a silent thank you to Pandora and her quirky bookstore.

“Let’s not worry about them. If they can’t be happy for us, maybe it’s time I move on. Do my own thing.”

With him looking at me like his world revolves around our love, I feel the weight of the responsibilities placed on my shoulders lighten. I don’t understand how something so simple like love can turn so complicated and feel so instant all at once. Maybe it’s not made to understand but to only feel?

“All I know is you’re right where you’re meant to be. In my arms,” he says tenderly. “Everything else can come later.”

I couldn’t agree more.

This was only the beginning of a beautiful life.

EPILOGUE

NOELLA, ONE YEAR LATER

Iwalk across our apartment, dropping the robe from my shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. Soft Christmas music plays over the speakers and the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree cast a warm glow over the condo. With the help of my mother and mother-in-law, we worked tirelessly all day decorating the place in the anticipation of Aron’s arrival this evening.

When we first broke the news that I married the boy my mother loathed instead of calling the cops on him for kidnapping me from my wedding, shit hit the fan pretty fast. To my surprise, it was my father who calmed everyone down, and by everyone, I mean my mother. It took a couple of months for her icy wall to melt, but Aron turned on the charm and won her over fairly quickly. His good soul shines through on the worst of days and even she couldn’t ignore that fact. When she realized Aron’s only concern was my happiness, that helped ease the friction between all of us.

Come to find out, it wasn’t so much Aron who my mother despised but the family he came from. You never know what goes on behind closed doors and for Aron, that meant an abusive father. Being snowed in at his cabin over our scandalous honeymoon he revealed to me what no one ever saw. Somehow my mother knew and feared the apple wouldn’t fall far from the tree.

In this case, I’m happy to say nothing could be further from the truth.

Beyond the large windows lining the west wall of our living room dusk settles over the city revealing millions of tiny, twinkling lights.

I spread out on a thick carpet in front of the Christmas tree and marvel at the lights one more time. This is our first real Christmas with all the trimmings since our first one was spent snowed in at what is now our cabin in the woods. I want to make it this year just as special.

I recline in the plush carpet and grab the can of whipped cream I set out before showering along with a fresh sprig of mistletoe.

I place the green-leafy adornment over the small landing strip between my legs and then cover my nipples with a heavy dose of white sugary fluff.

I can’t help but smile to myself as I pick up my phone. A missed call shows up on my screen but I dismiss it and hit the Facetime button to Aron, hoping he’s alone.