19. Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Skyla

V incent carries me carefully up the stairs and across the open concept hallway of the cabin, seemingly on a mission.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“To clean you up and warm you up. It was fucking stupid of Putnam to strip you down in the goddamn snow,” he gnashes.

“Hey,” I say gently, resting a hand against his thrumming heartbeat. “We agreed the rivalry thing was over, right? We are turning over a new leaf?”

Vincent narrows his eyes at me as he pushes through a bedroom door.

“I never agreed to like the guy; I just want him dead a little less.”

I do my best to hold back my smirk. It’s a start.

The room is pretty bare, but it is huge. Two nightstands, two matching dressers, and a four poster king-sized bed takes up the space. Vincent keeps moving, walking us into what looks like the ensuite.

“How do you know where everything is? You just got here,” I say as he sets me down on my feet.

He doesn’t look at me as he turns on the shower while he speaks.

“If you think I’m letting anyone take you anywhere without knowing every detail of the layout, entry points, escape routes and nearest resources, then I’m afraid you haven’t been paying attention, Siren.”

I can’t help but smirk at that, stepping up behind him and wrapping my arms around his waist. His movements freeze before he sinks into my touch and lets out a heavy exhale that I’m sure he’s been holding for longer than he’d ever let on.

“Vincent Griggs,” I say as I smile against his back. My hands trail up, resting just over his heart as I continue. “Forever my protector.”

His hand covers my own, and he squeezes it gently.

“In this life and the next,” he promises, his words hitting me square in the chest.

He’s so passionate, so devoted. He’s completely off his rocker crazy, but I think that’s one of the things I love about him most.

I let out a small sigh of contentment and press a kiss to the back of his shirt before he turns to face me. His hands come to the hem of my shirt before pulling it all the way off me. My shoes and pants are the next to go. He takes such care with me, every touch, every move. It’s so thought out, so methodical. Like he’s doing his best to be as gentle as he can. Like he doesn’t know how to be gentle, but he tries for me.

He pulls off his own clothes before stepping into the shower, dragging me in with him. The water pours down his tattoos, creating an almost glassy like display of them. God, I’ll never get over how gorgeous they are.

Vincent reaches for the shampoo bottle on the side of the shower, squirting a large amount into his hand before he forces me to turn away from the spray. I do as he directs before his fingers dive into my hair, massaging my scalp. A satisfied groan leaves my mouth as his fingers work their magic. I don’t know how long I stand there for, limp and pliable, as he kneads every inch of my head, neck, and shoulders.

Finally, he finishes, pulling the shower head off the wall and bringing it over to rinse the soap out. Somehow, this feels even better than the rubbing part. Once my hair is rinsed, he lathers it with conditioner before grabbing the body wash. He hangs the shower head back up before covering both his hands with the soap and running them up down my body. Vincent Griggs is nothing if not extremely thorough.

As his hands move and glide against my skin, I can’t help but sink further and further into his touch. The gesture isn’t sexual or suggestive. He isn’t doing this in hopes I’ll get him off, I don’t even think he’s trying to get me off. This is care in its most basic form. A human taking care of another in the most selfless and simplest of ways, and I love him so fucking much for it.

“I love you,” I say softly as he washes between my thighs.

He’s crouched down in front of me, his eyes coming to my own as his hands keep working.

“I love you, Siren, eternally.”

I smile at that as he stands, wrapping my arms around him and holding him tight to me as the warm water pours over us both.

After our shower, Ronan was nice enough to bring up Vincent and my bags. We both got changed into some comfy clothes and made our way into the kitchen to find Wesley rifling through the cabinets, typical.

“Find anything good?” I tease.

Wesley looks over his shoulder at me and shakes his head.

“Nothing. I get that it’s a rental property, but c’mon. Not even crackers?”

Vincent lets out a derisive snort but doesn’t say anything as he begins doing something on his phone. Wesley leans over the giant kitchen island, resting his elbows against the counter as he smiles at me.

“Any chance you want to come to town with me? Stock up for the week?”

“Sure,” I smile as my eyes roam around the house. “We should get some Christmas decorations too! I’d love to find a tree,” I say as I look at the perfect empty space beside the fire.

“Fuck yes!” Liam cheers as Asher groans.

“Skyla, you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Liam during Christmas time. May I introduce to you, Father Christmas.”

“Fuck off,” Liam laughs. “Who doesn’t want to get into the holiday spirit? Caroling and Christmas baking, lights, movies. It’s magic!”

“Don’t forget about Santa,” Ronan says dryly.

“Well, how could I forget the fat guy?” Liam laughs.

I can’t help but chuckle and shake my head at him as he pulls out his phone and music begins playing. “Rockin’ Around, The Christmas Tree” begins blaring as Liam reaches for me, pulling me into a swing dance. He spins me around the room, dipping and twirling me as the others watch us in amusement.

Liam and I laugh before he dips me, pressing his lips to mine before pulling away.

“We should probably stock up on mistletoe, just to be safe.”

I grin at him and nod before he pulls me back to my feet.

“Alright!” Liam exclaims. “Food, decorations, and a tree!”

“There are plenty of trees outside,” Vincent drawls as he pockets his phone.

“Yeah, Mr. Lumberjack? You gonna go cut one down?” Liam asks.

Vincent shrugs. “I’m sure they have a chainsaw in the garage. We need some firewood anyways.”

“Ooo, Skyla, look at this tough and rugged man you bagged. Nice,” Liam smiles as he holds out his fist for a bump.

I raise a brow at him as I shake my head.

“Liam…no.”

He pouts while everyone else laughs, well, everyone but Vincent, of course.

“I’ll help with the firewood,” Ronan volunteers.

Vincent nods before all eyes fall on Asher. He looks at us before sighing.

“Fine, I guess I’ll help with the tree and shit too.”

“If I’m Father Christmas, that would make Asher the Grinch,” Liam whisper-yells across the room.

Asher flips him off in response before he digs into his wallet and hands me a black card. I furrow my brows before grabbing it. The name Skyla Putnam is printed across the front. I look up at him and smirk.

“Just couldn’t help yourself?” I tease.

“You’re my wife; it’s my responsibility to take care of you.”

“Yeah?” I ask.

He nods as he closes the distance between us. His thumb and forefinger grip my chin, forcing my face to meet his as he places a quick peck against my lips.

“And I like it.”

“What a coincidence, I like spending your money, too!” Liam says. “Any chance you got a black card in that wallet for me? I’ll put out, I swear.”

“No one in this room doubts that for a second,” Ronan deadpans.

Liam gives him a wicked grin as Wesley claps his hands together.

“Alright, you guys go fuck around in the woods, we’ll head to the store.”

“Ready…brEAK!” Liam cheers, this time only pulling a chuckle out of me.

I swear his jokes are getting worse by the day.

We hit three different shops just for all the Christmas decorations Liam wanted. We went to the grocery store first and got practically every item off the snack aisle, all Wesley’s fault on that one. Then we got enough supplies for breakfast, lunch and dinner while we’re here since you can’t exactly order delivery where the house is. Don’t know who will be cooking them, though. Let’s be honest, probably Ronan.

After that, the first store we went to didn’t have the right lights Liam wanted. Then the next didn’t have enough variety of wreaths for the inside of the house. Finally, the last was able to give us, or rather him, everything he was searching for. I love Christmas time, or at least I thought I did. Compared to Liam, though? I’m Mrs. Grinch, right alongside Asher.

We’re heading back to the car, Liam quite literally skipping in front of us as he hums “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” To be fair, the song is like an earworm, and for some reason, being played on loop in every single department store. I’m not sure if it’s just an American thing because, while of course I’ve heard the song, I haven’t heard it fourteen times in three hours before.

When we get back into the car, Wesley begins driving when Liam sighs dramatically.

“Shit! We forgot presents. You can’t have Christmas without presents.”

“Says who?” I ask.

“Says…everyone,” he counters like it’s common knowledge.

I shake my head and smile as I look out the window. The snow covered grass is so pure, so untouched. It’s like a snow globe moment. A picturesque perfect moment frozen in time.

Wesley reaches over the center console and intertwines his fingers with my own. That grabs my attention as I look to him and smile. He lifts my hand and places a kiss to the back of it as he takes the next turn.

“I don’t think materialistic presents are what makes Christmas, Christmas, Liam,” I say as I turn to look at him.

Wesley takes another turn, sending a four-foot-tall snowman Liam insisted on getting slamming into him. He shoves it off himself quickly as he speaks.

“You’re right, sexual favors should do just fine. What do you say we all swap coupons?”

“Like ‘good for one blowjob?’” Wesley teases.

“Exactly! See, Wes is on board. I’ll even make an extra one just for you.” Liam flirts with an exaggerated wink.

Wesley raises his brows in intrigue as I interject.

“I don’t know, I think he’d rather have Ronan’s coupon.”

Liam’s mouth parts in surprise as Wesley fights back a smile and shrugs.

“No fucking way. You and Ronan? Since when?”

“It’s not like that,” Wesley deflects.

“Yeah, they don’t have feelings for each other. They just like getting each other off,” I say with a waggle of my brows.

“Fuck, that’s hot. Can I come next time? I promise I’ll just watch from the corner!” Liam says as he lifts his hand in a scouts honor gesture.

Wesley chuckles at that as he looks at Liam in the rearview mirror.

“I always say the more the merrier, but good luck getting Ronan on the same page.”

“Fucking Putnam men, am I right?” Liam agrees with a clap on Wesley’s shoulder.

I can’t help but snort because, oh my fucking God, there is no way they are bonding over the difficulty to get fucked by their best friends. How is this my life? Honestly, don’t answer that because it’s too good. I don’t want to question it.