Chapter Eight

Georgia

"Wake up, little one," Blaze croons in my ear, nuzzling my neck from behind.

I groan, burrowing deeper into him, deeper into his bed. I don't want to wake up. I want to stay right here forever with him wrapped around me. It's my favorite place. He's so warm and cuddly. I love the way he surrounds me.

I don't know what time it is. I don't even know what time I went to sleep.

He carried me into the bathroom and bathed me after making love to me the first time. It was intimate in a way I never thought it could be. I loved every single second of him taking care of me. By the time he was done, I was so blissed out I passed out.

He didn't let me sleep for long, I know that much. Every few hours, he reached for me, kissing me awake. He fucked me again and then again, apologizing every time for not being able to keep his hands off me. As if I had a single complaint. I didn't. I still don't.

Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. This year, it feels magical in brand new, beautiful ways. I got everything I wanted and so much more. Having Blaze as my daddy is the best gift ever.

"Don't wanna," I whine.

His chuckle does delicious things to the sensitive skin behind my ear. His hand does more wonderful things when he slips it between my legs, cupping my center in his palm.

"I know you're sleepy, baby girl," he croons, pressing his thumb to my clit. "But you have to get up now. We have things to do."

"Mm," I moan, spreading my legs to give him room to work. "I like this thing better."

"Yeah?" His lips brush my shoulder, his thumb running in circles around my clit. "Does that mean you don't want to see what I did downstairs?"

"You did something for me?"

"I'd do anything for you." He kisses my shoulder again and then groans. "Fuck. I can't keep my hands off you. You're so sweet right here."

I whimper his name, rocking my hips into his hand. Every muscle in my body is sore in the most delicious way. I love the way it burns. I even love how sticky I am between my legs. His scent is all over me. I never want to lose it.

He makes me come with his thumb on my clit. It's a warm rain washing through me, unfurling slowly. I moan, every bone in my body turning to rubber as it recedes. He holds me through it, crooning praises in my ear.

"So beautiful," he whispers with another sweet kiss to my shoulder. And then he rises. Before I can tempt him back into the bed, he scoops me up in his arms. His lips touch mine in a soft caress that fills me with joy. I could drown in this man and not regret a second of it.

"You're dressed," I say when I realize he's not naked like I am.

"That's because it's noon." He grins down at me, his cocoa eyes soft. Full of light. The grumpy beast he's been for the last two months is nowhere to be found now. He's all smiles and bone-deep satisfaction. It sears every gorgeous line on his face. "I've been up for hours."

"You didn't wake me," I say, pouting.

"You needed rest." Guilt flashes in his expression. "I didn't let you get much last night."

"Do you hear me complaining?"

"Greedy girl."

"Your beard still has dye in it." I tug on it gently, smiling. "If this is what you're going to look like in a few years, sign me up."

"A few years?" He quirks a brow at me. "Baby girl, watching over you will have me gray by next year. You're too goddamn beautiful, and you like stressing me out way too fucking much."

I giggle because he's not wrong. I do love pushing his buttons. "It's your own fault, you know," I say, playing with his beard as he carries me through the bedroom. The sun is out today, shining into the room from every angle. I must have been more tired than I thought to sleep with it. Usually, I need complete darkness. "You get all growly and hot when you're stressed out. Behaving doesn't have much incentive when you look like a sexy beast when you're grumpy."

"You think I'm sexy?" He grins at me.

"You know I do," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Keep rolling those eyes at me, I'll be spanking you again real soon, little one."

I moan at the thought, squeezing my legs together. He notices and shakes his head, his expression softening again.

"You're going to ruin me, aren't you?"

"Yep," I agree, beaming at the thought. If spankings are my punishment, I'm going to earn every damn one of them. Besides, we both know how much he likes it when I'm a brat. If he wants to tame me, I'll let him. But I plan on enjoying every minute of it.

He carries me out into the hallway, chuckling.

"I need clothes," I protest.

"You definitely don't need clothes. In fact, you're not permitted to wear clothes when we're alone ever again," he growls, palming my ass. "If I'm going to hell, I plan to enjoy it."

"You're not going to hell. I mean, you might if you do that thing with your tongue again, but if you do, yay for me."

He shakes his head at me, laughing. "Dirty girl."

"Mmhmm," I hum, not denying it. I've heard enough women talk to know that most first times are not like my first time. Most men aren't like my man. I'm perfectly content being dirty if it means he keeps doing dirty things to me.

He carries me down the stairs, holding me like I'm precious. I love it. The way he touches me. The way he holds me. How he can't keep his eyes off me. I don't know what I did to deserve him, but I love him so damn much.

"Oh my gosh," I whisper, staring in shock at the massive Christmas tree standing off to the side of the fireplace in the living room. It's a good nine feet tall, covered in twinkling white lights. Colored ornaments hang haphazardly from the branches, scattered without care. It's a mess, but it's the most perfect mess. "You put up a tree."

"You love Christmas," he says as if it's the most logical thing in the world. His eyes meet mine, bright with sincerity. "I'll put up a thousand of them if it makes you happy."

"Blaze," I whisper, my heart fluttering like an entire flock of birds nest in there.

"Making sure you have everything you need is my job now, little one," he says, carrying me across the room to the tree. The closer we get, the stronger the pine smell grows. "I plan to spend the rest of my fucking life obsessing about you every minute of the day."

As soon as he puts me on my feet, I launch myself at him, climbing him like he's a tree. He boosts me up with his hands on my ass, allowing me to rain kisses of gratitude and adoration across his face. He's so damn amazing. God, how did I ever think he didn't feel the same? I was clearly an idiot. He looks at me like I'm the center of the universe.

"I love you," I say, punctuating each word with another kiss.

He growls, claiming my lips with his. This kiss is hot and heavy, but it's sweet and gentle too. The best of both worlds.

"I plan to be obsessed with you too," I say when he finally lets me up for air.

"Yeah?" He bites my lip and then grins. "Come on, let's feed you."

"You're going to cook for me?"

"Already did," he grunts, carrying me into the kitchen. And whoa. I should have checked out the kitchen last night because it's incredible. Restaurants have less room to work with than he does. The appliances are built in, with doors that slide closed over them. Sunlight filters in from floor-to-ceiling windows in a breakfast nook off to the right. It lets out onto the backyard. I can see the valley below.

The island in the center of the room is as big as a conference table in a board room, with pots and pans hanging from hooks overhead. My stomach growls when I see the plate heaped high with bacon, eggs, and toast on top of the island.

He hears it and chuckles, carrying me toward it. I expect him to release me, but he doesn't. He sits down with me in his lap, holding me close.

"You're going to feed me," I whisper, warmth rushing through me.

"Fuck yeah, I am," he growls, his expression hot when he meets my gaze. "You know how many times I've wanted to sit you on my lap and feed you, baby girl? Too many to count."

It's so strange how something so small can make me so happy, and yet it does. For the first time in my life, I know exactly what it feels like to be bursting with love. It's perfection.

"Spend Christmas here with me," he says, running a hand down my back. "I'll decorate whatever you want me to decorate."

"I'm supposed to fly home." My flight leaves the day after tomorrow. I don't want to go though. For the first time in my life, I'm not looking forward to spending Christmas with my family. I want to be here, with Blaze.

"Then I'll go with you."

"You'd do that?" I ask, eyes wide.

"Yes."

He scoops a bite of scrambled egg up onto a fork, bringing it to my lips. I wrap them around it, pulling the fork into my mouth. The cheesy flavor bursts on my tongue, making my stomach growl again. I'm starving.

"I'd rather stay here," I say between bites. "I'm not ready to share you yet."

"You don't want them to know about me?"

"I do want them to know about you. I just don't want to share you with anyone yet. I want to be selfish and keep you all to myself for a little while. Is that okay?"

"Yeah," he says, grinning. "That's okay, baby girl."

"If we stay, are you going to cook for me?"

"I'll cook. Fair warning, Alaric will probably show up at some point. He always appears when there's food involved."

"I like Alaric."

He growls, which makes me laugh.

"I'm serious. He's nice to me."

"He better be nice to you. I will break his jaw if he's not nice to you, little one."

"You're such a good daddy," I whisper, smiling.

"Finish your breakfast then," he growls, heat in his eyes. "I'm ready to be a real good daddy and eat mine."

Oh. Yes, please.