17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Rhys

“ M erry Christmas, Rhys.” Liam leaned in to kiss me when we’d settled on the enormous couch again, his hand finding its way on my thigh.

“Thank you for everything,” I muttered into his ear, covering his fingers with mine. “It’s the best Christmas ever.”

And it was. Maybe one day I would tell him what inviting me had done. It healed me in the way they repaired broken pottery in Japan. The cracks would always be visible, but they shone bright gold where Liam and his family put me back together.

My favourite tradition of theirs was binge watching the cheesiest old Hallmark films while we ate our weight in cookies and the six thousand different varieties of snacks his aunt provided.

“Is this the Scottish version of tapas?” I asked him when his aunt Figgy arrived, making my sweet ginger snort. Liam’s mum had unearthed four more coffee tables from her enormous house, and all of them were laden with trays, platters, and bowls.

“No, my aunt collects new recipes all year and then she goes completely bonkers in the week leading up to Christmas because she can never decide on just a few.”

“When you told me I shouldn’t miss your aunt’s cooking I thought you meant…not this. But it’s perfect.”

Beaming at him, I picked a heavenly smelling pastry with quince jelly. “Oh my goodness, baby, you have to try this!” I took another one and brought it up to his pretty lips.

Liam ate it out of my hand, the gentlest expression on his face. It turned dirtier when he nipped my fingers.

Yes, you can eat me next, Daddy.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a wistful smile flickering over Mina’s face.

Maybe I would ask Liam later what the deal with the kids’ dad was. I noticed a faint tan line on her ring finger, the kind you got from wearing a wedding ring for years.

Not now, though, with the world of Scottish tapas in front of me.

“Try this, Rhys.” His green eyes fixed on my mouth, Liam offered a slice of what looked like gingerbread with a white, creamy filling.

“Holy shit!” I gasped, clapping a hand to my mouth so I wouldn’t accidentally spray him with crumbs. “What is that? It’s one of the best things I’ve ever tried.”

His upper lip plumped into a pout—someone fan me, please—as he brought his mouth to my ear. “Brownie spice, pup. Your favourite taste, mm?”

Now he said it, it faintly tasted like his cum did.

I cleared my throat.

“Ah, yes, pup,” he rasped in a voice so low only I can hear. “I love it when you choke on it.”

Fergus raised his head and gave a low huff from his giant dog bed over by the fireplace.

He apparently had heard what his daddy had said.

“Liam!” Tutting at him, I pecked his cheek. “Stop, or we’ll miss out on these and the movie. I can’t wait to see who Ethel ends up with. And if you spoil the ending for me, you’re sleeping on the couch tonight,” I added, trying to channel stern Daddy Liam.

And failed rather spectacularly, if I might say so myself.

His grin turned feral, sending a violent shiver down my spine.

“Oh, sweet pup.” He kissed my cheek and pulled me closer to his side. “I promise I won’t spoil the ending for you. I might just…drag it out a bit. I bet you are so fucking cute when I’m edging you until you forget your name.”