Remembering what Jareth had said about her rejecting him, I asked, “But it didn’t turn out that way?”
“Not even close.” His chuckle held no humor. “Barbra ran screaming from me as though I was the very devil, and I was too shocked to chase after her. Nothing had gone as I expected, and when she died a dozen years later, I assumed that she took my chance at being safe from the darkness that plagued Thaddeus with her. But then you stumbled into my arms and blew all of my ill-conceived notions out of the water.”
I clutched his biceps, butterflies starting to swirl in my belly. “You really, truly never felt anything more than friendship for her?”
“I did not.” He flashed me a sheepish grin. “And if you’d stuck around to eavesdrop a little longer, you would have heard me tell Jareth that she’s nothing more than a fond childhood memory. You have nothing to fear in regards to Barbra or any other woman. It took no time at all for me to realize that our bond would be much deeper than friendship. Consort or not, you’re the only one for me. I love you, Amaia.”
“I love you, too.” When I ran from his home, I’d been convinced that nothing he could say would fix the hole in my heart. “I’m so sorry I misunderstood the situation and didn’t stick around to talk to you about what I’d heard. It won’t happen again.”
“It’s not as though I have room to judge you for the blunder, my darling. I’ve stubbornly held on to my misconception for five hundred years, after all.” He pulled me close, wrapping his arms around my body before teleporting us to his family room. “My brothers and cousins are going to taunt me over my bullheadedness for centuries to come, and it doesn’t bother me even a little bit. I’ve never been happier to be wrong about something.”
8
Liam
Amaia glanced around the family room, and her face lit up. She pulled out of my arms, and I reluctantly let her go because she was clearly excited about something.
“Your presents!” she exclaimed as she pointed at the packages wrapped in bright colors stacked on the sofa. Not wanting to put a damper on her mood or seem ungrateful, I mentally sighed at being forced to wait a little longer for what I really wanted for Christmas.
In the blink of an eye, our bodies—soaked from the heavily falling snow—were clean and dry. Our wet clothes disappeared and were replaced with fresh ones. Festive red silk pajama pants for me and—I grinned salaciously when Amaia looked down at her outfit—a short, matching silk robe for her. Underneath was one of the gifts I’d given her that morning. A pair of barely-there, cream lacy panties under a wide band of cream silk that circled her hips and tied in the back right above her sexy ass. The top was the same thing, a silk sash that barely contained her gorgeous breasts, except the bow was in the front.
I couldn’t wait to unwrap her. Best. Present. Ever.
Amaia rolled her eyes when she peeked inside the robe, but her lips curved a bit, and crimson spots loomed on her cheeks. “Come and open your gifts,” she said breathlessly. A wicked smile slid across my face, and Amaia’s adorable blush deepened. “These,” she giggled, gesturing to the stack again.
“Whatever you want, darling.” With a flick of my hand, a fire roared to life in the fireplace, and I sat on the couch, patting the spot next to me. She narrowed her eyes and perched on the other end. I couldn’t help grinning at her perceptiveness. If she’d come close enough, I would have pounced and made her forget about everything but hunger for the pleasure only I could give her.
After opening the first box, I found myself getting into the spirit. Jareth had probably helped her by answering questions about my likes and dislikes, but with each present, it was obvious to me that Amaia had specifically picked it out. Her thoughtfulness made my heart swell with love for her.
When I’d opened the final gift on the couch, I held my hand out to my consort, urging her to come to me. She did so without hesitation, and I practically beamed at her. Lacing our fingers together, I tugged her down into my lap. I gave her a deep kiss, showing my gratitude, but also pouring all of my love into her. How the fuck did I ever get so lucky?
“I saved the best for last,” I murmured against her lips before we parted. “Am I going to get what I want most when I unwrap you, darling?”
Her eyes shined, and she giggled. “If you’re hoping your final present is to complete our claiming, then you must have been a very good boy this year.”