Only Christmas

“You want something else to drink?” Hunter asks, glancing down at my full glass of champagne I’ve been holding for a little while now. I give a small shake of my head.

“I’m not much of a drinker.”

“Then I can get you something else. Tell me what you want. I should know what my wife likes to drink.” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering down the side of my jaw.

I can’t get over how doting he’s been in the last hour since we got here. He’s kept me tucked at his side and introduced me proudly to anyone that started a conversation with us. I’ve noticed Hunter isn’t one to start talking to anyone. They have to try to lure him into conversation. I’m not sure if he always gets this much attention or it has to do with the fact that he has me with him. With the way people stare, I’m thinking it’s the latter.

“A Coke?”

“All right.”

“Can you show me to the bathroom too?” I’m starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. A moment alone would be nice to catch my breath.

“I suppose.”

“Where are you going?” Sophia asks when Hunter starts to lead me away from the great room. Or at least I think that’s what this room is.

It’s giant with chairs all about and one of the biggest Christmas trees I’ve ever seen in a house before. It sits in the corner near a fireplace that a car could fit inside of. It’s absolutely stunning. A lot of people are just drifting throughout the house, but I’ve remained with Hunter.

“Mom.” A laugh leaves Hunter’s lips, and damn is it sexy. Everything about him is. “Can I see to my wife, please?”

For the last hour, all his small touches and the possessive way he spoke about me was slowly causing my desire for him to build. Anytime he introduced me to someone, he always would use the word my. My wife. My Aspen. Anytime he had the opportunity to slip the small simple word in, he would take advantage of it.

He’s so proud of me. It’s hard for me to understand that or accept it. For so long, I’ve always been a bother. Even when it was me keeping a roof over my mom’s and my head. I owed it to her, so she would say.

With Hunter, I not only belonged to someone, but he was proud that I was his. Almost trying to show me off.

“Oh, fine. I suppose I should go check on my own husband.” Sophia winks at me before she’s on her way.

“She’s so sweet.” I understand why Hunter cares so much for her.

“I knew she would warm to you quickly. She’s always been good with people.” Hunter starts to guide me from the room.

“People stare at you a lot,” I dip my head to say under my breath so only he hears it.

It makes much more sense to me now why he wanted to have a buffer. There is no missing the way a few of the women here stare at him. There was even a married one, Anna, that couldn’t keep her eyes off him. The sad part is that she’s married to Jacob, who I believe Hunter said was on the board of his company. Her blatant attraction to Hunter is not only disrespectful to me as his wife but to her husband.

“They’re curious about you.” His hand that’s resting on my back shifts to my hip. He grips me harder. I don’t think his jealousy is supposed to turn me on, but it does. I’ve never had anyone give me the attention that he does.

“I’m sure everyone is shocked. I told you about the rumors I’ve heard.”

“Do you find me to be cold?” His fingers flex against my hip as he leads me down a hallway. It’s hard to pay attention to anything else but him when he touches me, and he’s always touching me.

“No,” I laugh. “But I can see why others might think that. You’re very direct.”

That’s probably another thing I shouldn’t be enjoying. I find that his directness with me is different. In fact, everything when it comes to me is that way with him. His voice is always softer, and he engages me. He can’t keep me close enough, while with others he doesn’t even want to share a handshake. A nod is more than enough for him. It makes me feel special.

“I always want to be clear with people. If you’re not, they will make up other ideas in their head. It’s better for everyone if things are clear. Does how I speak to people bother you?”

“No,” I answer honestly. “I mean, not here, at least. I suppose if it were a party for our children and these were their friends' parents or something I would want you to turn it down a notch. But that’s…” I trail off, my face immediately heating. It’s so far left that I’m not sure why I said it. The words had popped out before I could stop them.