Christmas Choices (16 page)

He made love to her slowly, as if he was savoring every inch of her. He licked each nipple and suckled it in his mouth, watching her intently. He moved back up to her neck and lips, never changing tempo.

“Don’t move, Rhian. I don’t want you to finish just yet. I’m not ready. Please, just lay still for a moment.”

She lay under him perfectly still just as he asked. Something in his voice told her it was important to him that she trust him completely and let him control this moment. She felt herself coming down from the edge, knowing he would take her back over in his own time. She caressed his back and arms, reveling in the hardness of his muscles. Her breathing slowed, and he kissed her again, softly and gently.

Soon he started the slow rhythm of loving her again. She felt a peace come over her and held him while he loved her. She wanted to feel their bodies in harmony, moving to the mutual goal of utter fulfillment.

Rhian needed more of him inside of her. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist, not wanting any distance between them.

Kellen moaned into her mouth. “Are you ready to finish, baby? I am, if you are. Come for me, Rhian. Come with me, baby,” he whispered in her ear. She shuddered around his erection. He captured her mouth and their tongues matched the rhythm of their hips. He increased his pace, moving faster.

“Kellen! Oh Kellen,” she cried, grabbing him tighter, as if her life depended on it. He let himself go and she felt his release as she tightened around him again. When the orgasm finally subsided, Rhian collapsed against the pillow panting hard.

Spent, he lay down on top of her and held her close. He tried to turn his head away, but she saw his wet eyes as he blinked back the tears.

Confused, she moved to look at his face. Touching his cheek, she asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Rolling over, he pulled her against him. “That’s just it, Rhian. Nothing’s wrong. For the first time in my life, everything feels right. I finally know what love is.” He leaned down and kissed her softly on her lips. “For the first time in my life, I feel safe. I love you. I promise you I’ll love you for the rest of my life. I’ll spend the rest of my life making all your dreams come true.”

Sighing, she laid her head on his chest. “I promise you the same. I love you, too.”

As she felt his breathing even out, she knew he had begun to trust her. He was falling asleep with her in his arms, something he'd told her he had never done with anyone else before. They were truly meant to be together. From this day forward, he was hers alone and she was his. Rhian closed her eyes as she drifted off, knowing that dreams do come true.

A
few weeks later, her paintings arrived from Italy. Rhian called Kellen and asked him to come and help her. She wondered how she would feel seeing them again. So much had happened to her since her return. Would she feel differently about her accomplishments away from the magic of Italy? She also wondered what Kellen would think when he looked at them.

She ran to him when he walked through the door. Sweeping her up in his arms, he spun her around and kissed her softly before setting her down again. She grabbed his hand. “I’m so nervous about opening these boxes.”

“Why? I can’t wait to see what you painted. I’ve already decided where I want to hang them when you finally decide to move in with me.”

She swatted his arm. “You know we already discussed this. I’ll move in after the wedding. Right now, we have to concentrate on the café. The sooner you finish, the sooner I can plan the wedding. There isn’t anything I can’t do when I set my mind to it; you should know that by now.” She gave him a hug. “Now, help me with these.”

Kellen walked over to the first crate and opened it. He carefully lifted the painting, set it against the wall, and stood back. “Wow, this is beautiful. Where did you paint this one?”

“It’s the view behind the villa.”

“I love the way you captured the sunlight playing over the hills. The colors are amazing.” He turned toward her. “You really have a talent for this.”

He went back to the crate, pulled out the next painting, and placed it beside the first. He stepped back, and his mouth dropped open. “You painted me. When did you get a picture of me?”

She took his hand. “I didn’t. I painted it from memory.”

“I look lost.” He glanced down at her. “Do I still look like that?”

“No, you don’t. There was a sadness you carried deep inside that seems to be gone. Now your eyes sparkle with hope and love. I guess I have to paint a new portrait of you.”

“No, we need to keep this one around as a reminder of who I never want to be again.” He pulled her close and laid his chin on top of her head. “I love you so much. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

“I’ll never give up on you, Kellen. I love you way too much. Please, never give up on me either.”

“I promise. You know, these paintings will look great in our home. I wish you would just marry me already.”

“How much longer until Grandfather can open the café?” she asked, batting her eyelashes at him.

“The painters finish today and Harry wants you to do a mural on the one wall. You could start in two days.” He cocked his head and batted his eyelashes back at her.

She threw her head back and laughed. “Stop that! You look silly.”

He tipped up her chin and batted his lashes until tears streamed down her face. Suddenly, he pulled her against him and kissed her hard. Rhian’s breath came quickly and she put her arms around his neck in a tight hug. Her body responded to him as she moaned into his mouth.

Kellen picked her up and carried her to her bedroom. He placed her on the bed and smiled when he saw the candles and heard the soft music playing on her stereo. “Oh, you little sneak. You planned this little tryst, didn’t you?” He walked over to the stereo, cranked up the music, and slowly took off his shirt. Rhian sat up on the bed and watched the way his muscles moved as he undulated his hips. He watched her face and smiled as she licked her lips. Slowly, he unbuttoned his jeans and slid the zipper down as he rolled his stomach muscles. With his back to her, the striptease ended when the jeans slid down over his cheeks.

He glanced over his shoulder and caught her smiling at his bare ass. “Yeah, I knew you’d like that. You checked out my ass the first day we met.” Her eyes flew to his and he saw the flame of desire and love. “Oh, you are so in trouble little girl if you keep looking at me like that.”

Rhian licked her lips again and beckoned him with her finger. She lifted herself up on her knees and unhooked her bra, let it fall off her arms, and then slid her thongs down over her hips.

“Freeze!”

Rhian froze, eyes wide. “What’s wrong?” she asked with a pout on her lips. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Nope.” He strode to the bed in two long steps, took her in his arms, and kissed her softly. “Let me take those off of you when I’m ready. I want you to leave them on for a few more minutes,” he said, his voice husky with desire. Lowering her to the bed, he kissed down her neck, along her breasts, and circled each nipple with his tongue before taking each into his mouth. With just a little nip, her back arched and she moaned.

***

K
ellen couldn’t get enough of this woman. He gradually moved down her stomach, his tongue trailing just over her navel. His hand moved over her breast, rolling her nipple between his thumb and finger.

“Oh Kellen, what are you doing to me?” She barely managed a whisper.

Kellen smiled, knowing he brought her pleasure. Her breath caught when he kissed her mound through the thongs. He pulled the material to the side and touched her nub gently with his tongue. The look of wonder on her face told him she’d never done this with anyone.

“Lift your hips for me, Rhian,” he whispered, pulling the thongs off. He blew on her sweet spot, took her into his mouth, and moaned at the first taste of her smooth nectar. Teasing her, his tongue moved into her core and out again.

“Oh, Kellen,” she whispered, opening herself to him even more. He knew if he didn’t stop soon, she would go over the edge.

Suddenly she reached down grabbing his head. “Please stop.”

He looked up, brows raised. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No! I want you inside of me. I always want you inside of me.” She felt her face blushing crimson.

He smiled and crawled up her body, licking her, teasing her nipples again with his mouth and tongue.

He smiled and watched her face as he slowly slid himself into her. She looked up at him, smiling blissfully. He moved his hips slowly, loving the way she took in every inch of him. He felt her body shake and knew she was ready for him to take them over the edge.

He felt her urgency building along with his and leaned down to capture her mouth. “Come with me, baby.” She spasmed around him and he pushed into her one more time, craving release. As Kellen collapsed on top of her, they sighed together. “I don’t ever want to stop feeling like this.”

“Me, either,” she whispered, snuggling closer. “Don’t move yet.”

Kellen felt a calmness wash over him. This was where he wanted to be. All the harshness, hate, and sorrow of the past ebbed away like the tide going out. She smothered the fire of self-hatred he had carried with him all those years. The promise he had made himself, shattered into a million pieces as he lay holding the woman who loved him—the real Kellen—not the man he had created. She knew his flaws and weaknesses and still wanted him. It overwhelmed him.

“Thank you, Rhian. Thank you for loving all of me,” he whispered in her ear and tightened his arms around her. “I promise to cherish every minute with you.” Tears welled in his eyes, but for the first time in his life, he didn’t feel foolish. These were tears of joy. Rhian reached up and wiped them from his cheeks.

“Oh baby, you didn’t make it easy.” She smiled. “But nothing worth having is ever easy. I couldn’t give up. My grandmother told me that very thing years ago. I knew deep in my heart you were worth it.” She kissed him softly.

“Sometimes broken promises lead you to where you’re supposed to be. I’m glad I figured that out before it was too late. I’m glad you saw through my façade.”

“You were figuring it out too, Kellen. It just took both of us to make it happen.”

R
hian finished the last stroke on the mural in the café and stepped back to admire her work. She had captured the scene from her memory, and she hoped her grandfather loved it as much as she did. Turning, she looked around the newly finished structure. Kellen had finished as promised and everything was perfect. As she was putting her paints back into the box and cleaning her brushes, she heard everyone coming in through the back door laughing and talking.
Perfect timing
, she thought as she pulled off her gloves. “I’ve just finished up. Come see what you think.”

Kellen, her grandfather, and Denny walked in from the kitchen. Everyone stopped; different emotions moved over their faces. Denny stepped forward and walked down the wall trying to take everything in. He turned and looked at her, his arms open and palms up. “Miss Rhian, I do believe this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I feel like I’m lookin’ out a window at them. How’d you do that? How’d you make your mom and grandmom on the wall?”

“I just painted what I saw in my memory.”

He walked over to her and took her hand. “I’m so glad you and Mr. Kellen figured each other out. I knew he was a good man. I told you, didn’t I? Look at that ring! Wow,” he said in an exaggerated whisper.

Rhian heard a gasp, looked up, and saw her father staring at the wall. His mouth was set angrily, his hands clenched. She glanced at Kellen for reassurance, and then realized what had happened.

“Daddy, Grandfather didn't tell you I was painting Mom and Grandmother, did he?”

Rhian's father stared at her, and then his eyes widened even more as his gaze dropped to the ring on her hand. He turned questioningly from her to Kellen. “What is going on here? Harry mentioned something about the two of you, but I didn’t think—”

Denny put his hands on his hips and faced her father squarely. “Mr. St. Claire, you may think you know everything about everything but listen to me. Just because you are a fancy rich man doesn’t mean everyone else is beneath you. I’ve been around a long time. Did you forget your wife came from nothin’, sir? And Mr. Harry and Ms. Hazel built this place with their own hands. Your daddy didn’t like you with their daughter, but you followed your heart. Now, that’s all Miss Rhian is doin’. She is happy. You just let her be now, you hear me?”

Rhian looked at her father, trembling as fear sliced through her. Then she straightened her shoulders and stepped up beside Denny. “I’m going to marry Kellen, Father. You can either be a part of my life and accept him as Grandfather and Grandmother accepted you into Mom’s life, or you can turn around and walk out the door and leave us alone.”

Harry walked over to stand beside Rhian. “I wanted Rhian to tell you about the engagement herself. They already have my blessing and you couldn’t stop it if you wanted to. Don’t be a fool, son.”

Rhian’s father looked around at the united faces staring him down. Then Kellen quietly spoke, “I would love to have your blessing for your daughter's sake, sir. I know it would mean a lot to her. I can promise your daughter will never want for love while she is with me. She will be safe, protected, and cherished. What do you say, sir?” He extended his hand.

***

J
onathan looked down at Kellen’s hand and back up into the man’s eyes. He saw determination, love, hope, and devotion in those eyes. He thought back to how much he had loved Rhian’s mother. God help him, this young man loved his daughter with all his being. Who was he to stand in the way? Reaching out, he took Kellen’s hand. “You both have my blessings. I hope to eventually have many grandchildren to spoil. Why don’t you call me Jonathan?”

He stepped over to give Rhian a big hug that brought tears to her eyes. “I love you, girl. Don’t you ever forget it. I was angry when I saw the portrait on the wall. They look so real. Was I really so different when she was here?” he whispered.