I was at the door to my room when Cole jumped awake from where he had been laid beside me all night, and looked over to me with panic.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, already on his feet and running toward me.
“Evie! She’s screaming.” I had the door open, and was mid sprint when Cole’s arm snaked around me, halting me.
“It’s ok, Babygirl.” He whispered into my ear, as I tried to fight out of his grip. “It’s Christmas morning. She’s screaming because she’s excited. Santa Claus has been.” I stopped struggling to get to her, took my first real breath, and listened closer.
“Come on guys! Wake up!” Evie cried again, sounding like she was in either Kyle or Kade’s room, or maybe outside both. Without my heart pounding panic, I realised she was more squealing excitedly, than screaming.
“Oh thank God.” I deflated in Cole’s arms, my adrenaline, which had spiked with my need to get to Evie, plummeting.
“It’s alright. Just breathe.” Cole whispered. He led me back into my room, closing the door on all of the noise. We sat on the end of my bed and I took a few deeper breaths.
“I’m ok.” I assured Cole when I found him watching me with worry. “I just woke up and thought she was screaming. I panicked.”
Cole didn’t say anything, just wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his bare chest, holding me tight until I calmed down completely.
I was just gaining back control when my bedroom door was thrown open so violently it smashed hard against the wall, drawing a startled squeak from me as I instinctively pressed harder into Cole.
“Come on Livia!” Evie cried from the doorway. She stood in a pink onesie, her hair in two braids and a huge smile on her excited little face.
“Evie! Mom told you about knocking!” Cole snapped.
“It’s Christmas Cole! There’s no time to knock!” She sassed, her hand on her hip, as she always did when trying to prove she was right. “Come on!” With that she ran off busily.
I sat up and locked my eyes on my sleep mussed giant. His hair stuck up wildly and the imprint of his pillow was pressed into his right cheek. He smiled and I couldn’t help but return it.
“Merry Christmas.” I whispered as my gaze dropped to his lips. In an instant he was kissing me. It was slow and gentle, just what I needed to calm me after my mini freak out. His hands cupped my cheeks and I sank against him, melting at his touch.
“Merry Christmas, Beautiful.” He whispered when he pulled back. I knew there was a goofy smile on my face, but I couldn’t help it. Kissing these guys was like coming home, every damned time, and I knew I could never get enough of it.
Knowing time was limited before Evie charged back in to hurry us again, we got ready to go downstairs. I grabbed my robe, wrapping it tightly around me, and Cole pulled on his t-shirt, then we walked, hand in hand down to the lounge.
Matt was walking in with a tray full of juice, coffee, cups and glasses just as we reached the doorway. He stopped and smiled, then leant in and placed a brief kiss on my lips.
“Merry Christmas, Cariña.” He had that sexy half smile in place as he spoke, and it sent the butterflies in my stomach swirling.
“Feliz Navidad, Matt.” I replied. I had looked it up the day before on the internet. It meant ‘merry Christmas’ in Spanish, or at least I hoped it did. He grinned, but didn’t speak and I panicked. “Did I say it wrong?” I asked as I looked from him to Cole.
“No. You said it perfectly. Hearing you speak Spanish is very sexy.” He purred, his eyes filled with a twinkle I wasn’t sure I had seen there before. It made me feel all tingly in the pit of my stomach.
“Then you’ll have to teach me some more.” I replied huskily, my eyes ensnared by his.
He nodded once, that smile firmly in place still, then turned and walked into the lounge. Cole and I followed him in and found Keria and Grant organising an insane number of gifts from under the tree, into piles around the room. Evie was already ripping hers open and squealing with delight at everything Santa had brought for her.
Kade sat in the armchair closest to her, just watching with a smile on his face. He looked tired though, having been working crazy hours all week to get things with his cases wrapped up enough for him to spend a few days at home with us over the holidays. I worried about how hard he pushed himself at work, but I also knew how much he enjoyed it, and how much it meant to him to be helping people, so I let him be.
“You want tea, Brains?” Cole offered as he released my hand, and headed for where Matt was setting up the coffee table with drinks and breakfast pastries.
“Yes please. A fruity one if there is any.” I was seriously getting addicted to tea, of any kind. I just loved the warmth of it as it went down. I found it to be a comfort when I needed one.
“Livia!” Evie cried. “Look! I got makeup. Now I can make you all pretty!” She waved a huge childrens makeup palette at me, so enthusiastically, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Hey cheeky! Olivia is already pretty.” Kade said playfully. I walked over to him and leant over the armchair he casually sat in.
“Pretty huh?” I asked in a whisper.
“Beautiful, is more like it.” He replied as he looked at me so intently, like he was taking every inch of my face in. He swallowed hard, then leant up and caught my lips with his. He kept it short, since we were in the middle of everyone, but it was long enough to show me how he was feeling, to show me he loved me.
Needing
