Stolen Kiss (Erotic Thriller)

Chapter 19

Christmas Eve had descended on Red Bank and Natalie's small home was bursting with festive music and its occupants. She and David worked together in the kitchen preparing dinner, exchanging sweet kisses over a delicately roasting brisket, homemade kugel, vegetables, and roasted potatoes.

The pies and holiday sweets sat covered on their respective trays or else cooling in the fridge. In the living room, Raiden was entertaining Colton and Gabby while Lily laid on the couch texting her mom.

"Don't poke my nose!" Gabby exclaimed as Raiden shoved his finger up her nostrils.

"Boogie," Raiden mumbled and stuck his finger back into his mouth. Gabby grimaced in disgust and pulled his finger out. "No, Luna!"

"Don't tell me no, Squirt. I'm your older sister...practically royalty," she huffed.

Colton raised an eyebrow at his twin. "Yeah... a royal pain in the ass," he tossed back casually.

"Pain in the ass!" Raiden repeated and Colton smacked his hand to his forehead. The child mimicked his actions and slapped his own forehead.

"Aw shit...no...not ass," Colton tried to correct.

Raiden toppled over in giggles and exclaimed, "Aw shit!" The twins couldn't help but laugh and shrug at each other. With a mouth like that, the kid would fit right in.

"Kids, go wash up. Dinner's gonna be ready soon!" David called out, peeking out into the living room.

"Luna is a pain in the ass...shit!" Raiden giggled louder, making the twins and Lily crack up even more.

David shot a very fatherly look to his kids. "Seriously? That's what you chose to teach him?" He scolded. The doorbell rang and he shook his head, all four kids pounding up the stairs to the only bathroom with Raiden's little legs trying to keep up. "Oh don't worry, I'll get it."

He shook his head and opened the door, frozen in place and eyes unblinking.

"Merry Christ- fuck, what the hell?" Richie stuttered to a stop, the bell on his elf hat jingling. "Lema?! What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be anywhere near Nat."

"I could ask you the same thing," David replied coldly.

"I drop in to see Natalie and Raiden each Christmas since she left California," Richie said, "Aren't you going to let me in?"

David blocked the doorway and leaned against the frame. "I should leave you out in the cold like you did to us."

Richie's voice lowered to a menacing growl. "And I should call the cops to have you arrested. How dare you worm your way back into her life after what you did to her?!"

"Oh come on, Rich, where's your Christmas spirit?" David taunted.

Richie stiffened up out of his relaxed stance, "I would have come sooner if I'd known you were here. When did you come back into their lives? Couldn't have left that poor girl be after kicking her to the curb and--"

"Unca Mookie!!" Raiden cried out, running full speed at Richie and launched himself at the man.

"Hey there, munchkin!" Richie swung the toddler around in his arms above his head, "You got a kiss for Mookie?" Raiden giggled and smacked his lips to Richie's. "C'mon it's cold out here, how about we get inside to your Momma, huh?"

"Fine," David snapped. "We don't need him getting sick." He stepped out of the way and begrudgingly let Richie into the warm house.

"Since when are you the doting father?"

David ignored the comment as Colton, Gabby, and Lily all came up to greet and hug Richie, all throwing apprehensive glances at their Dad.

"Richie!" Natalie called out, drying her hands on her apron and smiling at her friend and ex-fiance. "I thought you weren't able to make it out this year!"