A Taste of You

33: A Christmas Gift in Private

We all end up in bed at a reasonable hour. Thankfully, Ethan and I are in the guest suite. He's already in bed, bare-chested and sitting up with the sheet over his lap. I finish up in the bathroom, give my Christmas jammies a once over in the mirror, and climb into bed.

Ethan pulls me onto his lap and I straddle his legs, having missed our usual contact. He chuckles as he reads my shirt.

"'Dear Santa, I can explain everything.' And what exactly would you explain?" He asks, his eyes twinkling in the dim light.

"That I was a good girl until this gorgeous man sat down at a table in my restaurant and told me he wanted to propose to another woman." I whisper.

"Ah, so I corrupted you?" He ventures.

"You definitely made me think naughty thoughts after that first night." I inform him.

Ethan leans forward and cups my face, drawing our lips together. When he pulls away, he stares into my eyes dreamily. "Alise I want to give you one of your Christmas gifts in private, if that's okay with you?"

I lean into his chest and purr into his ear. "I thought I told you no funny business while visiting family."

"Oh I promise you this is very serious business." As I push back away from him, he is holding something up to me, pinched between two fingers. My hands fly to my mouth, trying to muffle my gasp. My eyes move from the delicate shiny ring to Ethan's face and then back again.

He clarifies. "It's not your engagement ring, but it's a promise to become one. After what we've been through in our relationship, especially this last week, I know there's no one else I'd rather spend my days with. Will you accept my promise to always take care of you and eventually turn this into an engagement ring and then a wedding band?"

He slips the ring onto my finger and kisses the tips of my fingers. Tears are threatening to run down my face. After the stress and frustration of the past week, I can't imagine having gone through it without Ethan by my side. I love this man.

"Yes, Ethan! Yes!"

He wraps his arms around me and we kiss. He breathes a sigh of relief against my lips. "After my track record and something I vaguely remember you saying about not wanting a public proposal, I thought it was safer to do this here. I was going to wait until morning, but I couldn't hold out."

"Is that why you were quiet earlier?" I inquire.

Ethan blushes. "Yeah. I was nervous you would say no and that I would ruin everyone's Christmas."

I admire the band. "I don't think I can wait either."

Ethan perks up. "Oh do I get my present now too?"

"No, that can wait. It's not comparable to the lifetime of happiness you've just promised me. I'm talking about not waiting to show you my appreciation." I grind my warm middle against his groin to add emphasis. Ethan groans and I put a finger to his lips. He tilts his head and starts to gently suck on my finger as his hips begin to move below me.

I reach for the bottom of my shirt to pull it off, but Ethan shakes his head. "Leave it on, you naughty girl. The bottoms can go, though."

I step out of bed and remove my pajama bottoms. Under the sheet, Ethan does the same. His hard-on tents below. He rolls onto his side, lifts the sheet, and beckons me with a finger to come join him.

I nestle my naked ass against his erection. His strong arm crosses over me and begins to massage my breasts through my tank. I wiggle my ass against him and he buries his head in my hair to muffle his moans. His hand slides down my belly and between my legs. I arch against his fingers as he teases my bud. I can feel his hardness slipping against my middle. I widen my legs, letting him know I'm ready for him.