Bright light flashes behind my eyes and bolts of pleasure fire through me. I whimper through the powerful release that consumes me. His fingers dig into my skin and he growls, falling into his orgasm right behind mine. Slowly coming back, my legs give out, but his arm wraps around my waist to hold me up.

We’re breathing heavy, still connected, and he lifts my upper body where I sag back into his arms.

“I fucking love you, Gia.”

I smile through my exhaustion. Our lovemaking, as unconventional as it is, always sucks me dry and leaves me exhausted and sated. “I fucking love you too, Rex.”

He pulls out and scoops me up in his arms. Kicking his jeans from his ankles so he can walk, he takes me to the bed and lays me down. He moves to my feet and slips off my shoes, rubbing each one until I’m nearly asleep.

“It’s midnight.”

I blink and force my eyes open. “Hmm?”

His warm gaze meets mine, and a carefree smile lights his face. “It’s Christmas.”

A spark of excitement wakes me and I sit up. “It’s Christmas.”

He nods and jumps up to snag some clothes from his dresser, tossing me a shirt and pulling on a pair of flannel sleeping pants.

I pull the shirt over my head. “Presents!”

He grabs my hand and we race to the tree. I go for the gift I hid there earlier today, and he reaches for the one he shoved between branches. I sit on the ground, tucking my legs to the side, and he places a square box wrapped in gold paper and a red ribbon in my lap.

Emotion crawls up my throat. “Did you wrap this?”

He sits down beside me and runs a hand through his messy black hair. “Um, would it make it less meaningful if the answer’s no?”

I shake my head, afraid to speak and give away how close I am to crying.

“I mean you’ve seen my tree decorating skills. Present wrapping might have to wait ’til next year.”

I start by sliding off the velvet ribbon, but excitement takes over halfway through, and I can’t get to the present fast enough. I rip through the paper, and even though Rex laughs at my impatience, I don’t care. I’ve gotta see what it is!

Once I get down to the box, I rip off the lid and send it flying. My hand goes to my mouth as I stare at the gift.

A single square diamond hangs from a silver chain. I move to touch it but recoil, afraid of tarnishing its beauty.

He laughs. “It’s okay, Gia. You can touch it.” He takes the box from my hands and slips the necklace from it. “I didn’t know how big of a diamond I should get. I had to ask Raven. I hope that’s okay.” He moves behind me and I gather my hair to the side while he secures it around my neck. “I figure that’s what sisters are for, right?”

Once it’s on, I hold the pendant to my chest, and tears flood my eyes and spill down my cheeks.

He wipes them away. “Ah shit, baby. Don’t cry.” He leans in and kisses me soft and sweet.

I sniff back my tears. “I love it. So much, Rex, I love it. And I love you.”

“It’s unconventional, but um, usually when a man gives the woman he loves a diamond, it represents his intention to marry her.” He tilts his head and rubs the back of his neck then brings his eyes to mine. “That’s what this is, Gia. It’s my promise to you. When you’re ready, we’ll take that necklace to have it made into a ring, but until then, every time you feel that against your chest, you’ll know I’m yours and your mine. You have that as my vow.” He clasps my face between his hands. “I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life exploring you and loving you.”

That’s all I’ve ever wanted, to be his. “Yes, Rex. I say yes. I’ll marry you.”

He drops his head and blows out a long breath. “Thank you, God.”

I throw myself into his arms and he holds me to him.

How can I top this? “You should know you totally out-gifted me. My present to you is really lame compared to this.”

He laughs and his arms convulse around me. “Impossible, baby.”

I reach over and grab the box that’s wrapped in blue paper with white snowflakes printed on it. “Here. I actually wrapped it myself, so no laughing.” I sit up a little but stay in his lap as he rips through the paper.

Pulling out the present by the single ribbon it’s attached to, he dangles the silver ornament before his eyes, reading the inscription.

“Rex and Gia. First Christmas. Let this be our beginning.” He hugs me and kisses the top of my head. “It’s perfect.” He eyes our crooked tree. “Where should we hang it?”

We stand, walk around our tree to scope out the perfect spot, and decide on front and center.

He throws his arm over my shoulder. “Our beginning. I like that.”

He pulls something out of his pocket and points it at his stereo system. A remote clicks the music on and Nat King Cole’s voice fills the room singing “The Christmas Song.”

He drops the remote on the couch and turns to me, holding out a hand. “May I have this dance?”

A trickle of anxiety warms my stomach. “I um . . . I don’t know how to dance.”

He smiles but pulls me to him. “Me neither.”

I giggle and bury my face into his bare chest. The spicy smell of his skin soothes my nerves.

“I figure we just hold on to each other and sway.”

“Seems like everything always starts with that.” I peer up at him and he dips his chin. “Us, holding on to each other.”

“That’s the way we started; in the dark, you were humming Christmas music while we held on tight.”

“And here’s our new beginning.”

“But this time, we’re never letting go.”

~The End~