Smiling at my sister-in-law, I agreed, “Yeah, it’s what we all needed.”
Her eyes twinkled as she looked at J for a moment. “I know J’s been looking forward to this party. I bet he’s already planning next year’s in his mind.”
J shifted in his chair next to me and muttered, “Jesus, I’m surrounded by women who like to push my buttons. The only party I’m planning is the one I’ll be having later tonight.”
As everyone laughed, I leant into him and murmured, “I love you.”
He put his arm around me and pulled my face closer so he could kiss me. “I love you, too, baby, but no more parties for awhile, okay? I need you to myself. I’ve got plans I’m working on where you’re concerned.”
Baby plans.
“You said we’d reassess in three months, J, and I’m holding you to that.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t work on getting you to change your mind sooner,” he replied, his voice full of determination.
He’s deadly serious about this.
“I’m not changing my mind.”
I’m deadly serious, too.
He settled back into his chair, the determination gone from his face, replaced by a casual expression. Too casual, in my opinion. He shrugged. “We’ll see, sweetheart.”
His attitude of we’ll see concerned me. “Jesus, J, you can’t backtrack on an agreement,” I complained, knowing full well that when J had decided on something, he’d decided, and convincing him to change his mind was almost impossible.
His gaze met mine, and the heat I saw there caused butterflies in my tummy. “You get your way with me most of the time, Madison. It’s my turn to get my way.” His deep, assertive voice snaked through me, sending desire to every corner of my body.
I sucked in a long breath, fighting like hell to ignore the want his words had caused. I didn’t want what he wanted, however, I loved it when J took charge like this. His bossy ways turned me on like nothing else, and sitting here, listening to the commanding tone in his voice and seeing the take-charge expression on his face, I wanted more.
Damn, maybe this cat and mouse game would be fun.
J and I sat engrossed in each other for another couple of moments, until I heard my mother’s voice. Dragging my attention from him, I turned to find her standing in front of us with Blade’s mother next to her. Stella held a container in her arms and shifted nervously on the spot.
Pushing my chair back, I went to Mum and embraced her and then gave Stella a hug. Smiling at her, I said, “I’m glad you came.”
Her chest rose as she took a shaky breath. “Sharon convinced me I should. If it wasn’t for her spending the last two hours with me, talking me into it, I wouldn’t be here.” She spoke quietly and I was pretty sure her words were only meant for Mum and me to hear.
“You’re always welcome in my home, Stella. Please don’t think any differently.” My asshole father had a lot to answer for. I hated that one man could toy with the confidence of so many women. A thought I’d had a lot lately flitted briefly through my mind - I wondered if he had other children out there that we didn’t know about. Other women and children he’d fucked over.
“Thank you,” she said as a smile lit up her face. “It means so much to me that your family has welcomed me.”
“Mum,” Blade interrupted us, and when I turned to look at him, I found him looking at his mother with a complete look of happiness. Well, it was the Blade level of happiness, but since he hardly ever wore that expression, I was ecstatic to see it now. “I’m glad you came,” he said, his voice gruff, almost like he was a little choked up.
Family.
Love.
Belonging.
It’s all any of us wanted, and I was glad that our two families could finally find a way to move on and make the most of the opportunity we had to merge and share our love. We may have been dealt a shitty hand in life by Dad, but damn it if we couldn’t take that and turn it into something better.
I got everyone settled with food and drinks, and then raised my glass. Looking around at the family I’d assembled here tonight, I couldn’t help but feel blessed. “Merry Christmas,” I started. “Here’s to new beginnings, and to family, and to a year ahead that wipes enough of the bad from our mind so we’re able to embrace the new and the wonderful. I know we’ve all been through a lot this year, but there’s so much to be thankful for and to look forward to. We’ve got each other and I hope we never forget that. Our family is strong and Storm is strong. We can get through anything so long as we stick together.” I lifted my glass a little higher and watched as my family all nodded in agreement and raised their glasses, too.
I truly believed every word I’d said.
Storm could survive anything so long as we clung to our ties of loyalty and family.
THE END
Sneak Peek At Illusive - Coming 25th August
Griff