Road to Redemption (17 page)

“Stand here.” He positioned me where he wanted me, facing away from the bed. “Spread your legs and raise your arms.”

I did as he said and he threw the length of rope he’d left hanging between my tied arms over one of the rods on the ceiling. Alex explained they’d been put there as part of the previous owner’s design and although Alex didn’t follow the drop curtain décor, he left the rods. Now I was thinking his decision was brilliant.

“Spread more, baby.”

I did, which lowered me closer to the floor.

“Okay?”

I smiled and nodded. This was so freakin’ hot.

“Tug on your hands,” he said.

I did. They didn’t budge.

Alex ran his hands down my extended arms. “You still okay?”

I smiled. “So far.”

He cupped my breasts, kissing each of them. “Beautiful, baby.”

Sliding his hands down my sides, he knelt before me, kissing me intimately before sucking on my clit. I whimpered as he blew gently over the area he’d just licked and on autopilot reached for him, but my arms wouldn’t budge. I felt the tingle between my legs and then he sucked again and I knew I was wet.

“Slide your legs over my shoulders,” he instructed, and I did, which meant his face was right where he wanted it to be. “Perfect.”

He gripped my bottom as I was suspended from the ceiling, and forced to use my legs to hold onto him, but it was when he covered my core with his mouth that I realized I was probably going to come far too quickly for my liking.

With his mouth he drove me into a frenzy, and when he slipped his finger inside of me, I cried out, but it was when his palm connected with my ass that I exploded around him.

I didn’t have time to enjoy my post coital-type high, as he lowered my legs to the ground before picking me up again and driving into me from a standing position. He guided my legs around his hips and held my bottom to him as he thrust in. I yanked on my arms frustrated with the fact that I couldn’t touch him, but God, it was hot. He drew a nipple into his mouth and slapped me again, which caused my pussy to contract which in turn threw me into another orgasm.

I dropped my head back and screamed. Alex’s hands slid up my back, one holding me tight, the other releasing my hands. I wrapped them around his neck and he carried me to the bed, lowering me to the mattress and pulling my bottom to the edge. Still inside of me, he pushed my knees back and thrust into me. I took some of my power back and raised my legs, settling them against his chest. He grasped my thighs and continued to bury himself in me until he grunted and released my legs, falling on top of me and rolling me to face him.

“Holy fuck,” he rasped.

I ran my hand over his jaw. “Um, yeah. That’s a good description.”

Alex ran his hands over my arms. “You feel okay?”

I laughed. “That was the hottest, most amazing thing on the planet honey. I came like a million times before you untied me.” I kissed him quickly. “For the record, I apparently like to be spanked.”

He grinned. “Yeah, I got that.”

I sighed. “Does this make me warped?”

“Baby, we’re both consenting adults in a committed relationship. No it doesn’t make you warped. It makes you more than I could have ever hoped for.”

“Same, honey. I don’t think I could love you more if I tried.”

“You got the next two weeks off, right?”

“I do.”

“You gonna stay with me a couple of nights?”

I grinned. “Do you want me to stay?”

“I want you to stay the whole two weeks, but I know that won’t happen.”

I chuckled. “No, but only because Mom has a butt-load of stuff for us to do before Christmas, but I can definitely stay for a few days.”

“Lily’s gonna lose her shit.”

“What are we doing for her for Christmas? Do you want to do something at your place in the morning before my parents’?”

“She wakes up and Santa hasn’t come, we’ll have an issue, so yeah, probably do something at my place in the morning.”

“Do you want me to stay Christmas Eve or is it too soon for that?”

Alex chuckled. “It’s not too soon, baby. Lily’s already asking daily if you’re gonna be her new mommy.”

“She is?”

“Yeah.” He ran his hand over my bottom.

“And what do you tell her?”

He shook his head.

“You tell her no?”

“
No
.” He gave my bottom a gentle smack. “What I tell her is not going to be repeated just yet. You’ll know when the time is right.”

I leaned over him and narrowed my eyes. “I have ways of making you talk, Mr. James.”

“You do?”

“Yes… plus you promised I could finish what I started earlier.”

He chuckled, linking his hands behind his head. “I’m all yours, baby.”

Needless to say, he didn’t squeal, but I didn’t care because I got to finish what I started.

C
HRISTMAS EVE, ALEX insisted on picking me up from home and driving me to his house since we’d be back up this way the following afternoon. This was the excuse he gave me, although, he always insisted on driving regardless of the reason, so I wasn’t buying it.

He spent a few minutes chatting with my parents while I made sure I wasn’t missing anything and then we drove down to Beaverton to find a very excited Lily waiting at the door.

“Payton!” she squealed and launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck as I lifted her.

“Hey, baby. Are you all ready for Santa?”

Her head bobbed up and down. “Unh, huh. Are we gonna bake cookies?”

“Of course we’re going to bake cookies,” I said as we walked into the living room. “I even bought carrots for the reindeer.
And
I brought a movie we could all watch together while we eat cookies. How does that sound?”

“I love you, Payton.”

I giggled and hugged her tighter. “Love you too, baby.”

Kayla walked into the room and gave me a hug after I’d set Lily on her feet. “Welcome.”

“Thank you.”

“Are we baking cookies or what?” she asked.

“Cookies, cookies.” Lily rushed for the kitchen and opened the fridge.

“Hold up, baby girl, let’s get prepped first,” Alex said.

I shrugged out of my coat, which Alex took from me, and then headed into the kitchen. After washing our hands we grabbed all the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies and, since Alex was on dinner duty, we let him relax while we baked.

I don’t remember a time when I’d had more fun. Lily and I kept sneaking spoonfuls of cookie dough when Kayla wasn’t “watching,” and Lily thought it was the greatest thing ever. Kayla played along and we giggled all the way through the four dozen cookies we managed to bake. I should probably note that we’d made enough for five dozen cookies, but it couldn’t be helped, raw cookie dough is impossible to resist.

After dinner (Alex made a spaghetti bolognaise to
die
for) I helped Lily with her bath and getting ready for bed, before we piled onto the sofa, me between her and Alex, a blanket covering us and
Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer
cued up and ready to play.

Kayla handed me a glass of wine and then sat in the overstuffed chair by the fire.

It took forever to get Lily to actually fall asleep once the movie was done. I was required to read three stories before Alex shut it down and forced me out of the room.

“Daddy what if Santa doesn’t come?”

“Santa’s comin’ baby girl. I promise.” He smiled. “But he’s not comin’ ’til you fall asleep. And believe me, he’ll know.”

She let out a frustrated groan, but lay down and closed her eyes tight. I forced myself not to giggle. She was trying so hard to be good, but she was fighting her desire to see Santa come down the chimney.

“Lily,” Alex said.

“I’m asweep, Daddy, I can’t hear you,” she whispered.

I slapped my hand over my mouth and stepped further away from the door.

“I love you, baby girl,” he whispered.

“Wuv you too, Daddy. I wuv you Payton,” she said.

“I love you too, honey,” I said, and Alex closed the door.

Alex wrapped an arm around me from behind and kissed the back of my neck. “You smell incredible. I have wanted to peel your clothes off your body for hours.”

I giggled. “It’s the cookies.”

“Wanna make out on the sofa?” he asked as he led me into the living room.

“What if Santa catches us?” I faced him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “We might be instantly relegated to the naughty list.”

“He’ll take one look at you and know I couldn’t give a shit if I am.”

“So romantic.”

Alex smiled and kissed my forehead. “Thank you, Payton.”

“For?”

“Making tonight perfect. I have never seen Lily so happy.”

“Honey, you don’t have to thank me. I love hanging out with her.” I stroked the back of his neck. “You’re an amazing daddy, Alex. I couldn’t be more impressed with you.”

His mouth covered mine and we spent a few minutes making out in front of the Christmas tree.

“Don’t mind me,” Kayla said, and broke the moment.

I giggled. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, hon. You guys can kiss all you want, just so long as I don’t see either of you naked, it’s all good.”

“Promise,” I said. “I’m going to get drinks, then we have to watch
A Christmas Story
.”

“What’s that?” Kayla asked.

“You’ve never seen
A Christmas Story
?” I asked in horror. “It’s like a tradition.”

“We didn’t have a lot of those, baby,” Alex revealed.

“Well, then we’re starting one tonight. Lily’s a little too young, but we’re not, so we’re going to watch the magic of one of the best Christmas movies of all time.”

“I’ll get it cued up,” Alex offered.

“I set it next to TV, honey,” I said, and headed into the kitchen.

When I returned, I handed beer to Alex, nog to Kayla, and set my wine on the side table before snuggling next to Alex.

“You could have opened it, baby,” Alex whispered, and twisted off the beer cap.

I smiled. “Next time.”

“Love you.”

I wrapped my arm around his waist and kissed him quickly. “Love you too.”

Alex and Kayla loved the movie, as I suspected, and Kayla headed off to bed shortly after it was done. Once Alex confirmed Lily was dead to the world, we snuck her present from Santa under the tree and headed to bed. After a very quiet but satisfying lovemaking session, I fell into a deep sleep sprawled across Alex.

* * *

“Santa came! Santa came!” a tiny little voice squealed and then the body attached to that voice jumped onto the bed.

“Shhh, baby girl,” Alex grumbled. “Payton’s still asleep.”

“Payton,” Lily whispered, and patted my face. “Santa came.”

“That’s awesome, honey.” I forced my eyes open and wrapped my arm around her, pulling her between me and Alex. “How about you give me and daddy a minute to wake up and we’ll come see what Santa brought you.”

“Okay!” She jumped off the bed as quick as she’d come and rushed out the door.

I rolled back onto Alex and sighed. “What time is it?”

He grabbed his phone and then set it on the nightstand again. “Six.”

“Going forward, we have to have a rule… no waking Mommy and Daddy before nine.” Chalk it up to my exhaustion, but it took me a minute to realize what I’d said. “I mean—”

“Don’t, baby,” Alex interrupted. “Don’t you dare backtrack on that one.” He rolled me onto my back and smiled. “I love that. You have no idea how much I love that, but I love that.”

I smiled and nodded. “’K.”

“Come on. Let’s get coffee.”

We rolled out of bed and Alex pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. I had worn shorts and a T-shirt to bed, considering I was not in my own home and I didn’t feel comfortable enough to wear a cami and undies like I normally did.

We arrived in the living room to find Kayla sitting in the chair by the fire, staring blankly at the tree while sipping a cup of coffee.

“Merry Christmas,” I said brightly.

Kayla shook her head. “Gimme a minute.”

“Mewwy Kissmas,” Lily said, and rushed to sit in front of her stocking. “Can I open pwesents now?”

“We’re gonna get coffee and then we can open, baby girl,” Alex said.

We did our best to pour quickly, and then Alex finally let Lily just go for it. I had to give it to her; she was a lot more patient than I typically am on Christmas morning.

“Santa” had brought Lily a Princess Elsa doll, Kayla bought her a microphone, and Alex and I together bought her a full Elsa dress up costume. To say that her head nearly exploded with excitement was an understatement. Once she’d calmed down a bit, we exchanged gifts with each other and Kayla and I ended in a puddle of giggles to find we’d bought each other the same gift, only she’d bought me the understated pair of hoop earrings and I bought her the huge ass, hang to her neck ones.

Alex loved the black leather cuff watch I bought him and I was blown away by the really pretty diamond bracelet he bought me. It would go perfectly with the red, wrap dress I planned to wear to dinner. All in all, this Christmas was shaping up to be perfect.

Lily really wanted to wear her Elsa costume to my parents’, so we dressed her up, I did her hair, and then we packed a change of clothes for her and piled into the truck. Kayla was driving separately because she had plans with friends the next day and we didn’t know how late we’d be.

We were the last to arrive, so the kids were extremely glad to see us (they were forced to wait for us before opening gifts). Dallas and Macey had apparently arrived ten minutes before us, so I hugged them, exceedingly glad Dallas had Christmas off.

“Now Daddy?” Lily whispered (loudly) once everyone was done with gifts.

He grinned and rose to his feet, leaving me on the sofa sitting next to Macey. “What’s going on?”

Alex and Lily pow-wowed in the corner and then Lily came to me, her hands behind her back. “I have a qwestin,” she said.

I glanced at Alex and then back at her. “Okay.”

“I want to know if you’ll be my mommy.”

Alex knelt in front of me, pulled Lily onto his extended knee, and then helped her open the ring box. “Will you marry us, Payton?”

I scanned the room and realized my entire family knew this was going to happen. My mom was sniffling, my dad looked like the cat that ate the canary, Macey was nearly sobbing, and everyone else just watched in delight.

I grinned back at Alex, forcing back my own tears. “I would be honored to marry you and be Lily’s mommy.”

Lily squealed and threw herself in my arms. “Can I caw you Mommy now?”

“Of course, you can, baby,” I whispered, tears freely streaming down my face now.

“My turn, baby girl,” Alex said, and pulled me to my feet once Lily had climbed off my lap. He slid the ring on my finger and pulled me into his arms, kissing me a little more chastely than normal, but it was still awesome.