“For you,” she exclaims, handing the box to me. “Merry Christmas.”
After I take it, I push up to sit against the headboard. I glance down at it, then back to her. “What is it?”
“It was my dad’s,” she says, her eyes going soft as they focus on the box. “I really think he’d want you to have it.”
My heart starts racing as I flip the box open, then stare at the Rolex watch nestled in blue velvet. Lifting my gaze to hers, I give a slight shake of my head. “This is too much—”
Her hand comes out, covering my mouth. “It doesn’t matter what type of watch it is or what it cost. It’s that it was my dad’s, and it’s been sitting in my closet for a long time. My dad would have loved you. My mom, too. I know they’d both be proud to have you wearing it because you got justice for their daughter. You avenged them for me, and I’d love to see something of his being used.”
Emotion clogs my throat, and my eyes start stinging. I blink hard as I pull the watch out. She takes it from me, slips it over my hand and wrist, and fastens the clasp.
“It’s a little loose,” she says as she runs a finger under the gold band. “We’ll need to have a jeweler take a few links out.”
“I’ll treasure it always.” I stare at the Rolex where her hand touches the watch, then lift my head to meet her eyes. “I didn’t get you anything for Christmas.”
She tilts her head, smiling slyly. “Of course you did. You gave me your trust and your love. In all the history of presents—Christmas or otherwise—it’s been the best gift I’ve ever received.”
Fuck… that hits me deep in the feels, too. Before I can let emotion overwhelm me, I toss the blue box toward the end of the bed and roll Corinne onto her back. My mouth comes down on hers for a kiss that hopefully explains the emotions rolling through me right now.
I think they do because she exhales a soft, dreamy sigh into my mouth.
The kiss breaks, and I peer down at her. “I love you, Corinne. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life loving you just a little more each day.”
Her body moves under me, her hips wiggling a little to press against mine. “And by loving me more each day, we’re including sex into that statement, right?”
I grin. “Oh yeah.”
“How about we start on that right now?” she suggests, and I’m all in for that.