Did Edison do this? Of course, he did. No one else would. My eyes flood with happy tears and I sniffle, that small sound turning every head in my direction.
“Wife. You’re awake,” Edison breathes, his eyes going from carefree to possessive as they land on me. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, husband.”
“Blessing!” the kids shout in unison, many of the smaller ones rushing over to throw their little arms around my waist and squeeze me. I kiss each one of them on the head, hugging them in return, my heart growing fuller and fuller with every child that greets me. And when they run back into the yard to resume their snowball fight, I throw myself into Edison’s arms.
“Thank you. This is the most wonderful Christmas present I could ask for.”
“Oh, angel,” he says, kissing my hairline. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
“What do you mean?” Rather than answer right away, he scoops me up and carries me into the house cradled to his chest, closing the door gently behind us.
“When you returned to the orphanage yesterday, I realized how much you would miss the children. That you would always miss them. Therefore, I purchased the house next door to ours. They will live there with the caretaker and you will be able to visit them whenever you choose.” He brings me into the guest bathroom, settles me onto the vanity and closes the door, that dark paranoia returning to his eyes from last night. “Let me clarify, you will be able to visit them with your security team, Blessing. You go nowhere alone.”
I nod, breathless, overcome by what he’s telling me. “You…you bought them the house next door? That must have cost—”
“There is no amount of money I wouldn’t pay to make you smile,” he says, as if that is a fact set in stone since the beginning of time. “They will live comfortably and receive their educations and when they are adults, the money from my inheritance will be waiting for them.” He pauses, frowns. “I didn’t like the idea of them in that broken down building. Repairs can only go so far, Blessing.”
“Oh, Edison,” I sob, pulling his head down so I can plant kisses all over his face, my heart pumping merrily in my chest. “I love you. I love you.”
When he stares back at me, stunned and hopeful, I realize what I’ve said.
And I realize it couldn’t be any truer.
This is it—the final puzzle piece. Edison understanding the love and responsibility I have toward the orphans. Feeling those same emotions himself. Compassion and care. I knew deep down that he was capable of it.
“You love me?” Slowly, his hands cup the sides of my face, his chest lifting and shuddering down. “You mean that?”
“Yes,” I whisper, a hot tear slipping down my cheek. “I mean it. I love you.”
For a moment, he closes his eyes, as if to savor my vow. “Of course. Of course, the thing that makes you fall in love with me is a good deed that benefits someone besides you. There is no one in this world with a bigger heart than my angel.” He slants his mouth over mine, using his tongue on me until I’m moaning. “Your love is the greatest Christmas present I could ever ask for. Dear God, I’m the luckiest man alive.”
He unbelts my robe and pushes it off my shoulders, his eyes blackening at the sight of my nakedness. Enticingly, I arch my back and shake my breasts for him, allowing his hands to press open my knees, so he can look at my rapidly dampening sex. “Is it selfish if I ask for one more present?” I purr.
“Anything,” he groans, stroking the bulge in his pants. “Name it.”
I pout subtly, knowing it makes him crazy. “Teach me how to ride you, Daddy.”
He makes a startled, guttural sound and squeezes his fly. “You’re going to make me come in my fucking pants.”
I slide off the sink and slowly strut to the bathroom door, opening it, stepping out and into the empty house. Edison follows behind me, breathing hard, his hand moving vigorously inside of his unzipped pants. And when I get on my hands and knees and crawl up the stairs, completely naked, he follows behind me on his own hands and knees, panting and cursing.
I’m sure to let him see everything and how it’s turning me on to tempt him. I pause occasionally to bend all the way forward, slide my knees open and wiggle my butt. I giggle over my shoulder and toss my hair playfully and by the time we reach the bedroom, my husband is nothing short of deranged.
He snatches me off the floor and throws me down roughly on the bed, angling his hips to enter me, but I close my thighs swiftly and shake my head. “I want to ride you.”