MarcThe night before putting up the tree had been far more fun than Marc expected. Everyone couldn't help but be in a good mood around each other. Kari and Sicily had a little too much to drink, but as per usual, Lisa held hers just fine. Making love to her later in the comfort of her cold sheets was the perfect ending to a good night.Marc lifted his hands into the air and yawned loudly as he waited outside the gym. He'd left Lisa sleeping soundly back at the house to join Drake. The fire station was having a teddy bear collection for Christmas Eve, and where Marc wouldn't have usually signed up for such a sappy event, Jake asked him to. It was hard to tell Jake no. He was too good of a guy."Hey, man. Come on in." Drake opened the door and motioned for Marc to join him. "I gotta wrap up a few more things and then we'll head up to the fire station. You're going to freeze out there.""I'm enjoying it. I'm used to freezing in the winter. It's part of the charm of the holidays." Marc m
LisaLisa pressed her fingers to her mouth as a laugh bubbled up inside of her. "Oh my God. Never in a million years did I expect-""What?" Sicily walked up beside her and glanced around. "Oh no. Is that Marc as Santa? Oh my God. Give me your phone. I need to take pictures."Lisa dug it out of her purse and handed it off, hoping like hell that the two of them wouldn't get caught taking pictures. Marc would be mortified.The warm smile on his face and the way he looked the little kids in the eye as they walked up touched a part of her that she didn't know existed. Warmth filled her body as her eyes burned with tears."Kari is going to laugh her ass off." Sicily took several pictures as Lisa wiped at her eyes. "Do you think he knew he was going to have to do this? Wasn't Jake supposed to... Hey, what's wrong?""Nothing. I'm getting older and I cry at everything." Lisa wiped her face."Are you on your period?" Sicily handed her the phone and reached out to squeeze her shoulder."Why do I
MarcThe love making never happened the night before. Something was wrong with Lisa, but she didn't want to talk about it. Marc got up the next morning in time to throw on clothes and pack a bag. She was pacing the floor in the kitchen by the time he walked in, scratching his head."Baby." He stopped and put a hand on his hip.She had to open up to him. They were planning a life together, and the other women in his life vomited emotion most days of the week. There wasn't much he didn't know about his mom or Kari, scary enough. Lisa had to at least try to let him into her situations."What?" She stopped and walked to the coffee pot, leaving her back to him."What's going on with you?" He moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her before leaning down to kiss up the long line of her neck. "Talk to me. I'm right here and I want to help.""Nothing, Marc. I told you that my father called and they want to see me." She stiffened in his arms. "Leave it alone, okay? I'm fine."He kisse
LisaLisa stood at the front door for a few minutes, trying to process some of the emotions that had bubbled up inside of her. Fighting with Marc didn't help the situation at all. She had to figure out how to let him into the pain of living out her childhood. It sat on her like a wet wool coat. The memories that flooded her, just standing in front of the house, had her searching for more air to breathe. Everything hurt.She turned, putting her back to the door. Marc was long gone, and she honestly thought about calling him and having him stay with her. He would have, but she'd shoved him away.It's embarrassing how much she hates you.Lisa reached up and brushed her hair back, forcing her thoughts back. Her mother did hate her, or something close to it. She had nothing good to say, she never had.The door opened behind Lisa, and she turned. Fredrick smiled and opened his arms. "Miss Lisa. How are you, dear? Your father said we should expect you today."She smiled. "Fredrick. It's good
Marc"Your mom tells me that you're studying biology at NYU. You know I work with your mom at St. Mark's. If you're interested in an internship in one of our research areas, I could help with that." Charles sat down across the table from Marc."I appreciate that. I'm not sure where I'm going to be." Marc shifted his eyes toward his mother, who stood in the kitchen, looking back at him. "I'm dating a woman in Maine.""Oh." Charles chuckled and turned toward Marc's mom. "Love comes first, then career. The boy has it right."She smiled and walked toward them, ruffling Marc's hair. "I just prayed that he would fall in love with someone and do right by me one day.""Mom." Marc stood as someone knocked at the door. "Let's not talk about my childish antics with girls in the past, please?"Marc hated to admit it, but Charles was a great guy. He was the right guy for Marc's mother. He was polite, older, wealthy and had a calm about him that was contagious. As much as Marc wanted to be a dick t
Lisa"I'm just going to have dinner with Marc and his mom. I shouldn't be gone more than an hour or two." Lisa pulled her coat on as the sound of someone honking out front sounded again."It's fine. You don't have to stay here for the holidays, Lisa. I just wanted to see you, sweetheart." Her father moved behind her and helped her get her coat on. "Do what you need to do.""Thanks, Dad." She turned and kissed him on the cheek before opening the door and jogging toward Marc's truck. Seeing him sitting in the driver's seat, a sexy smile on his lips and the look of love on his face was her undoing.She opened the door and got into the truck, closing the door and moving toward him. "I'm sorry for fighting earlier. I shouldn't have closed you out.""Hush." He pulled her in tight and consumed her, her lips so damn soft and wet. He kissed her until she was panting softly for air. "God, I want you. Maybe we can sneak away to my bedroom after dinner? Just a quickie before I let you back out?"
Lisa"Lisa, tell me again about your real estate business. Were you doing that here in New York before you left?" Marc's mom walked back into the dining room after dinner with a platter of carrot cake in her hands.Lisa lifted her coffee to her lips and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I started my sophomore year in college working on the business. When I realized I didn't want to go into law, like my mother expected me to, I changed my major to business. It was a huge deal at the time, but I'm glad I did. I couldn't work the hours that most lawyers do.""I understand that. I wish someone would have warned me about being a nurse." The older woman sat down and picked up an empty plate, lifting it toward Lisa. "You want to try my homemade carrot cake?""Yes. Badly." Lisa laughed and took the plate."Almost there. Just shake it. Hard." Marc and Charles were in the living room, trying to put up a fake tree and having hell with it. They were taking turns giving each other advice over how to get it to
Marc"That was nice." Lisa moved up behind Marc as he stood outside his mother's house, waiting on her."Yeah. It was." He turned and pulled her into his arms as he shivered. It was freezing and with the sun going down, it was only going to get colder. "You ready to head out to your parents’?"She ran her hands down his back and squeezed his ass. "I didn't get my quickie with you.""I knew something was missing. I kept thinking it was salt on the roast." He snorted and leaned down to brush his lips by hers."You're so silly." She kissed him a few times before pulling back. "Let's get going. I'm sure my father is already pacing the floor. He doesn't do very well with life in general when my mom is sick.""That's because she is his life." Marc wrapped an arm around her and squeezed her breast as they walked to the truck. "I understand his reaction completely. I'd be a hot-ass mess if something happened to you.""Well, you are hot." Lisa moved out of his hold and reached for the door as
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
DrakeDrake woke up the next morning before Sicily, realizing it was Christmas and he had everything he needed. He rolled onto his side and reached out, brushing his hand down her back as gratefulness washed over him in suffocating waves.D and Michael Carrington had gone to great lengths to help him restart his life. They'd helped fake his death in a warehouse explosion, put on the funeral and D had played the part beautifully through the event. It was horrifying to think he let his brother go through that shit, but D wouldn't have had it any other way.Drake rolled out of bed, his heart aching in his chest. He'd been wrong the night before. He and Sicily couldn't just look away from D and Izzy's bullshit situation. Where he wasn't sure he could get involved in the syndicate again, he could browbeat his brother into being a man and taking Izzy as his woman. There was no other girl for Demetri.After ordering a huge Christmas morning breakfast, Drake wrapped up in an extra blanket, sl
Sicily"That was fun tonight." Sicily squeezed Drake's hand as they walked toward Kadia in downtown New York. The sign lit up the night, taking attention from anyone who passed by. It was magnificent, the largest club she'd seen."Yeah. I had a good time," he glanced down at her, "and I was serious about what I said. We can go back and join your family after we spend a little bit of time with D and Izzy. I doubt they’re staying long. We just wanted to see each other, and it's safer if we do it in the middle of a large crowd."The line was wrapped around the building, people huddling together and singing Christmas songs with all sorts of odd costumes for the event that night. Sicily smiled and snuggled closer to Drake as they walked to the front of the line."The line is back there, man. Go get in it." A sexy bouncer with a great smile and beautiful aqua-colored eyes barked at them. She let her eyes move down to his name tag, wondering who he was for some reason. Had she seem him befor
DrakeDrake let his eyes run across Sicily as she stood in front of the mirror in the hotel bedroom and turned slowly, checking herself out."You look amazing."She walked toward him as he fiddled with his tie, taking over and working on it for him."My brothers never could get a tie on right. The last time I did this for someone, it was at Momma’s funeral." Her hands shook a little. "I did it multiple times that day."He reached up and ran his hands over her hips, enjoying the soft silky black material of her dress. "I'm really good at it. I just wanted you closer."She laughed as a tear ran down her nose. "I'm sorry.""Don't be sorry." He stood and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head as he brushed her hair back. "You can be sensitive over your mom anytime you want, for as long as you want. I'm right here to hold you up."She nodded and pressed her face to his chest. "I just have so many memories of Christmas Eve with her. My chest hurts so bad it feels like acid is ea
Sicily"What did you do while I was shopping?" Sicily stood beside Drake later that afternoon as he loaded up the truck with her packages."I was taking a nap honestly." He put the last of them in the truck and gave her a look. "What in the world did you get?""Presents for all of our friends and something for you." She shrugged and walked around the truck, getting in on her side.He got in and buckled up as the scent of his cologne filled her nose. She breathed in deeper and let out an appreciative growl.Drake chuckled. "What was that for?""You smell good.""Stop diverting. You shouldn't have gotten all those gifts, baby.""Why not? We didn't fly. We'll just put them all in the back seat when we go back home, right?""It's not about where to put them on the ride home, Sis. It's about you spending your hard-earned money on gifts for us. We don't need anything, at least I don't. I have you, baby. That's more than enough." He pulled out his wallet. "Let me give you some money so you c
Sicily"You sure you don't want to come with me?" Sicily forced a pout on her face. She knew without a doubt that Drake would do anything she wanted him to, but shopping was too much. Having some time with her brother and sister for the afternoon would be fun for her, but most likely a drag of sorts. Especially seeing that the brother going was Johnny."I’m sure, beautiful girl." He pulled up to her mother's house. "I'll catch up with you this afternoon.""Will you take me out to see my momma’s grave before we have to get ready for dinner and church?" She leaned over and touched the side of his handsome face. Butterflies danced in her stomach, which seemed silly, but she hoped that he would always have such a strong pull on her."Of course I will." He leaned in and kissed her softly before deepening it a little. She opened herself up, letting him in as he rolled his tongue past her, dominating the kiss in a way that made her blood boil."Behave." She pulled back and smiled."You're th
DrakeThe night was filled with him and Sicily taking turns to explore each other. By the end of it, he was weak, exhausted and completely infatuated with the beautiful woman tucked against him. Not ever being able to sleep well, he was shocked when he woke the next morning to the smell of bacon and the sound of Sicily talking.He jolted up in the bed, worried that he had missed something. "Baby?""Right here." She opened the various trays sitting on the counter by the TV. "I ordered room service because I didn't want to get dressed yet. Besides, it's snowing like crazy out there."He dropped back down and ran his hand over his chest, watching her as she moved around in a large fluffy white robe. She looked adorable. Sexy."Mine," he grumbled and pulled the covers up. "You know that? You're mine.""I know, you gorilla. You made that more than obvious last night." She nibbled on a piece of bacon and walked over to sit down on the edge of the bed. "You want some?""Of course I do." He r
Sicily"Wow. This place is...""Fancy?" Drake asked as he pulled out her chair. "I heard they have the best steaks in New York.""Something tells me that you're probably right." Sicily sat down, feeling way underdressed for the steakhouse Drake had brought her to. He had on a sports coat over his jeans and white polo, and looked like a million bucks. The best thing in her suitcase was a plain white skirt and a blue sweater with winter boots. She felt cute, but that didn't seem like enough."Evening, folks. Glad to have you in the city and here with us tonight for dinner. May I make some suggestions?" The server wore a white pressed shirt, black slacks and a tux jacket.Sicily sat quietly as Drake encouraged the guy to give his spiel. Once he was done, Drake ordered their drinks and an appetizer. He moved his seat closer to hers and draped his arm over the back of her chair. "You look amazing.""You're just being sweet." She smiled and worked to get her napkin in her lap, not wanting t