‘You’re the one who rescued me, Sutt.’ He stood up, pulled her to her feet and gathered her close. His mouth covered hers, and she sank into him as he kissed her, warming up every part of her. She felt his hand on her butt, pulling her into his hard shaft and she allowed happiness to roll over her. Then Rosie’s series of quick hellos, courtesy of an ultra-loud bullhorn, caused them to spring apart.
‘Merry Christmas, Daddy and Sutton!’
Gus spun around. ‘What thefuck?’
Sutton looked past him to see Felix and Rosie standing on the back patio, with what looked like brand-new bullhorns in their hands. ‘Daddy, I can’t find my elf or my unicorn!’ Rosie yelled into the megaphone, and Sutton lifted her hand to her ear. ‘Santa forgot!’
‘Bloody Eli and Will,’ Gus muttered, scowling. ‘Why the hell would they give them megaphones for Christmas?’
‘To torture you?’ she asked, grinning.
‘I’m going to kill them, very slowly,’ he promised. ‘But first, I’m going to let the twins eat crazy amounts of sugar today and get them on a sugar high. Then I’ll ask the boys to babysit tonight so I can take you to bed.’
‘So, now I’m a means of retribution?’ Sutton asked, laughing.
‘No, Sutt, you’re pretty much my everything,’ Gus assured her.
Man, she loved this man. She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him but was slammed back onto her heels by Rosie’s bullhorn screeching. ‘Daddy, are you listening to me?’ Rosie yelled.
‘He also forgot to send me an octopus!’ Felix bellowed.
Sutton wrapped her arm around Gus’s waist, smiling as they walked up to Conningworth Hall. As far as she was concerned, and for the first time, she’d received everything she wanted, and more, for Christmas this year.
