Fulfillment Golland, M. (best classic literature TXT) 📖

“Yes,” Bryceanswered with a cocky tone.

I shot up, thecucumber slices falling into my lap. Blinking for a second, Ispotted Bryce standing on the opposite side of the coffee tableholding up his phone.

He smiledsatisfactorily. “This photo is going on my desk.”

“Like fun itis,” I said as I stood up. “Give me your phone.” I held out myhand.

“Sorry,Hunny.”

“Bryce EdwardClark.” I put my hands on my hips.

Bridget, Emilyand the four girls started laughing.

“You know Ican’t chase you,” I said angrily, but with a subdued laugh.

“I know.”Grrr.

“You dorealise I look like a clown. Would you like me to put on a red nosefor you? Maybe even a coloured wig,” I warned.

He raised hiseyes to meet mine. “Point taken. I’m deleting it now.”

I squinted myeyes at him—I must’ve looked atrocious. “Good,” I said triumphantlyas I took a few steps toward him. “Now give me a kiss.” I reachedout to grab his t-shirt, pursing my crackly skin and lips. He wastoo quick and jumped away.

The girls alllaughed—again!

***

After ourmake-overs were complete, two dozen cupcakes were baked andartfully decorated then consumed, pizzas were devoured and movieswere watched, and we all made our way to bed.

“My fuckingears are ringing,” I complained. “I must have a permanenthigh-pitched squeal noise going on in there.”

“No, they areall still screaming,” Bryce grumbled as he turned over and placedthe pillow over his head. “A house full of young girls. Whose ideawas that again?”

“I don’t know,but please, someone shoot me.” I flopped onto the bed, just asanother loud giggle echoed down the hallway. “Grrr.”

“You’re sosexy when you growl into a pillow.”

I growledback. “Shut up.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

The end of thecalendar year was fast approaching which meant one thing:Christmas! I loved Christmas. I loved all things Christmas. I lovedSanta. Not the Mr. Gordon Santa variety, he interrupts too manyof my fun sexed-up moments. No, I loved the real Santa and hisbig round belly and big black boots. I loved the fantasy and joybehind the concept of Santa and his elves, who joyously made thetoys in the North Pole. I loved the reindeer and the Christmastree, the sleigh and the presents. I loved the sense of family andtogetherness, of giving and being grateful. Oh, and I loved thefood—damn, did I love the food.

We decided tohave Christmas at the hotel, being that it was a convenient placefor everyone to stay. I was terribly excited that we were hostingboth our families, so much so that I had gone just a tad overboardin my decorating. I’d twirled tinsel around the staircase banister,bought a sleigh which was about two meters long and one meter highwith an entire set of Santa’s reindeer. I’d also put up twinklinglights on every door frame and window frame I could find. But Ithink my over-the-top craziness had been when I’d gone absolutelyga-ga when seeing the huge hanging snowflakes and baubles danglingfrom the hotel’s lobby. They were gorgeous, and each one wasapproximately one meter squared.

The next thingI knew, Bryce was having them hung from the ceiling in our lounge,three stories high. He’d also organised a ginormous Christmas treeto be put up, the tip of it being the perfect height for Nate andCharli to adorn it with a star from the top of the staircase. Theapartment looked like a Christmas wonderland...I absolutely lovedit!

“Charli, don’ttouch that bauble, Missy,” I barked at her, as she gave myperfectly colour-coordinated Christmas tree decoration a tap withher finger.

“Alexis, calmdown. Everything is perfect,” Bryce said, reassuringly.

“It’s no use,Bryce,” advised Nate, “No one touches Mum’s Christmas tree. Shegoes nuts if you do.”

I was tidyingup the lounge area, making sure it was as baby-and-toddler proof asI could get it. “Listen to your brother, Charlotte, or that ratherlarge present toward the back of the tree with your name on it willno longer have your name on it,” I said flatly, without removing myattention from what I was doing.

“When iseveryone going to get here?” Charlotte groaned impatiently.

“Soon, Charli.It’s only 7:30 in the morning.”

“Urgh! I wishthey’d hurry up. I want to open some presents.”

“Alexis, comeand sit down and we’ll open our presents before everyone getshere,” Bryce suggested.

I raised myhead and noticed him looking just as eager as the kids. He reallywas adorable at times. “I’ve got to go and set the table,” Iargued.

He stood upand strode my way, then bent down and picked me up, throwing meover his shoulder.

“Presents!Now!”

“Bryce!Alright,” I squealed while smacking his arse.

Both the kidslaughed.

“Me first, mefirst,” Charli squawked.

Bryce set medown next to the sofa then pulled me onto his lap, my back to hisfront and his arms securing me to him.

“Go on, getthe big one at the back,” I said to Charli. “Nate, you can get thatone over by the wall.”

Both the kidslaunched themselves into demolishing the wrapping paper I had soprecisely applied.

“Sick! Atelescope,” Nate slurred, as he stood back to admire the ratherexpensive telescope Bryce picked out for him.

“We can setthat one up in your room, Nate,” he said with excitement on hisface. I loved how they both shared this fascination with space—justthe two of them.

“Awesome,thanks.” Nate got up and gave us both a hug.

Charli’sshrill voice sounded next, securing all our attentions. “Oh! My!God! My own Karaoke machine.”

“Oh Geezus!Charli, please be careful with that,” I said while cringing as shetried to lift the state of the art model Bryce insisted on gettingher.

He gentlysqueezed my waist and dug his chin into my shoulder blade. “Stopstressing,” he whispered into my ear.

“I’m notstressing. I just know how much both those things cost.”

He wrenched mearound and dipped me to the side, making me scream in surprise.“Hunny, you seem to forget that I’m made of money.”

“I don’t,” Igiggled as he nuzzled my neck, tickling me. “I’ve just learned torespect it and appreciate it and—”

“I appreciatethat I have a lot of it, and I also appreciate that I now get tospend it on you three,” he mumbled into my neck, unfazed by hiswealth.

“I know youdo, and I also know you have given generously to so many charitieslately. It’s very sexy.”

“Urgh! That’sgross,” Nate grumbled.

Bryce ignoredmy son’s unease. “It’s what I do, Ms. Summers,” he said with aperfect