Page 14 of Stolen Holidays (The Miller Brothers #5)

thirteen

Cameron

Six Days Until Christmas

Today is the first annual Miller Family Gingerbread House Competition. Gingerbread, frosting, and holiday candies cover every square inch of the table we’re all sitting around.

Eli went all out in planning this holiday vacation for his soon-to-be wife.

Hell, I get it. Callie has been through some wild shit, but all this Christmas fun is getting to me.

My brothers are taking this decorating stuff a little too seriously when all I really want is to throw Talia over my shoulder like a Neanderthal, carry her back to my cave, and fuck her all night long.

Leaning in close, I whisper in my girl’s ear, “Tals, let’s get out of here.”

She looks over her shoulder, and her gray eyes hit me in the spot beneath my breastplate, taking my breath away. Her icy orbs suck me into a trance every single time, and my simp ass loves it.

“We’re supposed to be making a gingerbread house.” She pops a handful of Sno-caps into her mouth, and my dick rouses from sleep.

Who am I kidding? If Talia is around, my cock is hard and ready to go.

I shift in my chair and adjust the crotch of my jeans, hoping no one—especially my nephew, Rhys—sees my hard-on.

“I know what you’re thinking, big guy, and the answer is no.

Now help me put this together, or we might lose this competition.

I can’t show my family something that looks like a two-year-old made it.

” She takes in the drippy frosting and horribly placed candies.

Our gingerbread house does look like a toddler made it.

“Fuck that.” I nudge her shoulder and nod towards Rhys. “We’ll take a picture of his and pass it off as ours.”

Talia throws her head back and laughs. “You’re horrible.”

“Horribly sexy. Which is why you want to put that frosting bag down and join me in the hot tub while everyone is busy.”

“Hot tub?”

I knew that would get her attention. My girl has a soft spot for boiling tubs of water that remind her of our late-night rendezvous. The hot tub is also the place where I asked her to be my wife.

My wife. I love calling Talia my wife. Second to her saying yes, hearing her request that we get married in a few months was the happiest day of my life.

“Yup. Just you and me.” Little does she know, I already placed our robes and a bottle of champagne with glasses beside the spa.

See? A total simp for this woman.

Talia bites her plump bottom lip, mulling over my offer. “I don’t know.”

“Twenty minutes, thirty tops, and we’ll come right back. The hot tub is behind the barn, where no one can see us. What do you say? Care to join your fiancé for a little skinny dipping?” I wiggle my brows suggestively at her.

She looks around the room, but I know I’ve got her. “Okay, let’s do it.”

Fuck yeah.

I grin like a kid on Christmas morning, only I’m happier because I’m a grown-ass man and I get to open and play with my toys before the big day. Wait, that sounded weird.

Fuck it.

I love playing with Talia, and she loves it too. My gorgeous girl knows how much I love and adore her, even when I’m treating her like my personal sex toy. I’d give her the fucking universe if she asked for it. This woman is my everything, and I plan on showing her right fucking now.

Grabbing the frosting out of her hand, I throw it on the table and stand. I scoop Talia up bridal style and practically run out of the room. Everyone whoops and hollers, but I ignore them assholes and book it to the spot I’ve been eyeing since we got here.

“Put me down, you crazy man.” Talia smacks my ass.

“Never.” My steps slow now that we are out of the inn and crossing the back patio, where the firepit sits, towards our destination.

With the help of Hilly and Jeff, the little table is exactly how I left it.

I wanted to make sure they knew what I had planned to guarantee my and Talia’s privacy.

Aside from all the animals, the owners have transformed this place into more of a homey bed-and-breakfast versus the impersonal inn with bored, uninterested staff that it used to be.

“Oh, Cam. You didn’t,” Talia says breathlessly as she sees the surprise waiting for her.

“Yes, I did.” I place her on her feet beside the table. A bouquet of her favorite blush-colored peonies sits beside a square black velvet box, two crystal glasses, and a bottle of champagne. Our robes lay draped over the nearby chairs. “I wanted to do more.”

“No, this is perfect.” Talia shakes her head, running her fingers over the delicate petals then the velvet box beside it. “What’s this?”

Stepping behind, I band my arms around her chest and shoulders, resting my chin on her head.

Not gonna lie, I’m a little nervous about the chain inside.

Talia loves tracing her name on my chest, and it got me thinking.

She’s not a jewelry person, but the last thing I want her to do is mark her flawless skin.

I thought this gift would be a nice alternative for nights when I’m away on the road.

“This is a little something I had made especially for you.” I kiss her temple.

“Can I open it?” She tilts her head back and looks up at me.

“I’d be sad if you didn’t.”

“The last thing I want is for you to be sad,” she says, all tease. I give her space to lift the box off the table and open it. I can’t see her face, but the sharp inhale of breath has my heart galloping. “Cam.”

Nestled inside is a rose-gold layered necklace.

On each layer, a personalized pendant dangles in the center.

A one-karat sapphire, to match her engagement ring, hangs on the chain closest to her throat.

A diamond-encrusted twenty-four hangs from the bottom, and in the middle, in the same script as her name, is mine.

“Don’t leave me hanging, Itty Bitty. What do you think?”

“I think you should put it on me.” She sniffles, and I swear I can feel my heart twist. I hate it when my girl cries.

Talia lifts her hair out of the way as I pinch the delicate metal between my fingers, free the hook, drape the chains around her neck, and fasten the clasp. I place a kiss on her neck and spin her around in my arms.

“Tals.” A small tear tracks down her cheek, and I wipe it away. “Baby, don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry.” She laughs as more tears roll down her cheeks.

“Shh. I’m the one who’s sorry for making you cry.” I wipe the tears away with my thumbs.

“These are happy tears, you big, sexy dork.”

I smile at her. “Really?”

“Of course. I love it.” She places one hand on the necklace and the other over the tattoo, hiding beneath my shirt. “I love you. I couldn’t think of a better way to carry you around with me all day. Especially when you’re on the road.”

“I’m going to miss you like fucking crazy.” That’s the truth. But I would never pull her away from her career. I’m so proud of her and all her accomplishments. She’s an amazing nurse.

“Me too. But you have more trophies to win, big guy. And I’m going to be there beside you for as long as you want to play.”

“That means more to me than you know. In the meantime, I want you to have something special for those nights when you can’t be by my side.

I carry you everywhere I go.” I place my hand over hers.

“I also know how much you love the tattoo, and I don’t want you to put a single mark on your flawless skin, so I thought this was the perfect alternative. ”

Talia raises an eyebrow at me. “Wouldn’t it turn you on to see your name inked somewhere on my body?”

Well, fuck. When she puts it like that…

My cock jerks to the ready position in agreement.

My name permanently on her for everyone to see?

I shake my head, pushing the thought away.

A hot as fuck thought, yes, but not what I really want.

“Listen, if you want to get a tattoo, fine with me. But you get it because you want it. Not because you think I need it.”

“You are by far the sweetest man on the planet.” Talia wraps her arms around my neck and tugs me down for a kiss.

“Don’t tell anyone,” I tease.

“Never. Then every woman on the planet would want to steal you away.”

“They could try, but they’d be shit out of luck. I’ve got everything I want and need right here in my arms.” I kiss her sweet mouth. “Besides, your cousins would chop my balls off, and your brother would kill me if I even looked at another woman. I prefer to live. Balls intact.”

Talia throws her head back and laughs. “They really would do that to you. But I’d beat them to it and take your balls myself.”

“So vicious, Itty Bitty.”

“Damn right. You’re mine, Cameron Miller.” My dick jerks, and my heart pinches in my chest at her claim.

“And you’re mine, Talia Miller,” I say, using her soon-to-be last name.

She giggles, and she rolls her steel-gray eyes at me. “I’m not a Miller yet.”

My hand twitches to smack her sexy ass and then fuck her senseless. “Those rings on your finger say otherwise.”

“Is that so?”

“Hell yes.” I smack a kiss on her lips. “Now strip. We are running out of time for me to have my way with you in this hot tub.”

It’s a little chilly out, but the steam emanating off the water’s surface will warm us up quickly enough.

Kicking off my boots and stepping out of my socks, I rip off my sweater and undershirt and chuck them onto the chair where our robes sit.

Talia freezes as I strip out of my pants and boxers in one fell swoop, kicking them aside.

“Cam,” Talia whispers. “Don’t move.”

Before I can ask why, a low-pitch rumbling grunt from behind startles the fuck out of me. “What in the— Ow, fuck!”

A sharp pinch to my ass has me jumping clear across the table. I turn around to find a fucking emu glaring at me. The bird croaks again and steps forward.

“Hey there, buddy. Let’s talk about this.” I hold up my hands in surrender.

Bad idea. The emu’s head lunges forward and down towards my exposed dick. I protectively cover the family jewels with both hands as the bird quickly skirts around the table.

“Hey, Lucky,” Talia calls, trying to get his attention.

“Tals, I need you to go get the damn owner. Please.” Lucky’s eyes remain locked on me as I backtrack.

He follows and steps forward, slowly stalking me. In a blink, Lucky lunges forward and nips my finger with his beak.

“Fuck!” I take off at a run towards my cabin. The fucking crazy-ass bird makes another rumbly sound and chases after me. I book it as fast as I can, but I’m outmatched. Lucky pecks my ass.

Hands on my dick, I leap over a log. “Get the fuck outta here, you stupid bird.”

Lucky passes me by, then turns around and blocks my path, successfully scaring me. I pivot and run back towards the patio. Fuck.

This time, like we are in a race, the emu runs beside me. I zig; he zigs. I zag; he zags. My legs burn, and my feet hurt from stepping on twigs and leaves. Up ahead, I can see my entire family watching from the porch, laughing their asses off.

“Looking good, Cam,” Jace hollers.

Phone in hand, Mason grins. “Don’t worry, I won’t share this on social media.”

Just fucking great.

“No, you won’t. But you will lord it over me for the rest of our lives,” I shout at him.

“Nice buns.” I can’t tell which of my sisters-in-law shouts that.

“Why is Uncle Cam naked?” Rhys asks.

“Watch out, Cam.” Eli—the only brother I still love—warns.

I leap to the side just in time to miss another emu peck on my ass. Lucky squawks and runs ahead of me. This time, instead of coming back after me, he spins around in circles and bounces on his spindly legs in victory. I come to a halt and double over with relief as the emu disappears.

I’m met with another round of catcalls from my family, and I raise my middle finger in the air at them. They all laugh hysterically.

Assholes.

All I wanted was to have a romantic moment alone with Talia. Getting chased, buck-ass naked, by a fucking emu with my family as an audience was not on my holiday bingo card.

Merry fucking Christmas to me.