Christmas With Us (A Nucci Securities Novel, #1.2) Read online

  “It’s midnight!” Abby nearly shouted.

  Greta had long ago gone to bed, and it was just Abby and Danny in the living room.

  “I know. Merry Christmas, baby,” he said softly into her ear.

  “Our first Christmas.” Abby wrapped her arms around Danny, and his arms encircled her waist. “I love you,” she said into the crook of his neck.

  “I love you too.” He kissed the top of her head.

  Abby squeezed him tight before letting go and pulling back to look Danny in the eyes. “I’m so thankful I have you.”

  She leaned in to kiss him.

  “Wait. Don’t move.”

  “What?”

  “Trust me. Just don’t move. Actually, close your eyes.”

  “Close my eyes?”

  “Yes. Do it.”

  “Why?”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “You know I do.”

  “Then just do it.”

  “Fine.”

  Abby closed her eyes. She felt Danny get up and heard him moving around the room.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Just sit there and wait.”

  “You know I hate surprises.” She placed her feet on the wood floor and scooted to the edge of the sofa, listening for clues to what Danny was doing.

  “Since when?”

  She could hear the laughter in his voice.

  “Since now.” She wanted to roll her eyes at him but couldn’t.

  “Whatever. You need to have patience. I promise it’ll be worth it.”

  “Fine.” She faked exasperation but couldn’t keep herself from smiling. After all, this was their first Christmas together. She wanted to give Danny his presents, but right now she was more curious than anything. And, if she was completely honest with herself, slightly nervous about what he was doing.

  “Are you moving furniture?” She asked after hearing what sounded like the coffee table being pushed away from the sofa.

  “Okay, open your eyes.”

  Danny was in front of her, down on one knee with the most exquisite, brilliant round-cut diamond in his hand. It was set in an eternity band and reflected hints of sky blue back at Abby.

  “Oh my God,” she said on a breathless whisper. Abby’s hands shot up to her mouth to cover her stunned expression. “Danny,” she whispered and lifted her eyes to meet his.

  “When I see my future, I only see you. You make me so unbelievably happy, and I thank God everyday that we’re together. We’ve had such a crazy start, but I know with all my heart you’re the only woman for me. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, being with you, making babies with you, and watching you soar in your career. Abby Murphy, will you be my wife?”

  Abby was momentarily stunned speechless.

  “Abby?”

  She jumped into Danny’s lap, knocking him off balance. His strong arms encircled her waist and rolled her onto the hardwood floor, protecting her. She held tight to him and squeezed her arms around his neck. He wanted to marry her. She was at a loss for words as so many things went through her mind. He had kept her safe on the road for nearly two years, and just a few months ago, they’d declared their love for one another. She’d been happy ever since.

  “Well?” he asked.

  Abby could see he was amused by her reaction, but she knew him well enough to realize he was eager to hear her response. She didn’t make him wait any longer.

  “Yes! Of course, baby. I love you.” She peppered his face with kisses and couldn’t hold back her excitement and squealed with delight at the fact that she was going to marry her love. She was going to be Mrs. Danny Nucci.

  Danny lifted her onto his lap, removed the ring from its box, and slipped it on her finger.

  “Danny, it’s stunning.” Abby tore her gaze from her hand to look at him. He beamed with love.

  “I love you so much, Abby.”

  She closed the small gap between them and brushed her lips across his, her tongue tracing his. It didn’t take long before Danny took over, and she got lost in his skillful tongue and his expert hands. She moaned into his mouth.

  Danny lifted Abby’s dress over her head, and she groaned appreciatively. The time she’d spent getting ready was well worth it. He pulled down the right cup of her bra and sucked on her nipple until it hardened and she cried out in pleasure. She reached back and unfastened her bra. The straps slid down her arms, and she let it fall to the ground.

  She threw her head back in bliss, getting lost in his touch as Danny switched his attention to her other breast. She didn’t care that they were in his living room and his parents were upstairs. All she could think about was how Danny was making her feel.

  “Mmm, baby, please,” she begged.

  Danny guided Abby to her back and began to lick and suck his way down her stomach. She shivered beneath him.

  “Always so soft,” he murmured.

  Abby’s hips bucked, needing…no, craving more friction. When he kissed her inner thigh, her eyes rolled back and her torso arched.

  “Pleeease,” she cried.

  “What do you want, baby?”

  “You, always you.” The words slipped so easily from her lips. She’d wanted him since the first day he’d walked into her mother’s office.

  Danny tortured her slowly, but it was a torture she happily endured. He slowly slipped off her panties and kissed his way back up her legs.

  She opened for him, and his tongue dipped into her pussy.

  “Ahhh,” she yelled as Danny continued to feast on her most sensitive spot. His fingers slid through her wetness, and she clamped down and began to ride them.

  The familiar tingles started to spread from her core. Abby just needed a little more to take her over the edge.

  “Mmmm, please.”

  “You’re always so ready for me.”

  Danny removed his fingers and his mouth from her, and she mewled from the loss of contact.

  She lifted herself off the floor, leaning on her hands, and watched as Danny pushed up to a seated position and unbuttoned his jeans. Abby licked her lips as he pulled his pants down and his cock sprung free. She sat up, reached out to wrap her hand around his girth, and stroked. Danny’s head fell back as she gave him pleasure.

  “I love you, baby,” she whispered.

  “I love you, too.”

  Abby kissed her way up Danny’s chest, continuing to stroke and tease him.

  “I need you,” she confessed.

  She lifted up and lined his cock up with her entrance and slowly slipped over him inch by fucking inch. She groaned as he filled her.

  “Abby.” Danny wrapped one arm around her waist, lifted her, and then slammed her down on his cock. Abby buried her head into his shoulder to muffle her sounds of pleasure. Danny placed her back down on the floor and took over. He kissed along her jaw until his warm tongue invaded her mouth. She tasted herself on him, and it turned her on even more.

  Danny was an exceptional lover, always so attentive, but tonight felt different. It was more. They both knew this—their relationship—was it for them. No more wondering. No more waiting. They were settled and in love. In just this short time he had brought her such happiness and joy that she couldn’t wait to see what the rest of their lives gave them.

  “Close,” she said breathlessly.

  “Come on, baby.” Danny continued to pound into her.

  His thumb circled her clit and that was it. She fell over the edge. Abby shivered as waves of pleasure rolled through her body.

  Danny covered his mouth with hers and muffled her moans. Her walls clenched tight onto his cock and squeezed his orgasm from him. Overwhelmed by her own release, Abby barely registered when Danny reached his climax.

  After a few minutes, Danny kissed her temple before pulling out. He rolled over until she was resting on his chest. She snuggled into him and placed a chaste kiss over his heart. He covered them
with the blanket Abby had used earlier.

  She stared at the fireplace; the flames were nearly out as Danny’s hand tickled her back. This, right now, was heaven for Abby.

  The outside world always thought she had everything. In reality Abby spent most of her life in hell—used for her talent by everyone around her. But now she had a career she truly loved and sang songs that were her own. Her best friend managed her career, and she had a man that loved her for her. Danny didn’t want a thing from Abby, except, of course, her love in return. Now, she was going to marry him and hopefully fill a house with lots of babies.

  “You awake?” Danny asked.

  “Just barely.” She was drifting toward sleep.

  “We need to go upstairs. Otherwise Christmas morning might start off with a real surprise for my parents.” Danny laughed.

  “Yeah that’s not a good thing…at all,” she agreed.

  She pushed off Danny, covered herself with the blanket, and gathered their clothes. Danny smothered the fire so it wouldn’t cause a problem during the night.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Almost.”

  Abby crawled over to the tree and found the square box that she was looking for.

  “You got to give me a surprise early, so now it’s my turn.” She handed Danny the present and watched in excitement as he looked at it questioningly.

  “You know I didn’t want anything.” Danny held out his hand for Abby and helped her to her feet.

  “I know, but that wasn’t going to stop me.” She walked to the sofa and sat down.

  “True.” Danny smiled and sat next to her.

  She watched as he ripped open the wrapping and stared at the contents.

  “Baby, really?” He held up the Yankee baseball cap in his hand, looking completely confused. Obviously, Danny had a Yankee hat, probably way more than one, but that was just a hint of the real present.

  Abby couldn’t hold back her laugh. He really looked puzzled and adorable.

  “Thank you?” he said as a question.

  “You’re welcome, but the hat really isn’t your present. It’s kinda hard to wrap a private suite.” She shrugged.

  “A private suite?”

  “Uh huh, for the season,” she explained.

  “The entire season?”

  “Yes,” she confirmed.

  “Holy shit.” He starred down at the hat.

  “I figured I just signed the contract to play Elphaba on Broadway, so we’ll be in one spot for a while.”

  “This is amazing. Thank you.”

  Danny reached over and hugged her, lifting her into his lap.

  “So…you like it?”

  “Like it? I love it, baby. This is badass.”

  “Yay!”

  Danny kissed her, and she immediately opened her mouth for him. Soon she was lost in his kisses and turned on all over again.

  “We really need to get upstairs.” Danny’s stare was heated.

  “Mmm hmm.” She absolutely agreed with that statement.

  “Here.” Danny piled their clothes on Abby’s lap. “Hold these.” He lifted her up and walked them up the stairs toward their room.

  “Our first Christmas,” Abby mused as he climbed the steps, and she tightened her hold on him.

  “Merry Christmas, baby,” Danny whispered in her ear and shifted her to turn the knob on their bedroom door.

  “Merry Christmas, Danny.” Abby’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “This has been the best Christmas ever.”

  “And the sun isn’t even up yet.” He chuckled.

  “I can’t see how it can get better than this.”

  “Just wait and see.”

  The End

  Enjoy Chapter One of Finding Us

  (A Nucci Securities Novel)

  THE HOUSE LIGHTS went on, and Abby Murphy took in the full stadium. They were cheering for her to give them one more song. Some held signs that read “I love you, Abby!” Others tried to hold on to the memories of the night by taking pictures and recording the show with their phones.

  She’d spent the last two hours entertaining her fans with an elaborate show that included dancers, pyrotechnics, jugglers, acrobats, and circus animals. She wasn’t a fan of all the glitz and glamour, but she wasn’t the ringmaster of this show.

  As much as she disliked the politics of her career, she hated disappointing her fans even more. “You want more?” She smiled and waved, and the audience roared. The noise gave her goose bumps up and down her arms. She signaled to the drummer, and he pounded out the intro to her next single “Beg Me.” It seemed appropriate since the audience was doing exactly that. Her dancers jumped out from the openings in the stage floor. They flanked Abby, and she gave her fans a performance they’d never forget. Sweat dripped from her face and poured down her body as she sang her last few notes. Finally, fireworks exploded around her.

  The show was over.

  “Thank you, Vegas!” she shouted. “I love you. Good night.”

  They cheered, and with one last wave, Abby moved downstage. She stopped by her guitarist, Sean Haken, and gave him a quick kiss and then ran behind the curtain to her security detail. They whisked her off to her dressing room.

  Once there, Abby sighed. The room was packed with staff, media, and random groupies, all vying for her attention. She hated this part of the night, and the high she got from the stage was lost as soon as she glanced around the room. The only thing she wanted after hours under the spotlights was a private area where she could recover. Looked like that wasn’t going to happen. Again.

  Her request for quiet never seemed to register with her mother, Vivien. All Abby needed was four walls, a door, and maybe a humidifier to keep her vocal folds healthy. But, no. Her mother insisted on a “pop star life,” so Abby was met at every venue with a private, over-the-top suite filled with unnecessary things and unnecessary people.

  This one had lavender walls and soft lighting to help “set the mood.” The floors were cappuccino-colored hardwood, and an area rug that matched the walls was placed in the center of the room. A deep-purple sofa with accent pillows took up most of the space, and two cream-colored chairs with brown piping were on either side. A square, glass coffee table held freshly cut roses in various shades of pink. A humidifier was placed discreetly behind the furniture because Abby’s mother thought such things were ugly and didn’t match the décor. No matter that it was the only necessary thing in the room for Abby.

  Her mother also insisted that lavender-scented candles in various sizes be lit at least one hour prior to their arrival, and a high-speed wireless Internet connection had to be available in the room. They were all things Abby didn’t care about, but she’d stopped trying to change her mother’s mind. Some days, though, it all made her want to run away.

  Abby scanned the room and found her assistant Sophie Corradetti. Once she made it to Sophie, she’d be in the clear from all the people and noise.

  “You killed it tonight.” Sophie gave her a quick hug and handed her a bottle of water.

  “Thanks, where’s my mom?” Abby asked as she took a quick sip. Vivien Murphy was not only Abby’s mother but also her manager.

  “Your mother bailed as usual.” Sophie gave Abby’s arm a light squeeze to take a bit of the sting out of the statement.

  “Thank God. I needed a reprieve.” That was Abby’s standard response. Logically, she should stop expecting anything different, but part of her was still a little girl seeking her mother’s approval. She took another sip of water and saw Sophie’s expression change.

  “Don’t get too excited. We might’ve dodged one annoyance, but there’s another one waiting for you. Stephanie’s heading our way. Don’t worry; I’ll save you.” She patted Abby on the back.

  “Ugh, what does that lady want from me? She’s always in my fuckin’ business.” She groaned, knowing there’s no way she could get out of talking to her.

  “Well, sh
e is a gossip columnist. It’s kinda her job to be nosy.” Sophie laughed.

  “Not funny. You were my favorite assistant five minutes ago. Now you’re just mean.” She stuck her tongue out at Sophie.

  “What if I promise to rescue your ass in about five minutes?” She poked Abby in the arm.

  “I’d say you’ll quickly become the best assistant in the world again.”

  “Here she comes,” Sophie warned.

  “Don’t go far.”

  “I’ll be over here, keeping close watch. Five minutes, and you’ll be able to get some quiet.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Abby, sweetie! Wonderful show tonight.” Stephanie placed her hands on Abby’s arms and gave her an air kiss on either side of her face.

  “Stephanie, lovely to see you,” Abby greeted her.

  “You and Sean looked cozy up on stage. Things going well?” She asked, obviously fishing for something.

  “Yes, perfect. Sean’s amazing. I’m very lucky to have him.” Her prepared answer rolled off her tongue. If the world only knew how it really was between them.

  “Oh, that’s so good to hear.” Stephanie’s smile was cold and calculating, and it morphed into a wicked smirk in a matter of seconds. “Rumor is he was seen in a very compromising position with both a redhead and a blonde…not at the same time, of course.” Stephanie paused, and Abby knew she was waiting for her to take the bait. “I’m glad to know the rumors are wrong.”

  Abby knew exactly who the redhead was, and she knew they were just friends. Kelly West had introduced Abby to Sean. She was a New York socialite who was famous for partying. She loved seeing her name in the spotlight, but no matter how much she flirted, there was no way she was having an affair with Sean. Kelly wouldn’t betray her that way, and even Sean wouldn’t stoop that low.

  On the other hand, she had no idea about the blonde but couldn’t be bothered to react. There was always some rumor about Sean with another woman. She’d accepted long ago that some of them were probably real, whether she wanted them to be or not. This was simply another blonde, and while it added to Abby’s growing suspicion and discontent, it certainly wasn’t a rumor worth a response. She wouldn’t add her broken-hearted rage to Stephanie’s tabloid fodder.