Chapter Eighty one

Damien's POV;

After storming out of the cemetery, I decided it was best that I distracted myself with work. I obviously had lots of things to catch up on.

"Merry Christmas sir."

"Merry Christmas Drew." I replied my assistant as I walked into my office. I saw that the whole place had been decorated since it was already few days to Christmas.

"How was your vacation sir?" He asked with a wide grin and I wondered what was getting him so excited. Drew was like that all the time so I let it be.

"It was great. What's in my schedule today?" I questioned.

"I had most of your meetings cleared out because it's Christmas but, you do have a lot of files to see to." He informed me and with a curt nod, I dismissed him and got to work.

In the middle of the day, a call came through my private line and I picked up without delay.

"Hey babe." Her sweet voice rang through my eardrums and I smirked.

"Who are you with?" I asked her knowingly while I leaned back on my seat in a lazy pose.

"No one. Don't be so dramatic, I call you babe all the time."

I could bet she was rolling her pretty eyes as she spoke.

"Right. How are you doing?"

"I'm good. Just bored." She said in a pouty voice.

"You're bored? Why is that?" I asked, sitting up to quickly type something on my laptop.

"Well, someone made me get a long leave that I did not apply for."

"And who might that be?" I feigned obliviousness.

"Don't play with me Kingston, I know it was you." She sounded fiercely and utterly sexy when she called my surname.

"I want you to rest." I conceded.

"I don't see you resting." She retorted with a loud exaggerated scoff.

"So what do you want to do now?" I asked.

"I don't know..." She dragged on.

"Why not go Christmas shopping?" I suggested.

"Everything's been shopped for and I already have gifts for everyone." She said.

"Babe come home..." She whined like a kid throwing a tantrum and I chuckled.

"I'll be home by four." I promised.

"Three." She stated, leaving no room for argument and I sighed. This woman was bossing me -The Damien Kingston- around. I found myself agreeing and couldn't even believe my ears when I said so

I looked at the time and saw that it was a few minutes past 2pm and I just had to leave immediately.

"This woman would be the death of me." I muttered.

***

"Hey, I'm home." I said the moment I got into our bedroom.

Our.

That sounds really good.

"Hi." She chirped, getting off the bed to come give me an embrace. I eyed her shorts that stopped way above her knees, exposing those thick thighs I was secretly crazy about.

"Uhm I just got off the phone with my dad and he says he'd like for us to come visit before New year's." She informed me and I paused, trying to process the information.

"Is there a particular reason why he asked for us to go over?" I questioned a little worriedly.

"No, he just wants to spend time with me and knowing you won't let me go that easily, he wants you to tag along." She explained with a shrug.

"So I'm like a third wheeler?" I asked amusedly.

"Maybe." She grinned placing her hands on my chest.

I squeezed her ass which looked really good in those denim shorts. Then of course, I dropped my lips on hers.

"What if I don't let you go? What if I tie you up and do the dirtiest things you could ever think of, things that would make you beg for more?" I said in her ear sultrily.

I could tell my dirty talking got to her because her breath hitched and she paused for a few seconds.

"Damien!" She whined, turning crimson.

"Cute." I said with a smirk and planted a quick kiss on her nose before going to freshen up.

"Are we going or not?" She called after me.

"We will." I assured her.

Maybe it was about time we told her the truth.

***

Ariana's POV;

The next few days went by in quick succession and before we knew it, it was Christmas morning.

He woke me up with a kiss on my nose, a habit he had formed out of the blue. Damien seemed to be so fascinated by my little nose all of a sudden.

"Merry Christmas." He wished warmly.

"Merry Christmas." I said back groggily with a sheepish smile etched on my face.

We soon went downstairs and met with everyone else. The whole house had been decorated weeks before and all the lights made it seem like a festival. It was so beautiful especially at night. Damien and I even had matching Christmas pajamas on.

The awkward air had not exactly dissipated since what happened but it seemed everyone was ready to put it all aside because it was Christmas.

We greeted one another with warm embraces and even had a family portrait taken by Jesse to upload on our pages.

It was our first Christmas together as a married couple and it seemed everyone was making it a big deal. And even when we said grace over our meals, Tracy prayed that we would have more than just one baby (which was hers) by the next Christmas and Aiden who joined us for Christmas screamed a loud amen to that prayer. It was one of the most hilarious moments ever but Damien said nothing in response, reminding me of the fact that he did not want children.

After our meals, we all decided it was best to play some Christmas games. We started off with Christmas charades. Hubby and I were on the same team as expected, Fiona and Jesse paired while Tracy and Aiden formed another team as well as Mom and Amy who seemed to be bonding really well.

Unfortunately, no thanks to the boring husband I have, we lost to Jesse and Fiona who were on a roll. Aiden was too worried about Tracy hurting their baby with her charades than actually playing the game. It was so much fun though.

We even watched a few Christmas movies together because Amy insisted. It took a lot of convincing to have Damien stay for that.

In all, Christmas day was a blast and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Boxing day had to be my favorite because Damien came through big time.

That morning, we were all seated around the Christmas tree exchanging gifts. I gave out the gifts I had gotten for everyone and they all appreciated me warmly. I did not know what to get Damien because he had everything so I got him a customized coffee mug as well as a new rolex watch to add to his large collection. He thanked me with a hug and kiss.

I received a designer perfume from mom, a pack of shiny hair accessories from Fiona, a framed photo from Jesse, a pair of louboutin heels from Tracy and beautiful earrings from Amy. I had never received so many gifts before and it got me a little emotional.

The gift exchange was done with but I still hadn't received a gift from Damien. And when I looked around, I saw that everyone had knowing smiles on their faces.

"I have something for you." He reached for my hand and I held his, so wondering what was going on.

"You might want to shut your eyes, babe." He said. I did as I was told and followed his lead to where I believed was outside the house.

"Open your eyes." He demanded softly and slowly I opened them. My eyes widened like saucers when I saw it but I just had to look up at him dangling the car key right in front of me.

A sleek black limited edition 2021 Lamborghini Urus was waiting in front of me, decorated with bows and ribbons and even balloons.

"It's yours." He said with a slight smile.

I screamed so loudly it called the attention of everyone in the villa. I jumped on him and hugged him tight.

Such a luxurious ride, just for me?

I was too overwhelmed by shock to even form words.

"Thank you!" I screamed again almost breaking down in tears of joy.

He handed the key over to me and I took it with shaky hands and opened the vehicle. The exterior was beautiful but the interiorof this was breathtaking. I pushed the balloons out of the way even as those recording, helped open the other doors. It was red and black and obviously customized because I saw my name inscribed on the seats in gold font. Truly this was mine.

Damien surely must have spent a fortune on this baby because it was too good.

"Thank you so much." I went into his arms again and stayed there for a while before I tiptoed and locked my lips with his.

"Awwww." Our audience cooed.

Congratulations were in order and once again, Damien had put a big smile on my face.

The internet surely heard about it and before we knew it, it was all over the blogs that Damien Kingston had surprised his wife with a luxurious car for Christmas even after spending so much for my birthday and eventually taking me on an exotic vacation/honeymoon.

I laughed off all their captions, both good and bad. I was in too much of a good mood to care.

When everything died down and we were finally alone up in our room and I had his arms around me as usual, I looked up at him and caressed his clean shaven jaw.

"You spoil me a lot, you know that?" I said, biting on my lower lip. He just stared at me and smiled. That dimpled smile that had my insides toppling over.

"How do I ever repay you?" I wondered aloud.

"You don't have to. It was nothing really." He shrugged.

"Thank you for everything." I said effusively.

" No, thank you." He said back.

"For what?" I asked in a confused tone.

"For sticking by me even when I never treat you right. Material things may not be able to measure up to what I've made you go through and for even the ones to come but just know I appreciate you for being so patient." He said and dropped a kiss on my forehead.

His words were really sweet but I had picked out something questionable from his statement.

"Damien is there something you're not telling me?" I asked him in concern.

"Lots of things Ariana but when it all comes to light, I hope you can understand." He said solemnly, startling me even more with his words.

"But Dam-" I wanted to protest against him always hiding stuff from me.

But, he hushed me with a kiss from his soft lips. He knew how muddled up my mind got whenever he kissed me and now he was using it against me. Silly man.

"Let's get some sleep babe."

I could not even argue. I was tired, it had been a long day and I just wanted to be locked in the embrace of the man who had me falling for him bit by bit even as the days went by.