A Gray Christmas Read online

  “Preston Michael, get your dirty face off my window!” I lift him from the couch, and he scurries to the front door, apparently excited about seeing his aunt, uncle, and cousins.

  I stare at him in awe. The boy keeps me insanely busy, but being a mother has changed me so much over the last few years. Before Gray, I never thought I’d get the chance to experience so much love, but I’ve got it double-time from my two favorite guys.

  I feel big, warm arms wrap around my frame.

  “What are you looking at?” Gray whispers into my ear, and I smile up at him. We just celebrated our fourth anniversary last week, along with Preston’s third birthday. Once he moved back to Wimberley, we didn’t waste any time getting our lives started together. A year and a half ago, we decided to move to Venice when we found out that Maren’s pregnancy with her twins was high-risk. It was the best decision we could have made for our little family.

  “Our boy.” I start to get choked up. “He looks so much like you.” And he really does, with his nearly black hair and green eyes that match Gray’s.

  “We are pretty good looking, aren’t we? But I’m really hoping I can get his momma alone soon. We need a night to practice making him a brother or sister.”

  I swat at his arm. “Don’t talk like that,” I scold, not that our three-year-old cares at all about what we’re doing. “Why don’t you go out and help them carry gifts in?”

  “I suppose I can do that,” he says jokingly and then kisses my cheek. “Do you think they’d keep Preston tonight so we can have mommy and daddy time?” He winks.

  “It’s Christmas Eve.”

  He moans as he pulls the front door open.

  “Hey, Nor!” Maren hollers as she strolls into our living room. She takes in our extravagant decorations. “Damn. It looks like Santa puked in here,” she says dramatically, but I’m sure her house is far worse than mine. The girl can’t do anything simple.

  “Aunt Mar-Mar!” Preston latches onto her leg, nearly knocking her to the floor.

  “How’s my big guy?” She lifts him into her arms and smothers him in kisses like only an aunt can.

  “Hey, sis.” Gray hugs her, and it melts my heart seeing them together. He had a hard time leaving her when he moved back to Wimberley, but we were all excited to be together again.

  Matteo walks in, both boys on his hips, so I make my way to them.

  “Come see Auntie Nora!” I grab little Damian out of his arms, and Dominic clings to his dad like a lifeline.

  We spend the evening letting all the boys open their gifts and then have a big meal of roast, vegetables, and my famous chocolate cream pie. Maren insists I make it every holiday.

  “Love you!” she yells at me as she climbs into their car. She’s so loud, Dominic jumps in her arms. Poor kid. “I’d tell you two to have a good night, but I really don’t want to imagine what you and my brother are going to be doing once Pres is in bed.”

  I hear Gray chuckle beside me, and then he whispers, “No. She definitely does not want to know.” My panties immediately dampen at his words.

  An hour later, after fighting an anxious three-year-old, we fall into bed together.

  “He was so excited for Santa to come tonight, he didn’t want to go to sleep.” I rub at the dark smattering of hair on his chest. Damn, my husband is fine. I never get tired of looking at the man.

  He grins. “Yeah, but I really don’t want to talk about anything but this body of yours right now.” He hovers over me, taking all of me in. “Actually, there won’t be much talking tonight.”

  “What did you have in mind, Mr. Pierce?” I bat my lashes at him, and the next thing I know, he’s dragging my pajama bottoms and then my panties down my body before he makes his way between my legs.

  “I have a few things in mind, Mrs. Pierce,” he says before devouring my core, and I’m immediately lost to the amazing sensation.

  Five years ago, when I came to Venice, a whole world away, I had no idea that Grayson Pierce would soon become my whole world.

  Also by S.E. Roberts

  Voyages of the Heart (London) Anthology

  Love Refined

  The Unexpected Series

  Revived

  Renewed

  Reawakened

  GIRL POWER COLLECTION

  Fighting for Love

  Standalones

  A Gray Christmas

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my wonderful husband, who always supports me through everything. Kim Deister and Dominque Laura—this story wouldn’t have been possible without your guidance. My awesome beta readers Andrea Galante and Cindy Pippins…thank you for loving Nora and Gray. And last, but certainly not least, my best author girls Jessica Ames and MA Foster. You two rock!

  About the Author

  S.E. Roberts was born and raised in the cornfields of Central Illinois, but now lives in sunny Arizona with her husband, two children, and her rescue cat, Stanley. When she isn’t spending time with her family, she enjoys writing steamy romance, reading, and sipping on coffee.