Page 26 of All I want for Christmas is Boo
“Nu-numb,” she said through the side of her mouth she could move. I lifted her in my arms.
“Let’s get you inside and in a hot bath. The tranquilizer will wear off in a few hours.”
We trudged back through the woods, leaving Neve trapped under the water. We climbed the stairs, stepping over Ruby’s burned body, and went back into the house. On the way to the bathroom, we passed the kitchen where Billy lay, candy canes embedded in his eye sockets. I massaged her muscles under the hot water, and cleaned the stab wound in her back, and the bullet wound in her front.
“I can do some first aid. These aren’t as bad as I’m sure they feel,” I assured her as I sewed her up with my kit from my car. Once she was clean, I pulled her from the bath, dressed her, and put her on the couch. I watched over her, monitoring her carefully. Once I was sure she’d be okay, I went to clean up the mess, starting with Billy.
I stepped into the kitchen and went to the speaker, finally shutting off the Christmas music. Then, I went around the island to where he lay, cock out and eyes gouged inward.
I left his body mostly untouched, but got his phone. Using his finger to open it, I deleted all traces of the video Neve had over me. I went outside and did the same with Ruby’s phone. And then lastly, I found the tracker in Ruby’s phone for Neve’s location. Her phone was in the lake with her. This was a small town, no one would find her for a long time, and once they did, they’d just burn her and not ask questions.
I returned to my girl just as the sun was rising on Christmas morning. I greeted her with a cup of hot cocoa. She sat up, groggy.
“What—Tobias? Oh my god.” She looked around frantically and winced when she tried to get up. “They’re all dead, aren’t they?”
“They are. I told you, I’m not going to let anyone hurt you ever again. Merry Christmas, Lumen.”
I stared at the beautiful woman I’d been inside of numerous times last night. My cock was stirring again, pleading for her to still want me now that the sun was up. She stared for a long moment before smiling and reaching for the cocoa.
“Merry Christmas, Tobias.”
Epilogue - Tobias
“I lied. There’s one more thing.” I gripped the wheel of my truck and turned toward the hotel I’d booked a few nights before.
“More? I’m ready to go home,” Lumen whined. After we had hot cocoa in the morning, we called the police to tell them our version of events. Three masked people invaded her home, and she’d fought them off all night. When I arrived to surprise her for Christmas, we called the cops, who insisted we go to the hospital while they did an investigation.
“I know. Me too. I want to get things cleaned up as soon as we can. Thankfully they ruled it all self-defense and are letting you go back to everything.”
“I don’t know if I want to go back to everything.” Her voice grew soft as she stared out the window.
“What do you mean?” I asked, pulling into the hotel parking lot.
“Well, going back to what I was doing before feels... lonely. I was trapped in my own mind, afraid to leave the house. I don’t want to go back to that.”
I parked and reached for her hand. “That’s not going to happen. In fact, if you don’t want to, you don’t ever have to staythere again. We can move you into my place and sell this one. Whatever you choose, you’re not going to be alone.”
Her bright brown eyes lit up. “Really?”
I laughed. “Of course. Now that I finally have you, I’m not letting you go. You were my Christmas wish, Lumen.”
I knew it was cheesy, but I couldn’t help it. I needed her to know just how much I needed her. I’d never been this obsessed with someone in my life. I couldn’t imagine a life where she wasn’t part of it.
“Now,” I changed the subject, “for your Christmas wish.”
I hopped out of the car and hurried to the other side, helping her out. I urged her to lean on me as we went straight to the elevator.
“I got here a few days before, to make sure everyone was settled in before the big night,” I explained as we walked to my room.
“Everyone?” She looked up at me. I grinned.
“You’ll see.”
I scanned the key card, allowing us entrance, and slowly pushed the door open.
“Daddy’s back!” I sang to the room as tiny, excited barks flooded the room. I opened the door fully just as three little puppies ran toward us, nipping and wagging at our feet.
“Tobias! What is this?”
