JAMES' POV

Lulu turned over in my arms and I drew my gaze to her sleeping form. She looked so peaceful, I almost didn't want to wake her but I had to as per Marini's instructions. She had knocked on the door ten minutes ago and asked us to get up so we could start on with the day. My first Christmas with my girlfriend and her family, hopefully the first of many.

Spending Christmas with the Kiarie sisters was turning out to be one of the most interesting moments of my life. On the first day they had fed me till I almost burst, Amani was not wrong, they did love to eat. On the second day they had gotten me drunk as we played games getting to know each other. I had no idea what was planned for Christmas day but I was sure that I was going to love it.

"Baby wake up."I called out softly shaking her awake.

Instead of waking up she just buried her face deeper into my chest.

"I know you heard me."I chuckled trying to pry her off me but the grip she had on my T-shirt just got stronger.

Lulu was not as much of a heavy sleeper as she was she was pretending to be.

"Don't make me tickle you."I threatened and she jumped off me immediately puting some distance between us.

"There is her beautiful face."I commented with a laugh at how disheveled she looked.

Her eyes were puffy with sleep, hair in disarray and her lips a little chapped but she was still the most beautiful woman to me.

"Piss off."She grunted jumping off the bed and strutted to the bathroom.

I followed after her, finding her brushing her teeth. I kissed her temple before putting some paste in my brush and proceeding to brush my teeth. Lulu ended up kicking me out of the bathroom a few minutes later so that she could take a shower. I took mine after she was done getting dressed in a blue t-shirt, dark jeans and white sneakers that I rarely got to wear back home.

"Now can I get a proper good morning kiss."I asked trapping Lulu against the door my lips attaching themselves to her neck immediately without waiting for her answer.

She was wearing an off shoulder yellow floral sundress and sandals. It left her neck and thighs bare for me to enjoy and tease.

"You'd have gotten one if you didn't wake me up with threats."She replied her voice coming out as more of a moan.

I knew we were both waiting till we were married to do the deed but it became harder each day especially when she got dressed in clothes that showed extra skin. I slowly turned her around and before she could resist her I laid my lips on hers softly nibbling on her lower lip. It didn't take long for her to open up and give into the kiss. My hands found themselves on her bare thighs but I didn't dare go too high. If we started I wasn't sure if I'd be able to stop myself. Lulu wrapped her arms around my neck deepening the kiss making me groan into her mouth when she tugged at my dreads. It was both painful and pleasurable.

Our mini make out session was interrupted when Amani knocked on the other side of the door.

"Marini is about to start getting angry guys, you better come down immediately and stop making out on the door, there's a bed in the room you know."She demanded and Lulu and I burst out laughing.

"Good thing we got caught, I was this close to giving in and having sex with you."Lulu commented pinching her thumb and index finger together leaving literally no space in between.

I swallowed heavily when it hit me that we were both thinking the same thing.

"Let's just do it, what's the worst your sister can do."I commented humorously and Lulu laughed.

"Let's not find out, now let's go before she really comes up here. And don't worry it will happen when the time is right."She replied pecking my lips.

She opened the door and pulled me out of the room. I couldn't keep my eyes off her as I thanked the heavens for blessing me with the beauty in front of me who was the love of my life.

We had somehow managed to finish decorating when we'd come to later the previous night and even our hangover selves did a great job. The house looked magnificent and the tree, though fake looked majestic filled with gifts at the bottom and a bright star at the top.

"Thank you for gracing us with your presence love birds."Marini jabbed sarcastically looking at us with a disapproving look on her face.

"I'm sorry Mar, it's my fault. Had a hard time waking up."Lulu apologized.

"I know it was, James would not risk getting in my bad side. Now grab a plate and some juice for breakfast. There's no time to waste."She instructed and before I could get a word out to thank her for the food she walked out of the kitchen.

Lulu chuckled and I looked at her confused wondering what was so funny about the situation.

"Your face when you saw how pissed Marini was, so comical."She cackled some more picking up her plate and a glass of juice and walking into the dining room.

I did the same thing trailing behind her. The breakfast was not as much as it was the previous day and I assumed it was because she didn't want us filling on breakfast since there would be a lot of eating later. Christmas in Kenya was mostly about food and spending time with family, but mostly about eating so much you couldn't walk for a few hours or get up. Definitely looking forward to that.

We greeted everyone else good morning before sitting down next to each other.

"What happened to your sister? It's like she's a different person."I asked Lulu quietly but not quiet enough because Amani heard me.

"Christmas happened. She likes it to be perfect so she will be a bit bitchy for the next few hours."Amani explained.

"Watch your language, that's my wife you're talking about."Isaac defended and the two sisters laughed.

"Oh Isaac, I almost feel sorry for you. This is your first holiday with us too so it's a learning curve for all of you. Don't worry buddy you'll adjust and if you don't then too bad because you're stuck with her forever."Lulu sympathized before she started laughing again.

"What family did I marry into?"Isaac asked looking a little worried.

"Should have asked that before you went down on one knee."Amani replied.

I knew it wasn't that serious because the sisters kept giving each other sly glances but it was still funny watching the two get a go at making Isaac nervous.

Marini walked into the dining room and all talk and laughter seized immediately.

"Don't look so scared, I'm not going to eat you."She commented with a smile but it didn't last long before she was back to boss mode." We have lots to do so here is everyone's chores.Isaac and James are doing all the grilling today, Amani you're on baking, Lulu and I are cooking and Jeremy you are doing the dishes."She instructed and left just as quick as she had arrived.

"Why do I get dishes? Amani want to switch."He requested and she was fast to shoot him down.

"No swapping."Marini yelled from the kitchen.

"You heard my wife. Now let's get to it, James you done?"He asked and I nodded pushing my empty plate away.

I kissed Lulu's forehead and followed Isaac to the backyard leaving Jeremy to continue pleading his case. We found the grill which I immediately fell in love with. The ones we used back home were handmade by us but Marini's beautiful state of the art grill gave me the urge to take it back with me home. It had been cleaned recently probably prepared for the day and it saved us a lot of work.

"She is beautiful."I commented with a whistle caressing the shiny metallic and Isaac laughed.

"My wife spares no expense, it's either the best or nothing at all."He replied as we got to setting up.

Isaac and I worked in silence for a while, it wasn't awkward, we were just too busy to actually have any conversation. Marini came outside twenty minutes later just as grill was starting to heat up carrying a stake and sausages in a tray.

"That's a lot of meat."Isaac commented and I had to agree with him.

It was just the six of us yet there was enough meat for at least a dozen people.

"It'll all be gone by evening trust me. James, Lulu praises your grilling expertise a lot, don't disappoint."She instructed and I nodded.

With a kind smile, she turned around and sashayed back into the house.

"You won yourself quite the trophy there Isaac."I commented and he just chuckled.

"Tell me about it. I was so nervous the first time I met her but it only took me a short time to realize how great she is. She just hates showing weakness. It's hard being the most powerful woman in a country dominated by men."He replied as we started putting some sausages on the fire.

Neither of us was familiar with working such a high powered grill so we both agreed to just start with sausages to test it out.

"I know what you mean. The first time I saw Lulu, the first thing I noticed about her is how bold she was. I didn't say more than three sentences to her the first time and the few other times after that."I explained remembering those moments so many months ago.

"They had to grow up fast that's why they have more spine to them than most women do."

"But Amani is not like that."I commented.

"Oh believe me she is, she might actually be the worst of them all, you know what they say about the good girls. She's just more outgoing and carefree than our ladies."He explained and I hummed not totally agreeing with him but he must have know better since he'd known them longer than I did.

It went silent again between us for a few more minutes before something that had been eating at me for a while came to the surface. Isaac seemed like a cool guy and we along great, plus he was married to my loves elder sister so who better to ask advice from.

"Isaac do you mind if I pick your brain for a minute."I requested clearing my throat.

"Yeah sure what's up."He asked closing the lid of the grill taking a seat next to me on the wooden porch chairs.

"Lulu and I haven't known each other that long but I know for sure she's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I was thinking about proposing but I'm afraid Lulu is not ready yet. Sure we joke around about getting married some day but that's a far cry from actually being ready to get married."I admitted feeling good to actually say the words out loud.

Isaac thought about it for some time before replying.

"James I can't tell you what to do but I can tell you this. A woman does not joke about getting married if she doesn't want to. I may not have known Lulu for long but I know for a fact that she is the kind of woman who goes after what she wants and its clear that you're the one she wants and you want her too. You guys are always looking at each other with so much love and affection. What you have to ask yourself is are you ready to propose to her and make her your wife?"He advised and I had to admit that I'd never thought that the problem was me.

"Just think about it and I'm sure you'll find the answer. The both of you are still young so don't rush into anything. Take your time so you can really be sure that's what you really want. And not to give you the big brother talk but if you hurt her I'll kill you and make it look like an accident."He threatened with a smile on his face but I could feel the heaviness of truth behind his words.

"I wouldn't dream of it."I assured him meaning my words.

"Good and just think about what I've said and you'll find your answers in your heart. Time is irrelevant in the matters of the heart. I married Marini less than three months after starting to date her. Don't fear putting yourself out there."He concluded and I nodded.

"Thanks man, I'll think about what you've said."

"Perfect now let's get back to this."He instructed pointing at the grill and we both got up resuming our work.

I got lost in thought thinking about what Isaac had said and he was not wrong. I just had to be careful with the decisions that I made since it would affect the rest of my life. There was also no need to rush since neither of us was going nowhere. And to be honest with myself I was not financially ready to take on a wife. I didn't even have enough money for a ring let alone a wedding and I wanted to be able to provide those things for Lulu. She deserved that and so much more.

"Presents time."Marini declared and just like we had been doing all day we followed her into the house where everyone was squatted on the floor next to the tree.

Thankfully we were done with our part of the cooking. Everything was heating in some medium heat to make the meat tender.

I sat next to Lulu and lightly pecked my lips.

"I missed you."She confessed and I smiled.

It had only been a few hours and she had only been a few meters away.

"I missed you too."I replied honestly.

Marini started handing out the gifts and I was shocked to realize that I had received gifts from everyone. I had bought gifts for everyone too but only because I was the guest and it was the customary thing to do. I didn't know that they would return the favor but I was greatly honored.

I held back on opening my gifts as I watched everyone open what I got them first.

"James thank you so much. This is beautiful and my new favorite bag."Amani declared admiring the red and blue shuka design backpack I'd got her.

"You're welcome."I replied proud that she loved it.

"A leather wallet, this are rare and expensive. It even has my initials on it. Thanks man."Jeremy declared admiring his new wallet as he gave me a first bump.

"My pleasure."I smiled politely watching as he started transferring things from his old wallet to his new one.

"Is this a cow horn?"Isaac asked looking at the polished horn skeptically not knowing what to do with it.

"It's a drinking horn. It's given to the head of the family as he is initiated into junior elder status. Even I don't have one because I'm not married yet."I explained and his eyes lit up in wonder.

"So I can drink from this?"He asked peeping inside.

"Yes it's absolutely clean but you don't really have to drink from it, it's more symbolic than anything."I replied.

"Wow thanks James, I'll treasure it and actually use it. You know what, I'll start now."He declared emptying his beer into the horn and drinking from it.

Everyone laughed and I just smiled happy that he liked it.

Marini got a shuka dress that my mom made and a couple of necklaces. She thanked me a few times and asked me to pass the gratitude to my mom. I assured her that I would.

"You didn't."Lulu exclaimed excitedly pulling out the beaded crown from her gift bag ignoring the pair of leather sandals in there.

"I did. I know you've been wanting one of your own since you saw my mom and Ruth have one so I had one specifically made for you."I explained and she launched herself at me kissing me all over.

"Okay enough before you suffocate him."Marini declared pulling her off me.

I wasn't complaining but it was the polite thing to do as we had an audience.

"I love you."Lulu declared putting the crown on.

"I love you more my queen."I replied giving her a slight bow.

After that we calmed down everyone resumed opening their gifts and I did too since everyone had opened theirs from me. I got sneakers from Jeremy, a personalized iPod case with new iPods from Amani, a watch from both Marini and James since they were gift giving together as a couple and Lulu got me a mug with the words "World's greatest greatest boyfriend" on it, a framed picture of the both of us taken on the day of the library launch looking very much in love and a new pair of boots.

"I love my gifts baby, thank you."I thanked her kissing her softly.

"You're welcome."She replied grinning at me.

"Can we eat now? I'm starving."Amani groaned dramatically lying back on the floor on her back.

Marini nodded and literally everyone cheered making me laugh.

"You've earned it."Marini declared as we all got up cleaning our mess of wrapping papers and ribbons.

We all decided to eat outside since it was nice out and with everything laid out infront of us it seemed like so much but Marini was right. We ended up eating everything by the end of the day earning us stomach aches but very full hearts and never ending laughter.

Not to diss my family but it was the best Christmas I'd ever had and it was all thanks to my beautiful queen Lulu.

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So one of my books "Twilight Confessions got to 10K reads and another" My Sexy Mountain got to 5K reads and I'm so happy and pumped about it all. I don't write for the reads and votes but they really make me feel good and happy that someone out there is enjoying my work.

Anyway I'm happy and grateful to God for all the progress my works are doing.

Thanks for reading my books and keep voting and commenting. I love you all.