The morning light filtered through the curtains, gently warming my face and stirring me from sleep. As my eyes fluttered open, I became aware of Emmett's strong arms still wrapped around me, holding me close. The weight of his embrace was comforting. My head rested against his chest; the coolness of his skin evident as my ear pressed into it. There was no heartbeat, no natural warmth radiating from him—yet somehow, I still felt warmth. It wasn't a physical heat, but a comforting presence that made me feel anything but cold.

The memories of last night flooded my mind—the way we moved together, the love I felt in every touch. It might sound cliché, but it was like something straight out of a romance novel, the night was perfect. He was perfect. Even thinking about it made me blush like a schoolgirl.

I slowly lifted my head to find him already gazing down at me, his boyish grin in full effect, those irresistible dimples on display.

"Morning gorgeous," Emmett whispered, his deep voice resonating in the quiet room. I couldn't help but smile wide, still basking in the warmth of last night's memories.

"Morning," I managed to say through my smile, my hand gliding up from my side to his sculpted chest. My index finger traced the defined lines of his muscles, lingering on each curve. "Last night was..." I trailed off, unable to find the right word to capture what it truly was.

"Magical? Amazing? Breathtaking?" he suggested, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"All of the above," I replied, grinning from ear to ear. It really was something. "You know a few things," I added, biting my bottom lip as I remembered all the nasty pleasurable things he had done to me. Yet somehow, it felt so right.

"You weren't so bad yourself," he shot back, that cocky grin still on his face—the one I couldn't help but adore.

"Did—" I started, lowering my gaze as a flood of doubts filled my mind. Was I good enough? Was it good for him? "Was it good? I mean, I haven't— I'm a... was..." The words tumbled out in a mess, and I couldn't find my footing, growing more flustered by the second.

A gentle "shh" escaped his lips as he reached out, his fingers brushing my chin, lifting my head until our eyes met. His touch was soft but reassuring. "You were perfect," he murmured, his voice steady and full of warmth. My eyes searched his golden orbs, looking for any hint of doubt, but all I found was sincerity. A breath I didn't realize I'd been holding slipped from my mouth, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

The anxiety of feeling like I wasn't good enough had consumed me, especially since I'd never had any prior relationships. But his words calmed me, easing that overwhelming feeling. Before I could say a word, he leaned down and pressed a tender, passionate kiss to my lips. Instantly, I melted into his embrace, my anxiety fading as I relaxed into the moment.

The soft sound of our lips parting filled the quiet room as he pulled back, his eyes never leaving mine. With the idea fresh in my mind, I twisted my body and shifted my weight, positing myself fully against him. My chest pressed against his as I looked up to meet his gaze. Our bodies pressing together in an intimate embrace. I rested my chin on his broad chest, gazing up at him. He looked down at me with a warm smile, clearly enjoying my actions, and I felt a flutter of excitement in my chest.

"What did you do while I was sleeping?" I asked, curious about how he spent the time while I enjoyed my peaceful slumber.

"Took in your beauty and listened to how you snore," he replied with a light chuckle. I tapped his chest playfully with my free hand, knowing he was just teasing. "I just thought about my past," he said softly, his tone shifting to something more serious. "And about last night when I told you I wished we had met when I was human? Then I realized that you might not have liked the human me." He spoke with sincerity, revealing his inner thoughts.

"It was a different time, Emmett," I said, trying to comfort him and remind him that he wasn't the same man he had been back then.

"There was this one girl I was sweet on," he revealed, and I wasn't surprised. He was a caring person, and I had no doubt he had been the same way back then, despite whatever he might have done.

"Who was she?" I asked, eager to learn more about his past. It was one of those subjects he rarely mentioned, and I didn't want to bring it up if it might stir up old wounds that hadn't fully healed.

Emmett paused for a moment to gather his memories, his eyes drifting away before finally locking onto mine. "Her name was Clara," he said. "She was new in town and had no idea how bad I was," he added with a mischievous smile, which made me chuckle. "But we really hit it off. The only problem was that she had someone. She even told me I reminded her of him." He added with a chuckle as if it was just his luck.

"You were friends?" I asked, resting my hands under my chin as I continued to gaze up at him, eager to learn more about his human past.

Emmett nodded in response. "Looking back, I realize I wanted more than just friendship," he admitted honestly. I didn't hold it against him; after all, it had been decades ago.

"Why didn't you tell her?" I asked, arching an eyebrow at him in curiosity. He shrugged his shoulders, a hint of regret flickering in his eyes. "You could have lived a different life, Emmett," I added, my voice laced with concern for what he might have missed.

"Then I wouldn't have met you," he replied softly, his gaze filled with love as it locked onto mine. "Meeting you, knowing you, has been the best part of my immortal life, and I wouldn't change a thing." My heart melted at his words, which echoed in my mind, reminding me that this was a man who was deeply, profoundly in love with me.

Emmett reached out, gently cupping my face in his large hands. He slowly guided me up his body until our lips met in a tender kiss.

"Neither would I," I said after the kiss ended, my fingers lightly tracing his cheek. As I gazed into his eyes, my focus wavered, my mind consumed with thoughts of what lay ahead and the realization that I had been lying to him for the past few weeks. He still didn't know about the tarot reading, about the Salem Thirteen.

"What is it?" Emmett asked softly, bringing my focus back to him and bringing me back to reality.

"Nothing," I replied, forcing a smile as I traced my fingers gently across his cheek. "I just want to stay like this forever," I admitted, longing to hold him close and never let go.

His massive, gentle arms wrapped around me, holding me in his embrace. I could sense that he didn't want to let go either and shared the same desire I had. My head rested against his chest as we held each other close, and I could feel his gentle kisses on my head.

We lingered in that position for a while, wrapped in a comfortable silence, completely lost in each other's embrace. It wasn't until Emmett's keen hearing picked up the sound of my grandma moving around that we realized it was time to get up and face the day.

I found myself sitting at the edge of the bed, still naked, watching Emmett as he got dressed in front of me. My eyes roamed over his impressive physique, still in awe of his body. The way his muscles moved as he pulled on his clothes left me momentarily breathless.

My gaze drifted downward, and I noticed bruises on my thighs, shaped like large fingers. They wrapped around my thighs like dark reminders of last night, and as I recalled the memory, I realized I hadn't felt any pain at the time. In a hurry, I grabbed a nearby blanket and draped it over my lap, anticipating that Emmett would say something about it. 

Once I had the blanket in place and lifted my head, I found Emmett already crouched in front of me, half-dressed, he was still without a shirt, his expression serious as he gently pulled the blanket away. I instinctively turned my head away, not wanting to meet his gaze. 

"It doesn't hurt," I insisted, my voice barely above a whisper as I glanced back at him. For a moment, our eyes locked, and I could see the pain reflected in his gaze. "I promise you," I said, raising my right hand to gently touch his cheek. He leaned into my warm palm, seeking comfort.

The next thing I knew, he leaned down and gently kissed my thighs, his expression filled with regret for what he had done, even though it hadn't been intentional. I couldn't help but let out a soft giggle at his actions; it felt sweet and tickled just a little.

"If you go a little higher, you might just hit the spot," I teased playfully as he began to kiss his way up my thighs, swapping between them. But he stopped just inches away, lifting his head from my thighs as he tilted it toward the door, listening intently as if he heard someone approaching.

"Your grandma is coming," Emmett said, his head snapping back to me, fully aware that we didn't have time for anything more. He began to stand and planted a quick kiss on my lips before rising completely.

A few seconds later, a quick knock echoed through my room, followed by my grandma's voice. "Honey, are you up?" she called from the other side of the door. Emmett immediately froze in place, turning into a statue.

"I'm up!" I replied, raising my voice loud enough for her to hear, keeping my tone calm and normal.

"I've made you breakfast!" she continued cheerfully, her warm tone cutting through the tension in the air. "See you in five," she concluded, and I could hear her footsteps receding from my door as she made her way back down the stairs.

Emmett shifted again, reaching down to grab his shirt from the floor. He slipped it over his body, the fabric brushing against his sculpted muscles. It was almost a shame to cover up such perfection. Being the gentleman he was, Emmett found my joggers and bra, handing them to me with a soft smile. I quickly slipped them on, appreciating the small gesture.

I stood from the edge of the bed and made my way toward the window, where Emmett was already waiting. The window was open, the morning breeze drifting in, and he stood there, ready to say goodbye.

"Thank you for last night," I said softly, feeling my cheeks flush with warmth just at the thought of it. "I... I really needed it," I admitted, my voice soft as I thought of how it had taken my mind off everything that was coming. I was grateful to him for giving me that peace, even if just for a night.

"We'll definitely have to do that again," Emmett said with a mischievous grin, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close. I managed a smile, though deep down I couldn't help but wonder if I'd even be around to see that happen.

"I love you," I said with all the passion and truth I felt, completely consumed by my love for him, just as he was for me.

Emmett looked deep into my eyes, his expression softening as he pulled me even closer. "I love you more than words can say," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "You're my everything... and I'll never let anything happen to you." His words made my heart ache in the best way, knowing he truly meant every word.

We both leaned in slowly, our eyes locking for a brief moment before our lips met in a heated, passionate kiss. The force of it was electric, a surge of warmth and emotion coursing through us as our mouths moved in sync. His lips were firm yet soft against mine, and I could feel the intensity behind every movement. My breathing quickened, and the kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more consuming as if we were pouring all of our feelings into that single moment. Every part of me felt alive under his touch.

I didn't want the moment to end, but eventually, we had to pull back, our lips parting reluctantly. His hands fell away from my waist, as he backed up to the window, crouching down to fit through, but halfway he turned back and our eyes lingered at one another.

"Merry Christmas, Charlotte," he replied with a smile.

"Merry Christmas, Emmett," I responded, returning his grin. For a moment, I had completely forgotten that today was Christmas—and that I had received my gift early. With that being the last exchange between us, he climbed the rest of the way out of the window and jumped down out of sight.

I wrapped my arms around myself, vividly recalling last night—the way he touched me, the way he made me feel emotions I never thought I could experience. He was my first, and he would always be the only one. I could still taste him on my lips and feel him against my skin. There was no doubt in my mind that he was holding back from giving me the full experience, but he had given me something I truly needed, and for that, I would always be grateful.

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