Read Michaels, Skye - Mikaela's Debut [The Black Dahlia Hotel 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) for Free Online Page B

delivered and set up on the balcony, Dillon went into the closet and came out with three gaily wrapped small packages. Hmmm. Small was good. Small was always jewelry, her favorite thing. She took a sip of her mimosa. Yum.
    He deposited the boxes on the table just out of her reach. The devil was going to make her wait. She bounced on her chair like a kid a few times. “Please, Dilly. Don’t make me wait.”
    “You are such a child sometimes. Okay. You can open one now, one after we eat, and one over our coffee. How’s that?”
    “Can I pick which one to open first?”
    It looked like he was trying to decide whether to torture her or not. “Open the smallest one first.” He was going to draw this out. Maybe. Maybe not. Who knew? Good things came in small packages after all.
    She grabbed the smallest square box first and began to tear the Christmas wrapping paper and ribbon off. She had never been patient when it came to presents. Her parents had always laughed with delight when she tore through the mound of presents under the tree every year, tossing paper and ribbon about with abandon. She felt the cloud of loss and grief begin to close over her again, and she fought it back. Her Dad and Mom would not have wanted her to be sad. They would have wanted her to tear into her presents with laughter and joy. She would give that to their memories.
    She slowly cracked the black velvet box open and squealed. “Dillon! I can’t believe it! Stud earrings!” She examined them in awe. “They’re gorgeous.” The one-carat stones sparkled against the black velvet. She turned the box from side to side, letting the exquisite diamonds catch the light. “Oh, Dilly, they are perfect.”
    “Put them on, baby. I want to see how you look in diamonds for breakfast.” She popped the diamond studs into her piercings, and then she jumped up to kiss him hard before she ran back into the suite to look in the mirror.
    When she came out again, she said, “They’re gorgeous, Dillon. Just gorgeous.” She knew her diamonds, and these looked to be D-flawless stones. Not that she should be appraising her Christmas presents or anything, but girls would be girls. And diamonds were a girl’s best friend. “Can I open the other boxes?”
    “Greedy little thing, aren’t you? No. The deal was you would wait until after we’d eaten for the next box.”
    “Are you really going to make me wait?”
    “Absolutely. Now eat.”
    “Oh, all right.”
    Mikaela finished her omelet in record time. She was not known to be a fast eater, but presents were on the line here. She knew she was acting like a little kid, but she couldn’t help herself. Joy bubbled over.
    Dillon laughed. “Okay. Take it easy. Who will I give these presents to if you choke yourself?” He picked up a long thin box and tossed it to her. She caught it with one hand. Her hand-to-eye coordination was excellent. She made quick work of the wrapping and held the black velvet box in her hands. She looked over at him for his approval to open it. He nodded.
    She cracked the box open and almost dropped it when she saw the diamond tennis bracelet lying on the black velvet. She looked across at him with a question in her eyes. “Dillon, this is getting close to the line of too much, baby.”
    “Nothing is too much for you. Don’t argue with your Master. Now pour us some coffee and relax for a few minutes. I wouldn’t want you to have a heart attack or anything.” She knew she had to comply or he would continue to draw this out. She sat back and sipped her coffee like an adult. She hoped. She was buzzing inside as she picked up the bracelet and fastened it around her wrist. It glistened and blue sparks flew as it caught the light. Wow. Dillon had gone all out this Christmas.
    “Now do you think you can relax enough to enjoy a cup of coffee, or are you going to continue bouncing in your chair?”
    “Sorry. Bouncing. There’s no other answer.”
    “You are such a kid. I love you, baby.