Rogue of Taurus

She crept out into the room. Corvin was opening a gift, so he didn’t notice her immediately, but Mel looked up. Her jaw dropped open in surprise.

Alia noticed and looked at Livia. She grinned and gave an approving nod and two thumbs up. That caught Corvin’s attention, and he looked back.

He froze for an instant, and then his face lit up. “They look better on you than I imagined!”

Livia wavered, not sure what she should do. “Should…I change back?”

“Are they comfortable?” Corvin asked.

Probably the most comfortable thing she’d ever worn. “Yes.”

“Then come over here. Enjoy them all day long.” Corvin gestured her over with his hand.

There was a pile of gifts that Livia somehow knew belonged to her. The lights of the Christmas tree reflected off the wrappings. Corvin’s sisters were giggling; heads pressed together over a toy robot. A lightness warmed Livia’s entire body. She relaxed before, but tense anticipation had left her body. It was nice that things were different from every other year. She liked that it was different. She sat down next to her gifts.

“Corvin, you shouldn’t have spent so much—” Livia murmured.

He grinned. “I know. But I love to give gifts. You should know that about me.”

He put his hand on her back and pointed to a small gift. “Open this one next.”

Livia picked it up. She eyed it nervously. It was a tiny box. Almost the size of a ring box. She gave Corvin an evaluating look. Would he propose to her on Christmas? Was she getting ahead of herself, having suspicions like this?

Corvin laughed at her suspicious looks. He leaned close. “Open it, Liv.”

His warm, playful tone sent butterflies whirling in her belly. She rested a hand on her belly.

“I promise it’s nothing scary,” he teased.

Corvin’s eyes danced with excitement. He really did like this. Livia taunted him by opening the gift with exaggerated slowness.

Finally, Livia took a deep breath and opened the jewelry box. She was surprised by what she found. It was a simple necklace. A flat, elegant script of the word ‘Fabulous.’

She gasped and smiled, eyes flying up to Corvin’s. “I love it!”

“It’s not that fancy,” he said.

Livia ignored this. “Can I put it on?”

“Of course,” he said.

“Help me.”

Livia loved how casual the jewelry looked. She could wear it with anything, and it would remind her of Corvin. He’d been the one who had given her trademark nickname in the first place.

Corvin’s fingers brushed the nape of her neck as he fixed the clasp. The cool metal rested lightly against her skin. The sensation sent a pleasant shiver down her neck and over her shoulders.

“Feels good,” she whispered.

“Does it?” Corvin asked, rubbing the chain between his fingers.

Livia nodded. “Thank you.”

“I’m pleased you like it,” Corvin said.

Corvin’s fingers slid back up the chain to the back of her neck again. He caressed the nape of her neck. Livia wanted to press herself into his arms and let him hold her. People were watching, and there were presents to open. So she settled for leaning forward and dropping an appropriate-for-an-audience kiss on his lips.

When she pulled back, she gathered her courage. “I love you, Corvin,” she whispered.

The corners of his mouth turned up. He spoke warmly, sending a wave of comfort through her, “I love you too, Livia.”

Livia smiled as her heart burst with happiness. Right at that moment, everything seemed so right. Love should be simple. She didn’t need to overthink it. All they needed was to be good to each other.

Livia also got a book from Corvin’s parents, a scarf from his sisters, and a load of Christmas candy. Garnet gave her a family recipe book, which made her so excited she started leafing through it immediately, ignoring the chaos around her.

Corvin occasionally checked in with her, but he went over to play with his younger siblings for a while, then chatted with his parents. Then he and Silvanus talked.

Garnet came over to Livia and sat down. “It appears you are interested in our gift.”

“I love it,” Livia said, looking up from the dessert section. “Garnet, can you tell me? Which one of these is Corvin’s favorite?”

Garnet leaned forward. “The caramel apple pie or maybe the salted caramel cookies.”

“Could I make him one today? Do you think?”

Garnet smiled. “We’d all love that.”

“But we already had cookies yesterday. So, I’ll make the pie?” Livia looked at the woman for her approval.

“That’s quite a bit of work, Dear—”

“I don’t mind,” Livia interrupted. “Unless you have other plans for the kitchen. I won’t get in your way.”

“I’d appreciate someone else making the pies this year. I usually start after breakfast—”

“I’d love to,” Livia said. “What others should I make?”

“We always make a s’more pie when everyone is up at the cabin; eggnog pie is a great favorite. The recipe is there. Aurelia favors the peppermint pie—”

While discussing pies, there were calls to eat breakfast. Lars, Lucius, and Marcus served pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Everyone showed signs of fatigue afterward and went to take naps. Thrilled to have the kitchen to herself, Livia started baking pies.

It’d been so long since she’d cooked while Taurus tired. She missed the zen-like state she would enter. She started with pie crust, made caramel from scratch, then started on the pie fillings. Four hours later, she was pulling finished pies from the oven.

Corvin strode into the kitchen, running his hands through his hair. “What’s that smell? It’s like caramel.”

“Cause it is caramel,” Livia grinned as she set the pies out to cool.

Corvin’s arms came around her from behind. “That is so much work, Liv.”

Livia leaned back against Corvin. “I made you a caramel apple pie.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I needed to do something for your Christmas present.”

“Well, then,” Corvin kissed her cheek. “Thank you. I can’t wait to taste it.”

“Should I make anoth—”

“Absolutely not,” Corvin said. “You need to rest first.”

“I’m fine,” Livia said.

“You are exhausted,” he said.

“Well, exhaustion feels good,” Livia whispered, reaching back to press her hand into his hair.

“Sleep,” he insisted, lips brushing against her ear.

Livia taunted him. She removed her hand from his hair and stepped away from him. “I think I’ll cook three more pies—”

Corvin eased her back into his arms. “Tomorrow, you can cook three more pies.”

Livia sighed, disappointed that the baking spree was over. “But it feels so good to bake—”

“It also feels good to sleep,” he said.

Livia leaned back against him, enjoying how his chest pressed against her entire back. “It also feels good to be in your arms,” she whispered.

“Does it?” Corvin asked, pleased.

“Absolutely,” she said, imitating him.

He laughed. “Maybe we can cuddle—”

“What about the pie?” Livia asked.

“I can wait until later.”

They snuggled up together on the couch in front of the fire. It didn’t take very long for Livia to fall asleep.