by Terry Spear
“How about we take a nice hot bath?”
“Oh, I like that idea.”
He went into the bathroom to start the hot water and turned on the overhead heater to keep the room toasty warm. She went into the bathroom and lit little evergreen-and-cinnamon-scented candles. Peter closed the bathroom door to keep the heat in, and then they began to strip out of their clothes, the room getting hot and steamy.
“Perfect,” Meghan said, running her hands up his bare chest.
He cupped her breasts and leaned down to kiss her mouth. “You are perfect.”
While the bathtub filled up with water, they finished stripping and he climbed in first, and then she joined him. He pulled her against his back, loving being in the heated water with her. “Are you warming up now?” He pulled her hair aside and kissed her neck.
“Oh, yeah, this is just the way to do it.”
The heat of the water wasn’t all that was warming them up. He began to kiss her back and shoulders and then pulled her tighter against his rigid cock. He couldn’t help it. When he even thought about making love to his mate, he became aroused.
“Oh my, Peter, I’m not sure I made that wolf anatomically correct at the town square.”
He chuckled darkly, cupped her breasts covered in the warm water, and ran his fingers over her rigid nipples. She arched back against him, but he leaned his head over her shoulder and nuzzled her face, moving one of his hands down to stroke her clit.
“Ohmigod,” she said, barely breathing out the words.
“Good, huh?” He knew it was, the way she was spreading her legs and trying to lift off. He kept the strokes up, wanting her to climax in the heated tub. They could make love in bed afterward, but this was getting them both nice and warmed up after being out in the cold all that time. And it was something new and different for both of them. He realized he was rather a traditionalist, a little bit of a stick-in-the-mud, so to speak, but with Meghan, he was willing to experiment a bit as long as she got as much pleasure from the experience as he did.
She was holding on to his thighs with a death grip now, so tense he felt she’d snap. He inserted a finger between her folds and stroked inside, releasing her breast with his other hand, and continued to stroke her outside.
“Oh,” she cried out, and he felt her shuddering inside with release.
She turned her head, and he kissed her mouth. “That was so good.”
“I thought you enjoyed that,” he said huskily, needing to finish this before the water cooled down too much and they were cold again. Though the hot shower would work.
He helped her move around so she was facing him, her legs spread over his hips to receive his cock, and he inserted it between her feminine folds and began to thrust upward, making waves in the bathtub. He hoped he didn’t make the water spill over the sides.
He continued to thrust into her while she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed and licked his mouth, tonguing him and then nibbling his ears and his neck. Her teeth and tongue tickled and teased. He was hot, and she was making his blood even hotter. He lowered his face and kissed her lips again, feeling the passion erupt between them as he felt the end coming. His whole body shuddered with release, and he groaned her name out loud.
She smiled at him and held him between her legs for a bit longer, then he pulled out.
“Let’s get dry before we get cold, and we’ll warm up more in bed.” Peter had every intention of making love to her again in a little while.
* * *
The next day was Christmas Eve, and Meghan and Peter planned to organize things better after Peter had moved his stuff into the house, but that went out the window when they stayed in bed until early afternoon, getting up only to get to meals, shower, make love again, and then climb back into bed.
After their last bout of lovemaking, Meghan kissed Peter’s cheek and said, “We have the Christmas Eve family dinner with the Silver brothers, cousins, and their families starting at three. You know if we don’t arrive at Laurel’s place on time, they’re going to worry something bad has happened.” She hated that Rollins was still a dark cloud hanging over their heads. Normally, everyone would have just figured they were being a newly mated couple. Not now.
She could see half the pack arriving within the hour and banging down their door to make sure they were all right.
Peter hugged her tight. “You’re right. Let’s go have some family fun, and then we’ll be back to this.”
“We have a deal.”
They both hurried to dress and gather the presents they were giving all the families. Meghan would have bought chocolates from her aunt Clarinda’s candy store in Green Valley for everyone, but she knew her aunt would be bringing everyone candy too. So Meghan had started early in the year, making everyone wool scarves. To her amusement, Peter had bought unbreakable hatchets for all the men in each of the families. And for the women, he’d ordered beautiful vases so their mates could fill them with flowers. She’d thought that was cute.
They soon arrived at Laurel and CJ’s house, and everyone ushered them in with greetings and good cheer. The party had started without them. Laurel was a wonderful hostess, and Meghan released Peter’s hand to help her out in the kitchen, but she wasn’t there. Ellie quickly grabbed Meghan’s hand and headed her up the stairs.
“What?” Meghan asked, worried, but Ellie looked so happy, Meghan couldn’t figure out what was going on.
Ellie hurried her into the master bedroom where Laurel was coming out of the bathroom, looking ashen.
“Oh, no, Laurel, are you sick?” Meghan asked.
Laurel held her stomach and gave her a small smile. “I’m pregnant.”
“Ohmigod, Laurel. That’s wonderful! Who all knows?” Meghan asked, giving her a warm hug.
“CJ and the two of you.”
“You’ve been having cocktails,” Meghan said, worried.
Ellie laughed. “That’s the first thing I said.”
“CJ’s been drinking them, in case it turned out I was pregnant.”
“Why, you sneaky guys,” Meghan said, giving her another hug. “I’m so excited for the two of you. How did CJ take it?”
“He’s over the moon. He’s champing at the bit to tell everyone, but he’s been waiting until I could tell the two of you.”
“Well, I’m over the moon for you both too,” Meghan said, just thrilled for her.
“Me too,” Ellie said. “Here I thought we’d just be planning Meghan’s wedding. But next year, we’ll be planning a baby shower too. Jake will be the official wedding and baby photographer.”
“Oh, gosh, I forgot about Peter’s brother and sister-in-law. We have to let them know we’re mated,” Meghan said.
“You’ve had a lot on your mind,” Laurel said.
That was an understatement. “Are you feeling well enough to join the party?” Meghan would stay with her sister if she didn’t. Ellie and she could swap off.
“Oh, absolutely. Come on, before CJ just dies from not being able to share the good news.”
Meghan and Ellie laughed and went downstairs with Laurel.
Everyone who had come to the family gathering heard firsthand from one proud father as CJ wrapped his arm around Laurel and announced their good news.
To the sisters’ amusement, everyone took over Laurel’s hostess duties and made her play all the Christmas games while she sat on the couch and rested. Even Ellie and Meghan made a nuisance of themselves, checking to see if Laurel had plenty of water to stay hydrated and got enough to eat at the prime rib meal, because, as they told her, she could be feeding a whole bunch of little wolves since her mate was a quadruplet, and she was a triplet. Laurel reminded Ellie and Meghan they could be next. But Peter only had a twin brother, and Meghan wasn’t worried. Ellie was in the same boat as Laurel since she’d married one of the four brothers.
&n
bsp; Then the doorbell rang, and Peter answered it. Meghan was surprised to see Jessup carrying a big box wrapped in gold-and-silver Christmas paper.
“For Meghan,” Jessup said, “for helping us.”
“Come on in,” Peter said, and CJ brought him a beer.
Ellie brought him a tray of treats while everyone waited for Meghan to open the Christmas box. She couldn’t imagine what it could be. When she opened it, she saw it was filled with a whole bunch of angels, one from each family who had lost a family member in the mine, with a little note on them thanking her for learning the truth and sharing it with the pack about how their men had died so that justice could prevail once Rollins met his end.
She quickly brushed away tears. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
“I can’t take credit. Clementine actually was the one who organized this at the last minute with all the families still living. And everyone chipped in to pay for the angels for the miners who had perished who had no families left.”
Meghan smiled. She assumed the reason Clementine had been so vocal about Meghan and her sisters being ghost-seer frauds was because she was denying her own ability, but she had finally come out. Even Silva had mentioned Clementine bragging about it to a group of ladies at her table at Silva’s tea shop.
To Jessup, Meghan said, “Tell her and the others thank you. They’re beautiful, and I’ll put them on the tree in the inn’s lobby to remember each of the miners lost in the Silver Town Mine.” It seemed fitting to give them a place of honor, each and every Christmas.
“I will. But thank you.”
Then more Christmas treats were passed around, including some of Aunt Clarinda’s peppermint bark candy that Meghan ate too much of. She would have loved to run as a wolf tonight after the party, a special Christmas Eve run with her mate, but with Rollins still out there, she couldn’t—and she hated him all the more for it.
She must have looked a little bummed because Peter joined her and rubbed her back. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m having a ball, but you know, this is our first Christmas Eve as mates.”
He nodded, looking serious but not getting what the matter was.
“I want to run as a wolf with you on Christmas Eve, our first one as mated wolves.”
Darien overheard her talking and said, “I don’t know why we can’t run tonight. A beautiful finale to a beautiful family Christmas celebration.”
Jessup looked like he was getting ready to leave, but Lelandi grabbed his arm. “Let’s all run, whoever wants to.”
Everyone glanced at Laurel.
“I’m running. For heaven’s sake, I’m not injured, just pregnant.”
Jessup smiled. That was the first he’d heard of it.
After that, everyone was stripping out of their clothes and shifting. Then they began bounding out the wolf door. Once they had gathered outside, CJ and Laurel took the lead, Darien and Lelandi following the group to the park and the woods leading out of town. The snow was lightly falling, and Meghan thought this was the best Christmas Eve ever. Not just because she was mated to Peter and had such a beautiful family, but because the first of her sisters was going to have little wolf pups, and she couldn’t wait to be an auntie.
Chapter 28
After making love a couple of times that night, Peter and Meghan slept in a little the next morning. They snuggled, enjoying the moment, though she was eager to open presents. She couldn’t wait to enjoy the aroma of the turkey roasting in the oven, the Christmas tree lights twinkling, while she drank her breakfast tea. On the other hand, she thought Peter could sleep the rest of the day away, happily snuggling with her. No way could she wait any longer, and she kissed his cheek. “I’m going to unwrap presents.” With or without him, preferably with him.
He chuckled, rubbed his whiskery chin, and smiled at her. “All right, but we’re returning to bed afterward.”
“Tired old wolf.”
He waggled his brows. “I’ll be raring to go.”
“I’ll be ready.” She threw on a pair of red pajamas and her robe.
He tugged on a wolf T-shirt and a pair of shorts, followed her downstairs, and turned on the Christmas tree lights. She made them white chocolate peppermint lattes served in Santa Claus mugs—forget breakfast tea—and added candy canes from their win at the Christmas party.
He started a fire in the fireplace, but she noticed they were running out of wood.
“After opening the presents, I need to cut some wood so we’ll have enough for the rest of the day,” he said.
She set their mugs on coasters on the table. “Okay.” One of his Christmas presents would be perfect for the job.
She couldn’t wait to open her first present. She tore off the gold foil paper and pulled a sexy, red baby-doll pajama set out of a box. “I know what you were thinking of when you got this.”
“You better believe it.” He opened his gift and ran his hand over the soft, blue sweater. “I know what you intend to do to this.”
“Run my hands all over you. You bet.” The sweaters were for her as much as for him.
He chuckled. “Yeah, just like I intend to do with that.” He pointed to her nightwear.
Her next gift was a pink-footed sleeper with wolves all over it.
“To keep the wolves at bay if I ever have to leave you for a night or more. And…to keep you warm in my absence.”
She laughed and opened her next present. This one was a short nightie, blue, silky, and with lace trim. “Boy, do I know what you had your mind on when you were Christmas shopping.” She knew she wouldn’t be wearing any of her nightwear for long when she went to bed with him.
He laughed and opened two more packages of soft sweaters, a green and a dark brown. “For you to hug on me. You must have seen how shabby some of my sweaters were getting. I love my gifts.”
“I love mine too. Thank you.” She opened a pen and said how lovely it was, but he showed her how it was a tactical pen, with a small knife inside, in case she ever needed protection. “Hopefully, I won’t ever have to use it for anything more than a pen, but what a great idea.”
Then he opened his next package and laughed. She’d gotten him a new 9mm semiautomatic to use for his own protection, or to protect her. “Thanks. How did you know that was just what I wanted?”
“CJ told me you’d been talking about wanting one.”
“That’s just great. Thanks.” His next gift was an automatic log splitter, and he chuckled. “So much for my new unbreakable hatchet.”
“You have the hatchet in case this one breaks down.”
“I agree. CJ told me now I can also cut the wood for the inn’s fireplace. But he said he and Brett would pitch in whenever I needed them to. He must have known you bought me the log splitter.” Peter had gotten her a snow blower and smiled when she removed the wrapping paper. “That’s for both of us. It’ll be perfect for clearing the walkway between your house and the inn and out to our cars. I can take it out front to clear the walkway from the inn to the sidewalk. Now that I’m actually living on the property, I can help with some of the chores others have been doing for you.”
“That’ll be great. I never even considered mating you would mean I’d have a live-in snow blower and wood chopper.”
He smiled and pulled her in for a kiss. “And lots more.”
“Hmm, the lots more is what I can’t wait to get back to. But after we have breakfast and watch a movie.” She was thinking they’d probably get into the mood right then and there.
The next present she gave him was a shoe rack for their closet, so he could organize his boots and find the matching pairs. He laughed and pointed to a present for her in a box the same size and shape.
“Don’t tell me.” She opened it and chuckled. He’d gotten her one, too, for when they came in out of the snow. They could set their shoes on it in the alcove by t
he front door and coatrack. “I love it. What a great idea.” She loved that he knew how she liked to have things organized.
She opened another package and found two new Christmas stockings—both with embroidered wolves. “These are beautiful.” Then she smiled when she realized they were filled with something. “All ready for Christmas, I see.”
“I commissioned them earlier this year, hoping you’d agree to a mating.”
“Whenever you finally got around to asking,” she said, smiling.
He smiled back and opened his present and laughed. “Cast-iron wolf Christmas stocking holders, each with our names engraved on them. These are great.”
“I had them commissioned at Thanksgiving time with the same thought in mind. Speaking of Christmas stockings, we haven’t checked to see what’s in our old ones either.” She pulled them off the fireplace and handed his to him, then sat down on the couch with him. She poured the little wrapped gifts out of her new Christmas stocking and smiled. “Peppermint candy and mint chocolate candy from Aunt Clarinda’s shop.”
“Yeah, I figured I could fill the new stockings with our favorite chocolates because they weren’t hanging by the fireplace.” He poured out his peanut-butter brickle and peanut-butter chocolate cups.
Then they tackled their old Christmas stockings. He laughed at the recipe she’d given him for the MacTire Irish stew. “I guess I’ll have to learn how to cook that next.” He loved the MacTire plaid scarf she’d made for him. Then he pulled out a cocktail recipe book. “Ha! I guess I am the official family cocktail maker.”
“You are.” She emptied her stocking and found a black lace garter belt, new stockings, socks with wolves on them, and black lace panties. She laughed again. “I guess you liked the red ones that went with the red dress.”
“Yeah, I was thinking you needed a black dress like the red one. I can take you shopping for one when we have the time.”
She smiled. “I love all my gifts. This has been the perfect Christmas for me.”
“I love my gifts, too, and I feel the same way. Before you were here, I’d just get together with some of the single guys, and we’d watch sports or something. But this is a hundred times better.”