His Christmas Miracle

by Nichole Rose

  "Close your eyes," he whispers, tipping his head down to brush a kiss across my lips. His hair falls forward to tickle my forehead.

  My eyes flutter closed.

  He carries me into the bathroom and then places me on my feet, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I sway in his arms, humming when he sweeps my hair to the side to run his lips up the side of my throat. The entire bathroom smells like a winter oasis—notes of vanilla, cranberry, and cinnamon mingling in the air.

  "Open your eyes, sweet girl," Sawyer whispers in my ear.

  "Oh my goodness," I breathe, staring in awe at the bathroom.

  Candlelight reflects back like thousands of flickering stars caught in the glass shower wall and the mirrors. They rest on every surface. Strands of white Christmas lights hang over the mirrors, filling the room with a soft glow. Red and white rose petals are scattered around the floor and float on the fragrant bubbles practically overflowing the tub. He's set up a little tray across part of it with wine and chocolate dipped strawberries on top. Somehow, he's even put up a little Christmas tree beside the tub and decorated it.

  "Merry Christmas," he whispers, pressing his lips to my temple.

  "Sawyer," I turn around in his arms, my heart swelling with emotion that sends tears into my eyes. "I can't believe you did all of this for me."

  "Sweet, sweet Lana." His tender smile sends two tears down my cheeks. "This is the least you deserve for everything you've done for me. You gave me hope and my family back. You made today perfect. God, little star. You've made my life so much better since I met you."

  "Sawyer," I sob.

  He chuckles at me and then cups my cheeks in his hands to thumb away my tears. "No crying, sweet girl. I want you to relax and let me pamper you for a little while. You haven't stopped moving all day."

  "Will you get in with me?"

  "I will." His lips touch mine in a sweet kiss. He tries to pull back without deepening it, but I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him with every fiber of my being. He growls and clutches me to him, kissing me like he's been starving for the taste of me. He wanted to make love to me again last night, but I was afraid his parents would hear us from their room next door.

  Somehow, we manage to undress between long kisses. He does most of the work. I'm too blissed out in love with him to be much help. He doesn't seem to mind. As soon as we're both naked, he wraps his hand around mine to lead me to the tub.

  I come to a dead stop when I see what I missed earlier. A tiny box sits beneath the tree.

  "Is that–?"

  "For you? All of this is for you, little star." He nudges me gently. "Take it."

  I stumble forward on shaking legs to scoop up the box wrapped neatly in red and green paper, my heart in my throat. Sawyer watches with one of those little boy smiles as I carefully slice through the paper. I'm not sure if my hands are trembling or if it's my whole body, but I almost drop the box twice before I finally get the wrapping paper off it.

  It's a ring box.

  "Sawyer," I whisper, stunned. "How did you do this?"

  "Saint called in every favor he's owed to find a jeweler willing to let me in at dawn," he murmurs, taking the box from my hands. He takes the wrapping paper too and tosses it toward the trashcan. "I couldn't stand the thought of another night falling without you wearing my ring."

  "I can't believe you bought me a ring on Christmas," I whisper, awe and adoration crashing through me. No one has ever gone to such lengths for me before. That he did makes me want to throw my arms around him and never, ever let go.

  "I would have given it to you earlier, but I wanted this memory to be about just me and you," he says. He sinks to his knee in front of me. Even naked on his knee with rose petals all around him, he's the strongest, most fiercely beautiful man I've ever met…and the sweetest. "C'mere, sweet girl."

  I stumble forward a few steps.

  He flips the ring box open between us. I gasp as soon as I see it. The center stone is a giant square cut emerald. Two round diamonds sit on each side in the center of little lotus-like flowers. The platinum band splits into two sections on each side, all four delicate pieces lined with smaller diamonds. It's unique and incredibly beautiful. I instantly fall in love with it.

  "Yes," I whisper.

  "You didn't let me ask," Sawyer says, chuckling. He doesn't seem to mind though. He slips the ring out of the box and onto my finger. It fits perfectly. Somehow, I'm not surprised.

  He's so freaking amazing.

  Aunt Leslie promised me that the school board wouldn't interfere with us being together. She said they couldn't do a whole lot about it, especially since Sebastian married Rowan and they didn't fire him. I hope she's right because I'm not giving Sawyer up now that he's mine.

  "Jack Frost," he whispers, reverence in his voice as he looks at the ring on my finger and then at me. "I like seeing you in nothing but my ring, Lana. You're really marrying me?"

  "I am."

  His eyes meet mine, blazing with emotion as he pulls me down onto his knee. "I'll thank God every day for bringing you to me, Lana. You're my miracle, my sweet little star. No one on this earth will love you more fiercely or with more devotion than I do. My heart belongs to you. It beats for you now, and it always will."

  "Mine too," I whisper through tears, flinging my arms around his neck again. I bury my face in his throat, clinging to him. "I love you so much, Sawyer."

  "I love you, little star." He wraps his arms around me and holds me, his body trembling beneath mine with the weight of what he feels for me. I feel it in the air around us too, seeping into my pores and overfilling my heart. There's an endless well of it, flowing between us like magic.

  "This is the best Christmas ever," I whisper.

  "This is only the beginning. I have a lifetime of days just like this waiting for you. Christmas will always be magical for you so long as I have a say in it," he says, sliding me back to my feet before he rises to his own. We don't speak again until we're settled in the warm water with his arms around me and my head on his chest.

  "I didn't get you anything for Christmas," I murmur then.

  "You did," he promises, a smile in his voice. "You gave me back my brother and my family. You gave me your heart. I have everything I need right here." He squeezes me for emphasis. "That's worth more to me than anything you could buy in a store."

  "Sawyer," I whisper.

  "No more tears, sweet girl. I only ever want to see you smiling." He runs his hand down my arm. "You light up the whole world when you smile at me."

  I turn around on his lap, huffing as I slip and slide in all the bubbles, sloshing water over the side of the tub. He catches me around the waist and pulls me up against his chest to keep me from knocking over the tray he set up for us. I wrap my arms around his neck and seek his lips with my own.

  "Then light me up, Sawyer," I whisper against his lips. "Make me smile."

  "Nah, little star," he breathes, pulling me closer. His hands slip down my body and send heat dancing across my skin. "I'm going to make you shine."

  And he does. For a lifetime.

  Epilogue

  Sawyer

  One year later

  "Sawyer!" Lana cries, breaking my heart. Her face is red and sweaty, her green eyes full of tears. She's so tired, but still so beautiful to me. The last year with her has been the best of my life. She is still the brightest little star I've ever met.

  "Breathe, little star," I croon, pressing kisses to her eyelids. "Just keep breathing. You're doing so good."

  "I'm so tired," she sobs.

  "I know you are, sweet girl." It's Christmas Eve and she's been in labor for over twelve hours already. She needs sleep, but our little girl is as stubborn as her mommy can be. We're dying to meet her, but she's taking her time making her entrance.

  "Just a few more pushes, Lana," Dr. Jola says to my wife, giving her a warm smile. "We're almost there."

  "You can do this," I remind her, though I wish I could take the p
ain for her. I'd carry it without complaint. Even though she's miserable, she's been the sweetest mommy-to-be. Nothing fazes her or gets her down for very long. The first few weeks, she was sick so much. She didn't let it stop her. Hell, she didn't even complain. She's been shining so brightly through the entire pregnancy, ecstatic even over the less fun parts like going pee every five minutes or not being able to sleep comfortably.

  I'm in awe of her and her strength. I don't simply love her. I idolize her. She is my fucking hero. My whole world revolves around her. I already know our daughter is going to be just like her. I'm going to lose my mind obsessing about both of them.

  I can't wait.

  I just hope our little girl is easier to spoil than my wife. She never wants anything, never asks for anything. The simplest gestures light her up. Finding ways to spoil her has been a challenge but I try to rise to the occasion. Sometimes, the Universe throws me an assist like it did this time. Lana said last Christmas was the best ever. I think she might change her mind when she holds our daughter in her arms this Christmas.

  "It's time to push again, mama," Dr. Jola says as another contraction begins and Lana groans in pain. "One real big one this time."

  "Hold my hand. Squeeze as hard as you need to squeeze," I encourage, helping her get into the proper position to start pushing again.

  She latches onto my hand gratefully.

  "Push on the count of three," Dr. Jola instructs as the nurses scurry around to help. "One. Two. Three. Push, Lana."

  "Push, little star," I murmur, rubbing her back with my free hand.

  Her grip on my hand tightens until I'm slightly worried she's going to break it. Her face turns bright red.

  "Jack Frost!" she screams at the top of her lungs, pushing through the worst of the contraction.

  The entire room goes silent and then one of the nurses laughs quietly before Dr. Jola sends her a sharp glare that has her snapping her mouth closed and standing up straight in an instant. For a woman who looks like someone's favorite grandma and is maybe five feet tall, she's a little terrifying.

  "You're doing great, Lana," Dr. Jola says to my wife. "Rest for a minute and then you'll push again one more time."

  Lana slumps weakly against the bed, tears trickling down her face. She pants for breath, her sweaty hair stuck to her head.

  "You're so beautiful," I whisper, wiping away her tears.

  "I l-look terrible."

  "No, you look like a mama bear fighting to bring your baby girl into this world," I disagree. "There is nothing more beautiful than that."

  "Sawyer," she sobs. "I c-can't do this."

  "You can. You've always been stronger than I have." I cup her face in my palm, turning her to face me. Her eyes are dull with pain and full of tears. "From day one, I've been amazed by your strength and courage, by your selflessness and the way you love with your whole heart. Our baby is already so blessed because she has you to look up to. God knows, I am too. So damn blessed."

  "Sawyer," she whispers as another round of tears fall down her cheeks.

  "No crying, sweet Lana." I glance at the clock and smile. "I promised you that Christmas would always be magical. What's more magical than bringing our baby girl into the world on your favorite day of the year?"

  "It's Christmas?" she asks, sniffling.

  "It is. You ready to bring our baby home now?"

  She sniffles again, trying to get herself under control. And then familiar determination lights those green eyes, and her chin comes up. She looks from me to Dr. Jola. "I'm ready."

  "You did so good, little star," I whisper, holding her in my arms while she holds our little girl.

  Clara Belle Greenway was born at 12:27am, with hair as blonde as her mommy's. She's as beautiful as my little star too. She came into the world screaming her head off, but as soon as the nurse laid her on Lana's chest, she huffed out a little sigh and stopped crying.

  I can't stop staring at the two of them. They're both so fucking perfect. They both shine so brightly. They're my Christmas miracles, so much more than I deserve. I'll spend the rest of my life watching over them, protecting, and loving them.

  I've fallen for Lana every single day for the last year but seeing her with my daughter…what I feel for her eclipses love. It's a level of complete adoration that no one has named yet. It's immutable, inviolable, and eternal.

  I already love Clara more than I thought it was possible to love one tiny, five-pound human.

  "I already love her so much," Lana whispers as if reading my mind. "She's perfect, Sawyer."

  "Yeah, she is," I agree, reaching out to touch her little hand. She startles and then her tiny little fist closes around my finger, bringing tears to my eyes. "You're both so damn perfect. Jesus, little star. How'd I get so fucking lucky?"

  "It's not luck. It's you." She turns her head, resting her lips against my throat. "You've always been worthy, Sawyer. You're an amazing man, a loving brother, the sweetest principal, and the best husband a woman could ever ask for. I know you're going to be the greatest father too."

  "You make me sound like a saint," I say, chuckling.

  "Mm, definitely not a saint. You're too dirty for that."

  She giggles when I growl at her. I know she isn't complaining though. She's as dirty as I am. We can't seem to keep our hands off one another. Doing it during the week when we're working is close to agony for both of us. We make up for it as soon as we're home. Some days, we don't even make it past the living room before I'm inside her, taking her over and over again.

  "It's true," she says. "You are dirty. But you're perfect for me and for Clara. I love you so much, and she already does too. You're going to be her favorite person in the world, just like you're mine."

  "Nah, little elf. You'll be her favorite person." I'm not complaining. If I were Clara, I'd choose Lana as my favorite person too. My little star will spoil her with so much love and affection. Being back up for her, being the person she chose to share her life with, the one who gets to help her shine…that's an honor all its own. And being Clara's daddy, being the one who gets to love and protect her while her mommy teaches her to shine too…there's no better feeling in the world than that.

  Lana yawns, pressing her face deeper into my throat.

  "You should sleep," I murmur. "You've had a long day."

  "I don't want to miss a second with her," she says, a pout in her voice. "What if I go to sleep and she does something cute or she cries?"

  "She'll do cute things every day of her life," I say, smiling at her. If Clara is anything like her, she'll definitely do cute shit every day. Lana certainly does. "But you have to sleep when she sleeps, or you'll never get any rest. I'll watch over both of you while you sleep."

  "You need rest too."

  "I'll sleep in a little while. I have to call our parents and Savannah and Saint first. They'll all be mad if I don't." They all wanted to be here, but Lana and I wanted it to be just us in the delivery room. We wanted time with our girl before we share her with the world. Our families will be here tomorrow to meet her and spend Christmas with us. And I already know our moms and Savannah are going to steal Clara as often as possible.

  It's going to drive me crazy, but I'll let them do it. Mostly because Lana says I have to share her, but also because I know how excited they all are to meet her. They already love her…a lot if the amount of stuff they've bought her is any indication. She won't have to wear the same outfit basically ever if they keep going at the rate they have been.

  With our families around us, our little girl will always know love and safety. As a father, I couldn't ask for anything more for her. Except maybe that she stays little forever so I never have to give her up.

  "Merry Christmas," Lana whispers, already drifting off. "I love you."

  "Merry Christmas, little star," I whisper back. "I'll love you every day of forever."

  "Mmkay," she sighs. "Smart man."

  I smile, my heart bursting with joy and my soul full of peace, as
she drifts off.

  This day—this moment—is the best damn Christmas I've ever had. But I know there will be a lifetime more just like it. All because a magical little elf saw something in me worth loving when I wasn't sure how to even love myself. I'll spend the rest of my life thanking God for sending her to me.

  She's my Christmas miracle, the best thing that ever happened to me…and I have never felt more worthy than I do with her asleep in my arms with our daughter resting peacefully in hers.

  Happy Holidays, lovely. If you enjoyed His Christmas Miracle, please consider leaving a review. Reviews are really important for authors like me.

  See you soon with Kissing Kennedy, the fourth book in the Claimed series. In the meantime, have you read Caroline and Jared's steamy story? A feisty college student will tame her sister's beastly professor and claim his heart in this sweet and steamy romance.

  PS: I'll be sharing a bonus epilogue for Lana and Sawyer in my newsletter on Christmas Eve! You can sign-up here to receive it.

  Kissing Kennedy

  Excerpt

  "Where'd she go?" I growl, stomping toward Trick and Sophie who are cuddled up, whispering back and forth. Judging by the way Sophie's blushing, I do not need to hear whatever my brother is saying to her.

  "Who?" Sophie asks.

  "The tiny brunette who was just here." I pace in front of the table, unable to settle. I think I may be losing my mind. One minute, she was standing right here in this very spot. The next, she was gone.

  I briefly wonder if I just imagined her, but quickly cast that thought aside. I may draw the crazy shit that pops into my head for a living, but not even I'm talented enough to conjure up that kind of beauty. She's the sweetest little thing I've ever seen, hands down.

  Besides, she looked right at me before she disappeared. My whole fucking body lit up as soon as her eyes were on me. She blushed bright red when I smiled at her.