A Hero’s Christmas Hope: Holidays in Heart Falls: Book 3

by Arend, Vivian

  He wanted to strip off her neon socks and kiss her toes, which just proved exactly how far gone he was at the moment.

  Now he had to hope he hadn’t messed up too much when he’d sprinted from the room.

  Pulling in the car in front of his parents’ home meant taking a deep breath and a mental reset. He had a lot of things to still line up today. Sweet-talking Madison into his bed would have to come at the end of the list.

  His daughter met him at the front door of the house. Talia looked past him, her expression falling when she noticed he was alone. “Where’s Madison?”

  “She’s relaxing at the house. We’ll see her soon enough,” Ryan reminded his daughter.

  Pickup on Sunday afternoon was always a shorter visit with his parents. The best routine had been to time it so when Talia and he got home, they had most the afternoon still to prepare for the week ahead.

  Ryan didn’t make the mistake of bringing up the birthday party on the drive. He wanted to have his full attention available when they discussed that.

  Other than endless questions about Madison, which he mostly managed to answer, Talia wanted to talk about her friends and the upcoming ballet she was so excited about.

  The instant they got home, she raced for the door, backpack swinging over her shoulder.

  Ryan approached the entrance a little slower. Having made his decision about how to go about what should come next between him and Madison only answered part of his problem.

  He still had to apologize to her for going off without an explanation.

  Madison looked up from the couch as Talia threw herself forward. “Hey, Tornado Talia. Did you have a good time with your grandparents?”

  “I did. You didn’t come to get me,” Talia complained.

  “I had things to do here,” Madison said, her gaze flicking to Ryan’s. There was a bit of a cloud of concern there, a little less of that lighthearted, full-of-joy look he expected from his friend.

  As if she were being cautious, worried about him going off again. Yeah, he’d blown it big time, but now that the idea had been planted, he was pretty sure he’d be able to turn things around.

  Once they had time alone.

  That hard pulse struck inside again, but this time accompanied by a sense of anticipation. Ryan caught himself smiling slightly as he turned to his daughter.

  “Now we have things to do,” Ryan reminded Talia. He looked up and included Madison in his comment. “Maybe Madison can help us get ready for this week.”

  As expected, Madison rose to her feet and came forward, lips curled upward. Her smile was real. “Sure. What’re we doing?”

  The next half hour was full of preparing school lunch boxes and clothes prep—the bits that could be done ahead of time so that mornings weren’t as chaotic. After that, Ryan sat down with Talia to make sure all her homework was finished.

  Only once all that was done did Ryan dare to approach the topic of Talia’s birthday.

  He sat in his chair and pulled his daughter onto his knee. “We need to figure something out, and you have me a little mixed up. So, let’s get everything unmixed up, okay?”

  Talia tilted her head and waited.

  “Your birthday is on December twenty-fifth,” Ryan began.

  She didn’t break eye contact. “Yes.”

  For once, she had nothing more to say. Massively unhelpful.

  Ryan proceeded cautiously. “Usually we have a birthday party early, so that your friends can come.”

  His sweet little girl folded her arms over her chest, staring out the window.

  Yeah, that wasn’t an answer. “You said something about not wanting to do that this year. Which is up to you, but what do you want to do to make your birthday special?”

  She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, and then a rush of words poured out of her. “I want to celebrate my birthday on my birthday. It’s really important. Since I know Santa Claus isn’t real, I don’t need presents from him. I mean, I like presents, but I want them to be for my birthday, because that’s what’s real. And I know some people have Christmas by going to church, but we don’t, and it’s not even Jesus’s real birthday. He was born in the summertime.”

  A small noise escaped Madison. She choked it off before Ryan could figure out if she’d strangled a laugh or gasp.

  Knowing Madison? His daughter’s blunt-spoken truth would’ve amused more than shocked her. He met Madison’s gaze. It was clear she was asking for permission before joining in.

  He’d welcome her help, but first, he had an idea of where to start. “We can celebrate your birthday on the twenty-fifth, but it might mean not getting to include your friends. I want you to have the special celebration you pick, but I don’t want you to be sad without friends.”

  “You’ll be there.” Talia twisted toward Madison. “You’ll still be here for my birthday, won’t you?”

  “If you want me to be. I would be honoured to celebrate your natal day,” Madison said solemnly. “Can I ask a question, though? Did learning something about traditions from around the world make you want to change what happens this year?”

  Talia’s eyes went wide as saucers, as if Madison were magical to have spoken those words.

  Frankly, Ryan thought Madison was pretty much a wizard to have come up with that out of seemingly nowhere.

  “It’s bad luck to celebrate your birthday on the wrong day,” Talia insisted.

  “Some cultures believe that, yes,” Madison agreed. “But some also don’t celebrate the day they’re born but on a single day that’s like a birthday party for everyone. Did you hear about that tradition?”

  Talia shook her head slowly.

  Madison spoke slowly, leaning forward on her elbows as she sat on the couch. “The most important thing you can do is think about what’s right for you and your friends. Which means keeping the parts of traditions where the good memories live.”

  “Like the ugly sweater you and Daddy share?” Talia was no longer holding herself tight like a statue but leaning against him. Listening intently to Madison.

  “Exactly. That’s a good tradition for us, so we’ve kept it. The special show where you’re going to dance? That’s not going to be traditional, because we’re changing to make it right for Heart Falls. All so it’s easier to make others happy. And make ourselves happy in the process.”

  “So I can still have a birthday party?” Talia asked, seeming confused.

  “You can have a birthday party,” Ryan assured her, “but it might not be on your birthday. Missing their Christmas celebrations would make your friends unhappy.”

  Talia laid her head against his chest. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “We don’t have to decide right now. In fact, let’s not make a decision for a few days. Let’s talk about it more. Also, Madison and I will see if we can come up with some different ideas. Different options for you to think about. Will that help?”

  She nodded. “Thank you, Daddy.”

  He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I love you, little one. We’ll figure it out.”

  Talia slipped off his lap, racing across to Madison. Throwing herself into her arms and squeezing her tight. “Thank you, Maddy.”

  Madison’s face was unreadable in that moment. She wrapped her arms around his daughter and returned the tight embrace. “You’re very welcome. And your daddy’s smart. We’ll figure something out that’s a celebration, and fun, and just right for you.”

  * * *

  Time ticked past slowly. Every move Ryan made had Madison twitching like a cautious mouse looking for a safe place to hide.

  Dealing with Talia’s concerns over her birthday party had actually been a relief. Madison was confident they’d not only be able to solve it but make it into something amazing—ideas were already whirling through her brain.

  But that was a few hours ago, and now all of her attention came to pointed peak.

  Once Talia was tucked into bed, Ryan moved toward Madison. Determinati
on in his eyes but with a slow, deliberate gait, as if worried he’d spook her.

  Which was funny. She knew exactly what she wanted, but actually telling him—

  Nope. Couldn’t find the words. Her, who had once walked the entire length of a school corridor with Ryan using her as a boner block so the rest of the class couldn’t see that he had a hard-on.

  Gah. Thinking about Ryan and hard-ons just made it worse.

  “Madison.” She glanced up to find he’d stopped one pace away. “We need to talk.”

  Oh, boy.

  He took her by the hand and tugged her toward the couch. The next thing she knew, they were seated together, thighs touching. Close enough that when he stretched his arm out along the back of the couch, her body swayed toward him.

  Instinctively, or pushed by some part of her brain she had no control over, Madison lifted a hand to his cheek. Her palm brushed the faint five o’clock scruff on his skin.

  If she hadn’t been so close, if she hadn’t been watching so intently, she would’ve missed it. The slightest of shivers, the flare of desire in his eyes.

  When he lifted his free hand and pressed it over hers, tension inside grew.

  Ryan took her hand, pressed his lips to her palm. A kiss, sweet and gentle.

  Hot enough Madison was ready to self-ignite.

  “I’m sorry for running out on you this afternoon,” he whispered.

  “Thank God you didn’t just apologize for kissing me,” Madison said somewhere between an attempt to ease the tension and blurting out the sheer, honest truth.

  He tilted his head. “Not about to apologize for doing what I truly wanted.”

  He kissed her palm again, then each of her fingertips. When he moved her hand so his lips found her wrist, Madison wasn’t breathing so smoothly anymore.

  He lowered her hand to his thigh. Suddenly their mouths were only inches apart. Lips close enough, she was breathing his air. “Ryan.”

  “I’m not going to walk away again,” he said.

  Worked for her. “Good.”

  She closed the final distance.

  Unlike earlier in the afternoon, the kiss started slow and stayed that way. A treat for all her senses, it included Ryan’s scent sliding into her, setting her nerves tingling. A deliberate taste this time—and one to be savoured.

  His tongue teased the seam of her lips, and she opened. Tiny dips of his tongue through her lips followed, as if he were sipping expensive liquor and didn’t want to waste it or rush the experience.

  Under her fingers, his thigh had gone rigid. She allowed herself to touch. Caress. She let her hand drift higher, sliding over his hip as she settled just that little bit closer.

  He groaned, and the sound sent a shiver through her. She was aching, the soft flutter low in her belly becoming a consistent drumbeat.

  As good as this was, Madison was still aware of where they were. Of how much they still needed to say to each other, no matter how right kissing Ryan was.

  She slid her other hand up to his chest, just enough pressure to break the contact between their lips.

  His pupils were huge as he stared over her face. “We need to talk, right?”

  She nodded, amusement slipping in. “And this shouldn’t happen here. Talia.”

  From his quick change of expression, Ryan had absolutely forgotten the possibility of his daughter walking in on them. Which said something amazing about exactly how into the kiss he’d been, but still—no.

  He sat back, fingers tangling with hers as he rested them in his lap. “I realized something on the drive to pick up Talia. I think the two of us are both looking for something. I’ll stop if you want me to, but I hope you don’t.”

  Straight-up facts were necessary. “I want you,” Madison confessed.

  He closed his eyes, that shiver racing over him again. “Fuck.”

  “That’s blunt.” Madison let her fingers drift over his. Circling the back of his hand with her fingertips. Up his forearm. Those sexy, muscular arms that she been ogling the other day. The day before.

  And a whole lot of days before that as well, if she were honest.

  Ryan leaned in and brushed his cheek against hers. Pulled back in a scruff-roughened caress then kissed her again, still soft and gentle. “I want you. Not just because I’m craving a touch, because I want to touch you. I want to put a smile on your face, Maddy. I want my fingers on your skin, to tease and stroke until you feel light-headed and are swimming in pleasure. I want to taste you until you’re so satisfied, you walk out of my house with an even bigger smile on your face than usual.”

  “Not a bad offer, hotshot.” Madison glanced toward the hallway to where the bedrooms were. “But, careful.”

  “Yes. We’ll be careful,” he promised.

  They were on their feet, fingers still meshed. When Ryan would’ve led her into her bedroom, she tilted her head toward his room.

  They were inside, the door closed and locked behind them, before Ryan turned toward her, a wry smile on his face. “Can I say again how glad I am that you’ve ordered me a bigger bed?”

  Her lips twitched. “Gee, assumption much?”

  She covered her mouth to stop the squeal that nearly escaped as he picked her up and carried her toward his twin bed. Amusement danced in his eyes. “No assumptions about how far or how fast, but I said I was going to make you feel good. I can do that on this mattress, no problem.”

  “Let’s hit the shower, instead,” Madison suggested. She had an ulterior motive. Getting to see Ryan in all his naked glory wasn’t something she wanted to delay gratification on.

  He willingly changed directions, taking them into the bathroom. Reaching in to turn on the water in the shower before joining her beside the double-sink vanity.

  When Madison would’ve stripped away her layers, Ryan caught her by the wrists. “My job. I like unwrapping presents.”

  “Good to know.” The words came out a little breathless because he’d already closed the distance between them and slid his hands beneath her T-shirt. Warm palms inched up her back.

  Madison couldn’t help it. She closed her eyes and savoured the sensation. His mouth was back on hers, kissing softly, nipping at her lower lip before sucking gently. The entire time, his hands moved over her body. He undid her bra then reached down and caught hold of the fabric of her shirt before slowly peeling it over her head.

  Her undone bra flopped awkwardly once the T-shirt was gone, the neon-yellow cups and straps hanging over her skin but no longer lined up to support or hide any boob-like features.

  “Sweet hell. Bright things? I thought we were talking about your socks, Mad, not your underwear.” Ryan’s smile faded slightly as he stripped away the bra, and his fingers lingered over the faint purple and green marks on her body. “Do they still hurt?”

  “Terribly,” she lied. When his gaze snapped up to hers, she stuck out her bottom lip just the slightest bit. “You should kiss them all better.”

  He didn’t need any further encouragement. And now she was regretting the whole suggestion of shower time, because it meant she had to use muscles to remain vertical as he put his mouth on her.

  He pressed kisses along her collarbone, gently caressing his fingers over her breasts. The expression on his face—

  Priceless.

  “I always knew my best friend had breasts, but I had no idea they were this sweet.” Ryan stroked his thumbs against the sensitive underside, and goose bumps rose. Any remaining cold vanished as he leaned in and licked her skin. Teasing and touching and taking his time in endless circles before reaching the peak where she wanted him. Needed him.

  Madison caught hold of his T-shirt, jerking it out of his jeans. Desperate to get him equally naked.

  He must’ve sensed her frustration was no longer the fun type, because he stopped what he was doing for long enough to reach up over his head, grab his shirt, and jerk it forward. She caught the barest flash of a beautiful set of six-pack muscles before he reached for her. Sliding
his thumbs under the elastic of her yoga pants, he pushed them down over her hips, pausing with his palms cradling her butt for a brief moment.

  Slow was overrated. Madison undid his button and zipper, shoving at his jeans and underwear. Somehow, between the two of them, the clothing was in a pile on the floor and Ryan had pulled her into the steamy shower.

  It was big enough so they could stand apart and enjoy the view. The steam grew thicker, but she could still see enough to take in his trim hips and muscular legs. The way the water droplets flying off her body clung to him, turning his forearms into glistening masterpieces.

  Ryan stepped in and pulled her against him before she was done admiring. Instead of her eyes, she used her hands. Stroking down his sides, teasing the Adonis muscles as they guided her down toward his rigid cock now pressed against her hip.

  Their lips were back in contact, the kisses growing needier. It wasn’t awkward, no matter how wet and even rough he got as they both began to lose control. Ryan tweaked her nipple then rapidly slid his hand down the side of her body until he cupped her possessively. Madison gasped as he pulsed his fingertips against her folds, slipping easily inside her wetness as her body welcomed him in.

  One slightly adjusted stance, and they were both able to reach. Both able to tease—to take and give what they wanted.

  Madison curled her fingers around his length, gentle as she explored, sliding the slick skin over his hard length. Ryan’s head fell back, and he breathed out, a long, low sound that said finally as clearly as if he’d used words.

  Madison tightened her fingers, sliding with the help of the water over him. Taking him up, teasing as she adjusted pressure.

  She gasped as he got his concentration back enough to slide two fingers carefully into her, the heel of his palm centered over her clit.

  He kissed her briefly, smiling. “I’ve got about five seconds left once you kick into gear. So first, let me play.”

  “Gentleman to the core,” Madison said.

  That grin flashed, and then he was on his knees, and it wasn’t his palm on her clit, but his tongue. Fingers stroking inside her as if he planned to be there all day.