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

by Arend, Vivian

  “You would make a wonderful cat,” Yvette assured her.

  The topic changed to the upcoming weather and other possibilities for getting together while Madison was still in town. She didn’t mention anything about possibly extending her stay.

  Until she and Ryan had talked about it, she wasn’t going to.

  No pressure on him, no pressure on anyone. No matter that she felt it was right. Not just her and Ryan, but these women, this time. The fresh air and the blue sky and the old reliable horse happily swaying under her as they rode through the brisk December air.

  13

  It seemed to take forever for Talia to settle down for bed on Monday night. She’d been vibrating from excitement after Charity had confirmed the Not-So-Nutcracker performance in two weeks’ time.

  Once his little girl had finally said good night, Ryan and Madison started in the kitchen.

  He pulled her into his arms, holding her first, just needing that one-on-one adult body contact. Kissing came next, and he wasn’t about to rush it, because even in the short time they’d had, he discovered kissing Madison was one of his favourite things.

  She had a way of placing her body so she leaned against him. Not as if trying to entice them to go faster, push further. Just wanting contact points, as many of them as possible, while their lips explored.

  Her soft breasts against his body, thumbs tucked into the waistband of his jeans. Trusting him to keep her from falling flat on her face—which was a pretty big act of trust, considering there were moments his legs weren’t too damn steady. And they were only kissing.

  The squeak of a door—Talia’s room—made them jerk apart and try to act innocent as his daughter came and got a glass of water.

  The time ten minutes after that was because she needed to cuddle.

  The third time Talia interrupted them, Madison was clearly fighting hard not to laugh. “Come on, kiddo. I’ll tuck you in one final time and tell you a story about my brothers and the time they decided to keep pet rocks.”

  Ryan took himself off to bed rather than try and tempt fate again.

  Tuesday night he’d been on the first of his twelve-hour night shifts. Madison showed up around eight o’clock.

  She waved at the other volunteers before joining Ryan where he sat in the common room reading a book. She settled next to him, thigh making contact, but not so close that anyone would comment. “How goes it, Mr. Firefighter?”

  “Quiet so far.” Ryan glanced into the other part of the hall and back at Madison. Her deep-auburn hair hung over her shoulders, only the faintest indent where her winter toque had been. Her eyes sparkled, and she looked—

  Edible.

  “You coming here isn’t a good idea,” Ryan said softly. “Because all I can think of right now is hauling you into the shower room and stripping you down.”

  “Well, now.” Madison pressed fingers to her chest as if she were a virginal maiden aunt, expression mock shock. “And here I came to tell you that you’re the current top selection for our Not-So-Nutcracker rag doll—male.”

  He laughed, draped an arm around her shoulders, and pressed a friendly kiss to her cheek. “You are incredible.”

  He laughed even harder when he headed to the bunkhouse after she left and discovered somehow, before innocently waving goodbye, Maddy had snuck in and stuffed his pillow into the gaudy sweater then sat it on his bunk. A headless, holiday scarecrow he was now sworn to wear.

  Wednesday’s big adventure was the arrival of the bed Madison had ordered for him. Ryan would’ve been tempted to make use of it immediately. Having Madison in the house and not being able to touch her when and where and how he wanted was making him itch like he’d fallen into a vat of holly leaves.

  Of course, the delivery truck didn’t pull into his driveway until just before three p.m.

  Madison waved him off. “I’ve got this. You grab Talia, and once she’s home, this might all be organized.”

  Ryan leaned in, crowding Madison out of the way of the delivery men from Calgary who were bringing in headboards and box springs. If he happened to use his body to pin her in place for a moment, stealing a quick kiss, it was from the excitement of a brand-new household item.

  Although that didn’t explain him catching hold of her hands and using his hips to pin her to the wall. “I can’t wait to test it with you.”

  Madison’s eyes went huge. Good reaction.

  His daughter also approved, but mostly because she thought the bouncing potential was pretty amazing.

  Talia squealed. “So pretty, Daddy.”

  His daughter rushed forward and threw herself on the mattress, messing up the dark bedspread. Ryan followed slower, happiness welling up at the childish pleasure Talia got in sprawling on the huge surface.

  Madison had done a great job on a task he’d put off for too many years. The headboard was simple but a mix of dark and light wood that coordinated well with the other bits of furniture he had. The sheets were deep blue, the quilt shades of royal blues with touches of white and black, and the whole thing looked cozy and comfortable.

  He wanted to see her hair spread out over the sheets, auburn flashes against the dark. Her pale skin—

  He met her gaze, and a heat that matched his own shone in her eyes.

  Which made going to his second overnight shift that much harder. And of course, this would be the night they had to respond to three emergency callouts and, just before four a.m., a fire in the dumpster behind the downtown businesses.

  He was barely aware of Madison greeting him at the door with the promise to take care of Talia and get her to school.

  “Thanks.” He thought he’d said it. Thought he’d given his daughter a quick squeeze and a kiss goodbye.

  What he did remember was stumbling to the bathroom.

  A quick hot shower removed the scent of smoke, but Ryan needed his rest this morning. He got boxers on before crawling under the covers, then his head hit the pillow, and with a sigh, he closed his eyes.

  In five seconds—maybe sooner—it registered. The sheets smelled like Maddy. The citrus body cream she used. Her not-quite-but-almost floral shampoo.

  She slept in my bed last night.

  He was hard before the thought fully took root.

  With a groan, he rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling. The position left him extended fully without his feet hanging over the end of the mattress or hands hitting the side wall because of the narrow width. Comfortable everywhere except for his cock.

  The realization was faintly amusing.

  Damn woman was mischief to her core. He’d have to find a way to get revenge.

  But exhaustion won out, even over nerves that were fired up and eager to tease Madison in all the erotic ways he could come up with. He fell asleep with dirty plans drifting in his brain.

  Woke to the sensation of the mattress dipping just slightly beside him.

  The grogginess in his brain vanished instantly as a cool feminine body pressed against his side. A hand slid over his chest, fingers spread wide, and then Madison was leaning against him and kissing his neck.

  Lips and teeth drifted along his jawline until she closed in on his mouth and kissed him.

  Not fully awake, his hands still knew what to do. As their mouths connected and his tongue dipped between her lips, Ryan rolled toward her and slid a hand over her hip.

  Found bare skin.

  His heart rate was no longer sedate and leisurely. “You naked?”

  “Maybe,” she whispered.

  How was that even a maybe type question? Ryan chose to explore rather than chastise her. His search was answered quickly and thoroughly when he kept moving, his body coming to rest between her thighs.

  He pushed up on his elbows and stared down. Madison was pink cheeked, and the flush was the only thing she wore.

  Her breasts rocked with each deep inhale, their red-tipped peaks begging for him to use his mouth. Her skin glowed softly, temptingly, all the way down to the red-tinted c
urls covering her mound.

  Madison opened her legs a little wider, and he settled in firmer, his cock pressed to her hot core. He rocked his hips slightly, and the heat and welcoming moisture made him shake in anticipation.

  “I’m really regretting my boxers right now,” Ryan whispered before looking up to meet her eyes. “No jokes, though. Do you want this?”

  “I want you.” She said it simply. Honesty in the words, coupled with the fact she lifted a condom in the air, made Ryan’s heart pump hard and fast.

  Then he took her, slowly. So slowly, he had to have used all his goodness for the entire year in that one shot.

  Kisses for her lips as Madison stroked her fingers over his shoulders and threaded them through his hair over and over again.

  Kisses down her body, pausing to taste and enjoy her breasts until she arched under him, nails digging into where she clutched his biceps.

  Kisses over her belly, dipping his tongue briefly into the shallow hollow before using his teeth on the skin over her hip bone. His hands cradled her ass, the skin against his fingers begging for him to stroke there as well until she quivered.

  But even more tempting was brushing his lips along the inside of her thigh. Kissing, nipping, drawing a sharp gasp from her as he licked his way back up to her center.

  He used his thumbs and opened her. “Merry Christmas to me,” he muttered before pressing the softest kiss possible to the most sensitive part of her.

  “Ryan.” She said his name like a warning, like a request. Feet planted against the brand-new mattress, she lifted her hips and chased his mouth. Reached down and tangled her fingers in his hair to tug him back to where she wanted him.

  It was too easy to smile. In spite of the aching hardness in his cock that still needed to be addressed, this was fun and playful and exactly what he expected from a romp in bed with his best friend.

  He slipped a finger in and out. Added a second, licking more firmly over her clit as he moved slowly inside her. When he curled his fingers slightly, her answering moan told him he’d hit the jackpot.

  Ryan eased up just enough to meet her eyes. “Want to come before, during, or after I’m inside you?”

  “Don’t stop.” Her face twisted with pleasure as he pressed in again, skimming his thumb over her clit.

  Before it was. Fine by him. He was going to be sorely pressed to last longer than a minute, all things considered.

  He went back to using his mouth, taking in her taste and the moans slipping from her lips. They were more delicious than the sweet ambrosia she’d made for the fire hall potluck because she was here, in his bed. Body tightening around his fingers as she gasped his name.

  It had been years, so he was impressed by how fast he got the condom on. An instant later he was back between her thighs, the head of his cock lined up with her heat.

  He lifted up, met her eyes, and pushed home.

  “Yes.” She breathed it out, then her face contorted. Before he could worry, though, she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his hips. “Still coming.”

  The words were tight, pleasure filled.

  Ryan didn’t really need the update. The pressure enveloping him would’ve been sweet no matter what, but with those muscles quivering around him, he guessed that his under a minute estimate had just been cut in half. He pulled back and thrust forward.

  She dug her heels into his ass and drove him deeper. Okay, now he had seconds left.

  He mashed their fingers together, pressing her hands to the bed on either side of her head. Stared into her eyes as he thrust in, and again, before the next one broke him. He locked them together, grinding his hips against her to add pressure to her clit because she was still squeezing. Still gasping as her first orgasm, or a new one, rolled on.

  His brain poured out of him in a rush of pleasure.

  Somehow, when it was over, he collapsed beside her and not on top. And then he laughed when she shoved him to his back and muttered something about keeping the sheets clean.

  The sensation started deep inside. He glanced over as Madison cracked open one eye. She lay beside him, both of them still panting, both of them, he assumed, still reeling from the aftereffects of one hell of an awesome ride.

  His ears rang.

  He felt fantastic.

  “I think that was a very thorough christening of your new mattress.” Madison got the words out although it took her a few breaths.

  Ryan leaned in and kissed her slowly, gently, and with a whole lot of heart. Then he whispered, “That was a good start. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

  * * *

  By Monday, Madison could honestly say Ryan’s mattress was just the perfect amount of firmness and exactly the right amount of softness.

  They’d been on it pretty much every opportunity they had, especially over the weekend while Talia had been at her grandparents’. Madison was sore from so much activity after a drought, but every twinge of discomfort was totally worth it.

  Sex with Ryan was fun and physically satisfying. But the part that made Madison quiver was the fact he’d started touching her outside of the bedroom. Always careful to make sure Talia wasn’t around, or any too-observant public witnesses, Ryan nevertheless stood close. Pressed a hand to her lower back. Brushed his fingers along her arm, and always before kissing her, slid a hand over her cheek, his eyes sparkling as if utterly delighted to discover her there.

  To know that they had their years of friendship with something new added on—

  It was a magic Madison hadn’t expected.

  She and Ryan still hadn’t discussed where all this was going and what changes she was willing to make to her plans so they could try being together. But there was enough currently on their plates, including needing to figure out Talia’s birthday party dilemma, without adding more to today.

  Madison figured there was enough time between Christmas and New Year’s for the more serious conversation about dating and the future.

  A tap on her fingers brought her back to the present. Which was seated at Buns and Roses with Yvette beside her, preparing the final cast list for the Not-So-Nutcracker event.

  “You’re daydreaming,” Yvette teased.

  No use in denying it. “Sorry. Ready to do the final check?”

  “Let’s do it.”

  Rose had sat with them earlier, double-checking the documents against the online records of monies from the donations, and other than a couple of small mix-ups, everything had balanced. Then she’d had customers at the knickknack and flower half of the shop she’d had to tend to, leaving Yvette and Madison to finish the rest of the task.

  The cast list was easy to deal with, and then Madison made Yvette go over the script she jotted down one final time. Between the two of them, they had the very basic, very amateur but very fun event in place before lunch.

  Madison sent off the emails while Yvette called the woman Josiah had suggested they ask to be narrator. And then they had a celebratory cinnamon bun to congratulate themselves on a job well done.

  Yvette’s eyes held laughter. “So. Any suggestions on how cats dance? For when I’m choreographing my routine?”

  “No suggestions, other than I am very interested in seeing what you come up with.” As well as Sonora, another cat.

  The older woman had gotten her wish. Which seemed somewhat coincidental—

  If Madison wanted, she could go through and figure out exactly who had voted for what. But if Sonora wanted to make a big enough donation to ensure that she got to participate the way she wanted, who was Madison to complain?

  “I suppose,” Yvette agreed. “You’re going to be busy enough with Ryan.”

  For a second, Madison thought Yvette was talking about the wild monkey sex they were having until she realized Yvette was referring to their roles in the community event.

  They were playing the rag doll boy and girl magically brought to life as a part of the story.

  “Josiah’s idea, and it was a good one,” M
adison admitted. “Since I’m kind of the one running the show, having me onstage most of the time means I’m the one who has to improvise if somebody forgets what they’re supposed to do.”

  “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Yvette said. Her smile turned evil. “And I can hardly wait to see Alex. I do hope he doesn’t get stage fright.”

  Madison laughed. “So, you’re the reason he’s a dog.”

  Yvette put a pretend key to her lips, turned it, then threw it away.

  Once they were done at the coffee shop, Madison swung by the fire hall.

  She was greeted by a chorus of cheers from the volunteers as she paced past in search of Ryan. First, the usual comments, because she was once again wearing the ugly sweater—Ryan had stuck it in the washing machine, and she’d discovered it when she was about to throw in a load.

  Next came approval for the email everyone had obviously already opened.

  “Good job.”

  “Is it typecasting to call Mack a rat?” someone asked.

  Charity hit the commenter with the back of her hand then grinned as she pointed back toward where the fire engine was parked. “Ryan and Mack are over there.”

  They both stopped what they were doing the instant she walked into view. Ryan wore his slightly amused I can’t believe you did this face.

  Mack shook his head. “Really? The Rat King?”

  She held her hands in the air innocently. “Your loving public has spoken.”

  “Your loving wife is going to beat your ass on the stage,” Ryan added.

  “At least practicing will be fun,” Mack pointed out. “Plus, I am at least a threatening rodent. You, on the other hand, are a doll.”

  “Awww, I love you, too,” Ryan said before turning to Madison. “I suppose this means we need to plan a practice.”

  “We have time,” she promised. “Today I thought I’d put together our costumes, if you’re okay with that.”

  He waved a hand then paused, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his wallet. “Here.”