by Bianca D'Arc
When it came time to prepare Thanksgiving dinner the next day, Maggie helped as much as she could. The men had disappeared somewhere and she had the boys with her in their carrier as they worked in the kitchen. Maggie made green bean casserole and a few other side dishes while Marissa took care of the really hard stuff. They chatted and talked about old times, holidays past and what Maggie could expect as the boys grew.
It was the kind of talk Maggie missed. Her own mother had been gone for years now, but she still missed her every day. Marissa’s presence helped fill that void a little. She was a part of Maggie and Rocky’s shared past that brought back only the best memories of childhood and her teenage years. Maggie also trusted Marissa implicitly. She was a good person, with high moral values and a kind heart. She’d be a terrific grandmother to the boys as they grew.
“We’re lucky we’ve had a warm autumn,” Marissa observed. “We can work in all kinds of weather, of course, but things are always easier when you don’t have three feet of snow to contend with.” They both laughed.
“I guess it gets pretty snowy up here,” Maggie observed looking out the window. It was already dark.
“The henge of stones at the top of the hill radiates magical energy downward that probably protects this area from the worst of the weather. But shifters tend to like the cold. Our bodies run hot naturally and the fur coat can get a little too warm in the heat of the summer.”
Maggie kept forgetting that all the Garibaldis were grizzlies. Even petite Marissa. She hadn’t seen anyone actually shift form except Tony, but that had been enough to impress her. She wasn’t sure she wanted to encounter even sweet Mrs. Garibaldi when she was in her fur coat, as she put it.
Maggie was saved from answering because they heard the men stomp in the front door just then. She set the table while Marissa set out the platters of steaming meat and side dishes. Rocky and his dad appeared a few minutes later, still dusted with a fine layer of snow in their hair.
“Snow flurries are getting thicker. Might have an inch or two by morning,” Joe reported as he swooped down to kiss his wife’s cheek.
“Where’ve you been?” Maggie asked, curious.
The men shared a secretive smile before Rocky answered her question. “Just getting some fresh air.” He pulled out her chair at the table and moved the boys in their carrier to a small table within reach. They’d decided to eat in the expanded kitchen as a way of christening the addition to the house. They’d added a leaf to Rocky’s big table so that it straddled the wide opening that led to the new part of the house.
Rocky sat next to Maggie and his parents took their places opposite, the table nearly groaning under the weight of the platters of food Marissa had insisted they needed. Maggie knew by now that shifters ate a lot, but she doubted three of them plus her could even make a dent in the feast they’d set out.
Joe reached out and took one of Maggie’s hands. Rocky took the other and Marissa completed the circle before Joe spoke.
“The holiday season that begins today is a special time for the world. We celebrate the birth of hope, the Mother’s blessing on Her people. This year, we also celebrate new additions to our family. We welcome them and love them for the hope they bring to us.” Maggie felt a tear in her eye as Joseph’s words struck true. He winked at her and she gave him a teary smile. “May we all continue to live in peace with nature, in harmony with our spirits and in safety from our enemies.”
As blessings went, it was a beautiful one, if a little strange. Maggie hadn’t known Rocky’s father could be so eloquent. He’s always been a man of few words around Maggie when she was a girl, but she was learning so much more about Joe Garibaldi now. He was the rock upon which his family leaned. His son would be the same for her sons, she had no doubt.
Dinner brought back good memories of the holidays she’d spent with her mom and dad and then later with Tony and his parents. The Garibaldis had many of the same traditions and included her in them naturally—from playing tug-o-war with the turkey’s wishbone to the luscious mince pie served for dessert.
Maggie enjoyed herself immensely and the boys provided entertainment by shifting to grizzly form halfway through the meal and wriggling around until they’d freed themselves of their diapers. Maggie had to repair the damage as soon as they changed back to human form, grateful there hadn’t been any accidents while they were uncovered.
Joe was grinning from ear to ear when she turned back to the table.
“They held their shift longer this time,” he said directly to Rocky. From the expression on his face, Maggie assumed that meant something good.
“Longer each time, from what I’ve seen,” Rocky agreed, also grinning. “And no issues changing back. They’ll really be something when they get a little older.”
Joe gave her a challenging look. “Do you think little mama bear can handle it?”
She felt the teasing air in his words and didn’t take offense. “I think so. As long as they don’t start biting.”
Everyone laughed, as she’d hoped. They lingered over coffee and she was reluctant to see the evening end. But the men had a surprise in store. They ushered everyone into the living room and Maggie stopped on the threshold.
“A tree. You got us a tree.”
A gorgeous, seven foot pine tree stood on one side of the big room in front of the picture window. Several new boxes of lights sat on the chair that had been moved aside to make room for the tree. Rocky motioned her over and handed her one of the small boxes.
“Rafe got these in town when he went down for groceries. I don’t have many ornaments, but at least we’ll have lights.”
“It’s perfect.” She went up on tiptoe and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Rocky.”
Joe cleared his throat dramatically. “I helped too, you know. Don’t I get a kiss?”
Laughing, Maggie gave Rocky’s dad a big hug and a peck on the cheek. “Thank you both. This is the best present ever.” To her surprise, emotion clogged her throat for a moment, but she mastered it.
“Shall we trim the tree?” Rocky asked, smiling so kindly, she knew he understood how touched she was by his gesture.
“Oh, yes. Then we can sit in here with just the lights from the tree. I always used to love that when I was a kid.”
“I remember.” Rocky leaned in and kissed her cheek in a simple gesture of affection that almost brought all that emotion back to the surface.
“You two set up those lights. We’ll watch the fire and keep an eye on the boys.” Marissa said as she sat on the couch by the crackling fire her husband was tending.
The twins were deposited next to Marissa who fussed over them while Joe finished with the fire and sat back in an easy chair beside the couch. Rocky turned to Maggie and helped unwrap the new sets of fairy lights. Together they wound them around the tree. Rocky handled the highest branches, moving things around at Maggie’s direction as she stood back. Then she moved in to help with the lower branches that were within her reach.
They worked well together, and within about twenty minutes the tree was lit with twinkling multicolored lights that brought a smile to her face. In fact, she didn’t think she’d stopped grinning since walking into the room.
“This was so thoughtful of you, Rocky. Thanks.” She turned to him and looked up into his handsome face.
He moved closer and put his arm around her shoulders, standing with her to admire the work they’d accomplished on the tree. A quick peek at the older couple told her Joe was napping—or pretending to nap—and Marissa was fully engaged in admiring the babies. Maggie felt a pang in her heart for the people in her life who could have—should have—shared these moments but were now gone.
“This is my first Christmas without Tony,” she whispered, snuggling into Rocky’s protective embrace.
“I know. Mine too. Even if I didn’t see him, we talked on the phone every holiday. He made it a point to track me down around this time every year.” Rocky hugged her close and warmed her
with his comfort.
“I didn’t know that. I’m sorry, Rock. I wish I’d known about you all sooner. It hurts to think he didn’t trust me enough to tell me until it was almost too late.”
“He couldn’t take the chance that you’d reject him, Maggie. He loved you too much,” Rocky said quietly. The words touched her soul.
“I wouldn’t have rejected that side of him. It would have scared the crap out of me, but I like to think I would’ve accepted it even without the pressure of being in danger. I know I would have. Especially knowing that you and both sets of parents were shifters too. That calmed me down almost right away. I mean, I’ve known all of you for so long. My parents really liked your families. They were ecstatic when I got engaged to Tony. There was never anything weird or sinister about any of you. After the initial shock, those memories of your families comforted me.”
“You always were a reasonable child.” Marissa’s voice came to her from just a few feet away. Joe stood beside her.
“We’re turning in,” he announced. “It’s been a long day and I’m looking forward to sleeping on that new bed.”
Maggie smiled and went to him. “Thank you for the tree, Joe. Happy Thanksgiving.” She gave him a peck on the cheek.
She hugged Marissa, wishing her a good night as well, and the elder Garibaldis left them alone with only the boys as chaperones. Which is to say, alone, for all intents and purposes. One glance told her the boys were sound asleep.
Rocky saw his parents out and turned off the lights on the way back to her, leaving just the tree lit with a warm glow. She’d always thought the little lights gave off a magical blend of color that harmonized into a homey feeling.
“Shall we sit by the fire?” Rocky took her hand and led her toward the roaring blaze.
Instead of the couch, where the boys slept in their carrier, he sat on the floor and pulled her down beside him. They used the couch as a back support and sat on the thick, braided rug that fronted the fireplace.
Rocky put his arm around her and she snuggled into his side as the light from the fire and tree splashed over them. Both warmed her in different ways, as did the big man at her side. She felt more comfortable with him, yet on edge. The tension between them rose as the flames licked at the wood, his presence licking metaphorically at her insides, making her yearn for something she was afraid to reach for.
There’d been so much tragedy in her life lately. She was so afraid she’d brought more to Rocky’s home. She didn’t want to lose him. And she really didn’t want to be the reason he was in danger, but that couldn’t be avoided now. If the danger found her, it would find her with Rocky because she couldn’t leave him now.
“Have I told you how thankful I am that you took me in when I arrived unannounced on your doorstep?” She rested her head against his shoulder as they looked at the flames.
“I’d never turn you away, Maggie. Not ever.” The warmth in his voice made her shiver.
“But you could’ve been married with a family of your own. You should’ve been.” She drew back to look up into his eyes from close range. “Why didn’t you marry, Rocky?”
“The only woman I wanted was already taken.” Her breath caught at the look in his eyes. “I didn’t want to settle for second best. I figured I’d live my life alone. Seemed better than making some poor woman miserable simply because she could never be you.”
This time she did gasp. “Are you serious?”
“Darlin’, most shifters know their mate when they meet them. I was too young to really recognize it at the time, but the first time I saw you, I knew you were special. It was some time before I figured out you were my mate. For me there is no other woman but you, and there never will be.”
He didn’t give her a chance to respond as he lowered his head and locked his lips onto hers. But she didn’t mind. His admission was shocking…and thrilling at the same time. Maybe life did give second chances.
Rocky loved the feel of her in his arms. The warm fire in front of them, the soft glow of the fairy lights on the tree and the hot woman in his arms combined to make him feel almost lightheaded with wonder at the joy that had come out of tragedy. Maggie was in his arms, at last, and that erased all that had come before. At least for the moment.
“I want you so much, Maggie. Say yes. Let me make you mine.” He stopped his headlong rush with effort, knowing he had to give her a choice. He also had to say what was in his heart. She had to know all of it before she made her decision. “I’ve always loved you, Maggie mine. Always.”
“You have?” Her expression was so hopeful it touched him deep inside.
He nodded. “I love you, Maggie. I want you to be my mate, my wife. I’ve loved you since I was a teenager, but I never knew how to tell you.”
“God, Rocky,” she whispered. “I love you too.”
She reached over and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Rocky took her down to the soft, braided rug and rolled so that she was underneath him. She moaned in agreement, never letting go of him. She seemed as hungry for him as he was for her and had no fear of letting him know it. He loved that—and so many other things—about her.
But his Alpha side demanded submission. Slowly, he levered himself over her and pressed her downward. “Bare your neck to me, Maggie. Show me you’re mine.”
Chapter Eleven
The growl in his voice turned her on like she’d never been turned on before. Maggie looked up at him, reading the need for her in his gaze, the power of him evident in every line of his body. This was the man she’d loved most of her life finally claiming her. And this was a claiming…body and soul. She could feel it.
A little hesitantly, she bared her neck, stretching to the side while trying to hold his gaze. She saw him smile and noticed his teeth were sharper than human teeth were supposed to be. Rocky’s grizzly traits were a little more obvious than Tony’s had been. She jumped a bit, but this was Rocky. She knew in her heart he would never hurt her.
He growled low in his throat. The sound warmed her, sending spirals of warmth roiling through her body. Rocky’s head descended and he nuzzled her neck, scraping his teeth lightly over her skin. It should probably have hurt, but she felt nothing other than excitement and yearning.
“Rocky, please.” Her whispered plea seemed to energize him.
He lifted her top over her arms and did away with her bra in almost the same motion. She’d almost gotten used to him being around when she nursed the boys, but this was different. He knew what she looked like and how tender she was, but they’d never really crossed the line into all out passion. They’d flirted with the idea a few times, but they both knew this time he wouldn’t stop.
She wouldn’t stop him and she’d kill him if he tried to call a halt. No, this time they were going to see their mutual attraction through to the end. Rocky’s hands went to her pants, unbuttoning and unzipping her with little fuss. She helped him as he pushed the pants and panties down her legs and kicked them away.
Then he levered up enough so he could unzip his jeans. She worked on the buttons of his shirt, not wanting any cloth between them. She had it open only moments before he pushed his jeans down. He took a moment to put on a condom, which touched her deeply. He hadn’t needed to be asked. They hadn’t had to discuss anything. He knew what to do without being asked. The action spoke louder than words about his care for her.
He returned, sheathed, to rest his hard cock against her naked core. She was hot, wet and ready for him, and she wanted this like nothing she’d ever wanted before.
“It’s got to be fast this time, Mags. I’m sorry for that.” He nipped at her earlobe, his teeth sending shivers of delight down her spine. “But I promise I’ll make it up to you for the rest of our lives.”
“Do it now, Rocky. I can’t wait either.” She shivered in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, silently urging him to take her.
Never had she been so ready so fast. But she’d been waiting for Rocky for years. She’d wai
ted long enough.
He hesitated just one more moment more before pushing home, long enough to watch her expression as he moved inside her for the first time. The moment was filled with magic, frozen in time and filling both hearts with the joy of homecoming.
“I love you, Maggie.”
Rocky seemed to lose control then, pounding away at her body as if he would never get enough. He stroked inside her long and deep, fast and powerful, and she wanted it all.
“Rocky.” Her pleasure was uttered in a broken whisper as a tumultuous orgasm broke over her senses, but he just rode her through it, bringing her higher still. The second time she peaked, she gasped at the pleasure, sharp, intense and so amazing she didn’t know if she would ever come back to earth. But Rocky pushed her higher yet.
The third time she came, she raked her nails down his back, scratching him as he bit into the tendons where her neck met her shoulder, not breaking the skin, but placing his mark of ownership there for all to see. Maggie didn’t mind the small pain. In fact, it enhanced the experience, drawing a low moan of pleasure from her this time as Rocky came hard and fierce with her.
When the storm eased for them both, he rested his forehead against hers as he rolled them to their sides. His cock stayed semi-hard within her as if he didn’t want to leave now that he’d finally been granted access to her body.
“You’re amazing, Maggie mine, and I love you with all my heart.”
She stroked his slick skin gently, wrung out after the intense love making. “As I love you, Rock.”
They got up a few minutes later to clean up and check on the babies, but the boys were still fast asleep. Rocky joined her in the bedroom and made love to Maggie again, slower this time. He let her ride at first, then switched positions, taking her from behind while she moaned in pleasure. Maggie had never had so many orgasms in so short a time, but she wasn’t complaining. Her werebear lover was insatiable, and she loved everything about him.