by A Western Family Christmas Christmas Eve; Season of Bounty; Cowboy Scrooge
Gabe heard the pain in her voice, watched as her gaze fell on the baby, and wished that the love and yearning he saw reflected there had also been for him.
He hadn’t touched her again, not physically anyway. But he’d reached out to Eve emotionally, offering support and encouragement during this difficult time.
He loved her. It was clear to him now. He thought he’d probably fallen in love with her that first day she’d slammed the door in his face. But, of course, he hadn’t been wise enough to know that then.
Gabe knew he would never give up his search for Robby, but he also knew that it was time to put the past behind him and begin again. With Eve, with the baby they’d been given, and with a new chance for happiness and happily ever after.
His life would never be complete without Eve. He wanted to marry her, to make a family with her and Noelle. But would he be able to convince her of that? Would he be able to overcome her self-doubt, her fear of this curse she’d blown all out of proportion? Marriage wasn’t something she was eager to enter into, and she’d already made that perfectly clear.
Despite all that, he had to try. “Eve, I—”
She turned to face him, her face blushed pink from the heat of the fire. “I’ve decided that you don’t have to leave before Christmas Eve, Gabe. I…I want you to stay.” For however long you want, she wanted to add but was too afraid to say the words. Gabe was content to play nursemaid and companion for the moment, but he’d never indicated anything beyond that.
Setting the baby carefully on the sofa, Gabe rose to his feet and pulled Eve to hers, wrapping his arms about her. “You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say that, sweetheart,” he whispered, brushing her lips. “I know I’m not supposed to kiss or touch you, but I want to hold you in my arms. Will you let me?”
Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she nodded, resting her head against his chest and listening to the steady beating of his heart.
Steady. That’s what Gabe was. Steady, kind and dependable. He was all those things. And she loved him more than she had ever hoped to love anyone again.
Take a risk, he had told her. Well, she had decided to take his advice. Tonight, after they put Noelle to bed, she would go to his room and offer herself to Gabe.
It would be her gift to him. A Christmas gift, like no other she had ever given.
Chapter Eight
Dressed in the rose silk nightgown she had purchased as part of her trousseau to wear on her wedding night with Daniel, Eve stared at her reflection in the long cheval mirror, and her heart started beating triple time. With her hair down and curling riotously around her shoulders, flushed cheeks, and her nipples poking through the fabric of the thin gown, she looked like a wanton woman.
“You can do this, Eve,” she told herself as she felt herself starting to weaken. “Don’t chicken out.” Taking several deep breaths to calm herself, she walked to the door, said a silent prayer that Gabe wasn’t going to laugh out loud when he saw her, then exited her bedroom, making her way down the darkened hall toward his.
Her hand was sweating as she reached for the brass knob and turned it. She opened the door to find him shirtless and standing at the washbasin. The sight of his corded muscles and smooth skin left her breathless and more certain than ever that she was doing the right thing.
Gabe turned at the sound of the door closing, and his eyes widened in surprise. “Eve? Is something wrong? Is it Noelle?”
She shook her head and went to him. “The baby’s fine and sleeping soundly.”
Tossing the towel aside, he held out his hand. The erotic smile he wore said more plainly than words that he knew exactly why she had come. “You look beautiful, Eve, just like I’d imagined.”
“I’m nervous. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Don’t be. You’ve made me very happy.” Drawing her into his arms, he kissed her passionately. It was a kiss from the heart, deep and warm, and Eve knew in that moment that she had made the right decision. If she never had another moment of love and happiness, she would have this one to remember.
Wrapping her arms about his neck, she pressed into him, and, tentatively at first, then more aggressively, slid her tongue into his mouth. He moaned, then deepened the kiss, his hands moving down her back, her buttocks, then back up again to fondle her aching breasts. “You have such perfect breasts,” he told her, guiding her toward the bed. “They fill a man’s hands just right.”
Her cheeks flushed at the compliment. No one had ever said such things to her before. “If you keep up with that kind of talk, you’ll embarrass me.”
“Why? I think you’re beautiful, Eve. I want to see all of you, cherish your body, as I do your mind and heart.”
His words soothed and comforted, and she didn’t protest when he lifted her gown up over her head and tossed it aside. The bedside lamp burned brightly, illuminating the room and the desire and longing on his face. “You’re exquisite.”
She sucked in her breath, trying to stem her nervousness. “Take off your clothes. I want to see all of you, as well.”
With a rakish grin, he removed his pants and underwear until he was as gloriously naked as she, then joined her on the mattress. The aging bed springs creaked as he settled himself beside her.
Eve felt brazen, for she couldn’t resist touching him, exploring his muscular chest and the fine hairs matted there. “I’ve never seen a man naked before,” she admitted shyly, her gaze falling on the thick, long member that jutted out from the dark nest of curly hairs. Her eyes grew round as saucers, and she gasped as it grew even larger. “I had no idea.”
Swallowing his smile, Gabe took her hand and placed it on him. “It’s not usually that big. This is what happens when a man gets excited and wants to be inside a woman.”
She squeezed him gently, then pulled back when Gabe moaned. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
“Not exactly, though you are torturing me. Much more of that and this’ll be over before it’s started.”
“Oh.”
He leaned on one hand, then took the other and, with his forefinger made slow, circular motions around each of her nipples, which tightened instantly. Bending his head, he kissed each one, and she moaned. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first moment I laid eyes on you. I’ve undressed you with my eyes a thousand times.”
Her nipples felt like two pieces of hard candy, and Eve sucked in her breath as he moved slowly down her body, placing kisses on the underside of her breasts, her stomach, her abdomen, then gently forcing her legs apart. Realizing his intent, she panicked. “Please, don’t!”
“Shh. It’ll be all right. I want to see all of you. Taste all of you. Trust me.”
She shook her head, about to protest further, but his mouth had already found the center of her being, and the flicking motion of his tongue on her swollen bud rendered her speechless. Clutching the sheets, she writhed beneath the onslaught. With every stroke the tension built, and she felt herself winding like a corkscrew, tighter, ever tighter, until she burst free, spinning out of control and crying out in climax.
Gabe mounted her then, moving his hand between her thighs to make sure she was ready to receive him. He entered her slowly, allowing her to accommodate his size. “Are you all right?” he asked, kissing her gently.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’m more than all right. Don’t stop. Whatever you do, don’t stop.”
“This is going to hurt a little, but I’ll try to be gentle. Just try and relax. If you tense up, it’ll only make it worse.”
She bit her lower lip in anticipation as he eased in further, breaking through the barrier of her virginity with one hard thrust and swallowing her brief moment of pain with his mouth.
Once the initial discomfort was over, there was only pleasure. Eve reveled in the feel of Gabe deep inside her. She moved as he moved, thrusting her hips up to meet him, glorying in the way their bodies came together as one entity. She was his, now and forever.
Bac
k and forth, back and forth, he moved, drawing her again to that pinnacle of pleasure she’d reached once before. “Oh! Oh, Gabe,” she said, her breath coming more rapidly as his strokes intensified.
“Stay with me, sweetheart,” he urged, lifting her buttocks and sliding into her more fully.
With one last thrust, she cried out, and Gabe released into her, reaching his climax at the same moment.
Words of love teetered on the tips of their tongues, but neither was brave enough to say the words just yet.
Eve worried that Gabe would feel trapped if he knew that she loved him.
Gabe believed Eve wouldn’t want to make the commitment he wanted from her. And so they remained silent as they continued to make love long into the night and early morning hours.
The sound of a baby crying awakened them at dawn. Eve groaned in protest and rolled onto her side. Gabe pulled her to his chest, nuzzling her neck and ear.
“Mmm. Stop that,” she said. “I’m sleeping.”
“I think the baby’s up and wants to be fed. I’ll do it.”
She rolled toward him and kissed his chin. “I’ll go. You look exhausted.”
“Can you blame me? I haven’t had this much activity in years.” He wiggled his brows at her. “You’re a wanton woman, Eve Barlow.”
She laughed, then hearing the baby’s renewed cries, eased herself out of his embrace and searched for her gown, finding it at the foot of the bed. “Keep that thought. I”ll be right back.”
She crossed the hall and hurried into the nursery to find Noelle screaming at the top of her lungs. “Hush, baby, I’m coming. Are you hungry and wet?”
Eve peered into the crib to find that Noelle’s nose was running; her face looked redder than normal. Fear griped her like a vise, and she placed her hand on the baby’s forehead, crying out in alarm when she discovered how warm she felt. “Oh, no!”
“Gabe! Gabe, come quickly. Noelle has a fever.” This was all her fault. The baby was sick. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve. And history was repeating itself.
He rushed into the room, naked as the day he was born and not the least bit self-conscious about it. “What’s wrong?”
“Noelle’s burning up.”
He felt the child’s cheek and forehead. “She’s feverish all right. We’ll have to try and bring down the fever.”
“It’s the curse.” Eve sobbed into her hands. “I’ve killed her.”
Gabe’s voice grew stern. “Stop it, Eve! You’re not helping Noelle with your hysterics, and you’re certainly not helping me. Now go downstairs and fetch her bottle. We’ll try to get her to eat. While you’re doing that, I’ll change her clothing and diapers.”
Eve nodded silently and, with one last look of dismay, hurried down the stairs, crying all the while she poured milk into a pan and heated it on the stove.
“Please, God,” she prayed, “don’t let anything happen to Noelle. I love her so.” She sniffed several times, then wiped her nose on her forearm, wishing she’d had the foresight to don her robe.
Gabe looked up when she reentered the room a short time later. “I’ve given Noelle a sponge bath,” he told her. “Her fever seems to have lessened somewhat. I think she’s just got a cold. She’ll probably be feeling better later on.”
“But what if she’s not? What if she’s worse?” “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, Eve. No sense borrowing trouble when there isn’t any.”
They took turns tending the baby all day and into the evening. Gabe believed the child was getting better, and Eve clung to that belief like a lifeline as she prepared them something to eat for dinner.
“Is she better?” she asked, returning to the baby’s room and placing the tray of ham sandwiches and milk on the dresser. She felt too tired to eat, but she knew Gabe was hungry. His stomach had been growling in protest for hours.
He inclined his head, looking as exhausted as she felt. “I think she’ll be fine by morning,” he whispered. “Let’s go into the other room to eat, so we don’t disturb her.”
Eve followed Gabe into his bedroom. Her gaze fell on the rumpled sheets, the reddish stain, and she blushed clear down to her toes, remembering what they’d done there so recently. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think to make the bed.”
He laughed. “Only you would think of something like that, Miss Barlow,” he said, kissing her cheek.
She smiled ruefully. “It’s the housekeeper in me, I guess.”
“Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. Are you going to be all right with that?” It was her birthday, and he intended to surprise her, though he knew she’d probably throw a fit when she discovered exactly what that surprise was going to be.
“I’ll be fine.”
“I’m going to run a few errands in the morning, but I won’t be gone long.”
“But what about Noelle?”
“The baby will be fine. She’ll have you to look after her.”
Eve knew a moment of panic, then she breathed deeply and smiled. “We’ll be fine. If she’s up to it, I’ll teach her how to make cookies. I know you’ll be expecting them.”
Gabe grinned. “You surely do know the way to a man’s heart, ma’am.” He winked at her. “And I wasn’t talking about your cooking.”
The following Christmas Eve morning, Gabe left to run his errands after breakfast, while Eve busied herself in the kitchen. He had brought Noelle’s cradle down and set it before the fireplace. Her fever had disappeared, and she had eaten, played a bit with Eve’s hair, which she found absolutely fascinating, and then had fallen back to sleep.
Eve was seated at the kitchen table, frosting and decorating another batch of gingerbread cookies when she heard the front door open.
“Don’t come in here just yet. I don’t want you to spoil your birthday surprise,” Gabe called out.
Gabe had gotten her a birthday present! Eve felt warm and tingly inside. She didn’t celebrate her birthday anymore, and wouldn’t have even remembered it, if not for his reminder, and the annual Christmas curse.
“Don’t wake Noelle,” she cautioned. “I just got her to sleep a short while ago.”
Consumed with curiosity when she heard a great deal of sawing, banging, doors opening and closing, and Gabe’s more colorful curses, Eve tried to take her mind off whatever it was he was doing by continuing her baking. In addition to four different kinds of cookies, she had made cranberry nut bread and eggnog.
Though she wasn’t planning to do any celebrating of the holiday, she knew it wouldn’t be fair to deprive Gabe of the pleasure. He wasn’t the one cursed, after all. And he had made her deliriously happy, so she felt it was the least she could do. That’s what she told herself, anyway.
Two hours later, Gabe came into the kitchen, looking quite pleased. “Are you ready to see your birthday present?”
She licked the frosting off her fingers, and his eyes darkened. “Well, I admit to being curious. You’ve made quite a racket this morning, and I’ve been imagining all sorts of things.”
He drew her into his arms and kissed her soundly. “Mmm. You’ve been sampling the gingerbread cookies, I see. Not fair.”
“Just one.”
He looked a bit uneasy, then said, “Now promise you won’t get mad or anything.”
Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Why would
I get mad? I haven’t had a birthday present in years. I’m looking forward to opening it, if you want to know the truth.” And she was, which surprised her.
“Well, it’s not that kind of gift,” he said, tunneling impatient fingers through his hair. “I mean, you don’t have to open it.”
Her brows drew together. “I—”
“Shut your eyes,” he interrupted, and she did as instructed. Clasping her hand, he drew her forward. “We’re going into the parlor. I’ll guide you. Now don’t peek. Promise?”
She felt all of ten years old, giddy and unbelievably happy. “I promise.”
When they reached the front room, Eve inhaled deeply, and t
he familiar fragrance of fir greeted her nostrils. She grew instantly suspicious.
“Okay, you can open them now.”
Eve’s jaw unhinged as she gaped at the tall, majestic fir tree standing in front of the window. It had been decorated from top to bottom with the lovely red and silver ornaments from Mr. Purdy’s store, and at the top rested a shiny silver star. Popcorn and cranberry strands adorned the circumference, and several presents were scattered beneath. “How on earth did you do all this?” she asked finally, unable to believe what was right before her.
“Do you like it? You’re not mad, are you?”
She hugged herself and tears of joy filled her eyes. “It’s so beautiful!” Her gaze moved from the tree to Gabe. “Thank you. I love it. I—” She covered her face with her hands and started to cry in earnest.
Gabe went into panic mode. “Now, sweetie, don’t cry. I can take it down, if you don’t—”
“Don’t you dare, Gabriel Tyler! I’m just overcome with emotion. No one’s ever given me such a nice birthday gift.”
“Well, it’s no wonder. Poor Mr. Purdy was nervous as heck about selling me those ornaments. But I convinced him that you were ready to start letting Christmas back into your heart and soul again. When he heard the news, he let loose with a whoop, then he and his wife offered to string the popcorn and cranberry garlands, and they wrapped the gifts I purchased for you and Noelle.”
“But the weather, the snow…”
“You think Saint Nicholas is going to let a little thing like snow slow him down. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
He pulled her forward to sit beside him at the base of the tree. “I have something else for you, Eve. I hope you like it.”
“But you’ve given me more than enough, Gabe, and I have nothing for you in return.”
“I thought you made me cookies,” he reminded her.
“Well, there’s that. But I don’t have a proper gift.”
He grinned lasciviously. “I’m sure I can come up with something suitable for you to give me later. You might have to get naked first, but—”