by J. H. Croix
“Not a scratch.”
The space between them felt crowded with emotions. She was quiet again for a few beats. “With all that, I don’t even know if Hank found out anything new.”
“Me neither.” He glanced around and saw Hank talking with one of his deputies. He caught Hank’s eye and called out. “Do you want us to wait here, or would it be better if we met you back at the station?”
Hank said something to the deputy and strode over to them. “Catch us at the station in a little bit. We’ve got plenty to handle here for now that you can’t really help with.” His eyes flicked to Roxanne. “You feeling okay?”
“Just fine,” she replied quickly.
“Maybe you want to swing by the hospital for a quick check. I’m not so worried about the scratches you have, but do you even know what they drugged you with?”
Roxanne rolled her eyes. “Some kind of sedative. I don’t think it’s necessary to get checked out. I’ll…”
Max cut in. “I’ll take you. Hank’s right. Who knows what it was? Let’s just get a quick check.”
She looked between them and sighed. “Fine. It’s not worth fighting about. Hopefully Phoebe or Shana’s on duty, so they’ll make it quick.”
Roxanne climbed out of Max’s SUV behind the store and glanced up at the sky. It was still early afternoon. The sun was bright against the blue sky. Last night’s snowstorm had dumped over a foot of snow on Catamount, and the sun struck sparks off the melting drops on the trees. It was hard to believe only hours ago she’d been locked in that tiny bedroom at the Hogan’s. She started to approach the back door when she recalled she didn’t have her keys. What with Lee dragging her out in the darkness, she didn’t have anything with her. Max had insisted she wear his lined denim jacket. She savored the feeling of his scent surrounding her as they walked through the snow around to the front of the store.
When they stepped inside, Diane rounded the check out counter and enveloped her in a hug. Stepping back, her eyes coasted over Roxanne. “You have no idea how relieved I am to see you! I knew something was wrong when you weren’t upstairs this morning and the back door was unlocked.” Her eyes bounced between Roxanne and Max. “Thanks for calling me once you were on the way to the hospital,” she said to Max.
“No problem. I figured you might be worried,” he replied.
A customer approached the counter, and Diane stepped away. “Go get some rest. Becky called in reinforcements, so they don’t need you in the deli at all today.”
As they walked through the aisles and to the back hall, Max’s hand rested on her low back, the heat like a brand on her. The long, strange night and the flash of fear for his safety this morning when she saw Lee bolt toward Max had left Roxanne feeling raw. For so long, she’d prided herself on having a handle on her emotions. After she’d picked up the pieces after Max left, she’d honed her strength and control, relying on the qualities that kept her heart safe and sound behind walls. Now, that control had utterly deserted her. All she wanted was to find release for her pent up emotions, which were spinning wildly inside of her.
Neither of them spoke as they walked down the hall and up the stairs. When they stepped into the kitchen, she walked through to the living room and immediately knelt to start a fire in the polished granite fireplace. She didn’t know why, but she needed the warmth and comfort of a fire. Within moments, a fire was taking hold and she stood, turning to find Max just beside her with his elbow resting on the mantle. Sunlight fell in a slant through the tall windows, gilding his mahogany hair. His gaze caught hers, and she couldn’t look away.
He angled his head to the side. “How’ve I been doing on giving you space?” he asked.
Her throat tightened as she nodded. “You’ve been doing great. Too great, really.” A wash of fear rose within her, and she batted it away. She loved him. She had always loved him and either she allowed her fear to hold her back, or she let herself trust in what lay between them. She took a step closer and lifted her hand, bringing it to rest on his chest where she could feel his heart beating. “I didn’t mean to push you away,” she said, her voice cracking.
His eyes never broke from hers. He took a step closer and threaded his hand into her hair, cupping the side of her neck. “I did the same thing once upon a time. It took me fifteen years to make it back to you, so I figured if you needed some space, it was the least I could do. You’re it for me, so I need to know you’re here on your own terms, not mine.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. He brushed it away with his knuckle. She swallowed, barely able to contain the depth of emotion rising within her. “I’m here. I’m still scared, but if there’s one thing I learned this last week, it’s that knowing you’re near and not being with you makes me crazy. I missed you so much, and you were right here.” A sob escaped and he pulled her close, his embrace warm and strong and everything she needed. After a few moments, the taut emotion inside morphed into a desire. His hard, muscled body against hers was like a drug.
She leaned her head back to look up at him. His eyes canted down, heat and pure needed reflecting back at her. She lifted a hand and traced his lips. His breath came out in a hiss and his mouth crashed against hers. In seconds, she felt like she was on fire inside and out. A mere week without his touch and she was desperate. Clothes were yanked off in a rush between hot, drugging kisses. Roxanne found herself standing in front of Max where he was seated on the couch. The fire snapped and crackled behind her, chasing the chill out of the room and matching the heat between them.
His hands coasted down her sides, caressing the curve of her hips. Impatient, she stepped closer and rested a knee on the couch beside him. His arousal was blatant—his cock ready and waiting for her. All she wanted was to feel him inside of her. He slipped a hand between her thighs just as his mouth closed over a nipple. He bit down right when he stroked two fingers into her channel. She cried out, the subtle sting of his bite a balm to the need clawing inside of her. She was so wet she could hardly bear it. With his fingers sliding back and forth, she straddled him and shoved his hand out of the way. Curling her palm around his velvet length, she rose up and positioned him at her entrance. Another soft bite on her other nipple, and she lost focus, crying out. He pulled his mouth away.
“Roxy, look at me.”
When she dragged her eyes open, he tangled his hand in her hair and slowly shifted his hips. His other hand gripped her hip and eased her down onto him inch by inch. Held in his dark gaze, she trembled. With a subtle thrust, he filled her completely. They were still for several breaths, the air around them shimmering with desire. He slowly began to move, and she rolled her hips in tune with his. In a slow dance, held fast in his gaze, she tumbled into the incandescent connection between them. Every stroke brought her closer and closer to the edge. Pleasure coiled tighter and tighter inside until he stroked his thumb right where they joined. She flew apart, crying his name. A deep surge within, and he flew with her, his head falling back with a guttural cry.
She slowly drifted down, resting in his strong embrace. His hand eased in her hair and he idly sifted through it. She eventually opened her eyes. His head was resting against the back of the couch. He must’ve sensed her gaze and opened his eyes.
“Hey there,” he said softly.
A giggle burst out. “Hey.”
He smiled and then sobered. “I love you,” he said, the words grabbing her heart.
She blinked back tears. “I love you too. I’m so glad you’re home again.” She leaned forward and tucked her head into his shoulder, savoring his very presence.
Epilogue
Max opened his eyes and took a deep breath, savoring the feel of Roxy’s lush body curled up against him. It had been a busy week since Lee and Marshall had kidnapped Roxy in a failed attempt to use her as leverage to negotiate with the police. Every single night that had passed since then Roxy had been in his arms. Like him, she was an early riser due to years of waking early to start baking for the deli. At the momen
t, she was still asleep, her body soft and pliant. He was spooned behind her and slowly pushed up on an elbow. It was Christmas Day and the weather had cooperated with a glorious snowy morning. It was barely light with the fluffy snowflakes drifting down brighter than the wispy gray sky.
He reached over to brush her tangled hair off her cheek. She opened her eyes and rolled into him. His body, which ran on high idle with barely leashed lust every moment she happened to be nearby, instantly tightened. She blinked her bright blue eyes and stretched. “We have to get up,” she said, her voice husky with sleep.
“Right now?”
She nodded emphatically. “Uh huh. I have tons of baking and cooking to do before everyone gets here for Christmas dinner. Come on.” She kicked the covers off and grabbed his hand. Seeing as he didn’t want to be anywhere other than wherever she happened to be, he followed as she tugged him behind her into the shower.
Not much later, after he managed to steal a quick moment in the shower by stroking between her thighs to find her hot, wet and ready and sinking into her channel with one surge, he walked downstairs afterwards to find Roxy already whirling around the kitchen. She’d dressed in record time after they got out of the shower and dashed downstairs. He made his way to the coffee pot in the corner and poured a cup for himself. When he glanced her way and didn’t see the usual coffee cup right beside her, he snagged another mug and filled it before carrying it over to her where she was rapidly rolling pastry dough for pies.
“Thought you might need some of this,” he said as he held the coffee mug aloft before setting it on the stainless steel table nearby.
She flashed a smile and paused to set the rolling pin down before grabbing the coffee and taking a big swallow. “Oh thank you.” She immediately picked up the rolling pin and got back to work.
“Okay, what can I do?” he asked.
It was barely seven in the morning. The sun was cresting the trees and the closest mountain ridge, casting a soft light through the tall windows running the length of the wall on one side of the deli kitchen. Today was friends and family only, so Max had planned to spend the morning helping Roxy with whatever she needed. She paused and brushed a loose lock of hair out of her eyes, leaving a smudge of flour behind on her cheek. She glanced to him and toward the back hall. “Would you mind pulling some stuff out of the refrigerator in the back? We have two hams and two turkeys. Diane prepped them yesterday, so they just need to go right in the oven.”
“Got it.” He took a quick gulp of coffee and left it behind as he strode down the hall to the massive refrigerator in the back.
By the time he returned with the first ham already in its cooking pan, Phoebe and Jake had arrived. Phoebe had thrown herself into helping Roxanne already, while Jake helped himself to coffee. The moment Jake saw Max, he came to his side. “Can I help?”
After Max set the ham on the counter by the massive wall oven, he gestured for Jake to follow. “We’re on carrying duty,” he said with a grin.
As they walked to the back, Jake spoke. “Heard from Hank the other day that DA’s office finally filed charges against Wallace for manslaughter.”
Max nodded. “Me too. He called late the other night and let me know.” He paused, considering how he felt. He felt relieved and vindicated on his father’s behalf, and mostly just damn glad the whole mess was over. Though his mother’s choice not to tell him about her suspicions until years after the fact still rankled a bit, in a way, he realized it saved him from years of frustration and resentment. If Wallace hadn’t gotten caught up in the shifter smuggling network, the police never would have had the leverage they did in the end. Wallace finally fessed up to leaving a wrench in the massive paper rollers in the hopes it would injure Max’s father. The pressure that got him to cave was the authorities freezing what little assets he had left. Aside from Brad, Wallace’s wife was living alone at the family’s old property and had health concerns related to a heart attack she’d had after her oldest son died.
Brad had turned over all of the family’s accounting information, which helped the authorities trace the money smuggled so many years ago. Hank had offered to give Max a chance to talk with Wallace himself, but he honestly didn’t care to. He couldn’t bring back his father, but he could rest easy knowing the truth had finally come out. He paused outside the refrigerator and glanced to Jake. “Thanks for your help with the investigation. Without the work you and Lily did, not so sure we’d have ever chased down who was responsible for the embezzling. That was the key to the rest.”
Jake nodded. “Any time. I’m glad we finally know what happened. I know your parents aren’t here to appreciate that fact, but I hope it helps a little.”
“It helps a lot. I always knew I’d come back to Catamount, but it’s nice not to have a cloud of questions anymore.”
“Here’s hoping I only have to do online forensics for boring stuff from now on,” Jake offered with a wry grin.
Max swung the door to the walk-in refrigerator open. Over the next hour or so, he and Jake ended up being the unofficial runners of the morning. Long after they delivered the requested hams and turkeys to the kitchen, Max carried a platter of appetizers to place on the tables he and Jake had set up earlier.
The deli slowly filled with shifter families and other locals as the day wore on. Roxanne finally declared everything was just about ready and raced upstairs to change, leaving Phoebe and Shana to monitor the ovens for a few minutes. Max followed her and stepped into her bedroom upstairs a few minutes after she’d dashed off. Roxanne stood in front of her dresser, fiddling with her hair. His eyes caught hers in the reflection from the mirror above the dresser. With a roll of her eyes, she spun around. “I give up,” she said, gesturing to her hair.
Honey gold waves tumbled around her shoulders. He stepped to her. “You look beautiful. Why are you worrying about your hair?” He reached up and sifted his fingers through the silky locks.
She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Because it’s always half falling down, so I was trying to make some effort.”
“It’s perfect.”
Standing before her on the first Christmas with her in fifteen years, his chest was tight with emotion. He threaded his hand into her hair and dipped his head for a quick kiss. “Just be you.”
She glanced up, her eyes glistening. “You’re here and it’s Christmas.” Her voice lilted at the end. She reached up and traced her fingertip along his jaw.
He let his head fall until his forehead rested against hers. “The part about being here wouldn’t matter if it weren’t for you.”
She tilted her head up just enough to catch his lips in a kiss. In seconds, he was ready to take her right then and there. Footsteps pounded up the stairs. “Roxanne! One of the burners caught on fire!”
The moment was snapped, and Roxanne spun away. “What?!” she asked as she raced to the door where Joey stood.
Max gathered himself and jogged down the stairs behind Joey and Roxanne. Jake had doused the fire before they even arrived downstairs. After the small mishap, the gathering eased onward.
Roxanne leaned back in her chair and sighed. She twirled her wineglass in her hand and took another sip before setting it down. Max’s arm was thrown across her shoulders, and he was laughing at something Hank had said. She almost thought she should pinch herself. Less than two months ago, if someone had told her the one man who held her heart would be at her side at Christmas, she’d have laughed and tried to hide the tinge of bitterness underneath. Yet, here she was with him at her side. Against all odds, he’d knocked down the walls around her heart.
Hours later, after a leisurely clean up with the help of many of her dearest friends, she dried her hands on a towel and tossed it in the hamper in the corner of the kitchen. She heard footsteps and then Max pushed through the swinging door to the back hallway. He wore his winter jacket and held hers in one hand.
“Well, that’s it. All the leftovers are covered and put away. It’ll take us a week to get throu
gh it all, but it’s done,” he said.
She laughed softly. “I’ll go through them tomorrow and parcel most of it to give away.”
“Let’s go then,” Max said, holding his hand out.
“Where?”
He angled his head. “Just follow me.”
“I hate surprises,” she said as she approached and placed her hand in his.
He tossed her jacket over her shoulders as they made their way down the hallway. She followed his lead when he stepped into his boots. They walked outside. The air was sharp and icy. She paused to look at the sky. The snow had stopped falling a while ago, leaving a fluffy blanket over Catamount. The stars were bright against the inky sky. He gripped her hand firmly and gave a little tug.
“Come on.”
Feeling silly, she tromped along behind him. Catamount was quiet on this snowy Christmas night with not a car to be seen. He led the way to the town green. No one had shoveled the paths on the holiday, so they left a trail of footsteps in the snow behind them. Max stopped by the large Balsam fir in the center of the green, the holiday lights draped around it glittering in the darkness.
Her heart was so full, she could hardly bear it. He knelt in the snow and pulled out a small bag. Shaking the snow off, he lifted a small box out and handed it to her.
“I’d planned to give you this the Christmas after we moved away. I kept it all this time. Just like I meant back then, I wanted you to know I loved you and when you were ready, we’d get married. I hope it’s not too soon to give you this. I’m not asking anything because I know…”
She cut him off when she flung herself at him, knocking them both over in the snow. “Yes!” she said when she brushed the snow out of her eyes and looked down at him.
“But…”
She struggled to sit up, propping her elbow on his chest. “Oh, now you’re the one with all the ‘buts.’ I’ve had plenty of time.”