“I think they’re doing the Christmas Eve celebration!” she said. Madison went over to the window too. There were three families from the town standing outside, carrying orange lanterns and plates of food .
“Yes they are!” she said. Karen whooped .
“First time in about eight years! Ok, let’s go. We can take out one of the pumpkin pies we’ve baked.” She went into the kitchen and cut the pie into slices while everyone else put their coats on .
“Don’t worry about me – I’ll stay indoors,” Elsbeth said as they prepared to leave .
“No you won’t,” Grayson said, his voice soft. “Riley will give me a hand with the chair, and we can find a good spot to set it down outside.” With that, he helped her into her coat, then he and Riley lifted the chair and carried her outside like a queen in her chariot .
“I’m usually pretty energetic, you know,” Madison heard her mom saying to Grayson. “I’ll be up and about, hiking mountains again before you know it .”
“I don’t doubt that at all,” he replied .
The rest of them followed and they joined the other families outside. Soon, more and more people gathered together, each bringing plates of sweet things to share with each other .
Together, they formed a loose circle, with all the neighborhood kids in the middle. Some of the kids started singing a Christmas carol, and soon they all joined in, their sweet young voices piercing the crisp winter air as they sang of Mary and Joseph walking into Bethlehem, and shepherds watching their flocks, and wise men traveling from afar. Elsbeth was watching the kids, her eyes glistening with emotion, while Grayson was crouching down next to her, holding her hand. On Madison’s other side, Karen and Riley were standing next to each other, their hands firmly in their pockets. Madison stepped close to Karen .
“Why don’t you two take a moment to relax?” she whispered. I’ll watch Sophia and Abbey and make sure they don’t get up to any mischief .
“Thanks, sis,” Karen said, her face lighting up with gratitude. She whispered something to Riley and they slipped away from the crowd together .
Brock stood behind Madison, enfolding her in his arms. She felt so happy that she thought she must be glowing, radiating the strong feelings she had for Brock. Sophia was talking to three other teenage girls at the edge of the circle, and Abbey was right in the middle, singing her heart out .
“The kids are adorable, aren’t they?” Brock said, his breath warm on the top of her head .
“They are,” she said, feeling broodier than ever .
“Want to have some one day?” he asked, his tone uncertain .
“Yes,” she replied, with no hesitation. He placed a hand on her stomach .
“I thought so. And something tells me you won’t have long to wait .”
“What do you mean?” She looked up at him over her shoulder .
“Well, I can tell that you’re fertile right now, and I have a very strong suspicion that our mating has been, uh, successful.” She gasped .
“What, you mean – you just made me pregnant?” He smiled .
“I think so .”
“You know that because you’re a bear, right ?”
“Yup. A combination of animal instinct and a very strong sense of smell .”
“Wow,” she breathed, placing her hand over his .
There was a pause in the singing, and someone shouted “it’s Christmas!” then, everyone shouted “it’s Christmas!” and there were whoops and cheers. Someone let off some fireworks and the sky was filled with multicolored stars .
“How do you feel about that?” Madison asked, her head spinning .
“Like the luckiest guy in the world,” he replied .
“Really?” she murmured, her heartbeat slowing down .
“Are you kidding me? The woman I’ve wanted my entire life – who I thought I’d lost forever – has come back to town. She’s become my mate, and she’s most likely carrying my cubs. How could I not be?” Checking that Sophia and Abbey were safely occupied, Madison turned to face him, her throat constricting with emotion .
“We’re mates, officially?” she said. He laughed .
“Of course. Did you not realize that ?”
“I guess I haven’t fully grasped the ways of bears,” she said, with a nervous giggle .
“Ok, let me make it formal,” he said. He dropped down onto the snow, kneeling on one knee and took her hand .
“Madison Armstrong, will you become my lifelong mate, and join with me in a formal mating ceremony in the very near future?” he said. Stars of excitement shot through her body .
“Yes, I will!” she said, grinning down at him. He drew her head towards his and kissed her tenderly on the lips. She closed her eyes, tingling with emotion. Several people standing around them clapped and cheered. Brock got to his feet and hugged her against his body .
“You make me so happy,” he murmured in her ear .
“And you make me so happy,” she said .
Just then, Karen returned with Riley. They were both flushed and bright-eyed. Karen gave Madison a secret smile .
“Did we miss anything?” Karen said .
“Oh, not much. But I think I just got engaged to be formally mated,” Madison replied .
“Oh my God, that’s amazing!” Karen exclaimed and hugged her .
“Things seem to be going well with you guys?” Madison said .
“Yeah. Riley is amazing. And he’s the best kisser ever !”
“Did you – just now ?”
“Uh huh. He spotted some mistletoe in a neighbor’s garden and led me over to it. What could I do in a situation like that ?”
“Excellent. I’m so happy for you, sis,” Madison said .
“And me for you .”
“And for mom –” Madison broke off as they turned to glance at their mom. She was currently lip-locked with Grayson .
“Wooh. And for mom,” Karen echoed and they burst out laughing .
“How is it that all of us were single three days ago, and we’ve now all found someone, right on the eve of Christmas ?”
“I think it has something to do with three handsome bears, and a touch of Christmas magic,” Karen replied happily .
8
B rock walked up the stairs of Madison’s house, admiring the voluptuous body of his beautiful mate as she walked in front of him. His bear scratched at his insides, inciting him to mate with her again. It had been rolling around in ecstasy all night. He still couldn’t believe that he was with her, that she was his mate. He’d dreamed of kissing her, mating her, so many times, never finding himself another mate because he couldn’t forget her. He silently thanked her loser ex-husband, a snowstorm and a naughty teenager for bringing them together. Or fate, he reminded himself. He’d always known, even in high school, that she was his fated mate, but, like all shifters, he’d understood that you don’t always get to be with your fated mate. That it takes a special alignment of circumstances to make it happen .
At the top of the stairs, she turned and took his hand. Even in the dim light of the hallway, her face was so beautiful, and when she smiled at him, his stomach flipped .
“Are you sleepy?” she asked .
“Not really. Are you ?”
“No,” she replied, her smile becoming wanton .
“Well I can think of plenty of things we can do instead of sleep.” She walked backwards, leaning on her bedroom door to push it open. The scent of their earlier mating still hung in the air, sensual and provocative .
“Such as ?”
“I could mate with you again,” he said, picking her up, rushing across the room and throwing her down on the bed. She gazed up at him, pupils dilated with desire .
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m going to take you hard, claim you for my own again,” he said, pulling off her sweater and tank-top in a single movement. She reached for his shirt and tore it off too .
“And then?” He unfastened the zipper on her jeans
and yanked them down, along with her panties. She copied him, tugging at his pants, and he helped her, quickly becoming fully naked .
“Then we go to sleep and wake up to Christmas morning,” he murmured, reaching behind her back and unfastening the clasp on her bra .
She was wet and ready for him, and he was inside her within seconds. She cried out as he filled her, her taut muscles clenching around him. And she cried out again as he made her come again and again, before he claimed her, taking his own orgasm and filling her with his fertile seed .
“Merry Christmas, my beautiful, amazing mate,” he whispered as she snuggled into the crook of his arm, already falling asleep. “I love you.” Her eyes snapped open .
“Merry Christmas. I love you too,” she whispered. He kissed her soft lips one more time, before they both drifted into unconsciousness .
THE END
ALSO BY ARIANA HAWKES
S hiftr: Hope Valley Dating App Romances
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love – Book 1 (Dina )
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love – Book 2 (Kristin )
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love – Book 3 (Melissa )
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love – Book 4 (Andrea )
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love – Book 5 (Lori )
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love – Book 6 (Adaira )
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love – Book 7 (Timo )
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love – Book 8 (Jessica )
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love – Book 9 (Ryzard )
Shiftr: Swipe Left For Love - Book 10 (Nash )
Shiftr: Swipe Left For Love - Book 11 (Olsen )
Shiftr: Swipe Left For Love - Book 12 (Connor & Lauren )
B roken Hill Bears
Bear In The Rough (Broken Hill Bears Book 1 )
Bare Knuckle Bear (Broken Hill Bears Book 2 )
Bear Cuffs (Broken Hill Bears Book 3 )
C hristmas Bear Shifter Romances
Ultimate Bear Christmas Magic Box Set
Bear All I Want For Christmas Boxed Set
Bear Home For Christmas
Bear Christmas Magic
Bear My Perfect Gift
Polar Bears’ Christmas
L ost To The Bear
R avished by the Ice Palace Pack
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A 4.5-star rated, comedy romance featuring one kickass roller derby chick, two scorching-hot Alphas, and the naughty nip that changed their lives forever .
The only thing missing from Aspen Richardson’s life is a man who will love her just the way she is. In the small town she calls home, bullies from the past remain, making her wonder if it's ever going to happen. But, things are about to change in a major way, as the secret Aspen’s parents have been keeping from her comes out …
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About the Author
A riana Hawkes is a USA Today Bestselling Author. She graduated in English and Latin Literature from Oxford University, and since then she’s been writing full time, for both work and pleasure .
She loves to write spicy romantic stories with complex, quirky characters, plenty of suspense, and, of course, a whole lot of laughs .
When she’s not writing, she loves reading literary fiction, fantasy, romance and erotica, and snuggling with her man and their two huskies .
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