Caulder held his hands up in surrender style. “What’d I do?”
“Stop pretending to be innocent. You have to get bad in there somewhere, don’t ya?”
“I plan on being real bad later, woman. Coal-in-the-bucket kind of bad, but it’ll be oh so good for you. Yeehaa!”
Velia moved in close, summoning him until he leaned down. She whispered into his ear. “You’ll be lucky if you make it home first, mister. Kase will fall asleep before we make it to the main road.” Velia gave an innocent smile. “My turn. You’re all mine tonight.”
“Whoa, I say it’s time to hit the road.” He practically yelled that last part. “Jase, grab your woman and kids and let’s get the hell outta here. Merry Christmas, everybody!” It didn’t matter who he sent the greeting to, but he got a couple responses back.
Jase grinned. “I got my woman, and one son and one daughter, so far. Let’s get the hell going, you crazy fool because I got things to do tonight after being under that mistletoe.”
Velia and Brenna made eye contact with each other and burst out laughing. “Don’t tell me there’s two of them,” said Velia, and then she laughed again.
“I’m sorry to say, but I believe there are four of them.” Brenna chuckled. “Two more are waiting back at the Double Dutch Ranch. Goodness, but they’re all alike, aren’t they?” She turned back to smile at Jase. “We’re sleeping at your Aunt Dolly’s, honey. Behave.”
“Oh, I plan on it, darlin’.” Jase put his arm around his daughter’s shoulder, then gave Brenna a kiss on the forehead as they all strolled toward the parking lot.
Velia caught a wink between Jase and Caulder. The two of them were up to something. Her whole being danced with happiness to see Caulder together with his family. Their families together had become one almost overnight when they had met years ago.
Taking Kase’s hand, Caulder took Velia’s arm when he caught up with her. No words needed to be said because his naughty yet whimsical grin said it all. When she looked back, Foley still had Natale under the mistletoe, or it was the other way around.
***
After their fun-filled outing, Judy and Jase’s family settled in with Dolly and Aiden. With Kase all snuggled in bed and finally off to sleep, Caulder and Velia set all the kid gifts around the Christmas tree to join the other wrapped presents. He waited at the bottom of the stairway while Velia rushed back to the kitchen for champagne glasses. She handed them to him and placed her palm against his chest. “I’ll be right there, honey. I want to say good night to my cousins and Foley. Start the fire,” she said in a flirty voice. “In the fireplace.”
He set the glasses on a step and took her into his arms. Caulder pressed his lips against her throat, nibbling lower as his heart rate increased beneath her palm. His hot hands cupped her breasts. “I’ll be waiting with embers and sparks. They’ll probably be some in the fireplace, too.” He released her to head upstairs, giving an evocative laugh until he neared the top. “Damn, you’re sexy in that little black, lacy outfit tonight. I love the slit up the side. Provocative. Wow!” He gave a wolf whistle.
Velia grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. “Soon.” She went about the house turning off lights except for the tree and around the mantle in the great room. Velia ambled into the family room. “Where’s Alba?”
“She went to get her beauty rest,” teased Torre. “I’m next.”
“Enjoy your movie. I’ll see you all in the morning. Expect Kase to be up early. Not sure who he’ll try to wake first. I love you all.” Foley stood and she saved him for last. “You’ve become a part of our family, Foley. I love you like I do the rest. Thank you for coming this year.”
He gave her a squeeze and sat back down beside Natale. “Wouldn’t have missed it. Merry Christmas, Velia. This has been one of the best Christmases I can recall since I was a kid.” He smiled at Natale and took her hand from her lap to place a kiss against her fingers.
“Buona notte. Ti amo.” She left them there and this time if Foley and Natale fell asleep on the sofa, so be it. Neither of them were kids anymore, and something serious brewed within those two.
Upstairs, Velia smelled his cologne upon opening the door. She gawked at him stretched out on the loveseat in front of the fireplace. Romantic firelight gave the room a soft, ambient glow. He sat up when she entered. “How about some music, cowboy?”
He stood and reached for champagne. “Want some banging music?”
Her dark eyes widened. “Pardon me?” That man never ceased to amaze her—the way he’d find an off-guard statement to, well, catch her off-guard.
Caulder laughed and popped the top on a bottle of champagne. Next, he also opened a bottle of sparkling juice. “Rock and roll.”
“Whatever you want, sweetie.” She freshened up in the bathroom and donned the new gown she had purchased for tonight—gold silk with black lace trim. It had sparkle across the bodice, which was what caught her eye first off. The length came above the knee. She slipped on matching slippers and sprayed a touch of perfume. Lastly, she brushed her hair and pinned up the sides to keep it from her face, or his face. Was it her imagination, or had her tummy popped out a lot?
When she entered the bedroom, Vittorio sang in the background. An inner warmth spread over her to think that he put on her favorite tenor. “Thank you for the music.”
He met her half way to the sitting area, ran his gaze over her with large eyes, a smile on his lips, and a bounce to his step. “Wow. That’s a hot lookin’ gown. I believe you’re trying to tempt me with your sexy outfits.”
“Grazie. Maybe I am. I see my scheme is working!” She moved close to him to unbutton his shirt. When finished, she pulled it over his shoulders to hold his arms in place. Hah, as if she could. With a sultry smile, she ran her hand down his chest, stopping at his waistband where she flicked open the button on his jeans. “You smell fantastic.” She closed her eyes and inhaled another whiff of his woodsy cologne, while her hand dropped lower, stopping where she gently tiptoed her fingers over him. “You were waiting.”
“I don’t kid about things like making love to you, Velia.” He sucked in a breath when she grasped him. “Ahh, yeah, harder.” He stood straight up when she accommodated his wish. Caulder took hold of her hand and moved to the sitting area, first pouring a glass of champagne, downing almost all at once. Then he poured her a glass of the sparkling juice. He quivered. “The squeeze did me in.” Pulling her against him, his hands cupped her ass. “Squeeze me while I’m inside of you.”
“Always,” she whispered. “I can’t wait…or resist. You fill me up.” She took his glass from the table to draw in the smell. “I love champagne.”
“Tell you what. I’ll make sure you get a glass after the baby is born. In the meantime, taste it from my lips. I dipped my tongue into the bubbles. Isn’t that something you like, when I dip my tongue into it?”
Whew, she trembled. Velia put her arms around his shoulders, leaned back—her center pressing into him, and she closed her eyes while Vittorio’s voice floated through the air. Caulder captured her mouth in a kiss. Heat and sweetness lingered on his lips. “Your lips burn for me, sì?”
“Sì, ma e bellissima. Let me put these hot lips where I like,” he mumbled against her ear. He backed Velia against the loveseat until she sat, then smiled and peered into her eyes as if to distract her from where his fingers ventured, right between her legs.
His touch was like liquid gold against her inner thigh and beyond, to the point of causing her to squirm toward where his fingers tempted. “Don’t tease me, honey.”
“I’d never tease you. But I’d taste you.” Caulder slid her gown up and eased her thighs more apart, his hands sliding slowly over her legs until his fingers worked so fluently against her. Velia had no controls over the soft, yearning sighs when he dipped his head lower, finding her ready and waiting. Calm exhalations led her to deep breaths and ardent moans.
A stampede of desire galloped over her—his tongue hurtling her toward a thun
derous climax with each satisfied moan escaping his lips, while he obviously enjoyed, enjoyed, enjoyed her body! The fragrance of sex and perfume floated past her nose. Gasps turned to mellowed screams. Screams were soon blocked by his demanding kisses against her lips. He placed his hand behind her head to hold her without breaking the kiss, as she quivered.
Velia hugged him while her breathing eased. Still hot with desire, she kissed his neck, opened her mouth, and latched on to a spot at the curve of his shoulder, not letting go until she was damn good and ready. Proud of herself now, she opened her eyes and moved back, grinning at the red blotch she had left. This time he hadn’t tried to stop her. Her eyes became aglow. “Branded you are, Mr. McCutchen. What are you going to do about it?”
He stroked her nipple with his thumb as he spoke, but then pinched. “You think you got away with something, don’t ya? Are you happy now? Did you get it out of your system? Maybe mine will be larger than my cousins in the morning, and I swear to God, Foley better not have one.”
“Hush. You leave those two alone. Anything that would, or could happen between Foley and Natale, already had the chance to happen. Let them be.” Velia playfully pushed him away. “And what do you mean about Jase’s being larger. His what?” She laughed like a maniac. Covering her mouth, she mumbled, “That sounded obscene.”
“You enjoy obscene sometimes.” Caulder poured another glass of champagne. “He wants to make that woman pregnant tonight. You know how this mountain air is, sweets. It affects everybody sooner or later. He’s use to that dried out desert air. I guess Brenna will never know what hit her.”
“Omigod, don’t tell me.” She covered her ears. “Too much information!”
“Yeah, for sure. He’s sleeping in my old bed.” Caulder stood and removed his shirt and jeans, beaming proudly. “I, on the other hand, already made a baby.” His eyes blazed with desire as he took another drink of champagne without removing his gaze from hers. He put his glass down and patted his mouth. “Right here, come on and taste the champagne. Oops, I got some on my tongue again.” He wiggled his tongue between his lips.
Velia blocked her eyes. “Oh, don’t do that tongue wiggle.”
“Well, wait a minute…I just did and you didn’t seem to mind.” His gaze dropped to her lower body.
She grinned, heat flushing her cheeks. “No comparison!”
He did the same act over again.
“You are one ball of bad tonight.” Velia pretended to put her hands against his waist, but she grasped the waistband of his black trunks and pulled them down in one swift jerk. “You know I have to battle this mountain air and pregnant hormones. You’re in trouble until we go back on the road, I’d say.”
Caulder sat on the loveseat and pulled her onto his lap. He looked directly into her eyes, moving closer to her lips. He placed one hand against her cheek and kissed her hard, moving his hips in the same sensual motions he’d use in making love. Giving a quick glance over the front of her, he gingerly cupped her breasts. “Make love to me,” he said pushing against her.
Velia smiled and while their gaze held, she became one with him. Her eyes closed in pure bliss upon the connection. When she opened them, he still stared—a look of desire sparkling in his flame-blue orbs. Velia moved her hips seductively without breaking their gaze. Their movements increased until neither of them could keep their eyes open nor their breathing in check. “Velia, I love you so much.” Caulder fisted her hair at the back of her head and nibbled kisses across her throat.
Velia pressed her teeth against her bottom lip to quell her climatic gasps, but with the way their bodies moved together, her mouth opened to release pent up moans and soft cries.
His sated release slipped out in a quiet murmur. He lowered his face to the curve of her neck and continued to breathe heavily toward a powerful ending. After a few minutes of their bodies shuddering and sweating against each other, Velia moved off him and cuddled at his side. Closing her eyes, she fell against his warm skin.
After a few minutes of relaxed calm, he gave her a tender kiss. “Let’s get in bed.” He stood, lifting her. At the bed, he released her to the warmed, green, satin sheets. She lay on her back and Caulder got in beside her. He placed his head against her abdomen to kiss her belly. “It’s magnificent that we’re having another child.”
Firelight left his face aglow and she smiled. “It truly is glorious. Do you ever want to make another one? How many kids do you want?”
“Hmm, I never gave it a thought. That’d be difficult on the road. We’ll know in time, but I never want to stop making love to you.”
“I will hold you to that. Come here.” He moved up beside her and she kissed him. “I want you. Make love to me again.”
Without any words, he stretched out atop her, reached for her hands to take them above her head, and smiled. “Don’t you love when I let a little of that bad loose?” He kissed her throat, and slid his hand down her arm then cupped a breast, nibbling kisses against one and then the other, but his hand went lower. “Get ready for me again,” came out in a whisper. “We got all night.”
***
The hoopla surrounding Christmas morning had settled down. It was a day Velia wouldn’t have traded for another million dollar winning season. That might have been pushing luck a bit, for another World Title brought him a year closer to retirement. She hated to see his body so torn up for most of the year.
“What can we do to help, Velia?” asked Lidia, breaking Velia’s muse. “Shall we take the food to the dining room? You’ve done a superb job with the food, table settings, and holiday decorations. Che bello! Everything is so festive and inviting. Bellissimo!”
She placed her hand over her heart. “Thank you, Ma. You can take the Pinot Noir and Lambrusco to the table for now. Ask the guys if they’d prefer ale.” Velia added the spiral ham with redcurrant jelly, cinnamon, and paprika to the holiday serving platter, then added the finishing touch of parsley sprigs to a potato dish. “Dolly, will you set the asiago potatoes on the table?” She gave her mother-in-law a squeeze, truly loving her.
Caulder came through the doorway and went to the refrigerator for the ale. He set the bottles on a wooden tray waiting on the island counter, and wrapped his arms around her. “How you doing, babe? Everything smells delicious. You’ve outdone yourself, again.”
She took a minute away from perfecting the ham presentation, to turn into his embrace. The smell of his cologne lingering with a bit of sweat, was so familiar—one she’d never tire of. “I had so much help. We’ll be ready as soon as I carry in the ham. Will you gather everyone?”
“Most are already at the table. These smells are hard to resist, as is the mother of my children.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead. Caulder lifted the tray with ale and waited at the door for her to walk in together. She set the platter in front of his place at the head of the table. He opened the bottles and handed one to who wanted ale then pulled her chair out, but she held up a finger.
“I need my camera. I’ll be right back.” She rushed into the office and came back with it. Caulder waited at her chair to the right of him, but she pulled the chair away from the table. “Come here.” She pressed her hand against his shoulder to stand on the chair. “Okay, take a seat, sweetheart.” She peered at her whole family around the large rectangular table that needed two big leafs added.
“Mommy, why are you standing on the chair?”
“Taking a picture of all of you. Smile, sweetie. Let’s see that McCutchen charm, Granny Garnet.”
“Thank you for another beautiful holiday, you sweet girl.” Granny’s glowing smile could’ve warmed the whole room. She had grown to love this dear lady.
Kase cocked his head and gave one of the biggest, toothiest grins.
“Up here, everyone.” Perfect. Click. Focus. Click again. “Thank you. I’ll send one to all of you.”
“But you aren’t in it. Set the timer, so you’ll be in it, too.” Caulder lifted her right off the chair and stood her on
the floor.
Velia set the camera on a shelf, peeked around to the viewfinder to be sure everyone was in the picture, set the timer, and rushed back. At the table, Caulder yanked her onto his lap and splayed his hand over her baby bump. “Say giggles everyone!”
After the shot, Caulder stood and lifted his glass, first to Velia then slowly peering over the crowd of people at their table. He winked at his grandmother. “Merry Christmas. As my wife would say, buon appetito!”
Glasses remained high as everyone around the table, repeated, “Buon appetito! Salute.”
They all tapped their glasses together. Even Kase lifted his glass of milk and tapped it against anyone who reciprocated. His outgoing personality caused chills to spread from Velia’s head to her toes. She smiled at Caulder, met him half way, and their lips touched in a heartfelt kiss.
Laughter, chatter, giggles, and Christmas carols in the background all mingled and filled the room. Velia observed Foley lean over to give Natale a kiss. The smile they had for each other echoed love. The same look in Foley’s eyes was what she saw in her husband’s eyes when he looked at her. Real love had been ignited at Love House during this holiday interlude.
Everyone was happy. Velia smiled warmly as she glanced across the table. Granny’s gold tablecloth with silver thread intermingled captured the reflection of candlelight.
All of their family together brought an overwhelming peacefulness to her soul, but when she peered at her own son, tears welled. His messy, dark hair went all over the place, in his eyes, inside his collar, poking out from behind his ear, and eyes like his father looked at his daddy. Caulder cut a piece of ham for himself but picked it up, holding it in front of Kase’s mouth. Instead of giving it to their boy, he teased by popping it into his own.
Christmas At Love House: Bittersweet Interlude (Bull Rider #3) Page 18