by Megan Wade
Right on cue, the door to our bedroom bursts open, and our firstborn, Jordan, comes bounding in, holding his little sister Eloise’s—or Ellie, who we’d named after Sophia’s Gran—hand as she waddles, trips then crawls in behind him. Ever since Jordan realized how to help his sister out of her crib, Sophia and I have been having nightmares, thinking of all the things that can happen. But my boy knows how precious the baby of our family is, and Ellie adores her brother.
“Dada!” Our girl cries as Jordon struggles to hoist her up onto the bed.
I grin and reach an arm out, place my arm under her little butt and boost her up. She crawls all over me, getting tangled up in our sheets.
I turn to see that Sophia is awake now, slightly propped up against her pillow and smiling down at Jordan who’s sitting at the curve of her hip, chatting away to his mom about how Santa came and there are presents everywhere. Sophia catches my eye and smiles up at me during the tirade of chatter, and I lean over to kiss her.
“It’s Christmas, Jackson,” she whispers with a sigh.
I grin at her slyly. “Happy anniversary, honey.” Her face heats up. My shy, sweet Sophia, has never managed to get past all that blushing. I love it.
I reach over to pluck little Ellie off the bed, laughing as her little bootie clad foot finally comes untangled from the blanket, and kiss the top of her soft, downy auburn curls. Our baby looks so much like Sophia, and I know that I’ll need to get Vernon to teach me how to use his shotgun one day. Four years ago, right after we had Jordan, I surprised Sophia and bought us a home in Oakwood Falls, a street over from her parents’ place. She’d fallen in love with the house, and I’d fallen in love with her family and Oakwood Falls during our first visit here. So we moved down here permanently before our family got any bigger. I still have my penthouse in Boston for all the times we visit my family or when Sophia has a show there. But our home base is here. In this beautiful small town where happiness reigns.
My Sophia made it big in Boston with her clothing brand for plus-sized women, and a couple of years into our marriage, she became so successful that I’d decided to pull back from Phase, so I could be with the kids and she wouldn’t worry about them when she was away. I still run my company, but my brother, Matthew, now manages things at the head office in Boston, and I work remotely. Watching Sophia grow, first, round with our baby, and then, with her brand, has been the best.
“When are your parents and brothers getting here?” Sophia asks, and I look at my watch on the dresser.
“We have a few hours before they do,” I reply. “Enough time to unwrap some presents.” I grin at her.
Ellie bounces eagerly in my arms, and Jordan leaps off the bed and runs toward the living room where our tree and presents are.
Sophia smiles up at me. “You’ll get to unwrap your present later tonight.”
I grin, getting off the bed as I hoist Ellie high in my arms so she’s resting over my shoulder, where she immediately begins playing with my hair.
“You bet I will.” I lean in and give her a kiss before she follows me to our living room, where Jordan is pulling his stack of presents from under the tree.
“Look at these!” he yells with delight. “I’ll bet I’ve got Hot Wheels and Ooshies!”
The next hour is spent furiously attacking the pile of presents. I pull Sophia into my lap and she shifts Ellie on to hers so I have both my girls in my arms. Both my girls and Ellie’s new, big fluffy rainbow elephant, which she refuses to let go of.
“Honey.” Sophia laughs into my neck. “That elephant’s bigger than she is.”
I smile joyfully, watching Jordan unwrap his gifts, listening to my family laugh. Ellie’s sweet giggles, Jordon’s excited grins and my wife’s secret smile fill me with deep satisfaction.
“It’s not heavy, sugar,” I promise, breathing the sweet roses in her hair, feeling the soft curls tickle my jaw. Sophia and I made it our own little tradition of exchanging presents at night, after our family’s all fast asleep. I can’t wait. She catches the glint in my eyes and smiles softly.
“I can’t wait for tonight.” She voices my own thoughts.
After presents, we clean up all the discarded wrappers in the living room. Sophia heads into the kitchen for a quiet moment while she pulls together a light breakfast for us while I get the kids ready for when our entire family visits. Every year, all of my family from Boston flies to Oakwood Falls for Christmas, and with all of them and Sophie’s family adding to the mix, it’s total chaos. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.
We’re barely ready when the doorbell rings, and loud, raucous greetings are followed by noisy laughter and excited yells from all the kids invading the house, while the parents carry armfuls of food into our dining room.
“Merry Christmas!” we all sing out as I grin and bounce Ellie, her baby gurgle joining in with the noise and her short curls dancing excitedly.
“Jackson!” I hear my mom’s happy cry as she hurries toward me. She absently places a peck on my cheek before she pulls Ellie into her arms and blows raspberries against my daughter’s neck, making her squeal and giggle. I grin as I look at the chaos-filled room. Dad trying to pry Jordan off his leg where he’s attached himself. My sister and sisters-in-law darting around organizing dishes as my brothers organize drinks and steal snacks meant for kids, my wife orchestrating it all.
I take a deep breath and release it in a happy exhale, wading into the madhouse that is my family.
I really do love Christmas.
EPILOGUE 2
Sophia
M uch, much later that day, I stand on the porch steps, waving off the last of our guests as Jackson finishes putting the kids to bed. I step back inside, close the door, and lean my forehead against it, smiling to myself as I think about how exhausting Christmas is, but how I love it just the same.
And the best part is yet to come…
Still smiling a happy, secretive smile, I turn and let out a little squeal as Jackson grabs my waist, pushes me up against the door and kisses me hard.
When he finally pulls away, my cheeks are hot, and the rest of my body tingles pleasantly.
“Jackson,” I whisper, my back still against the door. His head bends to my neck, his beard tickling me as he kisses his way down to the swell of my breasts. I arch back and press my hips into his, digging my hands into his hair, my heart pounding in excitement.
“The kids—”
“Are fast asleep in bed. Out before their heads hit their pillows,” he mumbles, now licking his way down the valley between my breasts, tugging at the neck of my dress.
“Damn, Sophia, your tits look magnificent in this dress,” he growls, and I laugh breathily, pulling his head up again as I place a kiss on his lips before sliding out from under him.
“Stop. Or you’ll ruin my surprise,” I scold playfully.
“Surprise?”
I crook a finger, and he follows me to the staircase, walking behind me as I sway my hips tantalizingly and head for our bedroom.
Jackson shuts the door as soon as we’re inside, then, grinning at me predatorily, he stalks toward me.
“Wait!” My arms come up to hold him back as he grabs my hips and pulls me into him. “You’ll miss out on your present.”
“You are my present.”
Taking his hands, I drag him to the edge of the bed and push his shoulders down until he sits on the edge. Grinning lazily, he leans back and props his arms behind him, watching me.
“Am I getting a show?” he asks, his hands working at the buttons of his own shirt. I bite my lip as his broad chest comes in to view, and he shrugs his shirt off. My husband is so damn sexy. I want to reach out and touch him, to kiss my way down, past his hard abs, until—
“Stop. Wait!” I insist, giggling as his hand once again snakes out to bring me to him. “You’re rushing me.”
“I’m desperate for you.”
Meeting his eyes, I reach behind and find the zipper on the back of my dress, s
lowly tugging it down, and pulling the red fabric to my hips, wriggling to get it past my curves so it drops in a pool around my ankles. I can feel his eyes on my lace-covered breasts as they bounce with every movement. I step out of the dress and gently kick it away.
Jackson lets out a low whistle as he takes in my red lacy bra, capped with creamy lace, completely see-through but for the back where the strap is. My panties are made from the same material, and the same white lace runs along the back.
“Fuck, baby, you’re wearing a thong,” Jackson growls as I turn around and model my lingerie. I grin as his hands grab my ass and knead the soft flesh.
I playfully swat his hands away and turn back to face him, watching his eyes gaze move hungrily over my breasts.
“Like what you see?”
“This outfit better come with a pair of cuffs, sugar,” he growls, reaching for me again.
I giggle and swat him away again, bending to place my palms flat on the bed, either side of his legs, my breasts right in his face. He immediately begins to kiss the soft mounds that swell up from the cups of my bra.
Grinning slightly, I reach for one of his hands and lift it, laughing as he immediately tries to pull my bra down.
“Hold still, Jackson Lee,” I tell him and slowly bring his hand closer, and place it on my belly.
His eyes fly up to mine. “Is it?”
I grin as I nod. “It doesn’t come with cuffs, but what’s in here will come in just over seven months.”
“A baby?”
“A baby,” I confirm, watching in fascination as his eyes go soft and molten, his face bright in awe. His fingers open and he palms my belly and places a hand on my hips, pulling me closer until I’m standing between his legs, and he drops reverent kisses on the smooth skin. I curl my hands around his head, my fingers fisting his hair, and I hold him there against me as he cradles me and our baby in his strong arms.
“Another baby,” he whispers as I lean down to press a kiss to the top of his head.
“Are you happy?”
He pulls back to look up at me, his eyes still bright and piercing. “Happy doesn’t describe what I feel right now, Sophia.” He breathes, and then he tugs at my hips until I’m straddled on top of him. “I can’t wait to watch you grow round again with our baby.”
I shift a little and feel him grow hard under me. Jackson can hardly keep his hands away on an average day, but something about me swelling with our baby drives him mad with desire. If I weren’t already pregnant, I’m pretty sure Jackson would get me that way, just to see me grow big.
“Merry Christmas, Jackson Lee,” I whisper against his mouth.
“Merry Christmas, Sophia Lee,” he whispers back, threading his fingers into the back of my hair and kissing me just like he did that first time, just like he does every time. Because ever since that first Christmas together, Jackson has made sure that every day since then is better than the last. With him, my entire life is a gift. And I couldn’t love him, or Christmas for bringing him to me, more.
NEXT FROM MEGAN: We’re back to the series we started with Cupcake - Sweet Curves, book 10 is coming to sweeten your day!
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WARMING UP TO LOVE
A Christmassy, Wintery Collaboration
Warming Up to Love Series
The Warming Up to Love authors have teamed up to bring you nine new romances guaranteed to chase away the winter chill. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, love, and hot book boyfriends & get ready to be warmed up to love!
Hugs and KISSES,
The Warming Up to Love Authors
Check out all the Warming Up to Love books!
12/2 Christmas Kisses by Mila Crawford & Aria Cole https://amzn.to/3kChFLz
12/4 Winter Kisses by Flora Ferrari https://amzn.to/3flQK5K
12/6 Mistletoe Kisses by Shaw Hart https://amzn.to/3lGjmsE
12/8 Unwrapped Kisses by Jenna Rose https://amzn.to/3pyidFY
12/10 Sugar Kisses by Megan Wade https://amzn.to/3f2ZkpO
12/12 Warm Kisses by Loni Ree https://amzn.to/3lD4WJV
12/14 Naughty Kisses by Mayra Statham
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12/16 Snowy Kisses by Elisa Leigh https://amzn.to/3pApLbi
12/18 Holly Kisses by Penelope Wylde https://amzn.to/36DIMk
ALSO BY MEGAN WADE
Novels
Mine for the Holidays
Happy Curves Series
Sheets & Giggles
Sweet Curves Series
Marshmallow
Pumpkin
Pop
Sugarplum
Cookie
Sucker
Taffy
Toffee Apple
Peaches & Cream
Cupcake
Royal Curves Series
Rowdy Prince
Naughty Prince
Cheeky Prince
Wedded Curves Series
Whoa! I married a Mountain Man!
Whoa! I married a Billionaire!
Whoa! I married the Pitcher!
Whoa! I Married a Rock Star!
Whoa! I Married a Biker!
Collaborations
Boss Daddy (DILF for Father’s Day)
Hayden’s Firecracker (Holiday Firecrackers)
Chiseled Chest (Makes My Heart Race)
Her Cowboy Hero (American Heroes)
Cillian (The Kelly Brothers)
Break My Fall (Love Trap)
Tricks in the Night (Hot Halloween Nights)
Trick or Snowstorm (Tiaras & Treats)
The Not So Silent Night (Santa’s Coming)
Sugar Kisses (Warming Up to Love)
Table of Contents
Title Page
Contents
1. Sophia
2. Jackson
3. Sophia
4. Jackson
5. Sophia
6. Jackson
7. Sophia
8. Jackson
9. Sophia
10. Jackson
11. Sophia
12. Jackson
13. Sophia
Epilogue
Epilogue 2
Warming Up to Love
Also by Megan Wade