A Warrior Christmas (The Protectors Series) Book #14

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Yeah, well, get used to it.” Blaze bent and kissed her hard. “There is much more to come, Katrina. I love you.”

  “I love you.” Katrina kissed him back, then swooped down to pick up the papers she’d dropped and ran to the bed. She climbed up, tucking her knees underneath her. “I can’t believe I get to pick out everything.”

  “Whatever you want.” Blaze laughed as he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

  “Seriously, what world am I living in right now?” Katrina said in awe as she looked up from the papers to the magical twinkling Christmas lights, to the little beautiful tree, and then to Blaze, who gazed at her with so much love she felt lightheaded.

  “Your world, Katrina.” Blaze softly touched her cheek. “This is now your world. I would do anything for you.”

  “And I would do anything for you,” Katrina said, then frowned. “I still feel bad, though.”

  “Why?” Blaze’s eyes narrowed at her frown.

  “Because I haven’t anything to give you.” Katrina actually looked around the room for something, which was ridiculous.

  “Come here,” Blaze ordered, but his voice was soft and low.

  Katrina moved the papers out of the way and crawled toward him, then kneeled, sitting back on her feet. He reached out and cupped her chin as his eyes roamed her face before dropping down her body. His fingers played with the top of her towel as a sexy grin tipped one corner of his lips. “What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.

  “Opening my gift,” Blaze replied, his eyes flaring as they darkened. The towel dropped with a flick of her wrist. His eyes heated every single inch of her body before lifting to hers. “Merry Christmas to me.”

  Katrina laughed, then moaned when he reached out and cupped one breast before squeezing and playing with her nipple. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” she teased, moving his hand toward her core, making him chuckle and moan at the same time.

  “Fuck!” he growled as his hands expertly drove her insane.

  “Yes, please.” She whimpered against his mouth and realized she had the power to give him a Christmas present that didn’t come from the store. Maneuvering herself, she was able to straddle him. He was still fully dressed, but she could work with that.

  Reaching underneath her lap, she accidentally touched herself and groaned, which had Blaze growling. Undoing his pants, she reached inside, grabbing his hard cock. Gently, she pulled the hardness out while kissing him. His hands were on her tits working their own magic. Pulling away from him, she slid down his body, her eyes never leaving his until her knees hit the floor. She smiled at the sight before her, licked her lips and gazed up at him.

  “Merry Christmas, Warrior.” She smiled before her mouth gave her mate a Christmas present he wouldn’t soon forget.

  Katrina was lost in total bliss. She had no idea how long she had been gifting her present, so to speak, to Blaze before he was lifting her off the floor. “Damn, woman.” Blaze voice actually cracked. “You trying to kill me?”

  “No.” Katrina sighed as he laid her on the bed. “Hey, wait a minute. This is my gift to you. I’m in control.”

  Blaze laughed at her. “If you think you are going to give me pleasure and get none in return, gift or not, you don’t know me very well, Katrina. You will never leave my bed without having pleasure.”

  “But that was pleasing me.” She glanced at his still hard cock. “Very much.”

  Taking his leather jacket off, he tossed it on the floor. His shirt soon followed. He next pulled his gun out of the waistband of his jeans and placed it close on the bedside table. Next was his boots, then jeans.

  “You are a beautiful man, Blaze.” Katrina sighed as he crawled up between her legs, and she welcomed him, but she had plans. This was not the way their lovemaking was going to go. Not tonight.

  He smirked down at her. “There is nothing beautiful about me.” His gaze traveled between them. “You are the beauty in this scenario.”

  Running her hands on his chest, she hooked his arm as the other reached lower and grabbed his hardness. His eyes closed tightly as she worked her magic, giving her the perfect opportunity to trap his foot. With power and surprise on her side for the moment, she rolled him with ease, except the bed was too small, and they went sailing off, hitting the floor hard. She was in the perfect position to submit to him or fuck him. It was a no-brainer on which she picked.

  “What the fuck!” Blaze looked at her wide-eyed with a growl.

  Katrina grinned in triumph as she quickly slid onto him. She moved slowly as his eyes narrowed up at her, but she knew he was fighting a smile.

  “Been working on your grappling, I see.” Blaze put both hands on her hips but let her keep the pace.

  “You, sir.” She smiled proudly. “You, Warrior, were just upa’d.”

  His laugh boomed through the room, and she soaked it in. She loved when he laughed like that.

  “You can upa me any day.” Blaze winked at her. The laughter ended quickly as the passion set in.

  Katrina triumphed, but only for a little while. Blaze allowed her control until the end when he lifted her up while she still rode him with a fury that almost scared her and took her to the bed where he finished them. She didn’t care. Wherever she was, whatever position she was in didn’t matter. As long as Blaze was in her arms, she was absolutely ecstatic.

  As they lay content in each other’s arms, they heard activity outside their door. “We’re going to be late,” Blaze whispered against her hair. “Sorry.”

  Shrugging, Katrina nestled closer to him. “Don’t be sorry. I would be late for everything just to have time like this again.”

  “I know, but come on.” Blaze sat up, looking down at her. “The quicker we get out there, the faster we can get back here.”

  Katrina knew he was right and sighed. Standing, she rushed over to get some clothes while Blaze got dressed. She glanced at the bed and giggled.

  “What?” Blaze looked her way with a smile.

  “I’m wondering if I should tell Mike and Bishop about my perfectly executed upa,” Katrina said, then squealed when she was pulled backward into Blaze’s arms and held tightly against his chest.

  “That move is now to only be used on me by you.” Blaze growled into her ear, “Understood?”

  “What am I going to say if we have to practice that move?” Katrina frowned, but kind of liked this jealous streak in Blaze. “Oh, sorry, I only do that move with Blaze when we’re naked and in bed.”

  “Yes,” Blaze said seriously, but when he turned her, he was smiling. “That’s exactly what I want you to say.”

  Katrina rolled her eyes at him, then laughed and pulled away. “Come on. Nicole is going to kill us for being so late.”

  Once they were dressed and heading for the door, Katrina looked back at the room, a little sad to be leaving. It finally felt like Christmas again, and the man giving her a moment was the reason. She glanced up at him, and he gave her a wink. When he took her hand, she let him lead her, and without a doubt, she would happily follow this man anywhere.

  Chapter 16

  Sloan stood in the shadows watching the festivities. Never in his years as a VC Warrior had Sloan witnessed what he was seeing now. Kids between the ages of four to eighteen were scattered throughout the game room enjoying themselves. Nicole was all smiles as she ran everywhere, making sure all the kids were involved in something. He grinned when Damon lifted a little girl so she could place an ornament at the top of the huge Christmas tree. If someone had asked him nine years ago if his compound would become a haven for women and children, he would have laughed his cynical ass off.

  Feeling something pull at his jeans, he glanced down. A girl who couldn’t be older than six stared up at him. He knelt, so he was eye level with her.

  “Hello.” He kept his voice under control, not booming it like he usually did with the Warriors so as not to scare her. “Who are you?”

  “Crystal,” she said shyly. “W
hy are you frowning? Don’t you like Christmas?”

  A large grin appeared on his face. “Of course I like Christmas.” He couldn’t help but laugh at his grumpy ass being called out by a little girl. “I especially like Santa because he brings lots of gifts.”

  “Do you know Santa?” she whispered with wide eyes.

  “I do, and he should be here any minute.” Sloan glanced over by the door. “If you go over there and stand, you’ll be the first one he sees.” He pointed that way, and her gaze followed.

  She took off, but then stopped and ran back to him. Her small arms wrapped around his neck as she gave him a tight hug, and then she ran to where he pointed. Okay, fuck. Sloan stood up slowly, feeling his throat tighten. He cleared it and cursed again, trying to keep his cool. “Jesus,” he whispered, then his eyes met Becky’s, who wiped the corner of her own eye.

  Their eye contact was brief as Becky was bombarded with kids. Sid had made pizzas and snacks, which he proudly boasted of because the kids couldn’t get enough. Steve headed his way with a huge grin on his face. Sloan prepared himself for what was to come. One never knew with Steve.

  “Hey, boss.” Steve leaned up against the wall next to him.

  “Steve,” Sloan said, not looking at him. The kid was special, and he wasn’t saying that in a funny way. Steve was definitely one of a kind, and Sloan would die for the dumbass. Not that he would ever tell anyone that. He knew his ordeal with Orjyll fucked him up, but Sloan was keeping his eye on him. If he had to intervene, he would, but it seemed like Steve was pulling himself out of it with the support of those around him.

  “I just want to say what you’ve let happen here today is, well, you’re a good man,” Steve said with a seriousness and maturity rarely heard from Steve. Sloan was actually going to commend him on that fact until Steve gasped.

  “Holy fuck on a Christmas candle.” Steve’s voice sounded like he was five years old. “It’s Santa Claus.”

  Sloan closed his mouth to look and see Caroline walk in the room with Santa Claus, aka Jax in shifter form, next to her. She glanced over and gave Sloan a wink. Jax bent and picked up Crystal, who looked over at Sloan and beamed, giving him the biggest smile.

  “Ho ho ho!” Jax called out, sounding like Santa. “Merry Christmas.”

  The younger kids all ran to him in excitement. Wide-eyed, Becky made her way to Sloan, and she wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “How did you talk him into doing that?” Becky chuckled when Steve clapped just as loud as the kids, then picked up Drew and pointed to Jax.

  “Oh, I have my ways,” Sloan said with male pride.

  “I saw the wink Caroline gave you.” Becky chuckled. “So you had her do your dirty work?”

  “Pretty much.” He grinned, then grabbed his phone and looked at it while trying to hide his smile. “I have to take care of something. I’ll be right back.”

  “You promised no work tonight.” Becky frowned up at him.

  Sloan just gave her a quick kiss and took off. “I’ll be right back.” As soon as he was in the entryway, he answered his phone. “Yeah, they’re fine. Let them in. Thanks, Hank.”

  With having the kids here, Sloan wasn’t taking any chances. He had called in favors of surrounding compounds to stand guard outside. Extra security meant no one was getting anywhere near this place. Opening the door, he smiled and held out his hand. “Frankie, it’s good to see you.”

  Becky’s son smiled at Sloan. “You too.” He pulled a beautiful girl forward. “This is Gracie.”

  “Welcome, Gracie.” Sloan shook her hand, then moved so they could enter.

  “Mom still doesn’t know?” Frankie grinned, looking past Sloan toward the game room.

  “No clue,” Sloan said proudly. “Keeping a secret from your mother is not an easy thing to do.”

  “Tell me about it.” Frankie sighed, but the smile on his face told Sloan he was excited to see her. “Thank you for doing this. I didn’t have the money to get us both here, and I didn’t want to ask Mom.”

  “I needed a gift to give her, and here you are.” Sloan grinned and led them toward the game room. “Go on in and enjoy.”

  Sloan stayed back so he could watch. He had planned this weeks ago. Every time he’d seen the sadness in Becky’s eyes when she talked about Frankie and Christmas, he’d wanted to spill his guts on the secret, but he’d held strong. He watched as Frankie snuck up on his mother and wrapped his arms around her. She jumped, turned, and squealed with shock at seeing her son.

  Dammit. For the second time that night, a lump formed in his throat, making him want to punch someone. Maybe Sid was right. Killing something may be in his plans and soon, before he turned into a blubbering idiot. He continued to watch the mother-and-son reunion from a distance until Becky rushed toward him, her face wet with tears of happiness.

  “Frankie told me all of this was your doing,” Becky whispered, her eyes searching his. “Thank you so much, Sloan.”

  Hating to see her cry, even if it was in happiness, he pulled her into his arms. “Anything for my girl.” He kissed her, then pulled her away from him. “Now, go and enjoy.”

  “Aren’t you coming?” She frowned. “Please, Sloan. I want to be with you too.”

  “Of course.” He nudged her away. “I’ll be there soon. Now go.” She laughed when he swatted her butt.

  “That was sweet,” Raven said from beside him. “You’re really a nice guy.”

  Sloan snorted, giving her a sideways look. “You have no idea.” Sloan’s voice changed from nice guy to Sloan Murphy Warrior. “There is nothing sweet about me, Raven.”

  “I didn’t say you were sweet. I said what you did was sweet,” Raven said, then shrugged. “Big difference.”

  “Where have you been?” he asked, still not looking at her, but watching Becky introduce Frankie and his girlfriend, who Becky seemed to adore, to everyone Frankie hadn’t met.

  “Here and there. Why, you writing a book?” Raven responded without any other explanation, which made Sloan’s mouth curve into a grin. So much like her father, it was fucking scary.

  “Nah, but if you are going to be a part of the VC, you better learn when I ask where you’ve been, I want a better answer than here and there,” Sloan replied, watching Nicole corral all the kids for Santa to give out the gifts.

  “You’re allowing the transfer?” she said, this time looking directly at the side of his head in shock.

  “As long as Charger has no issues with it, yes, I will allow it,” Sloan replied, then headed toward Becky, Frankie, and his new girlfriend. “Don’t make me regret it.” He heard Raven’s thank you, but she’d better wait with the appreciation because, for some reason, Charger didn't want to let her go.

  Sloan leaned against the wall as the children tore into their presents. The women helped the younger ones as some of the Warriors helped the older kids put theirs together. He realized at that moment his Warriors deserved time like this. Away from all the killing and bullshit they dealt with daily. He knew without a doubt one word from him, and they would be ready to defend. Even Damon playing bowling with three kids. He’d kill ten men without blinking an eye. Shit, maybe he was growing soft.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” Sid said from beside him.

  “Fuck you, Sinclair,” Sloan growled. Yeah, no chance of him growing soft.

  “Not even the Christmas spirit can tame the boss man.” Sid chuckled, shaking his head. “Everything good outside? I can lend a hand out there if needed. Let one of the Warriors go.”

  “They’re good. No issues.” Sloan glanced at his watch. “They only have another hour or so.”

  “I can’t believe Jax shifted into fucking Santa Claus,” Sid said, then frowned. “You didn’t give him a raise or something, did you?”

  “He better not have.” Jared walked up, a blinking Christmas necklace wrapped around his neck. “I would have played the jolly old fucker if there was a raise involved.”

  “Do you think I would brib
e one of my men to do anything?” Sloan glared at them both. “Do you fucking know me at all?”

  “True,” Jared and Sid said at the same time.

  “I told Raven I would approve the transfer,” Sloan said, his eyes finding Becky, who glanced his way, giving him a happy smile. He nodded at her, then looked at Jared. “You good with that?”

  “If that’s what she wants to do, then yes,” Jared replied, peering her way. “Did Charger release her from the Guardians?”

  “No.” Sloan frowned. “And that’s the only stipulation. So if he doesn’t, then she’s stuck.”

  “You guys better not be talking work.” Tessa came up with a matching necklace and shook her fingers at them like they were children. “I’ll tell Santa.”

  “I can kick Santa’s ass.” Sid scoffed, eyeing Jax. “So go for it.”

  Tessa rolled her eyes as she pulled Jared away. Sloan was damn glad those two fixed their issues. Tessa was one hell of a woman, and Jared wouldn’t find anyone better.

  Sid remained next to Sloan as they watched the party wind down. The kids were worn out, and by the looks of it, so were the Warriors. Mitch walked in and headed his way.

  “Sloan, thank you so much for allowing Nicole to do this.” Mitch shook his hand, looking haggard. “Sorry I didn’t see you earlier, but I had an emergency at the hospital with one of the foster kids and couldn’t stay.”

  “Everything okay?” Sloan knew that the job Mitch was doing was almost as important as what the VC did. It was an unforgiving job, but worth it.

  “Actually, no.” Mitch cursed, his eyes narrowing as anger lined his face. “Twelve-year-old found drained of blood. Needle marks clearly indicating she had been used for her blood. Crimson Rush is still a prominent force out there.”

  “You find who did it?” Sid pushed off the wall as if ready to go find the fuckers himself.

  “Yeah. Unfortunately, it was the foster parents.” Mitch glanced toward Pam. “Don’t say anything. I want to let her know when she comes back to work.”