Because it’s Christmas, and giving is just as important as receiving, isn’t it?
So I stroke him. I use the amount of pressure I know he likes. I trail my tongue down his hot skin and take him into my mouth, swirling my tongue around him.
When he’s throbbing and I can taste his heady arousal with every caress, he pulls away. “Inside,” Ronan says roughly. “I need to be inside you.”
I spread my legs in invitation. “I want that, too.”
As Ronan rolls on a condom, I have a flicker of a thought of what it would be like to have him bare inside me. Filling me. Maybe even giving me another baby.
Not yet. But maybe one day.
Still conscious of trying to be quiet, our lovemaking is slow. Sensual. We whisper in each other’s ears, and when a moan sneaks out of me, I stifle it against his chest.
And then, when I come in an explosion of stars, Ronan swallows my cry with his mouth. He kisses me hard as I convulse around him, and moments later, he thickens and pulses inside me.
Even as the aftershocks are still rippling through us, Ronan wraps his arms tightly around me and rolls us over, so I’m on top. Then he grabs the edge of the comforter and folds it over us, so we’re wrapped together like a taco.
“Angel,” he murmurs. His lips press to my forehead. “My angel.”
“Mine,” I reply, placing my hand over his heart. “If I’m yours, that means you’re mine, too.”
He lifts his head to look at me. Though it’s dark, I can see the love in his eyes. “I’m yours,” he agrees. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
My heart squeezes.
My throat goes thick.
“I meant it,” I say. “Last night. When I said you weren’t going anywhere. Not if it’s up to me.”
Ronan stares at me. “I meant it, too. I’m not leaving. Not you. Or Haley. Not unless you tell me to.”
Love blooms inside me until I’m breathless from it. “I don’t want you to leave. Ever. I love you too much.”
Though I can’t be sure, I think I spot a gleam of moisture in his eyes. “I love you too much to leave, too.”
“Ronan.” My nose prickles. “This has been the best Christmas.”
He hugs me close and kisses me again. “It really has.”
EPILOGUE
10 MONTHS LATER
RONAN
“Look at all the dogs!”
Haley tugs on my arm to get my attention. “You didn’t say there would be this many dogs,” she accuses. “You said it was a party for the Guardians.”
Angel answers before I can. “Well, a lot of the team members have dogs, Hale. You know that. Plus, Gage and Rory run the dog shelter. Wouldn’t it make sense to have dogs here?”
“Hmm.” Haley looks around Enzo’s yard, where there must be at least a half-dozen dogs scattered around. Some of them are leashed, like Rory and Gage’s new puppy, Champ. The older and more well-trained dogs are exploring on their own, safe within the confines of the fence Enzo put up just for the occasion.
“I don’t want people worrying about their dogs running off,” he explained when he recruited us all to help. “And it’s hard to eat when you’re attached to a leash. This way, everyone can relax. Plus, with Nina being so active, it’ll be good to have a fenced-in yard for her to play in.”
It feels like just yesterday that Nina was born. And now she’s two. Sometimes it’s hard to believe how time has flown and how much our lives have changed.
Five years ago, Green Mountain Guardians was just taking off. And now we’re here, celebrating its anniversary.
