December, again
It was a wonderful, magical night—for everyone, but especially Chloe Dawson.
Dani was hosting a Gals Giftmas party, and it was magical. For one thing, she was a little bit tipsy for the first time in more than a year. For another, she didn’t have a baby in her arms, and that was a freaking gift. And in a short while, she’d go home, and have two babies on her at once, and that would be a gift, too.
Being a mom was the most complicated thing. Feelings that yanked her in different directions at the same time, overwhelmed her and filled her to the brim with joy.
But right now, she was soaking up the friendship. Dani had managed to get everyone out—even Hope Creswell and Liana Hansen, Pine Harbour’s resident celebrities.
“Top up, Chloe?”
She beamed at Natasha, who was holding out a bottle of bubbly. “Oh, yes.”
Just as her glass was filled, another knock came at the door. Dani hustled to answer it, returning with Faith.
“Faith!” everyone called out in unison.
“Just like on Cheers,” she cracked. “Sorry I’m so late, but that was worth it.”
“Just in time for champagne,” Chloe said, dancing over with a flute.
Faith turned pink and shook her head. “None for me tonight.”
This time, the collection response was shocked—and happy—silence.
She nodded. “Third IVF was a charm. I’m pregnant.”
A celebratory whoop sounded around the room, and Faith leaned in to whisper to Chloe, “Zander doesn’t want anyone else to know until we pass the first trimester, but it’s twins for us, too. So you know, any advice you might have…”
Chloe wrapped her arms around her sister-in-law, careful not to spill either glass of bubbly. “It’s going to be just fine. Congratulations.”
“And now you can drink my wine.”
“I know. The congratulations were for me,” Chloe teased. “Come on, let’s find you some sparkling water or ginger ale.”
Dani pulled more hot appetizers from the oven and everyone settled in around the island to eat and drink and be merry. Once they were pleasantly stuffed, they moved to the great room and settled in front of the roaring fireplace for a game of Secret Santa.
“Here’s how this will work. We each have a random number we’ve pulled out of the Santa hat. Starting at one, we’ll take turns picking a present from under the tree, or choosing to steal from someone who has already picked a present. The only rule is that you may not steal something back in the same turn. Understand?” Dani looked around. “Excellent. Who has number one?”
Jenna waved her hand, then jumped up to peruse the options. She picked a mysterious black box, wrapped in luxurious red velvet ribbon. “Can I leave it a mystery? Or do I need to open it so people know if they might want to steal?”
“Your choice,” Dani said over a chorus of open it! cheers.
Jenna chewed on her lip, then pulled the ribbon off. Inside was a giant mug filled with hot chocolate packets, two pairs of cozy socks, and a gift card for the liquor store.
“Don’t get attached to that,” Olivia called out.
Hope was next, picking a not-obscured-at-all bottle of wine, then it was Olivia’s turn, who stole Jenna’s box of goodies.
Jenna went back to the tree and grabbed a gift bag. Inside it was a Naughty Elf costume, making everyone howl.
“It’s not too dirty, is it?” Dani blushed as she looked around the room, outing herself as the person who brought it.
“Hell no,” Liana said, waving her number in the air. “I’ve got the next pick, and I’m stealing it.”
Everyone howled. Jenna pouted as she handed it over, but then happily pointed to the stack of books Chloe had brought and carefully wrapped to look like a Christmas tree. “I’ll take those, then.”
Which made it Dani’s turn, who picked something from under the tree—a wooden advent calendar that would go perfectly on her mantle—and then Chloe’s number was up.
She waved it in the air and gave Liana a sorry-not-sorry look. “I’m stealing the sexy elf costume.”
More howls.
Liana handed it over, then prowled around the room. She snagged the books, Jenna took Hope’s wine, and Hope grabbed another bottle-shaped object from under the tree.
And then they were down to just one person. Faith. She side-eyed the elf costume, but then laughed. “I won’t fit in it in another week anyway. It’s all yours.” She took the last present under the tree, a beautiful afghan, and curled up with it. “This is my Christmas speed this year.”
Everyone raised their glasses in a toast to that. “Merry Christmas!”
Which was the first thing Chloe said to Tom when she got home, too. He was asleep with the twins in their bed. They’d given up on the nursery after a few weeks and moved the crib into their room, attaching it to their bed like a side-car at the circus.
That’s what the last six months had felt like a bit. A non-stop wild circus of love.
Exhausting but wonderful.
Silently, she stripped out of her clothes and pulled on the sexy elf costume. Then she snuck back out to the living room and found a bonus strand of Christmas lights they’d decided to not put on their tree.
Back in the bedroom, she plugged them in and wrapped the lights around her body just in time as Tom sensed her presence and groggily rolled up to a sit.
“Chloe?”
“Merry Christmas,” she whispered.
It didn’t take him long to shake off the sleep. “Whoa,” he said, blinking twice as he took in her outfit. “Hello.”
“I’m a little drunk. Jake played taxi, so we’ll need to go pick up my car tomorrow.”
“A drunk elf visiting me in the middle of the night, I love it.” He stood, stretching, then glanced at the twins. “Should I move them?”
She shook her head. “Leave them to sleep here.” She twirled, and the Christmas lights fell off her body. “We can go into the living room.”
Sex had changed so much after having kids. It was more likely to be interrupted now. It was faster. Less often.
But also better in so many unexpected ways. Tom revered her body in a way that made her feel amazing. He’d always been a good lover, attentive and full of stamina, but now he feasted on her. And her body was so much more responsive. Too responsive some days, too sensitive, but Tom flexed with that.
Tonight, he started behind her, kissing the back of her neck as his hands roamed over her curves beneath the stretchy costume. “Did you escape from the North Pole?”
“Santa sent me on a special mission to reward you because you’ve been a very good boy this year.”
“Santa knows what I like.” His mouth drifted to her shoulder, his teeth catching the strap of the costume. He slid it down her arm, then spun her around and tumbled backwards onto the couch so she was straddling him.
His mouth covered her nipple as soon as her bare breast popped out of the outfit.
She’d been looking forward to this since she won the costume in the game. She wanted him inside her, right now. “Tom…”
“Yes, my sexy surprise?”
“Fuck me.”
He growled and squeezed her hips, pulling them together. They were wearing too many clothes, but it didn’t matter. He tugged her skirt up and covered her sex with his hand, making her clit pulse before he even touched it directly.
“You’re ready for me already?”
“So ready,” she breathed.
He dragged his fingers between her slick folds, testing that promise. She wasn’t lying. She needed him now, hard and fast, on the couch.
Shoving his sweatpants down his hips, Tom fisted his cock. Yes. That. She wanted that. Rising on her knees, she gave him space to bring them together, then sank down, taking him all the way inside her.
He shuddered and whispered her name, his mouth on her skin.
She rode him slowly, savouring each thick press deep inside her, each aching retreat. She loved the way he filled her up and made her feel things beyond the physical. Whole, complete, satisfied. Loved.
Her slickness grew with each thrust, and so did how hard he was. He throbbed for her, and after a few minutes of slow fucking on the couch, he gripped her by the hips and surged forward, tumbling them onto the floor.
“Careful,” she laughed breathlessly as he cushioned her fall.
“I’d never hurt you,” he whispered. “You’re my everything.”
She wrapped her arms around him as he took over, fucking her hard and fast. Her climax roared to meet his, a rush of need that sounded like a freight train inside her head and felt even stronger than that deep in her belly.
On her last postpartum appointment, she’d had an IUD inserted. No more surprise babies. If they had another down the road, it would be fully planned. Now, sex was just for them.
A gift they gave each other.
“Tom,” she cried out as her orgasm crested. “Yes, oh, God. Yes.”
He jerked his hips, burying himself as deep as he could inside her for his release. “Chloe,” he murmured into her hair. “My beautiful Chloe.”
It took them a while to disentangle and stretch out side by side.
Chloe tugged at the costume twisted around her waist. “So this was fun.”
Tom laughed. “Very.”
She kissed his arm, then flopped back again.
“Hey, so…” Tom pushed himself up onto one arm. “I want to give you your Christmas present early. One of them, anyway.”
She watched as he rolled over and grabbed an odd-shaped box wrapped in bright green paper. Taking it, she carefully peeled off the wrapping, only to find inside that box another one, slightly smaller.
“Rip it off,” Tom said when she was careful with this paper, too—this one bright red. “There are a few more layers to get through.”
Laughing, she tore through a silver box, and a gold one, and then she found a black velvet bag. It was light, and small, but she could feel the ring through it all the same.
Oh. Blinking away tears, she opened it up and smiled as a slim white-gold band fell into her hand.
“We’ve been busy,” he said, curling up around her. “But I think it’s time we start wedding planning, don’t you?”
She couldn’t agree more. “How does the spring sound?”
He covered her mouth with his.
Perfect. It sounded perfect.
THE END
Want more Pine Harbour? Introducing a whole new family of brothers… The Kincaids of Pine Harbour is my next series set in this same world! The series begins with Reckless at Heart, Owen Kincaid and Kerry Humphrey’s story. Visit my website at www.zoeyork.com to learn more, and if you want to hear about all my new releases, make sure you’re on my VIP reader list at www.smarturl.it/ZoeYorkNewsletter!