“That lion is far too hyper.” Hope watched as Felix chased small children, tossing pompom snowballs at them. Not with any great force, of course. Unlike Adam’s brothers, who had been hurling the ‘snowballs’ at each other until Mrs Roberts had dragged them outside by their ears.
“Try living with the idiot,” Sara murmured as she walked by.
Adam snorted. “I really don’t know how Sara manages not to kill him.”
“Must be love.” Hope slipped her arm through his. Truthfully, she’d seen Felix and Sara together, and it was obvious how much the couple adored each other.
“I’ve found you a house.” Auntie Anna joined them, shaking her head at Felix’s antics. “The place is absolutely perfect, and Sebastian Moretto is prepared to sell it for a reasonable price. A very reasonable price.” The glint in her eye suggested that Sebastian Moretto had little choice in the matter.
“Really? When can we see it?” Hope liked Adam’s house, but some more space would be great.
“After Christmas.” Auntie Anna rolled her eyes as she watched Felix juggle the snowballs before missing one, letting it bounce off his face. “The house really is perfect. Not too far from the school or the bakery. Lovely big garden for the kids. Five bedrooms.”
“Five?” Adam asked. “We said four.”
Auntie Anna waved that away. “And what about when you have your own calf, dear? You’ll be back to cramming the kids in like sardines. No, much smarter to start with an extra room.” She shook her head. “Of course, if you start reproducing like those McKenzies, you’ll soon need to move again.”
“Well, we thought we’d wait—”
Auntie Anna snorted. “Yes, well, that doesn’t always go to plan. Only one of mine was planned, after all. Better to have that extra room, just in case.”
Hope was pretty sure her face was actually burning. If the conversation got any more embarrassing, she’d need to find a bucket of water to stick her head in.
“Besides, until then, you can always use the spare room to store my torture equipment,” Auntie Anna continued, with a glance at Adam.
“I said I was sorry!”
Felix was now breakdancing in the middle of the floor. Little Bella stood nearby, her stuffed lion dangling from one hand as she watched her hero.
Hope grinned as she spotted Emmett running wild with his schoolfriend Xia and a couple of other children. The kids finally seemed happy and settled. Except for…
“Looks like Liv has some friends,” Adam said, nodding across the room.
Hope followed his gaze and saw Olivia standing with a small group of teens. The girl was even smiling. It was like a Christmas miracle. Hope’s eyes stung, and she blinked furiously, determined not to cry during the Christmas party.
“Oh, that is good to see,” Auntie Anna said. “Looks like my little chat with Liv paid off.” She shot another glare at Adam. “Or maybe it was the waterboarding. Hard to tell.”
“Auntie Anna!” Hope wrapped an arm around Adam’s waist. “Couldn’t you let Adam off the hook? In the spirit of Christmas?”
Auntie Anna rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
“Hey, Aunt Hope.” Olivia appeared by her side. “Can I go to Susie’s house one day next week?”
“Of course you can.”
“You don’t need me? For the kids?” Olivia bit her lip.
Hope smiled at her. “No. Liv, you are their big sister, and I will always appreciate your help with them, but not at the expense of your own life. I’m glad to see you making friends, sweetheart.” She tucked a lock of hair behind Olivia’s ear. “Adam and I will look after the kids.”
“Thanks, Aunt Hope. Uncle Adam.” She gave them a shy smile. “I’m happy you’re together.”
“Me too, Liv,” Adam said.
“Me three.” Hope grinned. “Now, shoo. Go have fun with your friends, Liv. We’ll let you know when it’s time to leave.”
“She’s come a long way,” Adam remarked as they watched Olivia chat with her new friends. He scowled. “Isn’t that boy a little too close?”
Hope snorted. “She’s fourteen, Adam. She’s noticed boys. Probably quite some time ago.”
“Well, make her stop!” Adam blanched. “I am not ready for this! Nobody said anything about the kids dating.”
“There’s a boy standing next to her,” Hope pointed out. “It’s not like he’s groping her.”
“Standing close is the first stage!”
Auntie Anna chuckled. “I think I’ll leave you to it.” Then she wandered off in the direction of her son, Alex. The big grizzly bear visibly flinched and looked around, frantically looking for an escape route. Yeah, Auntie Anna really wanted grandcubs, and poor Alex was feeling the pressure.
“So,” Hope said, taking a step closer to Adam. “Getting close is the first stage, huh?”
“Yes. We should go over there and force those two apart.”
“Hmmm… or we could do something else…” She stepped right into him.
“What? Turn the hose on them?” Adam was still staring at Olivia.
“No, although I am seriously considering turning it on you.” She nipped at his chin. “Focus, Adam.”
He glanced down at her and understanding dawned.
“Oh. You’re standing awfully close to me, Hope Phillips.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. You are.” He rubbed his hands down her arms. “A man might take that as an invitation.”
“A smarter man would have already dragged me into a dark corner somewhere.”
Grinning, Adam took her hand and led her away. “What about the kids?”
“They’re fine. Olivia is with her friends, and Auntie Anna and Auntie Joy are watching Bella and Emmett.” Hope squeezed his hand. “You did say we’d have to get creative.”
“True.” Adam led her upstairs.
They tried several doors before they found one that was open.
Hope looked around. “A supply room?”
“Well, I didn’t plan this.” Adam closed the door behind them. “Or I’m sure I’d have come up with something more romantic.”
“It’s a nice supply room.” Hope wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against him.
Adam spun them, pushing her back against the door. “I don’t really care where we are. Not as long as we’re together… and more importantly, alone.”
“I like your thinking.” Hope captured his lips.
The kiss quickly spiralled out of control and Adam’s hands were roaming everywhere. When he cupped her breast, she pushed herself into his palm, needing to get closer. It wasn’t enough.
With a frustrated groan, Hope broke the kiss and dragged her dress up and over her head, dropping it to the floor.
“Much better,” Adam muttered, slipping his hand inside her bra.
Yes, definitely much better.
Hope gasped as he massaged her breast, plucking at her nipple. His lips were trailing down her neck, and Hope shivered. She reached behind her and unfastened her bra, letting it fall away.
When Adam’s mouth latched on to her nipple, she groaned her appreciation and grabbed his hair, holding him to her. She was never, ever, going to get enough of this man. He nibbled his way back up to her lips and kissed her deeply.
She undid a few buttons on his shirt to press her palms against bare skin. Still not enough. Adam growled and pulled back enough to lose the shirt. This time when he kissed her, they were skin to skin, the friction delicious.
When his hand slipped into her panties, she nearly came from just the lightest touch. Hell, the man merely had to glance at her from across the room, and she was ready to explode. With actual contact, she was about to lose her mind. One finger dipped inside her and then gently rubbed at her clit.
“Oh!” She broke the kiss, panting as she writhed against his hand. Needing more. Needing everything.
Adam was nipping at her neck now as he teased her with his fingers, letting her reach the edge and then slowing right down. One finger slipped inside. Then another, scissoring and then thrusting in and out. Wonderful heavenly torture. But she wanted much more than his fingers.
“You are so fucking perfect,” Adam growled into her ear. “Come for me, Hope.”
This time, he kept up the pressure on her clit, letting it build and build… and then she was flying apart, shuddering in his arms while he kissed every inch of her face.
His hands left her long enough to undo his trousers and push them down. Then he was lifting her up against the door.
Hope grabbed his shoulders and met his gaze.
“Ready?” he asked.
“More than ready,” she assured him. “I want you, Adam. Always.”
He slid inside in one slow thrust and held her there for a moment.
“Move,” she pleaded. “Please.”
“Whatever you want, sweetheart.”
He rocked in and out of her, slowly at first, and then he began to move faster. Harder. Deeper.
Noises escaped her. Moans. Groans. Pleas for more. She buried her face in his shoulder, trying to stay quiet, but she wasn’t in control. Not even close. The door rattled in its frame as Adam took her against it, and anyone passing by would know exactly what was going on in here. Later, Hope would be mortified, but right now she didn’t care. Not when her mate made her feel so good. So wanted.
Her inner muscles fluttered around him. Almost there. Her heart was pounding, trying to beat its way out of her chest, and her breathing was ragged. She was reduced to whimpering now, needing so badly to come, but wanting to make this last forever.
“I love you,” she gasped.
Adam’s thrusts got even harder, and he angled his hips to catch her clit with each movement.
And then she was biting his shoulder to control the scream as she came. She swore she could see stars as he ripped her apart and put her back together again. She felt him pumping inside her, giving her everything as he found his own release.
He leaned forward, his breathing harsh. “Love… you… too.”
Yeah, being creative was fun.
***
Adam adored that blush on Hope’s face every single time their eyes met. No prizes for guessing what she was thinking about.
They’d managed to clean themselves up, but Hope was a little rumpled and anyone with a nose would know what they’d been up to. And since they were at a party full of shifters… Yeah, more than one amused look had followed them around since they’d sneaked back to the party. Olivia had wrinkled her nose, but thankfully had remained quiet, and the younger kids hadn’t quite learned to identify that scent yet.
Mrs Russell had smiled approvingly. No doubt she was hoping for calves. Truthfully, the idea was fairly appealing.
“Are you enjoying the party?” Adam asked Hope.
Another blush. “Yes. Especially the part when it was just us.”
He grinned. “Yeah, that was my favourite bit too. But it is nice to see the kids having fun.”
Adam laughed as Bella chased Felix right by them, yelling, “I’m a big scawy lion!”
“Argh! It’s a big scary lion!” Felix played along, running away, but so slowly he didn’t lose the young girl. Felix’s sister, Katie, casually stuck out a foot and tripped him, giving Bella a chance to scramble on top of him with cute little ‘roars’.
“Help! Save me! Save me!” Felix yelled. “The ferocious lion has got me.”
Emmett was giggling as he watched. His friend Xia stood beside him, her mouth hanging open.
“Now you have to give me cake,” Bella announced. “So I don’t eat you.”
“I do, huh?” Felix asked, tilting his head to the side.
“Uh huh.” Bella nodded vigorously.
“Then I guess I’d better appease the big scary lion with cake.” Felix lifted Bella off him and took her hand, leading her over to the table.
“He is so great with her,” Hope said.
Adam snorted. “Same mental age.”
“True.” She met his gaze. “You know Bella loves you too, right? She’s always telling the other kids at nursery about her big reindeer.”
“I really must teach her the word ‘moose’.”
“You are a miracle worker, Adam Roberts.” Hope snuggled into his side. “The kids are all so much happier since we’ve been here. I’m happier too.”
“As am I.” He dropped a kiss to her head. “So happy, in fact, that I want to ask you something.”
“Anything.”
“Marry me?”
Silence for a moment. Adam’s stomach began to twist itself in knots. Had he misread what they had?
Hope blinked up at him. “Umm… according to Auntie Anna, that’s sort of happening whether you want it to or not.”
Yeah, he should have seen that coming.
“I want to, Hope. No pushing required.” He held her gaze. “We’re mates, we’re living together with three kids, and I am completely in love with you. I really want to marry you, so I figured I should actually ask. You know, rather than just go with the flow.”
She smiled. “Then, yes. I would love to be your wife.”
He leaned in for a celebratory kiss, but a delighted squeal had him pulling back.
Mrs Russell stood beside them, clapping her hands.
“Oh, a Christmas Eve proposal! And I didn’t even have to give anyone one of my little chats.” She beamed at Hope. “Oh, I think you have one of the smartest men in town. He figured it out all by himself!”
Adam wasn’t sure whether to be proud or insulted. Either way, he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.
“Told you.” Olivia smirked at Hope.
“I get a pwetty dwess!” Bella jumped up and down, a slice of cake held in one hand. “I get to be a pwincess!”
“Yes, and Emmett gets to be best man,” Mrs Russell added.
Emmett blinked up at Adam, his expression hopeful. No way was he disappointing that kid.
“Absolutely,” Adam agreed. “Nobody else I’d rather have.” Honestly, he hadn’t thought that far ahead, but it was a great idea. The kids were family and should all be involved.
Emmett grinned at him.
“Well, I’m glad that’s settled.” Mrs Russell pulled out her phone. “Now, let’s see when we can fit that in. As soon as possible, of course.” She glanced up at Hope. “Just in case of any accidents…”
Hope flushed bright red. That never got old.
Adam turned to look at Olivia. “Is this okay with you?”
The teen shrugged. “Yeah. I’m good.” She smirked. “And Auntie Anna has her heart set on it, so it’s going to happen anyway. Not much point in any of us fighting it.”
Yeah, the girl wasn’t wrong.
***
“Come on, kids,” Hope said, herding everyone toward the door. “Let’s get you home and into bed. You need to be asleep before Santa can visit.”
“I’m not tired,” Emmett complained, yawning his head off.
“Yeah, not sleepy!” Bella’s eyes blinked slowly.
Hope wasn’t sure they’d even last until they got home.
Adam grinned and moved ahead to open the door, pausing for a moment before looking back at her.
“What?” she asked, trying to look around him.
“You’re never going to believe this,” he said, stepping aside.
Hope walked through the door, took a few steps, and then stopped as something cold hit her cheek.
“Oh!”
The others filed out behind her.
“Snow!” Bella squealed. “I got my snow!”
Hope looked up to see the flakes floating down. A thin layer of snow already covered the road and cars, and the whole world seemed quiet.
Emmett’s face lit up as he opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue, trying to catch a flake. Olivia smiled, her head tilted back, as she watched the snow fall.
Adam came to stand beside Hope. “It’s coming down quite hard. At this rate, we might actually get a white Christmas.”
Hope looked at him. Flakes of snow had settled in his dark hair and dusted his shoulders.
When she shivered, he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in closer. She burrowed into his side as she watched the kids. Although it was freezing, she didn’t want to deprive the kids of watching the snow for a little while.
“Aunt Hope! Uncle Adam! It’s snowing!” Bella ran to them. Snowflakes lay on her dark eyelashes as she blinked up at them. “Now it’s weally Cwistmas!”
“Yeah,” Hope said, her voice coming out a little choked. “It’s really Christmas, sweetie.”
Bella spun around in a circle, her head tipped back to watch the snowflakes.
“I think I’d better…” Adam stepped away, catching the little girl when she would have fallen and lifting her into his arms.
Hope watched her small family enjoying the snow. A momentary pang for her lost sister intruded, and she let it wash over her briefly before pushing it aside. She’d always miss Faith, but Hope was starting over now, building something new.
Adam smiled at her, and Hope stepped closer, wrapping an arm around his waist.
Bella was right. It really was Christmas, and the season was full of miracles.