The wind tugged at her hat and swept tendrils of her hair across her face as Dash raced home, the light chasing them across the sky. Thankfully, the heavy snow clouds gave them enough cover so that when the first rays of sunlight touched the reindeer’s fur and burnished it a rich fiery red, no one below could see them.
She knew the instant they crossed the border into Wishing Moon Bay. Dash’s headlong flight ceased, and he slowed, his sides heaving as he caught his breath. They flew on, the reindeer using the last of his strength to reach the cabin where only hours ago their journey across the sky had begun.
He landed, the sleigh hitting the ground with a thud as he fought for control in the deep snow outside the cabin. There was his truck, a foot of snow covering the ground they had dug out yesterday morning. Gina’s car was a large snowy blob next to it. But she wasn’t planning on going anywhere.
This was her home now.
Her legs were stiff and her back ached when she stood up in the sleigh and stretched her arms above her head. Tilting her head from side to side, she unkinked her spine as she watched the air crack and pop around the reindeer who was her hero. He’d worked so hard to make her wish come true and get her brother home for Christmas.
Gripping the front of the sleigh, she lifted her tired leg over the low side and stepped down into the snow. Her foot sank into the snow which came to above her knee. Raising her other leg, she cleared the side of the sleigh and reached in for the backpack containing the leftover food and the extra blankets Dash had provided for warmth. She shouldered the pack and waded through the snow toward Dash who stood in his human form watching her. He smiled a tired smile, his face pale with dark circles under his eyes.
“Let’s get you to bed.” She tucked her arm in his and they walked together through the snow to the porch and wearily climbed the steps. “I’m tired and all I did was sit in the sleigh. I can’t imagine how tired you must be.”
“Once I’ve eaten and slept for a few hours, I’ll be fine.” He opened the cabin door and they spilled inside. Dash dragged his boots and coat off while Gina dumped the blankets and the backpack on the floor before slumping down beside it and kicking off her boots. Immediately regretting her decision to sit on the floor, she didn’t have the strength to get back up. “Here.” He held out his hand and she gripped it firmly.
Dash pulled her to her feet, and she leaned on him as she steadied herself. “I’m going to crawl upstairs. I don’t think my legs will carry me, so I’ll go on my hands and knees.”
He leaned down and scooped her up in his arms. “I can carry you.”
“No, you’re tired. Save your strength.” She placed her hand on his chest, his heart was beating fast, a steady comforting thud against her palm.
“I’ll carry you upstairs and then come back down for some coffee and food.” He turned toward the stairs and carried her up to the guest room and the princess bed before she had a chance to argue.
“You know, I think I’ve grown out of princesses.” She circled his neck with her arms.
Confusion crossed his face as he turned his tired gaze on her. Confusion that slowly cleared as she nodded toward the door leading to his bedroom. “Oh.”
“We could share body heat.” She tucked her hand inside his shirt. “But you seem hot enough for both of us.”
“Smooth.” His chest heaved as he turned around and walked back out of the room. Beneath her hand, his heart rate increased, and color tinged his cheeks.
“I thought so.” She cupped his face in her hands and turned his head to face her. “Isn’t this where I belong? By your side.”
“Yes. Always.” He lowered her onto the bed. As he straightened up, she caught hold of his hand and he overbalanced, landing heavily on the bed.
“Much better.” She knelt up and pushed him down, so he lay flat on the bed. “I thought you might need some help undressing. I’m going to make you comfortable in bed and then I’ll go and fix us something to eat and drink.”
“You should get out of some of these clothes, too.” He tugged at the hem of the sweater he’d loaned her, one of two she wore over half a dozen other layers. “This is going to be like unwrapping a gift covered in layers and layers of paper.”
Gina lifted her arms and wriggled out of the sweater, pulling the second one off her head at the same time. The added layers were welcome when she rode in the sleigh, but now there were too many layers between her and Dash.
Certain Dash used some of his shifter special skills, his hands moved impossibly fast to remove her clothes, only slowing when he reached forward and unclasped her bra. She shivered as he cupped her breast in his large warm palm and rubbed his thumb over her nipple. She closed her eyes, his hands igniting a fire deep inside her, a need she’d never experienced before. He was the center of her world as he leaned forward and licked the flat of his tongue over her other nipple, the sensation connecting with her core and filling her with a deep, needy ache.
“Are you sure you aren’t too tired?” she asked as he stroked her mound, sliding his fingers inside her as she knelt beside him. “Oh.” She closed her eyes and turned her face to the ceiling as he pushed deeper inside her, his thumb rubbing her intimately as she rolled her hips.
“I’m feeling recharged.” His teeth grazed her soft skin before he captured her nipple in his mouth.
Gina placed her hands on his shoulders for support as he pushed another finger deep inside her and stroked her inner walls. She couldn’t hold on as her orgasm rushed toward her as he teased her, tempting her to give herself to him.
She was never a one-night stand kind of woman, she’d never slept with a man on the first date, not even the first month of a new relationship. She’d always been careful, always been cautious, not wanting to get burned. But she had gotten burned. The man she thought loved her had let her down, broken her heart.
Dash would never do that to her. Being with him felt so right.
Her orgasm was agonizingly close, but she wanted more, she wanted him.
Curling her fingers around his wrist, she tugged him away. He looked up at her, his expression filled with concern as he moved away. He thought she’d changed her mind. That she didn’t want him.
“I want you inside of me.” She moved, straddling him, her hand curled around his hardness as she lifted herself onto her knees and then slowly lowered herself down onto him. The breath hissed through his teeth as he filled her, her inner walls gripping him as she impaled herself on him fully.
Dash’s fingertips dug into the soft flesh of her hips as she began to move. Circling her hips around and around in a hypnotic slow motion, she rode him. His breath quickened and he raised his hips off the bed, thrusting into her as she rocked back and forth.
His hands slid up her back, fingertips stroking her spine as he raised his torso off the bed and leaned forward, his mouth capturing her breast. Gina’s inner muscles contracted in response, gripping his hardness and he groaned, his arousal intensifying.
Gina wanted to push him further, she wanted to take him to the edge and make him fly once more. This time he wouldn’t fly alone, she would be with him, joined with him. So close, her climax hovered just out of reach.
Dash lifted his head and whispered in her ear, his breath the softest of caresses against her skin. “I love you.”
She cupped his face in her hands and tilted his head back. Staring into his eyes, she saw the truth there. He wasn’t just saying he loved her, he truly did.
“I love you, too.” She lowered her head and kissed his lips. The words had left her mouth without thought, but they were true, nonetheless. She couldn’t imagine a world without him.
Their lovemaking slowed, the tempo lost as they kissed, his lips soft yet firm against hers as he held her close. His tongue entwined with hers, exploring her mouth as she rocked her hips back and forth. Time stood still, they were alone in the cabin, cut off from the world by the freshly fallen snow.
“I never imagined I’d be spending Christmas
with my mate.” His eyes glittered with tears as their kiss broke and he slipped his hand along her spine and stroked the nape of her neck.
“I haven’t gotten you a gift or anything.” She smiled down at him, running her fingers through his hair as she committed his face to memory. The face she would look on first thing every morning for the rest of her life. The thought didn’t scare her, she embraced it along with the love that flowed through her.
“You are the perfect gift. I could never wish for anything more.”
“You haven’t lived with me for long enough yet.” She kissed him, her hunger for him awakened and she moved her hips, building a steady rhythm as they held each other, their eyes locked together until they finally came. Their bodies joined, his essence filling her, and maybe, just maybe giving them both the greatest gift of all.
A child of their own.
Epilogue
“Merry Christmas!” Gina welcomed him home.
“Merry Christmas.” He was dead beat but the sight of his mate standing in front of a Christmas tree in his living room renewed his energy. “Where did this all come from?”
“Well.” She took a step forward. “Your brother and sister came by with the children after you left last night. With a tree and some Christmas decorations. They said you didn’t have any.” She held up her hands to the tree. “Do you like it?”
“I love it.” Dash took off his boots and coat and went to her. “Not as much as I love you.”
“You say the sweetest things.” She slipped her arms around his waist as they stared at the tree, the small lights twinkling in the half-light of dawn.
“This is the best Christmas ever.” He lowered his head and kissed her mouth. Maybe he had just enough energy left to take her to bed and make love to her.
“I’ve made you breakfast. I wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry when you got back or if you would want to go straight to bed.” She led him to the kitchen. “Your choice.”
“I’d like to sit and eat breakfast with you. If I go to bed now, I might have to pinch myself to check that I’m not dreaming. After waiting for you for so long, it’s still hard to believe you are real.”
“I see, you expect me to believe in Santa, but you find it hard to believe in me.” Her eyes twinkled as she set a plate of pancakes on the table and passed him the maple syrup. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please. These smell delicious.” He picked up his fork and dug into the fluffy pancakes.
“So how is Santa? Did he ho-ho-ho?” Gina sat down across the table from him and sipped her coffee.
“He did.”
“Oh, that’s my phone.” Gina slid out of her chair and raced to the living room. Digging around on the sofa, she grabbed hold of her phone.
“No wonder you lose that thing.” Dash carried his plate of pancakes and coffee cup into the living room and sat down in front of the glowing embers of the fire.
“Merry Christmas!” Her face flushed with pleasure as she listened to the person on the other end of the phone. “You got my gifts?”
She flopped down next to Dash and kissed his cheek. “Did Santa deliver the gifts to your brother and his family?”
“Santa did.” She grinned as she listened to the excited voices of her brother’s family. “Have a great day. I love you. See you soon.”
“Does that mean Andy is a believer?” Dash asked.
“It does.” She leaned on his shoulder. “And I am, too. I believe in it all. Shifters, magic, fated mates. I also believe I’m the luckiest woman alive because I have you.”
“I love you, Gina.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “I can’t wait to spend many more Christmases with you.”
“I love you, Dash. You’re a special guy. And now you are my guy.” She sighed. “Best Christmas ever.”
Dash would have to agree.
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The White Wolf of Wishing Moon Bay
The Bond of Brothers Book One
The Horse Shifter’s Mate
The Bond of Brothers Book Two
Her Fae-vorite Bear
The Bond of Brothers Book Three
Fae-ted to the Bear
The Bond of Brothers Book Four
The Snow Leopard’s Love
The Bond of Brothers Book Five
The Dragon Shifter’s Desire
The Bond of Brothers Book Six
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Dashing Home for Chrstmas Page 9
