Christmas with the Kings (The Kings of Guardian)

by Kris Michaels

  Jared gave a startled jump and patted his pockets. Soft laughs echoed until Jared smiled with relief and reached in his front pocket. He pulled out Jade's wedding ring, a diamond encrusted band with stones cut to match her engagement ring. Nic grabbed the small ring and turned at the same time Jade was moving to give her bouquet to Jasmine. The flowers caught the ring and flicked it down the aisle where it rolled under the front pew. Everyone in the front pew ducked, looking between their feet.

  "I'll give twenty bucks to the first kid who finds that ring." At Jade’s words, Talon, Reece, Tristan, Tanner, Elizabeth, and Kadey disappeared. Squeals of laughter from the children mixed with the unabated laughter of those who had to lift their feet as the kids scurried under and around the pews.

  "Got it!" Reece stood, lifting the ring in his hand.

  "Excellent, bring it here, dude." Jade waved him up. Reese gave her the ring before Nic could grab it. "Oh, no, you owe little dude here twenty bucks." Jade shoved the ring onto her finger and held it up, winking at the crowd.

  Nic reached into his suit pocket pulled out his wallet and lifted the bills he had inside. "I only have a fifty."

  Jade plucked the bill from his hand and gave it to Reece. "That's a tip."

  The minister lifted his hands trying to still the laughter that echoed through the sanctuary. When it finally quieted he took a deep breath, closed his eyes and sighed dramatically before he blinked his eyes open and looked at Jade. "Your turn."

  "Ah.” Jade turned to Nic and winked. She pivoted towards the people in attendance. "I'm Jade, by the way. I'm the one marrying Nic. It is my name on the marriage license, so I figure the reverend's botching my name isn't that big of a deal. As for you." The laughter the minister had tried to quell returned. She turned to Nic and lifted her hand pointing at him. "You told my mom I seduced you. She could have lived her entire life without knowing that." She glanced at her mom. "Right?"

  Amanda, laughing behind her hand, nodded and waved Jade back to Nic. "See? You know you are an amazing man, Nicolas DeMarco, and it is a good thing you're so damn pretty, otherwise..." Nic threw back his head and laughed at the standing joke between them. "But, I'd like to be serious for about thirty seconds." Jade took both of his hands in hers. He waited until she lifted her eyes to his and his breath caught in his throat. The pure emotion that showed in her eyes was a rare gift. "You, Nic, are my beacon of sanity. You ground my life and give it meaning and purpose. Before you, there wasn't depth, or connection, or the desire for either. You split my soul open and gave it a place to reform, whole and alive with hope. You are the foundation I needed, the love I didn't deserve, and the man I will cherish and adore until my last breath."

  She turned to Jewell who had his ring. Every last kid in attendance jumped up. Jade turned to them and lifted an eyebrow.

  "Awww… come on, Aunt Jade! I wanna chance!" Talon begged.

  "How much money you got in that wallet, DeMarco?" Jade glanced at his wedding ring. The devil danced in her eyes, and that absolute joy and impetuousness was the reason he loved her more than life itself. He glanced from Jade to the minister. The man glowered at him and shook his head.

  Nic didn't fight the smile that split his face. "More than enough." He grabbed his wedding band and flicked it down the aisle.

  Chapter 16

  Jared leaned against the rail and surveyed the majority of the great room below him. Christmas Eve with his mom and Frank had always been magical. This Christmas was no exception. The wedding was exactly like Jade. Fun, quirky and completely inappropriate. Mom had cried and laughed and then cried again.

  "Are you ready?" Christian came up behind him and planted his chin on Jared's shoulder, looking down into the great room.

  "I am. Is everything all right?" Jared lifted his arm and Christian ducked under it into his side-armed hug.

  "She's fine. Just wanted to wish us a Merry Christmas." Christian dropped his head and sighed. "She scared me with the text though. The first trimester is the hardest."

  "It will be okay this time." They'd done their research before they sought out a surrogate. Clara was ten weeks pregnant, for the second time. The first attempt ended in a miscarriage. They waited a year before they tried again. They'd chosen not to know whose sperm was used to inseminate her. Whether his or Christian’s, their baby would be loved. "When do you want to tell them?" Laughter rose from the family below.

  "When we are sure."

  Christian's deep rumble of laughter followed Jade chasing Jacob through the room, which set off a string of children in hot pursuit. "Those two aren't right in the head, are they?"

  "God, no." Jared glanced up and smiled. Mistletoe. He swung his husband around and folded him into his arms. "This time next year, you'll be a daddy."

  Christian leaned into him, his long blond hair fell over Jared's hands. "And so will you. Are you ready for that type of craziness?" He nodded down at the family below.

  Jared brought his husband's attention back to him using his finger and thumb to trap Christian's chin. "More than ready." He lowered his lips to his husband’s. "Our first kiss was here." Christian blinked up at the mistletoe and smiled. He recalled their first kiss like it was yesterday.

  Jared smiled but didn’t say a word as he reached toward Christian. Surprise froze him for a moment. The warm grip of Jared’s large palm cupped the back of his neck. Jared made a point of looking up, and Christian’s eyes followed his gaze. A bundle of mistletoe hung suspended over them. Christian stopped breathing as Jared leaned down to meet his lips. The soft brush sent a shockwave of sensation running like tiny electric currents under his skin. The sweep of Jared’s tongue asked for permission, and Christian granted access. He grabbed Jared’s biceps to steady himself under the sensual onslaught. The huge muscles flinched and trembled under his touch.

  His body was being set on fire. Jared’s tongue coaxed and teased his until Christian leaned into the big body in front of him, surrendering to the longing he felt.

  The kiss ended with a tender nip of his bottom lip followed by a soft sweep of Jared’s tongue. Christian opened his eyes to see the pupils of Jared’s eyes blown wide, rimmed by a slice of vivid green. Jared’s stare held him mesmerized.

  “Merry Christmas, Christian. May all your dreams come true.” Jared pulled back a step as he spoke.

  “I think they just did.” Jared leaned down for a kiss and as their lips met, he repeated the words, "Merry Christmas, my love. May all your dreams come true." It was as if the first kiss echoed through the years they'd been together and resonated in the life they'd built with each other.

  When they separated, Christian confessed, "Every one has come true because of you."

  "Hey, you two! Come down here, we are going to cut our one and only wedding cake!" Jade's words brought a smile to both of their lips but didn't stop the kiss. "Kids, go get your uncles so I can eat some of this cake!"

  Jared pulled away from Christian. "Want to make this fun?"

  "How?"

  "Run." Jared spun and sprinted toward the back stairs with Christian right behind him. The squeal of children thundering up the stairs echoed after them. Jared grabbed Christian's hand, and they flew down the stairs, ducking into a huge hall closet. He shut the door and listened as the children thundered by.

  "They'll figure it out," Christian whispered.

  "Don't care. I just needed a minute." Jared pulled his husband back into his arms.

  "Only one?" Christian wrapped his arms around Jared.

  "No, there will never be enough minutes with you." Christian met Jared's lips once again, ignoring the outside distractions.

  Amanda Marshall pulled her coat on and slipped out onto the front porch. She flipped the switch starting the outdoor heater and moved over to the swing. Night had fallen, and the children and grandchildren were in their rooms resting or getting ready for Christmas Eve dinner. Betty had banished her from the kitchen. She was at loose ends, which was unexpected. She tucked her legs up in the swi
ng with her. The warmth of the heater was immediate. Amanda stared out into the night. The wedding and reception had been a complete surprise. Watching her family come down the aisle, she knew it was either Justin or Jade and her bet had been on Justin until she'd seen Dani. Jade getting married was something she'd always prayed for, but she knew her daughter, and if anyone had pushed her, she would have pushed back and run the other way.

  A smile snuck across her face. Jade's wedding was untraditional, to say the least. An organized three-ring circus was an apt description. The hug she'd given her daughter after they finally found Nic's ring and the minister had pronounced them husband and wife, was one she would always remember.

  "Did we surprise you?" Jade almost bounced in her high heels when she asked.

  "You did. I had no idea what was going on." Amanda glanced up at Nic. "So, she seduced you, huh?"

  "I am so going to kill you for that Nicolas DeMarco." Jade flicked his shoulder with her flowers.

  "Hey, we are in a church, I can't lie. It’s like, against the laws of physics or something." Nic laughed and ducked away from the poor, abused flowers when they swung his way again.

  "Well at least God didn't strike us down with lightning." Jade turned back to Amanda and glanced up at the sanctuary ceiling. "That was a very real possibility, you know what I mean?"

  Amanda grabbed her daughter's hand. "I don't think God actually strikes down people anymore and if he did, he wouldn't take you two." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her daughter's ear. "I know He loves you for who you are because it is impossible not to. You are an amazing person, Jade, and you deserve this man's love." She grabbed Nic's hand and put it on top of Jade's. Trying hard not to cry, she glanced up at Nic. "You two deserve all the happiness the world has to offer. Make sure you take time to find it, together. Don't let life pass you by."

  "Dammit, Momma, you can't cry." Jade stomped her foot and wiped at her own cheeks. "All day, Mom. All day without losing it, and now I ruin my mascara."

  The door squeaked as it opened, and Frank stepped out after her. He had a blanket in his hands and was wearing his old Carhartt jacket. It had seen a few too many winters, but Frank still wore it; he just added a down vest under it. She had a new one under the Christmas tree for him. The man would spend a fortune on the ranch, or her or their family, but not a dime on himself. He was one of the best men she'd ever known.

  He sat down and tucked them under the blanket together. His arm went around her as he leaned back. "Good?"

  She hummed in agreement and lowered her head to his shoulder. "That was the most unorthodox wedding I've ever seen."

  Frank chuckled. His laughter made her head dance as she relaxed into him. "That girl is a wild-child."

  "Always has been." Amanda agreed. "The little kids won't be able to sleep tonight. There is nothing left of that cake."

  "They'll crash after we get some good warm food into their bellies. They've been playing hard." Frank pushed the swing gently, and they swayed, listening to random laughter and doors opening and closing inside the house.

  "Did you ever think your life would be this full?" Sometimes she worried that the entirety of the family was too much for Frank. They'd marched into his life and turned it upside down.

  "I didn't," Frank responded. He pushed the swing again. "But then again, when I thought that, I reckoned I'd lost Tori. Jacob brought her back to me. Keelee found her man because of him and then I found you. Never believed after Elizabeth died that I'd have this." He tugged her closer and kissed her hair. "Wouldn't trade a single, noisy, messy, quirky day for what I had before."

  "I overheard you and Gabriel this morning." She had to confess the worry that was on her heart, and she hadn't meant to eavesdrop. The men were speaking on the porch, and she was in the laundry room loading sheets that hadn't made it through the night into the washer. Overactive bladders of young ones tended to mean more laundry. The window in the laundry was always left open an inch or two because it was unbearably hot otherwise. The men's voices floated in. The words froze her to the spot. It wasn't intentional until it became essential.

  Frank sighed. "How much?"

  "Enough to worry." She shivered, and it had nothing to do with the fact they were outside.

  Frank grunted and kicked the porch deck with his boot sending them swaying again. "No sense borrowing trouble. Worry about what we know is happening, not what we think will."

  "Dixon, Chief, and Taty." Amanda sighed and closed her eyes. "I miss them."

  "They are safe." Frank's chest rumbled under her ear.

  "For now." Amanda reminded him.

  Frank shrugged. "It is the best we can do." A loud squeal peeled through the house prompting a chuckle from both of them. "Are you ready for tomorrow morning?"

  "I am. Presents are all wrapped. Santa Frank has midnight delivery duty, and every child in that house knows not to leave their room until after six a.m."

  "Graaaaaammmmmaaaa!" Talon's loud call could be heard clearly outside.

  "Think that mandate is going to work?" Frank pulled off the blanket and stood, extending his hand to her.

  She took his hand and stood up, albeit a bit slowly. The cold and age had taken their toll today, although the joy in her heart knew no such limitations. It leaped and danced in a robust salute to her family and her life in general. Another long wailing call from inside the house tickled laughter from both of them.

  Amanda leaned up and kissed Frank on the jaw. "Not a chance."

  Chapter 17

  Jade hung up the white lace dress and slipped into a naughty Santa teddy. The red fishnet thigh-highs plus the four-inch patent red leather stilettos she was wearing were accented by a white fur garter and a red velvet Santa hat with a white fur brim and a ball at the end. She added matching lipstick and took in the overall effect. Hell, she'd do her. That thought made her laugh out loud.

  "What are you doing in there?" Nic called to her. She'd helped him take off his prosthesis before changing. He'd been on his leg all day after sleeping with the prosthesis strapped on last night. His scarred skin was tender and swollen, so she'd been careful to make sure he'd taken care of himself before she'd changed.

  She opened the door a little bit and swung her leg out, hiding her body. Nic's muttered, holy fuck, was all she needed to hear.

  She put her leg down and stepped out from behind the door. "Have you been a good boy, Nicolas?" She sauntered over to the bed. The pup tent developing under the sheet her husband had draped over his body was obvious. She turned around and ran her hand from her thigh up to her hip. "Oh, look!" She pointed to her shoe. "The ankle strap isn't fastened." She spread her legs and bent at the waist. The lace material of the teddy pulled tight between her butt cheeks, becoming for all practical purposes a thong. It took several long seconds to run the strap of leather through the stay. Jade lifted back up and peeked at the man over her shoulder. "Well, have you been a good boy?"

  "Oh, fuck yeah. I've been fantastic." Nic sat up in bed. The sheet slithered down his body, and Jade sucked in a breath. What the man did to her should be illegal. He extended his hand to her, and she turned without question to take it. He helped her onto the bed where she straddled him. His hand slid up her thigh to the fur garter. He glanced at it before his eyes darted back to hers. "What do good boys get for Christmas?"

  Jade pushed him on the shoulder until he got the message and relaxed back onto the mattress. She moved over him, kissed his shoulder and whispered, "A little sugar." She trailed kisses down his chest following his happy trail, moving the sheets as they impeded her goal. "A little spice." She cupped his balls and shot an impish look up at him when he spread his legs to allow her to fit between them. "And a whole lot of everything nice."

  Jade took his cock to the back of her throat and closed her lips around the shaft, milking him on the way up. Her hand rolled his balls, and the man arched off the bed. Fuck, she'd never get enough of making her man lose his shit. She did that. No one else. There wou
ld never be another woman with her man. They were bound together, forever.

  Jade lowered again, and the fur ball from her Santa hat flipped into her eyes. She grabbed the hat from her head and tossed it to the side as she took him again, but this time swallowed when he hit the back of her throat.

  "Fuck, babe. Stop, please. I need to be inside you." Nic grabbed her by the arms and pulled her up his body.

  Jade lay on him, arching her back to look down at the expression on his face. His eyes were hooded, heavy, and full of emotion. She saw love and lust and happiness, all of which she reflected right back to him.

  "I love you." The simple admission wasn't difficult anymore. They'd made a pact. They would embrace each day and live it to the fullest. There would be no regrets for them. They were a team, and together they could face anything.

  He pushed her hair away from her face and cupped her neck with his hand. "I love you, Mrs. DeMarco."

  Jade smiled and shook her head. "Mrs. King-DeMarco."

  Nic smiled and pulled her down, whispering against her lips. "I don't care what you call yourself as long as you know you're mine."

  Jade lost herself in the kiss. His tongue danced with hers. The man could put her on the edge of orgasm just by kissing her. He consumed her and yet filled her. His kiss both gave of himself and claimed her. The exchange gave as much as it took, and the perfection of their union was based on those gives and takes. It was never about her or him but about them. Learning, moving forward, and making mistakes—but always together.