Delivering His Gifts: A Mountain Man's Baby Christmas Romance (Mountain Men of Liberty)

by K. C. Crowne

  “But you love ice cream,” Skyler said, a frown on her pretty face.

  “I know, but I’m not in the mood for it today.”

  I’m always in the mood for ice cream, I told myself. It was easily one of my favorite foods. I lived for Mabel’s ice cream growing up, and it was always one of my favorite places to visit after having a hard day. The only time I hadn’t been able to eat Mabel’s ice cream was when I was pregnant with Skyler.

  “Oh no,” I said out loud without realizing it.

  “What’s wrong, Mommy?”

  Skyler had finished her ice cream, having bitten through the bottom of the cone and making a complete mess of herself. Ice cream was all over her face and shirt. I grabbed some napkins and began cleaning her up.

  “We have to make a stop before picking up Oscar,” I said. “Let’s get you cleaned up and head out, okay honey?”

  “Okay, Mommy.”

  I was so blessed with this little angel for a daughter. She was my whole world.

  But I wasn’t sure I could handle anymore right now.

  Ooo000ooo

  Skyler’d had a long day, and when it was time to put her to bed, she went down easily. Oscar was laying on the floor beside her, and Zeus was curled up on her pillow. Her little arm wrapped around the little dog, and as much as Zeus didn’t care for most people, he didn’t mind his girl cuddling with him. In fact, he seemed to like it.

  I shut the door most of the way, leaving it open a crack in case she called for me in the night, and walked down to the bathroom connected to my room. With a sigh, I pulled out the paper bag from the pharmacy where we’d stopped after ice cream. Skyler had asked me so many questions about what I was buying, and while I didn’t lie, I wasn’t exactly truthful either. I couldn’t get her hopes up.

  My period was late, but it was irregular anyway. A few days late, I hardly even paid attention. But that was before I’d had unprotected sex with Mason a month ago. When I was celibate, there was no need to keep track of my cycle and worry about things like this.

  Dammit, Danielle, what did you do?

  I was on the pill, but since I hadn’t had sex in years, I sometimes forgot about it. I should have been more careful, but it was too late for that now.

  I had to see if my one bad decision would come with consequences.

  I opened the pregnancy test and read the instructions three times before it finally registered. I did what I had to do, sitting the little test on the sink next to me, and waited.

  I couldn’t sit still, so I paced my bedroom, nibbling at my fingernails.

  What if I am pregnant? What would that mean for me and Sky?

  What would it mean for me and Mason?

  Shit. Mason. I hardly knew the man. What if he didn’t want kids? Obviously, we hadn’t talked about it, since we weren’t dating or even thinking about dating, but suddenly, it felt like vital information I needed an answer to.

  What would he do when he found out?

  I remembered that Greg was ecstatic, but that was no surprise. We were actively trying for Skyler. Now that I could look back on it in hindsight, I realized it had been a trap. He’d thought if we had a child together, I would never leave his abusive ass. His entire personality changed once we got the results of the pregnancy test. I was no longer a free woman. I was his woman - just as Jim had described me earlier. He controlled me from that day forward.

  I believed Mason was different, though. Was he? I hardly knew him. How could I make statements like that when I hardly knew the guy?

  The alarm on my phone went off, vibrating in my hand. Time to face the music.

  I walked into the bathroom and found the test where I’d left it. With a sigh, I picked it up and read the results, checking the paper to be sure I was reading it right.

  Pregnant.

  Shit.

  I had to sit down. I sat on the toilet seat and tried to focus on my breathing. I needed to relax.

  It’s going to be okay, Danielle. You can handle this. You’re a hell of a mom to Skyler, and you’re doing it alone. You can handle two babies by yourself.

  But Mason… Shit.

  I had to tell him. There was no way I could hide it in a town as small as ours, and even if I could, I knew it wasn’t right.

  Eventually, I’d have to tell Greg too, but that scared me even more. Everything about Greg scared me, but I pushed that out of my mind for the time being.

  One man at a time, Danielle.

  My hands were shaking as I typed a quick message to Mason.

  Hey, are you up?

  It felt like an eternity, but it was only about two minutes until a response lit up my screen.

  I am, what’s up?

  I took a deep breath. This wasn’t something we could discuss over text. Not even a phone call would do. No, I had to see him and break the news to him in person.

  Can you come over? We need to talk.

  He responded, Sure. Now?

  Yes, if that’s possible. The sooner the better.

  I’ll be right there.

  Ooo000ooo

  “What is it?” Mason asked as soon as I opened the door. “Are you okay? Is Skyler okay?”

  He rushed into the house, looking around. Griz ran into the room and barked at what he thought was an intruder, but as soon as he saw Mason, his entire body started wiggling. Oscar was right behind him and managed to push past Grizzly to get to Mason first. Zeus could be heard down the hallway, barking.

  “I have to go quiet him down before he wakes Skyler,” I said, hurrying down the hallway.

  Zeus was in the doorway of Skyler’s room, as if protecting the child. As soon as he saw me, however, he zipped it and returned to Skyler’s bed. I glanced into the room, and she seemed to be sleeping soundly. I closed the door again, cursing at the fact that the big dogs could open the door when it was cracked. But I had to keep it open a little bit just in case Sky needed me.

  I stood in the hallway far too long, thinking over what I was going to say in my head.

  Mason, before I tell you what I’m about to say, I want to make it clear that I still don’t want a relationship with you. Nothing will change between us, and you are under no obligation to do anything for us.

  Yes, I had a big speech before I even told him the news. I needed to be sure he understood all of it before all the emotions that came with such an announcement.

  I took a few deep breaths and counted to ten. I was still frozen in place.

  I heard footsteps, and a second later, Mason was in the hallway. He gave me a funny look and asked, “Is everything okay?”

  Instead of saying yes, my mouth got ahead of me. “I’m pregnant.” My big speech was forgotten. The words came flying from my mouth. “Shit, I didn’t want to say it like that. Let’s back up—”

  “You’re pregnant?” Mason interrupted. He braced himself against the wall.

  “Before we get ahead of ourselves, let me be clear. This doesn’t mean—”

  “It’s my baby?” he asked, his face blanched.

  “Yes,” I said meekly. “I’m sure of it. I haven’t been with another man since my ex, and that was, God, at least four years ago, if not five.”

  “I need to sit down.”

  He walked back into the living room, and I found it in me to walk at last. My entire body felt numb, and it was like my feet had a mind of their own.

  Mason collapsed into the chair, leaving the sofa for me. I took a seat, clasping my hands in my lap. All those words I had prepared ahead of time were gone. My brain was blank, and I couldn’t think of anything to say.

  “I’m going to be a father,” Mason murmured, though it was clearly not a question directed at me, more of a statement to himself.

  “You are,” I said softly. Finally, I began piecing together everything I had wanted to say to him. “But let me be clear - this doesn’t mean we have to be in a relationship. Crap, that’s not— what I mean is—”

  Mason looked at me, and something shifted in his f
ace. His features tightened. “I’m not going to disappear on you, Danielle. If that’s what you’re afraid of, I’m not going to leave you alone to care for your—” he swallowed hard and finished “—for our baby.”

  “That’s not what I’m worried about at all. I know I can handle being a single mother again, Mason. It’s that…” I needed to tell him the truth. That I didn’t want to be tied to another man, that I didn’t trust myself with him. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, or maybe it was something else, but sitting that close to him did things to my body that I wasn’t proud of. Telling him I didn’t want to be with him would be an outright lie, and I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Even though I knew I should. I hardly knew him.

  But he was the father of my child. One way or another, I would have to get used to him being involved in our lives.

  I didn’t even realize I was crying at first. So many emotions swirled inside me, and it all came out at once. And once the tears started flowing, I couldn’t stop them.

  “Hey there,” Mason said gently, moving from the chair over to the couch. “It’s gonna be okay.”

  “I don’t know if it will be,” I said, allowing him to wrap his arms around my shoulder. I fell into him, my face buried in his shirt. Damn, he smelled so good. A musky, manly scent that only caused me to grow even wetter. Being this close to him and feeling the strong muscles beneath his shirt didn’t help either. Talk about a mix of emotions.

  I knew I should be worried about what this would mean. I knew Greg wouldn’t take too kindly to me being pregnant by another man, and it would likely cause some backlash. It would be even worse if I stayed with Mason or allowed Mason to be in our lives.

  But I couldn’t bring myself to push him away.

  His strong arms around me felt safe and warm. His soft voice spoke to me, soothing me in ways no man ever had. “It’s gonna be okay,” he kept repeating. And I wanted to believe him.

  I did believe him, in fact. That was the problem. I knew I shouldn’t, but I did.

  He lifted my chin up to meet his gaze. His lips parted as if he had wanted to say something, but I didn’t let any words come out.

  I pressed my mouth against his, my hand stroking his cheek and beard. It was a chaste kiss, and as soon as our lips touched, I knew it was a mistake. I pulled away.

  “I’m sorry, I know I said—” Before I could finish, Mason kissed me back.

  His tongue plunged into my mouth, and it felt like the air had left my lungs. Shivers ran through my body, as if begging for his touch.

  “Should we do this?” I asked, pulling away briefly.

  “You’re already pregnant,” Mason said, tucking a tendril of my hair behind my ear. “I don’t see why we should deny ourselves now. As long as you want to, that is.”

  My head nodded on its own. Dammit, I didn’t want to think - I just wanted to feel his body against mine. I pushed the emotions out of my mind and allowed myself to relax into his embrace. He kissed me again before moving lower to my neck. I savored the sensation of his mouth locked onto my flesh. The roughness of his beard contrasted with the softness of his lips.

  “We need to go into the bedroom,” I moaned. There was a warmth in my belly, an ache below. My body was begging for him, and it felt like there was an emptiness inside me that only he could fill. An itch only he could scratch.

  Before I knew what was happening, Mason lifted me into his big, strong arms and walked down the hallway, careful to be quiet as we walked past Skyler’s room. My bedroom door was open, thankfully, and he carried me inside and sat me down on the bed before closing the door behind us.

  He closed the distance from the door to the bed in what appeared to be one giant leap, as if he couldn’t wait a second longer. He hovered above me, standing at the edge of the bed. His eyes were full of hunger and I was ready for him to consume me.

  “I need you undressed, now,” he growled, his hands ripping at my pajama bottoms. He slipped them down and tossed them to the floor.

  He slipped my shirt off over my head, disposing it on the bed next to me. I had slipped a bra on before he had arrived, but that too was removed with a quickness I had to admire. My breasts fell free in his hands, and he dropped to the floor, his mouth encasing one of my erect nipples.

  My head fell backward into the bedding as I groaned. My body writhed, arching upward as if begging for him to move lower. But Mason wasn’t in any hurry. He took his time sucking and teasing my nipples, enjoying every inch of my D cups.

  “God, you’re so sexy,” he muttered, his face buried in my flesh.

  “Please, Mason…” I whimpered, my insides aching for him. “I need you inside me.”

  “Not so fast,” he said. “There’s something else I’ve been dying to do first.”

  I cocked an eyebrow in curiosity. He dropped completely to his knees and pulled my body toward the edge of the bed, one leg over each of his shoulders. He dove between my thighs, the warmth of his mouth taking me by surprise as it found my most sensitive parts. I knew that I had to be quiet, we couldn’t wake Skyler. I grabbed my shirt and stuffed it into my mouth to silence the screams that were already threatening to escape from me.

  He rolled his tongue around my clit, groaning as he tasted me for the first time.

  My body was already on fire from all the build-up, and damn, he was so good with that tongue. He knew exactly where to place it to push me over the edge.

  My orgasm hit me like a tidal wave, as my heels dug into his shoulders. My body arched upward, but his strong hands held me in place. He never slowed or stopped, and I found my hands were pulling his head into me, my nails digging into his scalp as I cried out in pleasure, the sound mostly silenced by my shirt.

  Once the pleasure subsided, I removed the shirt from my mouth and stared down at Mason. His face was soaked in my juices, and his eyes were even hungrier than before. I had not satiated that hunger, only fueled it - and he wanted more.

  “Now I need you naked,” I said, breathless from my orgasm.

  Mason grinned at me and stood up. Sometimes, it was hard to believe how large he was. He was built like a mountain, strong and hard and so many beautiful, curved edges.

  I wasn’t completely satiated either - I needed more of him.

  I needed him inside me.

  He performed a strip show for me, slowly removing his clothes as my body ached for him. But I wasn’t about to rush. I had to admit, seeing him in all his sexy glory was satisfying in its own right.

  He removed his shirt first - slowly unbuttoning it until he got to the last one. He let it fall to the floor, exposing that chiseled chest. His tattoos seemed to glisten from the perspiration, dancing across his flesh as he unbuckled his belt.

  “Please!” It didn’t even sound like my voice anymore. I sat up in the bed, and I helped him remove his pants until they slid down his muscular thighs, his boxers along with them.

  I gasped at the sight of him. Yes, I had felt him before and knew he was endowed but seeing him with my own two eyes was another story. I reached for his cock with two hands, wrapping them around it firmly. I just had to touch it. I leaned forward, ready to return the favor of oral sex, but Mason stopped me by placing his hands gently on my face.

  “I’m afraid if you touch me, I’ll blow,” he said. Even in the heat of the moment, he was still an absolute gentleman.

  He nudged me backward on the bed until I was laying down. He moved over my body, dotting kisses along my tummy until he was hovering above me, his eyes staring deep into mine.

  A swirl of emotions flooded my heart and my mind. I wanted him so badly, and I didn’t just mean in a sexual way. I wanted all of him - heart and soul. But I knew that was just the hormones and the sexual energy talking. It had to be. I hardly knew this man, even if he was the father of my child.

  Mason kissed me as our bodies came together. His cock rubbed against my wetness, sliding between my lips. Feeling his warm body against me, I was already on the verge of another orgasm. Every
nerve in my body was on fire, every touch sent me a shiver down my spine.

  And when he slid the tip of his cock against my opening, I couldn’t help it, I begged some more.

  “Please, Mason!”

  Slowly, at first, he stretched me open. He pulled back from the kiss, and I watched as his face contorted into a look of bliss. His eyes shut for a moment as he rested inside me, as if savoring the sensation of being sheathed in me.

  And then he began rocking back and forth, sliding in and out of my tightness. His movements were rhythmic and perfect for hitting all the right spots. His eyes opened and he stared into mine once more - and I felt lost in those dark eyes, as if I was drowning. But I wasn’t afraid, no, I wanted to be caught up in the current, I wanted to be swept away. And at least for that moment, I allowed myself to drop my walls and let go.

  I wrapped myself around him, my lower body arching upward to meet his thrusts. I needed him deeper and deeper inside me. I wanted all of him inside me. I was greedy for his cock.

  And Mason was more than happy to give me every inch, thrusting into me with perfect precision as his lips locked on my neck, close enough to my ear that I heard every sound he made - his groans quiet but deep.

  I loved knowing that I made him feel as good as he did me. Hearing those sounds brought me even closer to the edge. I didn’t have my shirt to silence my screams this time, but I buried my face into Mason’s shoulder. My mouth opened and I cried out into his shoulder, my nails embedding in his back. If this bothered Mason, it didn’t show. If anything, his breathing grew more ragged, his movements more desperate.

  I was close enough to whisper in his ear, to state my demands. “Come inside me, Mason. Please…”

  “Danielle…” He groaned, burying his shaft deep inside me one last time.

  My pussy spasmed around his throbbing cock. The feeling of his pulsating member filled me full and sent me over the edge. Our bodies writhed in pleasure as we came together.

  Mason stayed inside me but lifted his head. He kissed my forehead, then my nose before moving to my lips. Soft, sweet kisses that warmed my insides.