"Awww, come on. The place is really cool."
"I seriously have no desire to see where you kissed some trashy girl."
"Well, can you really be trashy at five years old?"
"Five? Really?" she asked suspiciously.
"Yep. I was five and kissed JoBeth up in the hayloft," he stated proudly.
"And how many other girls did you kiss in the hayloft as the years passed?" Natalie had no intention of being just one of many.
"I kissed lots of girls in lots of haylofts, but, alas, only JoBeth in this one," he replied.
"Fine. Show me this loft, but if you think you're going to get any kisses out of me, then you will be very disappointed."
They climbed a ladder and then Hawk was right behind Natalie, nuzzling her neck. "I'm not kissing you, Hawk," she said again, but her voice came out breathy because his hands were slipping beneath her shirt and touching the bare skin of her stomach.
"Why? Don't you like my secret hideaway?" he murmured as he gently nipped her shoulder while his fingers climbed higher, lightly brushing across her breasts.
"No," she replied, though they both knew she was lying, especially when she pushed back against him and rolled her hips so she could better feel his arousal.
He lowered his fingers across her abs and reached for the zipper of her jeans, taking his time in releasing the material that was binding her. Natalie gave up even the smallest pretense that she didn't want this.
"Yes, Hawk. Faster."
He didn't disappoint her. He slid his hands inside the denim and gave a good push, and then her jeans were pooling at her feet, landing on the hay to provide a nice barrier between their bare skin and the dry grass when they became horizontal.
With her back still to him, Hawk pushed her legs apart, leaned in, and sucked on her neck while he slipped a hand inside the silk of her panties and found her core more than ready for his touch.
"I love how you respond to me," he groaned in her ear, causing a shudder to rip through her.
"You make me catch fire, Hawk."
"You inspire me, Natalie."
He took her shirt away, adding it to the pile beside them, then flung her bra aside, leaving her gasping while his hands wandered all over her.
"More," she begged, moaning as he pinched her hard nipples.
Dropping them both to their knees, he turned her around and kissed her before edging back just a couple of inches so he could remove his shirt, revealing his incredible abs and disgracefully hard pecs. With sure fingers, he undid the buttons on his jeans and pushed the denim down his muscular legs. When he unveiled her favorite part of his body, she gasped in anticipation. Soon, very soon, that pulsing arousal would take her to new heights of pleasure.
Natalie pushed him backward, and he lost his balance. She crawled up his legs, her tongue licking along the sweet muscles of his thighs until she reached his manhood. Without hesitation, she grabbed his hardness and took her first taste of him. Oh my . . .
"Natalie," he groaned.
She didn't answer him; she just moved her hand up and down his throbbing arousal while she sucked on it. After a couple of minutes, he pushed her back, his face crimson, his eyes wild.
"Your turn," he growled, easily flipping her over onto her back. "Hold on!"
Hold on to what? she wondered before she couldn't think anymore, because he'd slid his hands beneath her thighs and was taking his turn at tasting her. Natalie cried out as his masterful tongue stroked her pulsing flesh, taking her higher and higher as she strove for release. His low moans mingled with her cries in such beautiful music that Natalie felt tears sting her eyes.
When the first explosion of pleasure raced through her, she rode the wave, loving how he drew it out, loving the perfect way he played her body. He slowed his touch, murmuring his approval of her response to him. Then he shifted, his eyes hungry, almost starving, as he looked down at her flushed skin. Without another word, Hawk climbed up her sated body and then plunged inside her, making her cry out again at such a welcome invasion.
"More," she practically sobbed as he moved back and then thrust forward again, and she dug her nails into the slick skin of his back.
"Yes, Natalie. Give me your pleasure . . . Let it go," he demanded.
How could she possibly refuse him? Her body knew what it wanted, and when he thrust forward again, she gripped him tightly as a violent wave of ecstasy rushed through her. Hawk's shout of joy followed quickly.
"I could make love to you all night," Hawk said as he kissed her slowly, tenderly, making her stomach start to flutter again.
She giggled. "You wouldn't hear any complaints from me."
Her lips parted when she felt him growing hard against her thigh. Whoa. Impossible. Hawk proceeded to prove to her that he wasn't just offering up empty promises . . .
chapter 17
Natalie shot straight up in bed, clutching the comforter to her chest as her heart pounded.
"What's wrong?" Hawk slowly sat up beside her with blurry eyes. They couldn't have been asleep for more than a couple of hours.
"What was that?" she asked as she tried to calm herself.
"What was what?" He still wasn't awake.
"How in the heck can you wake up at a tiny little beep from your pager, but then sleep through what sounds like a bomb exploding?"
"I don't know. You just learn to tune out certain noises," he said with a crooked smile as he began rubbing a hand along her thigh.
Natalie jumped again as the door was thrust open and Hawk's sister gazed in at them, her face going from excited to impish at finding Natalie in her brother's room.
"Go away, brat!" Hawk said as Natalie tried to hide beneath the covers. Dang. She wished that he hadn't insisted she spend a little time in his bedroom last night.
"Not a chance, Hawk," Taylor said. "It's Christmas morning and I want to open my presents." She crossed her arms against her chest and stamped her foot, a mutinous scowl on her face.
"You're not five anymore, Taylor. You're twenty-three," he pointed out.
"And you're well past five, old enough to have set your alarm for the big family celebration. Anyway, I don't care how old a person gets. If you're not excited about Christmas morning, you just aren't human. By the way, hi, Natalie!"
Smoked out. Natalie peeked over the covers, her face scarlet. "Hi, Taylor. Please don't tell your mom," she whispered, mortified at the thought of Maggie knowing she was in Hawk's room, even if they were adults.
"Then you'd better get downstairs fast," Taylor said with a satisfied grin.
Natalie was more than willing to agree to the demand, but the two stubborn siblings remained in a deadlock for several tense moments while Natalie's head whipped back and forth between them. Finally, Hawk let out a disgusted sigh.
"Fine. We're coming," he said. "Turn around for just a moment, my darling sister." He threw off the covers, yanked on the pair of sweats that he'd discarded nearby, and rose from the bed.
Natalie's mouth dropped open at the sight of his naked back. It didn't help that the sweatpants rode so low on his amazing hips. No matter how many times she saw this man half dressed, he still awed her.
"Close your mouth, Natalie, before you let in some flies," Taylor said with a mischievous grin as she turned back to face them.
"I swear I'm not going to give you your presents if you don't go away right now," Hawk said, and he moved threateningly toward the door.
"Fine. But if you aren't down in five minutes, I'm coming back," Taylor said, before adding, "and I'm bringing Mom!"
Hawk shut the door in her face. He turned and winked at Natalie. "I can set up a barricade."
"It's tempting . . ." And she actually considered it. But the sound of more footsteps thundering down the stairs caused her to sigh and climb from the bed. "Nope. We better get moving," she said as she floated to the en-suite bathroom after grabbing her clothes from the floor.
It was going to be tricky enough sneaking back to her room without
being seen. No way was she doing it without a quick shower first. When she came out, Hawk grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her into his arms, letting her feet dangle in the air. "I love it when your cheeks are all rosy."
"It's been well over five minutes," Natalie reminded him with a giggle. "We'd better go before they send out a search party."
He kissed her and then set her back on her feet. Hand in hand, they went to the door. And right there on the other side was Taylor with a perturbed look that made Natalie laugh in spite of herself.
"I'm sorry, Taylor. I took a really quick shower."
"Most people wait till after the presents are opened to shower," Taylor grumbled, but as it was Christmas morning, she forgave them both. Still, she wedged herself in between them to lead them down the stairs.
Natalie couldn't help but grow excited herself when she found Hawk's entire family and several other family friends all sitting around the giant living room with a huge tree taking center stage and so many gifts that it looked like a department store had exploded.
Soon, laughter filled the cabin as paper tore and thank-yous rang out. Natalie had to fight emotion as present upon present was thrust her way. She took her time with each one, not wanting to ruin the paper, and not wanting this moment ever to end.
She had never, ever received so many gifts before, and she felt guilty because she hadn't been able to do nearly as much for this wonderful family as they were doing for her. She hadn't expected to spend Christmas with them, but she'd still purchased a few items she'd planned on giving them after Christmas. What did you get a family that obviously had so much? When a tiny package was thrust at her, she was concentrating so hard on not ruining the paper that she didn't notice how quiet the room had become.
She found a small jewelers' box inside the wrapping, and the thought that she was about to get a pretty new trinket made her absolutely gleeful. No one in the room could have missed the brilliance of that smile. But when she opened the case and found a magnificent diamond ring inside, she almost dropped it.
Lifting her face, she saw Hawk staring intently at her with a look of love so tender that she was grateful to be sitting cross-legged on the floor already.
"Natalie, I know this has been quick. I know that you're probably terrified right now, and I know I should have done this more privately so you could tell me to take a flying leap if you wanted. But I love my family and I want them to be a part of this moment, because up until meeting you, I didn't think there could ever be another person in my life who would make me feel the things you make me feel. Even though it's only been a month, I know you better than any other person could, and I love that. I feel like what we have together is one hundred times stronger than anything I've ever felt before. I never thought anyone could make me as happy as you do. Everything that's stressful in my life disappears the second I see your smile. I can say with one hundred percent certainty that you are my soul mate. There is a plan for everyone and I know that you are my only future. I will never let you go no matter what your answer is. Please marry me and make me the happiest man alive."
He didn't break the connection of their eyes, and though he'd shown her day after day that he wanted to be with her, this was something she would have never expected from him, not because he wasn't perfect, but because she wasn't. At least she wasn't in her own eyes. Natalie didn't know what to say.
Yes, this had moved quickly, and yes, she should try to think logically, but running over the last month in her head, she knew that she was happiest when with him, whether at the school, or in the gym, or just sitting and playing a board game at his parents' place. Their love would only grow stronger from this day forward.
This wasn't a part of her plans. This wasn't even on the table, but love didn't care. They had found each other and there was nothing that would change how they felt. Nothing.
"I love you, too, Hawk," she whispered. And she didn't even notice that her voice had wobbled. "I love that you care about me, insecurities and all. I love that you see me differently than I see myself, and I love that family is so important to you. I want a family; I've just always been afraid to ask for one. I thought I had a plan I needed to follow, but what you've taught me is that the best things in life aren't planned--they're discovered."
"Will you marry me, Natalie?"
"Right this minute if I could," she told him.
Soft sighs echoed through the room as Hawk moved forward, pulled Natalie to her feet, and drew her gently into his arms, where he sealed their promises to each other with a tender kiss. Love had found them this holiday season, and it had taken hold of both of their hearts. And it wasn't about to let go.
epilogue
Valentine's Day
Well, what do we do now?" Eileen asked.
"I don't know," Bethel said with a sniffle. "We should be a heck of a lot more happy. That was a wonderful wedding."
Maggie's answering smile was accompanied by watery eyes. "Yes, I think Hawk and Natalie are going to make each other very happy."
"Yes, they will," Martin said. "They were meant to be." Even he sounded a bit choked up.
Still, Bethel pouted. "But I'm bored now."
"Well, Hawk isn't the only single man in this town," Eileen said.
Bethel perked up instantly. "That's very true."
"My boys are way past their time to find their brides," Martin reminded them.
"I couldn't agree with you more, Martin," Maggie replied with a painful level of excitement.
"I just don't know where to even begin," Martin said.
"I know. It worked out really well with Natalie, but we don't need any more schoolteachers," Eileen said.
The four of them sat at a large table and watched Hawk and Natalie hold each other tight while dancing to Lonestar's rendition of the song "Amazed."
"I know that I've been more than ready for Jackson to settle down, but that boy avoids commitment like it's a double-headed snake," Martin groused.
"What do we do to change his mind?" Bethel asked.
Martin said, "I'm at a loss. I just don't know . . ."
"Well, he does have that trip to Paris coming up. Any chances of a romance there?" Eileen asked.
"It is the city of love," Maggie said.
"We need help!" Bethel insisted.
Martin grinned. "Maybe it's time to call Joseph."
"That old rascal hasn't visited in too long," Eileen said. "What is Joseph Anderson up to these days?"
"I know that he's managed to create a large family for himself. He's told me a little about how it all happened, so I know he had his hand involved," Martin told them.
"Well, then. Let's give the man a call!" Eileen pulled out her cell phone and punched his number from the contacts list.
"Hello?"
Joseph Anderson's voice boomed across the line, and the meddling was only just beginning . . .
chapter 1
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart . . ."
Eyeing the crush of cheerfully wasted humanity as they sang along to the soppiest Christmas song ever, Beck Rivera let go of a frustrated sigh. It turned into a growl midway through.
"If one more idiot in a red suit breathes his fumes on me, I'm going holiday nuclear."
His brother Luke laughed at Beck's out-of-character dramatics. Normally the least excitable one in the family--except for their oldest, Wyatt, who wouldn't know drama if it upchucked in his face--Beck was clearly teetering on the brink tonight. Three weeks to Christmas and the annual Santa Shuffle Pub Crawl, a staple of the Chicago holiday scene, had stalled in his bar.
Ho-dee-ho-ho.
"So how is holiday nuclear different from regular nuclear?" Luke asked. He pulled gently on the Guinness tap to complete the shamrock imprint in the stout's foamy head.
"With holiday nuclear, I'll go ballistic--with an elfish smile."
Pint safely delivered to a thirsty customer, Luke laid a strong hand on Beck's shoulder. "Stay cool, psycho. You'll be back in bunker g
ear before you know it."
Before he knew it couldn't come soon enough. Put on leave after his recent brush with death and the brass at the Chicago Fire Department, Beck was itching to return to firehouse duty. Sitting around all day making an ass-shaped dent in his sofa was killing him slowly and, but for the fact he was pulling extra shifts at his family's bar, Dempsey's on Damen, he'd probably lose his mind. Along with the love of his foster siblings--three guys, one gal--who held no truck with his moodiness over the last month.
At least he was alive, for Christ's sake. And so was the poor kid he'd managed to haul free before the roof of that South Side crack house caved in Old Testament style. So maybe he'd disobeyed his lieutenant's orders--Beck's MO had always been of the act-now-beg-forgiveness-later variety. But where usually the head honchos liked how the heroics looked for the papers, this time it had landed him in deep shit.
Now, with at least another month until his disciplinary hearing--because God forbid anyone at HQ make a decision over the holidays--Beck had plenty of time on his hands to brood and shine up a new rash of apologies.
"Hey, amigo," Beck heard behind him. One of the red-suited troublemakers, a downtown professional type. With Puerto Rican skin darker than most of the pasty-faced Chicago Irish set who propped up the bar at Dempsey's, Beck supposed he might look like someone's amigo, but he sure as hell didn't appreciate this stranger bandying the word about. Red Suit leaned forward and, in his eagerness for a drink, blindly elbowed a cute blonde out of the way.
So, not looking to get laid, then.
"Careful, now," Beck said.
"What's that, amigo?"
F'real, dude? "I said you need to be careful." Beck enunciated each word, then turned to the blonde. "You okay?"
"Fine, thanks." She shot a hostile look at Red Suit, who chose that moment to bare his teeth in an approximation of a grin that went thoroughly unreturned. Nice.
Beck directed his attention back to the loser. "What'll it be?"
"Chivas, neat, twice over." Red Suit glanced over his shoulder to where his rowdy friends stood, making a lot of noise. A spilled beer on a woman's dress earlier had been the first hint these guys were trouble. Two more rounds until they were cut off, Beck estimated. "A bottle of Bud and a Goose Island. Whatever the holiday ale crap is."