“This one?” I asked and looked over at Vivian. She held Ollie, who at a year old was already big as fuck. He was for sure taking after his old man.

And Jackson, who was dressed like he was ready for a blizzard, held Viv’s hand, looking up at me, as if pleading with his eyes for me to help him out of the outfit.

“No, that one,” Vivian said and pointed to the next tree over. I looked at it, then back at her. “It’s exactly like this one.”

She shook her head. “It’s not.”

I knew better than to argue.

I unsheathed my ax from the leather case strapped to my side, brought the rag to it to give it one good polish before using it, and glanced back at the love of my life and our sons. Then I went to work chopping that fucking tree down. I brought the axe across the trunk, over and over again, the scent of pine and sap filling my head. Jackson started laughing, and Ollie giggled and clapped his mitten-covered hands.

I worked on that tree for a good twenty minutes, sweat starting to bead my brow and the length of my spine, but feeling power and adrenaline move through me.

If my woman and sons wanted a freshly cut tree, they’d get exactly that.

* * *

I put the finishing touches on the rum balls, grabbed two glasses out of the cupboard, and poured some eggnog into each of them. I went to go into the living room, but right before I made it, Jake was there. He used his big body to block me, the wicked grin on his face already present.

I handed him one of the glasses, and watched as he brought it to his nose and smelled it.

“What’s this?” he asked and lifted a brow.

“Eggnog.”

He made this look and chuckled. “Woman, you now I’m a man. I drink beer or do shots of whiskey.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed. But the look on his face had me sobering. “What are you up to?”

He didn’t say anything, and glanced up. I followed where he was looking, and smirked when I saw the mistletoe hanging above us from one of the wooden beams.

“When did you put that up?” I looked at him, seeing he already had his focus trained right on me.

“I’ve had it up all day, baby.” He grabbed the cup out of my hand, set both of them down on the foyer table right beside us, and pulled me into the hardness of his body. He cupped his hand on the back of my head, pulled me impossibly closer to his hard, muscled body, and leaned in to kiss me. His beard tickled my face and I moaned, wanting more. I loved the fact he wasn’t clean-shaven, and got wet at the fact he was rustic and all male.

He stroked my lips and inside of my mouth with his tongue, groaning in that gritty, deep way he did when I knew he was turned on. Hell, I even felt his raging hard-on pressed right to my belly.

He kissed me for another long minute, and I melted against him. He smelled so good, and tasted even better. When he pulled away I groaned in disappointment.

“Come on, baby, let me rub your feet.”

To some women maybe it would surprise the hell out of them to have their husbands say that, and actually do it, but not with me … not with Jake. To him I was his world, and to me he was mine.

He always went above and beyond to make sure the boys and I were taken care of, and although I’d never believed in soul mates, being with Jake had made that change real fast.

Once on the couch he pulled my legs over this muscular thighs, took off my socks, and went to work on rubbing my feet. I stared at the tree we’d just finished decorating a few hours ago, and couldn’t help but smile. There was a lot to be thankful for, and it had all started when I’d gotten lost in the woods all those years ago.

Christmas themed wrapping paper, and toys were scattered over the floor, some of them wrapped for the holiday, others still in the bags.

“We spoil these boys,” I said with happiness thick in my voice. I could hear it.

I felt Jake place his hand on my belly and I looked over at him. He stared at me intently. He still sported that full beard, and the flannel shirt he wore was blue plaid. God, he looked so good, and every day I fell in love with him even more.

“What if I said I wanted to try for another baby?” he asked softly. My heart started beating a little harder. “Ollie isn’t that old, I know, but I want our house full of little ones, Viv.”

I didn’t stop myself from smiling. Before he could say anything else I sat up and moved over to him. After straddling his legs, and sitting fully on him, I told myself to behave. But it was hard seeing as Jake was … hard.

“You want more babies?” I asked and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“I do, a lot.” He grinned, his straight white teeth flashing.

“The boys are already a handful, you know.” He pulled me forward so my chest was pressed to his.

“We’ve always handled things well. I thought we did a good job.” He had his mouth at my neck, sucking at my flesh. I tipped my head back and moaned, the feeling of his lips on my throat, and his beard scratching at my skin, making me wet and ready for him.

“What do you say?” he said in a husky voice against the side of my throat. “Wanna try for that little girl?”

I grinned even though I knew he couldn’t see me.

“What if I told you we didn’t have to try?” I felt him tense against me a second before he pulled back. He stared into my eyes, realization settling in. “What if I said you already got me pregnant?” I cupped his cheeks, his beard soft under my palms.

He didn’t say anything, just shifted on the couch so I was now lying on it with his huge body over me. He had his hand on my belly, and the grin he gave me could have lit up the whole room.

“I was going to tell you tonight anyway. I just found out myself.”

He pressed his mouth to mine and kissed me so passionately I lost my breath for a moment.

“You make me so fucking happy, Vivian.”

“I love you,” I replied.

He groaned, and then we were working our clothes off. When we were both naked, Jake’s big body pressed to mine, his chest hair rubbing against the smooth flesh of my breasts, I breathed out slowly.

“I’ll never get enough of you. Never.” He reached between us and placed the head of his cock at my pussy hole. While holding my gaze with his, Jake slid all the way into me in one fluid move.

I moaned.

He grunted in pleasure.

“It’ll only ever be you for me.” He pulled out and pushed back in agonizingly slowly. “You’re the only woman I’ll ever want by my side.”

I held on as my man made love to me. It was sometimes fast and raw, but also sweet and gentle.

What it was all the time was full of love.

Every day I fall more in love with this man. That’s how I know this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.