She hadn’t put it on her wish list for Christmas, but being in bed with Brad was definitely a present she’d wanted to unwrap.

Things were rolling awfully quickly, and yet she’d told him earlier about her concerns, and he’d done everything right. He hadn’t mocked her or pushed them aside as foolish.

When she’d felt fear, his voice had cut through the terror. As the flames roared in her head, his voice had been the cool spray calming the fire and restoring order.

The heat, however, wasn’t going down. Not. One. Bit.

Brad stared at her with desire in his eyes as his big hand rolled over her breast. Every part of her that had ever reacted with sexual interest had been plugged in and gotten fully charged over the past umpteen years.

His gaze drifted down to where he was playing, scraping his finger nails over her nipple until it tightened so hard she worried it might shear through the fabric of the T-shirt. Then that failed to be a concern because with a growl, he shifted position, tugging the material up far enough to expose both her breasts.

His expression went tortured, and he cursed softly.

Careful and slow—he was working too hard to not push her.

Hanna desperately wanted him to continue whatever it was he’d planned in the first place. She caught his head, rubbing her palms against the thin layer of rough hair, tugging him closer. He came willingly, plumping her breast before wrapping his lips around her nipple and sucking.

It’d been so long since anyone had touched her. There was really no way he could do this wrong, and a million ways to do it right.

He slid from one breast to the other, pressing kisses in the valley between them before licking the very tip of her nipple. He hummed happily, his expression clearly one of fascination.

It was addictive. So ego-stroking to see how happy he seemed as he touched her.

She was experiencing astonishing levels of pleasure, her skin alive and sensitive as he not only worshipped her breasts, but stroked his hands along her rib cage, drifting higher to anchor her neck as he briefly came back to kiss her.

Oh, those kisses. Forceful enough she couldn’t escape, but gentle enough she didn’t want to. He moved her under him until his tongue dipped into her belly button.

She shivered. “Brad.”

“Close your eyes,” he murmured. “You don’t get to do anything right now but feel.”

Which was a great concept except she was about to go into sensory overload. He tucked his fingers under her hips, big hands reaching forward so she was held in his embrace. His callused thumbs stroking her hipbones.

He played with the edge of her panties for a moment before peeling them away to leave her exposed from her chin down. He stared, that light in his eyes growing wilder, and when he reached up and laid a hand over her belly, Hanna quivered.

“So soft,” Brad whispered, trailing his fingers to one side as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to where her panty line would have been. Then lower, to where curls covered her mound. “So soft and pretty.”

She hadn’t expected it, but when a giggle escaped, he glanced up, smiling. It took an extraordinary amount of strength for Hanna to speak, considering he was inches away from her sex and she was naked on the bed. Not a position she’d been in many times in her life.

“Pretty?”

He dipped his chin. “And tasty.”

His words made her still, at least for the second before he stroked two fingers between her folds. Brad leaned in and lapped delicately. Then again, a brief touch before flitting away. Over and over until his teasing touch was too gentle and she was longing for more.

Which she got a second later as, with a growl, he adjusted position again, resting his elbows on the mattress and lifting her hips higher. Her knees fell apart, and she was spread like a butterfly as his mouth covered her completely. Shocking yet oh-so-right as his tongue did wicked things to her clit.

Her hips rose involuntarily, pressing down with her feet to get enough leverage. She forced herself against his mouth, and he laughed before putting his lips directly over her clit and sucking.

Stars danced in front of her eyes. She caught his head in her hands, rubbing her palms against the scruff. “That feels so good,” she whispered.

“For me too.” Brad lifted up, dropping her hips to the mattress but grasping her knees a second later to tilt them into the air. The motion rotated her hips skyward, opening her. No privacy, everything right there, spread open.

Whatever sense of embarrassment she should have felt had vanished, perhaps burnt up in the fiery dreams. Because, after glancing at her face to be sure she was onboard, his gaze drifted downward, lingering on her sex, on her breasts, returning to her face to make sure that she was happy—

No way was she going to deny either of them. “More,” she begged.

She wasn’t sure what exactly she was asking for, but she was good with anything he wanted to give. Which seemed to be kisses. He rocked forward to press one to her lips before moving lower to play with her breasts. His right hand slid along her inner thigh until he cupped her sex, pressing the heel of his hand against her clit with rotating pressure.

Brad lifted his head, his eyes hazy as he stared into her face again. “So many things I want to do,” he admitted. “I could spend the day on your breasts, or pet your pussy for hours until you’re limp and sated. I could touch you from one end to the other, and that’s before I slip my cock inside you.”

One finger copied his words, sliding through her folds slowly. Tracing around her entrance then pressing deep until his hand was hard against her.

His blue eyes watched. Judged. Made sure she was okay.

She wasn’t okay. She was going to go out of her ever-loving mind.

“Brad,” she said with as much warning as she could put into her tone. “Stop teasing,” she begged.

His lips curled. “You think this is teasing?”

He kissed her again, but this time set his hand into motion. Pulling back, circling, pressing deep. He copied the same stabbing motions with his tongue, as if he was warning what came next.

The pressure between her legs increased as he added a second finger, slowly at first until her body spread to accommodate his thick digits. As her wetness coated them, he picked up the pace and sent her nerve endings into cardiac arrest.

Between one kiss and the next he was gone. His fingers stayed in place, moving and driving the pleasure higher. But he shifted position, and when he put his mouth back over her clit, Hanna moaned. She sucked for air, squirmed against him. Anything to try to get the last little bit she needed—

He increased the pace, driving his fingers deep, flicking his tongue relentlessly, and she was gone. Waves of pleasure streaked through her. They started at her core, wrapped around his fingers and spread like a net, pinning her to the mattress.

Brad rejoined her, kissing her again, and she tasted herself on his lips. A strange combination of her and him, intimate and sexual.

Her entire body quivered as he pulled his fingers from her body. Maybe she should’ve felt embarrassed, but she was so relaxed she was about to melt through the mattress.

He twisted her on the bed, wrapping himself around her. An all too apparent erection pressed against her backside.

Hanna stared up at him, hazy with sleep but wanting—

Wanting to make him as happy as he’d made her. Wanting to care for him as well.

Only before she could move, he tightened his arms around her and kissed the side of her neck, shushing her. “Sleep,” he ordered.

He had her trapped, wrapped in a human blanket, protected and warm. Definitely relaxed from the sexual hormones flitting through her veins.

Hanna wasn’t going to argue with him now, and when she woke in the morning in an empty bed, she really couldn’t argue with him then either.

Something had changed. She still had her hesitations, and her worries, but overall, as she threw her legs over the edge of the bed and got up, Hanna knew they had moved to a new stage of their relationship.

Now she had to find a way to keep her courage up and follow through.

He’d wondered if Hanna would retreat to shyness the morning after he’d touched her. Brad made sure to be out of her bed before she started to stir, partly to save her the embarrassment, and partly because he knew he was grumpy in the mornings and didn’t want her to have to deal with him.

Although, truth be told, he wasn’t very grumpy after what he’d gotten to do during the night. Being with her so intimately had happened eons before he’d expected, and he caught himself smiling at the strangest times throughout the day.

His coworkers noticed. Mack shook his head and threw wadded-up paper at him to get his attention more than once. “I’d tell you to stop looking so cheerful, but it’s kind of amusing.”

Brad made sure he whistled extra loud as he worked, ordering supplies for the coming year. Mack laughed in the background.

At home, Hanna offered him a sweet smile, but kept a proper distance whenever Patrick or Crissy were around. He followed her cues and made sure not to crowd her, but every night after Crissy went to bed and before Hanna headed off to work, he made sure to be available to steal a goodbye kiss.

He was getting adept at plotting where to stick the plastic mistletoe. He’d found a couple more clusters in the Christmas decorations box, and even though he’d scratched his hand on the batch he’d hidden in his pocket, looking for an opportune moment to set it in place, the red marks were a reminder of the sweetness of getting Hanna’s full attention. Her arms would willingly wrap around his neck now as she’d step into his embrace and kiss him with rising heat.

He stayed out of her bed, though. He wasn’t willing to rush that event even though his body wanted so much more.

The final day of school before the Christmas holidays arrived, and Patrick warned them in the morning to be ready for a surprise when they got home.

Crissy slipped from her chair and came over to Patrick’s side. “Are you going to show us the reindeer?”

His father laughed and pressed a finger to his lips. “They’re still resting,” he said quietly. “But I have another way to get around. Wanted you to try a new adventure. You game?”

Crissy nodded then took Patrick’s empty bowl and stacked it with her own, carrying them to the counter before rushing off to finish getting ready for school.

Hanna eyed Patrick with amusement. “Reindeer?”

He grinned. “Actually, if you’re okay with the idea, I thought we could take the skidoos out for a spin.”

That’s why his father had been tinkering with the machines. Brad double-checked to make sure Hanna wasn’t too horrified, but she was grinning.

“I haven’t ridden a skidoo for years. Only, what size?”

The old man had this all figured out. “We’ve got big machines for Brad and I, but I also tuned up Connie’s. It should be just the right size for you.”

Hanna turned delighted eyes on Brad. “Can you come too?”

The faces focused on him all held the same question. Something strange and magical flipped in his belly. These were three people he’d come to care for so deeply. Making plans to do things with them—spending time together like they were a family…

“Of course.” His words came out a gruff rumble.

They obviously thought the response was just him being his usual morning coffee-deprived self. Not because he’d had a deep, emotional revelation, like opening the perfect Christmas gift.

Patrick gave Hanna a refresher as Brad took Crissy for a slow first run through the trees. By the time they looped past the house, Hanna was ready to join them, an ear-to-ear grin in place. She was bundled up like an abominable snowman in her borrowed layers, but she looked delightful and perfect.

Little-girl laughter spilled into the air as he wiggled the sled back and forth, gently enough Crissy could keep a tight hold of his arms.

“Faster,” she demanded.

He resisted the temptation to follow her order, at least until Hanna cut in front of him then sped away, glancing over her shoulder and sticking out her tongue.

They weren’t racing at top speed but fast enough that when they finished, Hanna’s cheeks were rosy, and the laughter in her eyes seemed to wrap around her body like a perfect set of Christmas lights, making her glow.

They rode the sleds for over an hour before they lost the light and put the sleds back in the barn.

Patrick was moving slowly, but he too wore a delighted grin. “It’s been years,” he told Hanna as they sat with cups of hot chocolate in front of the fire. “Connie always loved sledding. She was the one who taught the boys to ride.”

Brad laughed. “I’d forgotten that. I remember you giving her trouble for driving too fast.” He glanced at Hanna who blinked innocently and pretended she had no idea what he was talking about.

“You did well out there,” Patrick told Hanna, giving Brad a wink. He’d noticed the racing as well. “When did you learn?”

She frowned for a moment before catching herself and forcing a smile back into place. “We used sleds at home to do chores.”

“Mommy can do anything,” Crissy announced proudly before breaking off into an enormous yawn.

Hanna stooped and scooped up her daughter, whirling her in a circle. “It’s not time for bed yet, silly. We still have to eat supper.” She gave her a kiss before putting her down on her feet. “Come on. Let’s make something special for Mr. Patrick as a thank-you for the nice afternoon.”

Crissy raced from the room, tugging Hanna with her. Brad watched them go, wondering if it would be completely inappropriate to stalk after them so he could continue to enjoy their company.

His father’s chuckle pulled him from his musings. “You’ve got it bad,” his dad teased.

Brad rose to his feet and offered his father a wide smile. “Correction. I’ve got it good.”

Then he went and joined the girls in the kitchen so he could bump into Hanna as often as possible, her eyes flashing with amusement when she realized what he was doing.

Dinner was a noisy, happy affair, followed by games in the living room. When it was time to call it a night, to his shock, Crissy snuck her fingers into Brad’s hand.

“I want you to tuck me in too,” she whispered softly.

Brad glanced at Hanna who held still before dipping her head in permission.

He stood beside the bed, waiting, as Hanna pulled the blankets up then leaned in to kiss Crissy. “You need to get a good sleep,” Hanna warned her. “There’s no school tomorrow, but we’ve got lots of holiday things to do.”

Crissy arranged her stuffed bear under her arm. “And you don’t have to work?”

Hanna shook her head. “Holidays for me too. The whole time you’re off from school.”

Crissy sighed happily. “I liked the sleds. But I really want to see the reindeer.”

Hanna stepped back, and Brad moved in, feeling slightly awkward until Crissy held her arms up in a clear request for a hug. The little arms that wrapped around his neck turned his insides to absolute goo. And when she pressed her lips against his cheek before cuddling back under her blankets, shock and delight rippled through him.

“Good night, Mr. Brad.”

“Good night, sweetie.”

Crissy giggled. A sleepy sound as she closed her eyes and snuggled into the blankets. “I’m a sweetie because Mommy’s sugar.”

Brad held in his amusement, backing out of the room until he stood in the hallway with Hanna.

Unfortunately, her expression showed she didn’t seem as pleased with her daughter’s observant comment.

Only forward motion was allowed. He wasn’t going to let Hanna backtrack on him. “You okay?”

She took a deep breath and lifted her eyes to his. “I forgot little people have big ears.”

Brad stroked his thumb over her cheek. “I’m not going to hide what I’m feeling. And I don’t think she’s traumatized by the idea somebody likes her mommy.”

Hanna wrapped her fingers around his wrist. Not taking his hand away, just holding him.

“No. She’s—” Her gaze darted toward the ceiling and she rolled her eyes. “How do you keep doing that?”

The mistletoe he’d jammed against the ceiling before entering Crissy’s room was right there, perfectly in position. “Santa likes me,” he quipped.

Her lashes fluttered for a minute then she tilted her face without any further encouragement, waiting for him to lean down and kiss her.

Standing in the hallway, wrapped around each other, lips meshing, arms tangled. His entire body tightened, but somehow he pulled away after a decent amount of time, grinning at her flushed cheeks and the lights dancing in her eyes.

They stole back to the living room and visited with Patrick until his father once again fell asleep, the rocking chair in front of the fire a magnet to make him drift off.

Hanna slid to her feet. “Movie?”

He joined her. “You don’t have to work at all over the holidays?”

She shook her head. “The only place I thought I’d have to clean was the church. The pastor called me this afternoon to let me know that after Christmas services, a group of them decided to volunteer to work the holiday season. He said it’s my Christmas gift from the congregation—they’re paying me, but I don’t have to show up.”

“Merry Christmas to you,” he offered.

Her smile lit the room.

He’d left the remote control lying in his lap. She snatched it up, clicking the power on then holding the device out of his reach. “My pick.”

Someone was feeling feisty tonight. “Maybe.”

She flipped through Netflix, ignoring all of the shows on his watch list and going straight to the Christmas specials. Before he could tell which movie she selected, she’d hit play.

A romance with falling snow and impossible royal bloodlines popped on the screen.

Brad eyed her, playing up his disbelief. “Seriously?”

She stared straight ahead as if fascinated. “Shhhh.”

He searched for the control, but it was nowhere to be seen. Only, the smile on her face was twitching at the corners. Someone was being mischievous on purpose.

He laid a hand on her leg. “If I’m bored, I get restless,” he warned.

Hanna glanced at him for a second before returning her gaze to the TV. “We can watch Die Hard tomorrow,” she promised.

It was a good counteroffer, but he was still going to drive her crazy tonight. “Great.”

He stroked his fingers up her leg, curling around the inside and down to the back of her knee. Teasing with his fingers over and over until she wiggled.

“Brad.”

God, he loved it when she said his name with that little combination of breathlessness and need.

He lifted his hand, turning toward her and draping his hand on the far side of her waist. “Don’t mind me,” he said, trailing his fingers up her side and under her arm.

She giggled, and he tickled harder. When she squirmed, rolling toward him, he took total advantage. He tugged her on top of his body, trapping her legs between his.

She pressed up on his chest, staring down. Hunger and happiness on her face.

He tickled her again.

Hanna burrowed against him, trying to escape. The movie was forgotten as they both took turns touching and teasing. Kisses stolen between heated touches. Innocent brushes of fingers followed by not so innocent—

The sound of Patrick’s canes against the hardwood floor brought them both jerking back to reality. They scrambled apart as if they were teenagers instead of grown adults.

They were still about to be caught fooling around when they shouldn’t be.

Hanna settled beside him, the two of them staring intently at the TV screen as Patrick poked his head in to say good night. “I’ll see you two in the morning.”

Hanna glanced over her shoulder. “Thank you for the loan of the sled. We had a wonderful time.”

His father waved and disappeared down the hall. Hanna took a deep breath before glancing at Brad, mischief in her eyes. Then she wrapped her arms around his biceps and leaned against him, cuddled up and content.

He sat there, grinning at the screen for at least half an hour before he realized the same god-awful show was still playing. He didn’t know where the control was, and he didn’t give a damn.

It was a nearly perfect evening.