The morning air is chilly, but it feels good to watch over the city with Madison from our apartment, making a new tradition as we blend her family and mine. “Thanks for this.”

Maddie shrugs. “Chase and Liv were so surprised by my invitation for Christmas, and I’m kinda curious to see how they handle Aunt May. She’s feisty.”

I laugh. “You told me she was, but I don’t know if I really understood until I saw her tackle a pissed-off Rottweiler with a rolled-up newspaper!”

There’s a knock at the door, and I open it to see May, all decked out in holiday finery. Well, for her, that means her hair is down long and she has on a blouse with her jeans instead of a t-shirt. But I know she made an effort to make a positive impression, and that’s good enough for me.

I greet her warmly, inviting her inside and taking her coat.

“May, it’s good to see you again,” I say, giving her a hug. “How’re the puppies?”

“Sagging . . . oh, you mean the dogs,” May jokes, making me laugh. I have laughed more over the past month than in the entire previous twenty-six years of my life, and it feels good. “They’re doing great. I was able to make some last-minute placements. Seems some folks really do want to give a dog a home for the holidays.”

“Good,” I say. “Glad they got their Christmas wish and are home for Christmas morning.”

“Are you two planning something?” Madison asks, and I shrug. “Scott Danger, don’t you try that look with me. You had the same look on your face last night at Stella’s, and I know you’ve got something on your damn mind.”

“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t,” I tell her, laughing.

May takes off for the kitchen, taking over like it’s hers even as she oohs and ahhs over things she takes delight in, like the fact that there are two ovens and a refrigerator large enough for her biggest cookie sheet. I’ve never noticed or cared, but I’m glad she’s excited. May and Madison bustle this way and that, and I watch from my perch on the barstool, enjoying their easy camaraderie.

The doorbell rings again, and I go to open it, greeting Chase and Olivia. There are no hugs this time, but we’re finally getting comfortable with one another.

“Merry Christmas, Chase, Olivia. Come on in. The bosses are in the kitchen, and I think our job is to stay out of their way.” I guide them into the living room after tossing their coats on the entryway hooks.

From the corner of the kitchen, I hear Maddie’s voice ring out, “I heard that!”

I grin, yelling back, “Am I wrong?”

May comes into the living room, wiping her hands on a towel. “Hell, yes, you’re wrong. Now, all three of you, get in here and wash up. I need someone to peel the potatoes, someone to set the table, and someone to knead the dough for biscuits. Decide amongst yourselves who does what. I hear y’all are good at that these days.”

Yep, feisty. That’s May. I grin at Chase and Olivia, who return the smile, all three of us following orders and filing into the kitchen to help. Apparently, none of us get to be the boss today.

The hustle and bustle in my kitchen increases as the five of us work alongside each other. I’d never considered that the sizeable space might seem small, but with all of us in the middle of food prep, it does feel full.

Once everything is prepped and the ham is locked away into the oven to bake, I take a chance on being the whiny kid ready for some Christmas fun. “Come on, let’s open our presents.”

It’s the best Christmas morning ever as each gift is opened with as much noisy paper tearing and throwing of ribbons, bows, and other crap as possible. Food is cookies, of course, with a side of fudge and great coffee, and with each gift, my excitement grows.

“Oh, Aunt May, that’s beautiful!” Madison exclaims when May models a leather jacket I got her. “You look like Jamie Lee Curtis in it!”

“Hell, I’m never taking it off then,” May says. “Thank you, Scott.”

I nod and open a present from May, a key. “What’s this?”

“Key to the front door of the shelter,” May says. “You deserve it for everything you’ve done for us.”

I laugh at her practicality, knowing that this is a big gesture from her. “Thank you, May.”

Olivia seems to like the cashmere shawl I bought her, and Chase grins like a loon at the pair of home plate baseball tickets I bought for him . . . and me.

Finally, it’s time for Maddie’s surprise.

I reach behind the quirky Charlie Brown tree Maddie had begged me to get, trying not to mess up her carefully arranged ornaments or messily tossed tinsel. Grabbing the large, flat box, I offer it to her.

“What is it? Can I shake it?” she asks, giddier than I’ve ever seen her. It’s adorable, and I want to bottle the flush on her cheeks and make her whole body pink up that prettily for me.

“Don’t shake it, just open it,” I say, nerves sweeping through me.

Maddie looks into the box, pulling out the thin stack of papers. “What are these? I don’t understand.” Her eyes jump from the papers to me.

“These are the plans for the new and improved, expanded May’s Animal Rescue. They start construction once the ground thaws.” I point out little details on the paper. “Beyond the rescue areas, there’s space for a sales side. Kenneling, training, that sort of stuff for families who adopt, or even those who get their pets elsewhere. There’s office space for an in-house vet if you want. I’m guessing with the influx of animals you can help, there will likely need to be more daily hands on deck, especially some help overseeing everything. Interested?” I ask Madison.

“Do you have to ask? Hell, yes!” she exclaims. “But how?”

I grin. “Olivia helped me set it up through her division as a diversification of our charitable donations. Essentially, Danger Enterprises made a venture capital investment in you and May. Together, you can change so many animals’ lives and make Bane a better place.”

Maddie looks to Olivia, telling her ‘thank you’ before plopping into my lap and covering my face with kisses. “Thank you, Scott! Oh, my God, this is going to be amazing!”

“Well, I’m kind of hoping that you keep saying that,” I say, setting her on the couch and getting down on one knee. “I have one more present.”

I reach into the pocket of my jacket and take out a simple box, opening it and holding it out to Maddie. Before I can speak, she whispers, “Scott.”

“Maddie, you fill my heart with love. You complete my soul. I want to make a life, make a family with you. Will you marry me?”

She looks back to May, who smiles but isn’t surprised. “He asked Stella and me for our blessing last night.”

I laugh and hold out my hand. “Madison Danger sounds . . . fabulous.”

Christmas is lovely, full of joyful celebration and surprises. But I have one last trick up my sleeve. Madison had encouraged me to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s at the office, knowing that all the time I’ve been away while helping her had set me behind.

But it’s the holidays, and most of the office is a ghost town anyway. So I planned a little getaway for us, destination unknown . . . to Madison.

Knowing we have an early flight, I wake her while it’s still dark. “Madison, rise and shine, porcupine,” I sing-song.

She cracks one eye. “What the hell did you just say? And why so early?” My girl is a lot of things, but a morning person is not one of them.

I grin. “Huh, it just came out. I think I had a nanny when I was little who said that every morning.” Madison’s other eye opens, and she has a flash of sadness at a little version of me being woken up by a nanny every day. “As to why . . . it’s because we’re leaving. Surprise!”

She pops up in bed. “We’re leaving today? Where are we going? Will you tell me now?”

“Nope, have to wait and see, but you need to get a move on.” I don’t have to tell her twice. She’s already thrown the covers back and made a beeline for the shower to get ready.

I head to the kitchen to start the coffee, knowing we’re going to need it today. Grabbing the first cup, I stand by the window, watching the sun rise over Bane. My city, my family’s city. I have a different approach than my father’s prideful ownership. I’m ready to tackle the responsibility of making it the best it can be for the people, not for myself. It’s a weight I gladly wear upon my shoulders, not a pedestal I stand atop.

From behind me, I hear a soft ‘ahem’ and turn to see my naked fiancé standing in the doorway. “I don’t know what to wear. Shorts, pants, fancy, casual? You gotta help a girl out.”

I look her up and down, knowing the clock is ticking on the flight but not able to resist. “Come here, Madison.” She walks to me, beauty personified, from her wet mess of hair to her bare face, to her curvy body, even with the healing injuries and scars, external and internal. She is strength, perseverance, and independence. She is need, doubt, and fear. She is the sparrow and the eagle, all in one. She is mine.

I take her mouth in a kiss, dropping the empty coffee mug to the carpet softly. I kiss down her neck, laving her pink nipples with licks and kisses, knowing I could spend all day right here, but I’m hungry for more. And so is she.

Madison turns, facing us toward the window, and drops to her knees before me. She looks up at me, raw desire in her eyes. “One thing. After this, can you fuck me like before? Hard and fast by the window?”

My breath catches as she slips my pajama pants down and my cock springs up. “I can never say no to you.”

“Yeah, you can,” she teases, grasping my thick cock and licking her lips. “You just don’t want to.”

Before I can answer, she wraps her lips around my cock and sucks, taking me in deeply. I guide her up and down my gleaming shaft with a gentle hand in her hair, loving the way she can take me into her body. She sucks me with love and devotion.

Years, maybe even decades of this? Of loving sex with this wonderful woman? I can’t wait for every day of it.

I moan as she bobs up and down and fondles my balls. Reaching back, she teases my taint with her soft fingers, but there’s no need for more. I can’t wait any longer. I lift her off, my eyes wide and my chest heaving. “To the window. Keep that up and I’m coming in your mouth.”

“Who says that’s not what I want?” she taunts, getting up and turning to the window.

She’s glowing in the flaming morning light of the sun, and I take a mental snapshot, needing this moment in my memory bank for all eternity.

My cock slides against her pussy, and she moans, ready for more. But before I can enter her, she looks back at me. “Scott . . . what if I stop the pills?” Her voice is soft, the question belying the obvious truth that it’s what she wants.

“You think we’re ready?” I ask, pulling back and sliding my cock between her lips again. My head drags over her clit, and she gasps, nodding her head.

She puts her hands on the window, pushing back against me, trying to take me in.

“I want a family with you . . . as many babies as you want.”

“Let’s start with one,” I say, a huge smile on my face. I pull back, adjusting my cock so that I’m pressed against her entrance, and I pause, teasing her with the tip, knowing she wants more, so much more . . . all of me, everything I can give her. I want that too.

I push in, and there’s that fresh like the first time instant where she’s so damn tight, but then she relaxes, letting me sink in deeper.

I pull back and thrust again, grunting as I fill her balls-deep. We go hard and fast, knowing that we’re cutting the time short, but it’s a good quickie, the sharp slap of my hips on Madison’s ass sending a good shiver up her spine as my balls come forward to smack her clit.

“Fuck, your cock feels so good . . .” she groans, her fingers digging into the window as she pushes into me, fucking me back. But I keep her pressed to the glass, letting the city see that she is my woman.

“I love you,” I growl in her ear as I speed up more, our bodies driving against the glass and thumping throughout the entire penthouse.

She squeezes me, trembling on the edge, and I groan as I let go, not able to withstand any more of the delicious onslaught. Needing her to get there, to come with me, I reach around her hip to thrum at her clit. We’re both groaning, sobs tearing from our throats as I fill her and she spasms around me.

I plant a hand on the window next to hers, exhausted but kissing her neck. “My . . . I . . .”

“That was better than ever before,” she whispers, covering my hand with hers. “I love you, too.”

We disentangle, and I can’t help but grin at the mess we made of the window. “It looks like a frosted outline of two people fucking on the thing. There are handprints and tit prints, and a nice steamy outline.”

“Should we clean it before we go?” she asks, not at all embarrassed by the art we’ve created.

“Nope, gotta go . . . plane leaves in one hour. For Paris.”

Madison’s eyes are so wide they nearly bug out of her head, and her jaw drops wide open. “Really? Oh, my God, are you serious?”

I take the invite of her open mouth and cover her with a kiss before telling her, “Yes, for real. Now, let’s go.”

She’s off and running toward the bedroom. My naked savior. I might have saved her from a few dangerous situations, but she’s the one who’s saved me . . . from myself. The biggest Danger there is.