It’s early Christmas morning as I wake with a large body spooning me from behind, his arm around my midriff. He softly snores into my neck while I lie still and watch the small birds on the ledge outside the window. There is a stillness outside, a sign that we’ve had more snow, which is perfect for Christmas Day.

There had been a few flakes in the sky last night as we’d sat in front of the fire watching Christmas movies. We’d eaten the delicious lasagna Derek had insisted on making for dinner, and I smile now remembering the look on Derek’s face when he realized we really did want him to sit with us and watch the movies.

“Why the frown?” Tanner asks.

I meet his gaze. “I thought you were asleep.”

“I was but you woke me...you were thinking too loud.”

I raise a brow and Tanner laughs.

“You frowned.” He shrugs. “I put two and two together…”

“And got four on this occasion.” I snuggle against him. “I was thinking about your father, and how glad I am that he stayed and watched the movies with us.” I bite my lip wondering about the wisdom of my next words, but ask them anyway, “Why hasn’t your father met anyone else?”

Tanner winces. “He’s never dated since Mom died…at least not that I’m aware of. I hate that he’s lonely, but I really don’t want to think about him doing what we’ve been doing. It’s…not right.”

Chuckling, I pinch one of his nipples. “I think we need to arrange for him to meet someone, but do it in a way that neither of them know what we’re doing.”

“Sneaky?”

“Exactly.” I grin.

Tanner places a sweet kiss to my lips. “Merry Christmas, Charlotte.” He quickly kisses the tip of my nose. “And yes, I’m changing the subject…for now.”

I softly caress his face and brush a kiss across his waiting lips. “Merry Christmas, Tanner…and I don’t mind you changing the subject…for now.”

“Mmm, you taste really good.” He nuzzles into my neck, moving further down the bed. “As much as I want to make love to you, I want you to slip on the Christmas pajamas I bought you, and then come with me into the living room. Dad will already be there by now and I know he’s as nervous about the present I have for you as I am.”

“Now I’m curious.”

Tanner grins and jumps from the bed, his body on display for my eyes. Rolling to my side, I prop my head up with a hand and watch him standing in front of me, his arousal hard and thick, bursting from the thatch of hair at his groin.

“I think you should come closer first,” I suggest, wiggling my brows. “That looks painful and I don’t think I want to go anywhere until I’ve had my lips wrapped around you.”

He groans and throws his head back, the tendons in his neck straining as he breathes heavily. I look down his beautiful body and find his erection throbbing heavily between his legs. The crown bulges with precum dripping.

Quietly, I move forward, and slipping from the bed, crawl on my knees until my lips are able to wrap around him. He jerks and curses when his eyes snap open and discover me at his feet with the tip of his cock between my lips.

"I’ll be quick,” I mumble, swallowing more of his shaft.

Our eyes stay locked together while I bob on him and my hands play with his sack—stroking, massaging, and then wrapping my fingers around the base of his cock, I pull back and suck him deeper.

His legs tremble and his eyes roll as he grabs my hair and pulls me off him. “I’m going to come.”

“Then come.”

I knock his hand away and suck him as deeply as I can before swallowing.

Tanner grunts and hisses, his body taut with tension and then I feel the first splash of his release at the back of my throat. I suck harder and hear him curse as he continues to spill his seed against my tongue.

I lap him up and giggle when he twitches, tugging his flesh free. “No more,” he rushes out, helping me up from the floor. “Later, I’m going to show you how to make love in the freezing snow.” He smirks, smacking my bottom. “Get the pajamas on.”

“You just want to see me covered in penguins.” I pout and watch as he shoves his legs into a pair of briefs and pajama pants.

His eyes light with mirth. “I’d love to see you covered in something.”

I blush and quickly pull the pajamas on before adding, “I think that could be arranged.”

His eyes widen in surprise as I slip out of the bedroom, laughing.

“That wasn't funny,” he grumbles.

“I thought it was.” I spot Derek in the kitchen lost in a world of his own as he drinks coffee and stares out of the window. “Merry Christmas, Derek.” I reach up and kiss his cheek before giving him a hug.

“Happy Christmas to you Charlotte, and you son.” He hugs Tanner and they exchange a look that has me confused.

Tanner notices and grins, shaking his head. “Soon.” He kisses my forehead and pours us both a cup of coffee. Taking my first sip, my stomach growls.

“Baked French toast is nearly ready.” Derek smiles softly at Tanner before catching my eye. “Christmas morning is the only time we eat it. Been a tradition since Tanner was born.”

I wrap an arm around Tanner’s waist and his arm slips over my shoulders. “That’s a nice tradition to have.”

“What are your traditions, Charlotte?” Derek asks, checking the food in the oven.

“Well, today I would have been waking at my parents’ house, along with Michael, and Joshua. Sirena has been there in the past but she’s starting her own traditions with Garrett, and Elias.” I sit at the breakfast nook. “Dad would make us all breakfast: pancakes, bacon, eggs, bread pudding. He spoils us, but he’s done it every year for Mom. I don’t think there’s anything he wouldn’t do for her.”

“That’s what love is. Once you’ve had that, it’s difficult to find anyone to come close.” Derek shrugs.

I glance at Tanner and continue, “After breakfast, we’d exchange gifts before relaxing for a few hours in front of the television. We’d head out mid-afternoon to my grandparents’ house where we’d meet up with our aunts, uncles, and cousins. Each family always takes a few dishes of food so that my grandparents don’t have to do anything.” I smile with fondness. “The evening before we’d go around and set everything up so it was ready. Table and chairs mainly. Our Christmases are always loud and boisterous.”

“You must call your family, Charlotte.” Derek places the French toast on the table. “As soon as we’ve opened presents.”

“I will.” I grin, slipping my fingers through Tanner’s. “I’m kinda enjoying this Christmas, a lot.”

Derek chuckles. “Hmm, I bet.”

Tanner snaps his eyes to his dad and raises a brow. “You were saying.”

“I wasn’t saying anything, but I do think we need to eat up so that we can get to the presents.”

“Tanner did warn me that you’re just as eager to watch me open my present from him.”

“You have no idea,” Derek drawls and then ignores me but I didn’t miss the secretive smile on his lips.

Turning to Tanner, he has his face stuck in his breakfast but looks amused as well.

These two are up to something as I glance between them. They’re like little kids busting a gut to keep a secret inside. Rolling my eyes, I pinch a piece of food from Tanner’s plate, getting his attention as I pop it into my mouth. “You are thinking about your secret and ignoring me.”

He grins with a mouthful of food, shoveling more in. “I wait twelve months to eat my favorite breakfast, except this year, I’m eager to be finished.”

“It is good,” I comment. “Very good.” Wiping my plate clean with the last piece, I eye my impatient boyfriend, and laugh.

“Presents!” He jumps up, dragging me with him, excitement in his every move. At the tree, he pulls a small, red box from between a couple of branches and looking at me with love in his gaze, gets down onto one knee.

My heart thumps wildly while blood rushes through my head at what he’s about to do…what he's doing.

Popping the lid, he holds it up to me while he takes my hand. “We’ve talked about the future, but we haven’t talked about getting married… I love you, Charlotte. I fell in love with you eight months ago, and it’s only grown stronger since you came back into my life. I want to spend every day for the rest of my life by your side. Will you be my partner? The mother of my children? My best friend? And most of all, will you marry me and become my wife?”

Tears have been running down my face from the moment he got down on one knee. Sobbing, I whisper, “Yes,” crying even harder when he tugs me into his arms. “I love you.”

I feel him smiling against my neck before he places a tender kiss there. “Let me put your ring on.”

Pushing me down so I’m sitting on the coffee table, he sits opposite. I take the tissues Derek passes me and wipe my tears. At least I can see the beautiful, square cut diamond ring now.

“This,” he pauses, “was the ring my mom wore from the moment my dad proposed to her, until the day we lost her, when she gave it to me.” He pauses, needing a minute. “Apart from my mom, you’re the only woman to have worn it,” he adds, slipping it on my finger. His words tell me more than anything else could about his past relationship with Emma.

“It’s beautiful and you have no idea what it means to me to wear this ring.” I cup his face in my hands and bring him closer, sealing our engagement with a kiss.

“It’s set on platinum and it looks perfect on your finger.”

“I’d have to agree,” Derek adds.

I glance at him and notice the tears on his face. Leaving Tanner, I wrap myself around his dad. “I hope you know that I love your son so much and I’ll always treasure this ring so that one day I can pass it on to your grandchild.”

He pats me on the back. “Now don’t go saying things like that, otherwise, I’m going to be embarrassing myself in front of your family.”

I frown. “My family?”

He nods and holds up a small tablet device. “Thought they’d want to witness your engagement.”

My mouth drops as I take in the image on the tablet. Sitting in the frame are my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even grandpa’s old dog, Rufus. Not a dry eye in the house.

Tanner wraps an arm around my midriff, pulling me back against him. Smiling, I turn my face up to his and grin against his lips as he claims mine in a sweet kiss. “I love you,” he breathes against my lips. “Talk to your mom,” he urges.

“Stay with me.” I grip his hand and accept the table Derek passes to me.

“I’ll go and find us something to celebrate with.”

Taking the tablet from my hands, Tanner greets my parents, bringing me straight in on the conversation. “She’s one in a million,” he says, kissing the top of my head.

“I’m glad you realize that,” Dad answers. “We’ll talk when you arrive in a few days.”

I roll my eyes, laughing, “Leave him alone, Dad. It’s taken us eight months to finally be together, I don’t want you scaring him off.”

“I’ll talk to your dad, Charlotte.” Tanner briefly tightens his arms around my stomach. “I love you, nothing will scare me off. I promise.”

Dad’s lips twitch at Tanner’s declaration and I smile as mom reaches up and slaps a big wet kiss on Dad’s mouth.

“Oh God! Mom, stop mauling dad in front of us,” my brother Joshua groans.

Mom smirks. “I can’t wait for your brother to find the woman,” she says to me. “Your dad is still as handsome as he was the day I met him,” she adds softly, reminiscing.

Dad holds her in the same way that Tanner holds me, and he looks at her as though she’s his world. She is, but it always makes me happy to see them like this.

“Are you happy, honey?” Mom asks.

“I’ve only been existing these months that we’ve been apart, so yes, I’m happy. I’m happier than I ever remember being. He’s my soul mate, Mom. I need him to breathe.”

Tanner sighs heavily into my neck, kissing a tender spot, he stills though when Mom asks, “What’s on your forehead?”

Before I can answer, Tanner admits, “It was my fault.”

“It was an accident.” I give him a brief kiss on the lips before turning back to my parents. “I saw Tanner arrive home, so I got up and went to the door. Except, before I could open it for him, he opened it, not realizing I was behind it.” I touch the bump. “I’m fine, but exhausted with Tanner insisting he’s at fault. It was an accident and it’s never going to be mentioned again.”

“Stubborn just like her mother,” Dad mutters, and gets a gentle elbow in his side for his trouble. “I wouldn’t be without her though.” He grins.

Mom rolls her eyes at Dad, and then gets teary-eyed. “We’re not going to keep you, but it was so nice and appreciated what Derek did for us today. To see our baby being proposed to.” She swipes at a tear. “And Tanner, that was a beautiful proposal…Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you, Mrs. McKenzie.”

“Lily.” Mom smiles.

Tanner nods.

“We’ll have a guy’s night out when you’re here. Welcome you properly into the McKenzie fold,” Dad states while Mom and I moan. He chuckles, “And I’m Michael… Your father is more than welcome to join us for New Year.”

“Thank you. I’ll pass that on.”

Dad nods and breaks the connection. Silence follows as I turn in Tanner’s arms. “We’re engaged,” I whisper, holding him close.

“Hmm.” He chuckles. “In years to come, I’ll be able to tell our kids how I proposed to you on Christmas Day while you wore pajamas covered in penguins.”

I gasp and smack him on the ass. “I’m not the only one in penguins,” I tease, raising a brow. “You look really hot though. Penguins on your legs, black T-shirt, morning hair, morning scruff…”

“Morning wood,” he whispers into my ear, tugging me with him toward the Christmas tree while I laugh, feeling so happy I could burst with it.