Page 63 of My Boyfriend Marks Trees

Which turned out to not be as early as expected because a child on Christmas Eve had too much hyper energy, not to mention leftover excitement from surviving a day fraught with danger.

Eventually, Greta went to bed—after giving everyone a hug and kiss.

But Charlotte couldn’t quite sneak off with Ares yet. The flurry to wrap the presents—with help—and get them under the tree happened next. Stockings were stuffed. The plate of cookies devoured along with the milk.

Eventually, good nights were said, and as Ares took her hand to lead her upstairs, her heart fluttered. For some reason it felt different this time; she couldn’t have said why. It took his soft smile for it to hit her.

There was nothing standing between her and Ares. No secrets. No more being chased by her past. They could be together.

As the door closed behind them, he held her hands and murmured, “Why are you trembling? Are you afraid of me?”

She shook her head and then said what was in her heart. “On the contrary, I think I love you.”

Chapter 17

Ares almost died hearingher soft admission and then took so long to reply that her head ducked and she whispered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it. It’s too soon.”

He crushed her to him. “Don’t you dare take it back. You took me by surprise because I expected you to take longer to realize it.”

“You knew I’d fallen for you?”

“Can’t blame you, because I’m awesome, but if it helps, I fell in love first. From the moment we met, I haven’t stopped thinking about you, Charly. I want to be with you, now and always. Want us—you, me, Greta—to be a family.”

“Really?” Her shy smile had him stroking her cheek with a finger.

“I’ve never wanted anything more.”

And to show her how he felt, he kissed her.

This time there was no interruption. The embrace held everything in it, passion, tenderness, acceptance. It left them both trembling and aroused.

When he lay her on the bed and pressed his frame against her, she uttered a soft moan. Their lips meshed as their handstugged and pulled at fabric, removing the clothes that separated their bodies.

There was soft laughter as he got caught in his turtleneck. An impatient huff from him as her pants button wouldn’t slip through the loop. Soon enough, they were naked, their flesh touching, hands teasing.

His lips left her mouth to kiss across her jaw line then down her neck, pausing to suck at the rapid fluttering pulse.

She loved him.

He’d not expected how hearing those words made him feel.

Seen. Wanted. Protective.

Mated.

This was the woman he’d been waiting for, and it was up to him to make her happy, to give her pleasure.

His lips latched onto a nipple. She gasped and arched, uttering soft sounds of pleasure. Each utterance made him only harder.

He played with her breasts, teasing the tips, squeezing them with his hands. Such a nice handful, but there was more to explore. The scent of her arousal had him hungry.

His lips made their way down, trailing across her rounded soft belly to nuzzle the patch of curls at her groin.

She was wet. He didn’t need to look to know it. He could smell her honey. Practically taste it.

A nudge parted her thighs, and he nestled between, seeing the pink perfection of her sex, which glistened. He blew hotly on her nether lips, making her squirm. He then teased apart her sex with his fingers before he gave it a kiss.

She moaned.