The Christmas Vow (Hallelujah Crossing)

Epilogue

Rayla stared at the man cupping her face in his large, strong hands. He’d devoured a ton of her food and she was okay with that. She’d merely been going to portion it out and eat off leftovers. Plus there was food to be had later tonight.

She’d missed him, damn it.

His stupid blue eyes, that scruff, the way he watched and held her. His scent, masculine and woodsy.

“I don’t know how to trust.”

His gaze scoured her face, searching for her truth. He moved his thumbs along her skin and she wanted to purr, arching closer for more contact. Her nipples were hard as diamonds and it sure as fuck wasn’t dry between her legs.

“Not true, baby. You know how. You’re scared to. And that’s on me. I ruined your trust and I swear I will earn it back.”

“You, my parents, your brother.”

“No.” He shook his head, his hair falling in front of his eyes such that she reached up to push it back, allowing herself to see his eyes. His entire feature softened as her fingertips brushed along his forehead. “Your parents and my brother are separate. I don’t give a fuck about them. I care about us. You. Me. Our future. ”

She didn’t speak as he stroked her skin, moving on from her face down her neck to her shoulders where he drew her a bit closer.

“Are you okay? After the whole Abdulov fiasco? And your father’s involvement?”

A shudder moved through her but she ignored it. “He made his decisions and those very nice men you had watching me did their job.”

“They’re not nice, they’re assholes,” he snipped instantly. “All of them.” He frowned. “And married.”

She couldn’t help the laugh that slipped through her lips. “I’m aware of that, just like I know you’ve been following them following me.”

“I left you alone because you didn’t want to see me but I wasn’t going to be hands off in your protection, baby. That will never happen. You’re mine and I’m yours.”

“You can’t say things like that,” she protested.

It didn’t matter how many times she said that, when he did, her insides got all mushy and gooey. She longed to crawl into his arms and just close her eyes, letting him do as he said, protect her.

“Baby.”

She shook her head, eyes squeezed shut.

“Look at me, baby.” He nudged her chin along with his command. “Good girl.”

I’m fucking Pavlov’s dog with my body’s response to his praise. I drool but not where you would assume.

“I love you. Listen to my words, Rayla Hunter. I. Love. You.” He pushed his thumb in her lower lip before rubbing it in a soothing manner. “I know we have a way to go for me to show you how serious I am. How I vow to you that you’re my person. Forever person. I can’t imagine doing anything more in my life without you at my side. I want to support your dreams, see you happy, sad—well honestly I’d prefer you not be sad, like ever—I want to see you carrying our children. I want it all.” Another press on her lip. “And I want it with you.”

Her chin wobbled and she tried to shake her head but his grabbed her chin.

“No, baby. No running, we talk about this. We work through it and we move on to the future. Our future.”

What the hell.

She missed him like hell and loved the idea of spending her life at his side. Smoothing her hands up his arms to his cheeks, she brushed her fingers along his scruff. His gaze didn’t waver from her face.

In his eyes, she read his hope and desire.

For me.

“You said we have to talk.”

He nodded once.

She dragged her tongue along her lower lip and his gaze heated in response, tracking the movement.

“Can we have make up or reunited sex first? Christmas sex?”

Flames raged as he growled and stepped flush to her body, surrounding her with his heat and scent.

“I’ll never say no to sex with you, baby. But I need you to know it’s not a distraction.” A wry smile. “I mean, you’re one hell of a distraction but—”

She pushed up on her toes and smooshed her lips to his. It was a low vibration which poured from him and centered directly on her clit. Ryker set her away from him and with one hand yanked off his slate blue Henley and dropped it to the floor.

Rayla whimpered. He was as delicious as she remembered. Tracking up his hard body she swallowed hard and dug her fingers into her palms.

“Fuck,” she whispered. “It is Christmas.”

“And you’re my present, baby. I’ll be unwrapping you momentarily.” He tucked his fingers inside his waistband and she locked on as he flicked open the top button.

She whimpered and didn’t even bother hiding it. He smirked and her need for him and his touch grew.

He inched back and began lowering his zipper. Rayla wouldn’t have moved away, even if she could command her feet to do so. She chewed on her lower lip, mentally urging him to move faster.

Damn man, he knew exactly where she was and what she wanted him to do. His smirk grew and he shifted his hips side to side, starting a strip tease.

She fisted her hands at her sides, determined not to break first.

“Need something, baby?”

Down, down, down it went until it couldn’t go anymore. She licked her lips in anticipation.

His rough chuckle set off fires in her. She needed to rub against him, feel the calluses moving over her skin, have his touch. Everywhere.

“Yeah,” he said, voice low and graveled. “You do. You need this cock. You need my mouth and my tongue.” His nostrils flared. “I need you as much. Trust me on that.”

“Hurry.” The word fell in a whisper.

He hooked his thumbs in his waistband. Her breath hitched as he pushed them over his lean hips and down powerful thighs. As he kicked his jeans from his ankles, she ran her gaze up his body.

Rayla locked her gaze on his boxers and the long thick length of his cock, pressing hard against the boxer briefs. Then she looked again.

They were black with red on them and a had a yellow and white warning sign. It read:

WARNING

CHOKING HAZARD

SWALLOW AT YOUR OWN RISK.

OPEN PACKAGE FOR MORE DETAILS.

Lips twitching as she read it again. He gripped his cock and she whimpered again, this time sounding more like a mewl of want.

“Tell me what you want, baby.”

“You, Ryker. Always, you.”

The End