Chapter 15

T he last bite of mincemeat pie, rich and sweet, lingered on Joy's tongue as she watched Moses push back from the dining table. The Christmas meal had been a modest affair, but Joy had taken great care to prepare each dish with precision, wanting to create a special memory for their first holiday together.

He seemed content, almost serene—a rare state for a man who seemed to often drift off into visions of scenes that he needed to paint at any given time. She scooted her chair back softly and went to the cupboard where she'd hidden his gift, retrieving the carefully wrapped parcel, the paper crinkling under her hesitant touch. She knew it was a simple gift, one not befitting a man of such quiet complexity, but she'd wanted to use only her own money to purchase something for him, and she didn't have much left.

"I…I have something for you," she said. Extending her arm, she offered him the package.

Moses looked at her with a start, as if surprised by the gesture, then turned his gaze to the gift in her outstretched hand. His large fingers gently took hold of the package, his touch careful not to crush the delicate paper.

"Joy," he said, and there was a familiar softening in his voice, a tenderness that smoothed the rough edges of his rugged exterior. He unwrapped the scarf with deliberate movements, revealing the woven wool, and lifted it up to brush it against his cheek. His eyes lit up as if she had given him not just a piece of cloth, but a slice of the sun itself.

"Thank you," he said. "I've not had much cause for gifts, and less so for such thoughtfulness." He draped the scarf around his neck, the grey making his eyes appear darker and stormy. "You've brought...something into my life I didn't know was missing. Changed me, and for the better."

Her heart danced a crazed rhythm—part waltz, part wild reel—as she watched the man who had become her unexpected companion acknowledge her simple offering. "Your happiness is all I care about," Joy replied. And as she spoke, she felt the truth of her words resonate within the chambers of her heart.

"Joy, I've come to realize that what I feel for you is love."

He paused, watching her. His revealing eyes held hers with a piercing intensity. "I know no time at all has passed since we met, but I know what I feel. I never thought I'd find it, but you've changed everything."

The words hung in the air, as tangible as the scarf now looped around his neck. Moses' confession was as unadorned as his rough-hewn features, yet it bore the authenticity of a man who spoke from the depths of his being.

Joy felt the world tilt slightly on its axis, her breath catching in her throat. This terse, solitary man who never made small talk had just bared his soul to her in a handful of words. In the quiet of the moment, she searched his earnest expression, seeking the truths that lay beyond the simplicity of his speech.

"Moses, dear Moses." Her heart raced, pounding out a rhythm that was new to her, to go along with feelings just as unexpected. "I think I've fallen in love with you too. I never knew I was capable of feeling this way. I know I was married before, but…" She couldn't find the right words to describe the difference.

He reached out to her, his fingers brushing against hers in a touch that promised more than mere comfort. It was the touch of a man who had known the chill of solitude and now basked in the surprise of shared warmth.

"Then we are a pair of fortunate souls," he said, a half-smile lifting the corner of his mouth, softening the lines of his face. It was a smile that hinted at a wealth of untapped tenderness within him—a reservoir of emotion that Joy had unwittingly tapped.

"We are very fortunate."

Moses withdrew a small box from the inner pocket of his coat. He placed it into Joy's palm. With hesitant curiosity, she opened the lid to reveal a hair comb, its teeth carved delicately from mother-of-pearl, crowned with a sprig of mistletoe fashioned from emerald leaves and pearl berries.

"Merry Christmas," he said. "Wear it every day, and I promise to kiss you wherever you desire, as often as you desire."

Her breath caught in her throat, not just at the beauty of the gift, but at the memories he suggested. The mistletoe—a promise of stolen kisses, a symbol of desires acknowledged under its sacred boughs—was now hers to command. She looked up into Moses' eyes, the blue depths reflecting flickering flames of heat, and saw the future they could share shimmering within.

"Then let us waste no more time," she whispered, the words a daring invitation.

Moses cupped her cheek gently with his warm hand, his calloused fingers tracing the soft skin there before sliding into her hair to tilt her head back slightly. His lips met hers tenderly at first, brushing against them teasing and tentative, as if unsure of how she would react. But she welcomed him, opening her mouth to encourage his exploration. His tongue met hers, and they danced together, pulling away slightly then pressing closer again in a slow, sensual rhythm.

Their kiss deepened, becoming more urgent as their need for one another grew. His large hands found her waist, tracing the curve of her hips before sliding up to cup her breasts through her gown. Joy arched into his touch, moaning softly as she felt her nipples harden under his rough but gentle fingers. She reached up to thread her fingers through his dark hair, tugging gently as she pushed herself closer to him.

As they broke apart for air, they both panted heavily. Moses leaned his forehead against hers, eyes closed in bliss. "Joy," he said hoarsely, "I never thought I'd find someone like you."

She smiled up at him, feeling bold and beautiful beneath his gaze. "Neither did I," she replied truthfully. "But here we are."

They stepped away from each other slowly, both still catching their breath. Moses took a sip of his wine before setting down the glass with a clink on the table.

Joy licked her lips unconsciously, tasting the sweetness of their kisses lingering there. The room seemed to spin around them as the fire in the next room crackled and popped in the hearth.

Moses took control of the situation and lifted her into his arms, carrying her to their bed. He released his hold on Joy only long enough for him to pull off first one shoe then another, leaving behind her silk stockings adorning her legs. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a searing kiss that sent a jolt of need through his body. She could taste his wine, and he deepened the kiss, exploring every inch of her mouth with his tongue. She moaned softly, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed herself closer to him.

His hands moved to cup her breasts, toying the weight of them in his palms. He teased her nipples through her gown, rolling them between his thumb and forefinger until they were hard and sensitive. She gasped, arching her back in pleasure.

He slid his hand down her body, over the curve of her hip and to the hem of her gown. He lifted it slowly, exposing her thighs to the cool air of the room. He found the wetness between her legs, slipping his fingers inside her and exploring her heat.

She moaned louder, her hips moving in time with his fingers as she climbed the wave of pleasure building inside her. Her body trembling with each stroke and she feared she'd finish without him. "Please, I need you inside me."

He growled and began tearing off his clothing. She stripped off her gown and lay back, enjoying the sight of his taut muscles and hard erection as he crawled over to her. She spread her legs with a smile she hoped told him how much she enjoyed his body.

He kissed her belly, licked a path between her ribs, then captured a nipple between his teeth. The sharp sting shot through her and she arched into it, and sighed when his lips continued to play with her breast.

Then he entered her, slowly sliding into her slick heat and she thought she'd melt. The sensation was exquisite. She opened her eyes and saw he was watching her. His burning gaze held her captive, and the only thing she felt was that rigid stroking between her thighs.

He was perfect. He was everything.

And suddenly she was shattering, yet still climbing as he kept thrusting. "Oh, yes," she cried.

"My Joy," he said on a heavy breath, and she felt his hips jerk. He gasped in pleasure.

With a cry of release, she came with him, her body shuddering against his as she rode out the waves of her orgasm. He held her close, and she could feel the aftershocks of pleasure ripple through them both, finally rolling to one side and carrying her with him.

In the afterglow of their passion, they lay together, a tangle of limbs amidst the blankets they hadn't pulled out of the way in their hurry. The flicker of candlelight danced across Moses' skin, casting a warm, golden hue that suited his almost feral lovemaking.

"Joy," he said in a low rumble from deep within his chest, "you've brought light into my life. I love you, and I promise to cherish and protect you always." The words, unadorned yet laden with truth, resonated in the space between them—a sacred vow offered with the solemnity of a man who'd discovered his heart's true compass.

"You've changed everything," he confessed. "And I know it's not been long, but it's been long enough for me to know that without you by my side, my life would be lived in shadow."

Her eyes burned with the emotion he wrought from her heart.

"Will you marry me, Joy?"

She realized then that while she'd hoped to spend the rest of her days—and nights—with him, she'd not thought about the need for marriage. She didn't need the vows to confirm how she felt about him. But she now understood that was cheating him of what he deserved. He was such a good man, he deserved all of her. Her answer was easy. "Yes."

It was a simple word, but it held the promise of a thousand tomorrows, a single syllable that bound their lives together with a strength no force could sever. She would be his wife, proudly, passionately.

Moses pulled her closer, sealing their pledge with a kiss that tasted of joy and the sweet spice of mincemeat pie, a kiss that spoke of shared Christmases yet to come. "You've made me the happiest of men," he murmured against her lips.

"And you've given me a future I never dared to dream of," Joy said.

As they lay there, she marveled at how a snowstorm could wreak such change in her life, leading her to this singular man. The man to whom she'd give her everything. Her Moses.