Chapter 17

Ares almost died hearing her 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 hands tugged 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.

The sweetest sound.

He buried his face into her honeyed heaven, licking and tasting, teasing and pleasing. Every time she mewled and squirmed, his cock swelled. What he wouldn’t give to feel her come on his tongue.

But tonight was for claiming. For making her his mate not just in words but in actions. They’d had sex before, but it was different. They’d both had secrets. Both held back.

Not anymore.

He slid up the length of her body, dropping kisses along the way. When he held himself poised over her, her eyes opened, barely, the lids heavy with desire. Her swollen lips parted to whisper, “I love you, Ares.”

“Oh, Charly. I love you so fucking much.” He kissed her as the head of his cock penetrated. Her sex provided a warm and wet haven for him to bury himself. He went slow, but deep, seating himself fully inside and grinding. She gasped as he swirled his hips, applying pressure with his cock against her sweet spot, their bodies a perfect fit.

Her sex clenched tight around his shaft, but he could still thrust. He pumped into her, but not too fast; he wanted her to come before he did. Wanted to see her face as she climaxed.

That was the plan, but between her flesh squeezing him, her soft sounds of pleasure, and his own need, he got close to the brink. Held on, though, until she convulsed, her pussy undulating and giving him the signal to come.

And he came.

Without a condom.

Shit. He’d never forgotten one before.

She must have caught sight of his face because she whispered, “What’s wrong?”

“I forgot to put on a rubber.”

Her lips curved. “It will be fine. I always wanted a few kids.”

“I never thought I did until you,” he admitted.

“And now?”

“Now I want the whole domestic shebang.”

She laughed. “Gonna keep me barefoot and pregnant?”

“Only if that’s what you want. I just want to wake up every morning to your smile.”

“I think that can be arranged so long as you promise to snuggle me every night.”

“That might be a possibility,” he teased, even as he dragged her close so he could spoon his mate.

He had to give it to his wolf. Mate had a nice ring to it.

Told you so.

What his wolf couldn’t have told him was how much he’d enjoy Charly’s company. They talked, they made love, they snuggled, and eventually slept.

Morning arrived way too soon with a child bouncing on the bed. “Mama, Ares! It’s Christmas!”

Indeed, it was, and he already had the best present tucked by his side.

Charly opened one eye to peek at her daughter. “Is the sun even up?”

“Yup.” Greta flipped off the bed and ran to open the curtain, blinding them with light.

“Did you brush your teeth and pee?” she asked next.

Greta rolled her eyes. “Yes. Can we go downstairs?”

“I still need to brush mine and tinkle,” Charly stated, making Greta groan.

“Hurry, Mama. I peeked down the stairs, and Santa brought presents. Lots of them!” she exclaimed, holding her arms wide.

“Coming, munchkin. Give me a second to wake up.”

Ares rolled out of bed wearing track pants and grabbed a shirt. “How about I get some coffee ready and see if there’s some chocolate milk for an excited princess?”

“Yesss.” Greta held out her arms, and Ares scooped her, leaving a tousled and tired-looking Charley. In her defense, they’d spent a portion of the night talking and making love rather than sleeping.

Making another pup. Wolf approved.

Very possible, seeing as how during round two Charly had shaken her head when he asked if he should go grab a condom. She’d drawn him close and whispered, “If it happens, it happens.”

A baby? He couldn’t think of anything more amazing.

As he entered the kitchen, no surprise; Grams was already there with freshly brewed coffee.

“Merry Christmas!” Greta exclaimed.

“And a very Merry Christmas to you too. Does someone need some fresh chocolate milk?”

“Me.” Greta squirmed, and he put her down so she could run for a hug. Grams was a totally different person when around a child. She smiled, and it wasn’t the terrifying grin he’d seen her use when sniping mercenaries.

“Where’s Gramps?” Ares asked as he poured two mugs of coffee.

“Checking on the animals. Derek and Athena aren’t up yet, but I don’t imagine they’ll be abed much longer.” Grams pulled a glass out while Greta carefully carried the pitcher of chocolate milk to the counter.

“Charly will be down in a few minutes.” A glance outside had him murmuring, “Storm’s passed over.”

“Yup, but the clean-up is going to take a while. The roads are sh—” Grams caught herself and said, “Slippery.”

He bit back a smile as she tried to not curse in front of Greta. “I should give my mom and Selene a shout. They actually got power back last night but said the road hadn’t been plowed and was about a foot deep."

“We got walloped,” Grams stated, “but we’ll be nice and cozy, right, sweetling?”

“We should make more cookies,” Greta stated.

“I think you’re right.”

Grams settled Greta at the table with her chocolate milk, along with some apple slices, before sidling close to murmur, “Since I don’t have a granddaughter for you to date, I approve of your choice. Charlotte’s a good woman and a fine mother. She took the news of her child’s lycanthropy surprisingly well.”

“A good thing because we might see a repeat tonight,” which reminded him… He sat beside Greta and said, “So remember how you turned into a wolf yesterday?”

She nodded.

“It’s not something you can tell anybody about.”

“A secret?”

He nodded.

“Mama says I shouldn’t lie.”

“This isn’t a lie exactly, more like not telling people who wouldn’t understand and might hurt us. Not everyone likes wolves.”

“I like them.”

“Me too. But some folks don’t, which is why we have to keep that part of ourselves a secret.”

Greta paused with an apple slice partway to her mouth before saying, “I don’t have to keep it secret with you.”

“No. Me, Athena, Selene, we all know what it means to lycan. Which is the fancy name for our wolf side. You can also trust Grams, Gramps, Derek, and Athena’s mom.”

“Okay.” Greta agreed easily before sighing. “Mama is taking so long.”

A few minutes on Christmas morning, an eternity for a child.

Soon they were in the living room, and the paper shredding began. Greta was over the moon with her fancy Barbie. Charly eyed her brand-new mix-and-match office attire with surprise.

“How did you find the time to do this?” she asked Ares.

“Athena helped,” he admitted. “Thought you might like some fancy duds for the new job.”

“I didn’t have a chance to get you anything.” Her lips turned down.

“You are the best gift ever,” he said, leaning over for a kiss.

About midmorning, Greta stacked a plate with some fruitcake and peanuts from the buffet of snacks Grams laid out. As she headed for the front door, Charly asked, “Where are you going, munchkin?”

“To feed Mr. Squirrel.” She pointed to the window, where a furry face with a white tuft on its head peeked in.

Ares grumbled. “I can’t believe Skippy was hiding in the tree.”

“A good thing. Without him, Barry might have left with Greta.”

“Does this mean I can’t eat him?” he groused.

“You’d better not,” Charly huffed.

“Fine.” He leaned close enough for her ears only and whispered, “Can I eat you then?”

The blush was so worth it.

Midafternoon got busy, as Selene arrived with his mom, bearing even more gifts. The body from the day before had been handled and the bloody snow in front of the house had been shoveled so no sign of the attack remained.

Their late afternoon dinner proved to be loud and chaotic. In other words, awesome. Ares and his small family had suddenly more than doubled in size. There was an epic turkey, farm-raised of course. Honey-glazed carrots. Mashed potatoes roasted to give them a crispy crust. Fresh buns from the oven. A stuffing to die for. Cherry pie and eclairs.

It led to much unbuttoning and unbuckling as people eased the waistband of their pants.

It was Selene who glanced at the clock and said, “It’s almost time.”

Greta perked at her words. “Am I going to wolf out?”

Ares and his sisters had taken turns talking to her about lycanthropy, what it meant, what to expect, what she could and couldn’t do. Greta took it in, as did Charly, a mom determined to accept and support.

“Let’s go find out.” Selene held out her hand, and Greta took it. Charly tensed, so Ares hugged her and whispered, “Don’t worry. We’ll keep her safe.”

“I know you will. Be careful.”

“Always.”

Just before the moon rose, they switched into robes. Well, the adults did. Greta wore one of Derek’s plaid shirts, buttons undone. They went out onto the porch and, as the moon rose, shed their clothing. Their nude bodies shivered until the moonlight kissed their skin and they changed from flesh to fur.

Even Greta.

Off they ran, three large wolves and a little puppy, racing through the snow. Chasing each other. Yipping. Playing.

We are pack.

Beatrice put an arm around Charlotte. “I know it’s hard, but I promise being a wolf mom is a special gift,” she murmured. “Although, if you have a boy, be prepared for him to pee on everything.”

“I heard what happened to your husband.” Ares’ father had been shot by a hunter.

“He knew better than to be running around in fur during hunting season. We own a large property for a reason, but for some reason, that night, he went elsewhere.”

Charlotte wouldn’t let Greta make that mistake.

She stood watching as the wolves barked and raced in the snow, but all too soon, they headed into the forest, a safe section according to Gramps.

Despite planning to stay up until they returned, Charlotte fell asleep on the couch and woke to cold hands on her cheeks.

“Mama!”

“Munchkin.” Charlotte roused immediately. “How was it?”

Greta grinned. “I howled at the moon.”

“You had fun?”

“The best. But it’s not fair.”

“What isn’t?”

Greta’s lips turned down. “Girls can’t pee on trees.”

To which Ares, who entered the living room wearing a robe, laughed. “How about I pee on them for you?”

And that was how her day ended. In a relationship with a werewolf, the mother of a puppy, crazy happy, and in love.

Best Christmas ever.