“Yes,” he whispered against her neck. “That’s what I needed.”
“Me, too. I can’t remember how I ever lived without you.”
They rarely talked anymore about the years they’d spent aching for each other, but the reminder of what they’d been through never failed to stir deep feelings of gratitude for what they had now.
“It was pure torture, knowing you were out there but so far out of reach.”
She hugged him close to her, surrounding him in the kind of love he’d never dreamed possible until he’d found her.
They moved together like a well-choreographed dance team, their bodies straining for the release they craved until it rolled over them in waves of pleasure so intense, it took his breath away.
“Welcome home,” she said with a giggle that made him smile.
“Best welcome-home I’ve ever gotten.”
“She should be in bed,” Nolan said of Callie, who was running around with Caden, the two of them acting like they’d been shot full of jet fuel.
“We need to let them burn some energy from being cooped up all day,” Hannah said, “or they’ll never sleep.”
They sat on the floor in front of the fire, keeping an eye on their daughter and her cousin, who weren’t showing any signs of winding down.
Homer Junior was curled up on Hannah’s lap, as relieved to have her home as Nolan was.
Nolan put his arm around Hannah and brought her in closer to him. “My baby mama needs some rest. You look tired.”
“I know! I hate that.”
Nolan kissed both her cheeks. “You’re beautiful, but I don’t want you getting run down.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, thankful to be back with him in time for Christmas. For a while there, she’d worried they wouldn’t be able to get home in the storm. “How’s my baby Dexter?”
“He’s been a sad sack without you, just like me, Fred and Homie. I tried to tell them we should enjoy our rare boys-only time, but they weren’t having it.”
“Is Dude taking care of him while we’re here?”
“Yep. Skeeter said not to worry about a thing. They’d take the snowmobiles over to feed him and let him out. I told Skeeter if I find giant piles of moose poop in my house, he’s fired.”
Hannah giggled at that. “He’d never poop in my house.”
“He’d better not, or he’s gone.”
“Stop it. You know you love him as much as I do.”
“I do not. My problem is that I love you enough to let you convince me to allow a wild animal to live in our home.”
“He’s not a wild animal. He’s our little boy.”
“You’re off your rocker, as always.”
“That’s how you like me.”
“Wouldn’t have you any other way, but the moose poop is a deal breaker.”
“That’s good to know,” she said, yawning.
“Linc, would you please watch our wild child while I put the moose whisperer to bed?” Nolan asked.
“Yep, I’ve got her.”
“I’m here, too,” Max said.
“Be right back,” Nolan said as he helped Hannah up and led her toward the stairs, where he steered her up with his hands on her hips.
Hannah was so tired, she offered no resistance. “You’ll get Callie to bed?”
“I’ll take care of her. Don’t worry.”
“K.”
Nolan helped her change into the flannel pajamas she preferred in the winter and even went so far as to put toothpaste on her toothbrush for her before walking her back into their room and tucking her in under a down comforter.
It was all she could do to keep her eyes open long enough to kiss him good night. “Sorry to be so sleepy.”
“Don’t be sorry.”
“Missed you so much when we were gone.”
“Missed you like crazy. The boys and I agreed that nothing is fun without our girls.” He kissed her and leaned his forehead against hers. “Get some sleep, sweetheart.”
“Want to snuggle with you.”
“We’ll do that tomorrow.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Hannah fell asleep with a smile on her face.
“I can’t believe you organized this for us,” Will said to Cameron, who had Chase sleeping in her arms.
“I thought your dad might enjoy having everyone together for Christmas.”
“You thought right, and I just want to point out that as someone who grew up as an only child, you’ve completely conquered the big-family dynamic.”
“You really think so?”
“Hell yes. We all think so. Look at what you did here, babe. You found a way for all of us to spend Christmas Eve together.”
“Thanks,” she said, seeming pleased by the praise.
The glow of the firelight on her pretty face made him want her so fiercely. Speaking close to her ear, he said, “Let’s go to bed.”
“I’m ready.”
He took Chase from her, held him with one arm and reached for her with his free hand to help her up. “We’ll see you in the morning,” Will said to the others as he took his family to bed.
“Sleep well, guys,” Linc said. “And, Cam… Thank you again.”
“My pleasure.”
With his hand on her lower back, Will guided his wife to the stairs and followed her up. He settled Chase in the portable crib in the corner, swept his fingers over the baby’s soft blond hair and left him to sleep, knowing he’d be up early.
Will stripped down to boxers and crawled into bed with Cameron, so relieved to be back with her and Chase. “That ride home was nerve-racking. I was so afraid we weren’t going to get here for Christmas.”
“We were so worried. We had a lot of loved ones on that bus.”
He released a deep sigh and then inhaled the distinctive scent of his love. “I missed you and Chase so much.”
“We missed you, too. It was only two nights, but it felt like two weeks.”
“I know. We all said that. I’m really glad we went, but I’m super glad to be home.”
“Your dad seems good.”
“He does. I think it gave him some peace of mind to have his dad tell him he was wrong to do what he did and that he regrets it.”
“That must’ve been nice to hear.”
“I’m sure it was, but it’s just so freaking sad and pointless when you really think about it.”
“I was thinking about it while you were gone, and I wonder if losing his older son did something to him, made him desperate to hold on to the others or something.”
“From what Dad said, that’s pretty much what happened. Who knows what that kind of loss does to people?”
She shuddered. “God, I hope we never find out.”
“Me, too.”
After a pause, she said, “You know, I saw it in my own dad, how much my mother’s sudden death affected him and how he raised me at arm’s length, almost as if he was afraid to care too much about me out of fear he could lose me, too. Grief does strange things to people.”