A Hunted Christmas: A Companion Story to Big Game: Hunted Love #1 (3 page)

His heart threatened to burst free of his
ribs, but he managed to walk casually on through the kitchen, and
down the hall to the stairs. The gift-wrapping supplies Kate
brought home the other day sat in the smaller of the three
bedrooms, alongside the packages she'd already wrapped for the
hands and her friends.

The room held a hodge-podge of worn out
furniture, an assortment of craft supplies and a small rolling
garment rack. Kate kept the striking shirts and coordinating jeans
she wore for competitions there. Jakob couldn't wait to see her
wearing them, in her element, performing with the horses she put so
much work into.

A stack of empty boxes sat in the corner, some
stuffed inside one another, all balanced precariously, ready to
fall out into the middle of the room. Careful not to knock them
over, Jakob chose three. After a last look at the gift, he tucked
the box inside another, cushioned with plenty of tissue paper, then
sealed the box.

It took a little more time than he thought,
but eventually, the small gift was sealed inside three boxes nested
together, and wrapped to the best of his ability. Satisfied, he
carried it downstairs and slipped it under the tree in the living
room. It wasn't easy to act casual as he made his way back to the
kitchen, but he thought he managed okay.

Since it was already late afternoon, he fixed
them a simple dinner they could eat whenever they were ready. She
still hadn't come out of the office, so he busied himself with the
jigsaw puzzle on the low counter intended to serve as a desk. He
and Kate spent a lot of hours there, side by side, working on
puzzles or other joint projects. He treasured those quiet moments
spent with her, with no need for conversation or anything else.
Just together.

That time, just soaking of up the peace of
her, seemed to help with the nightmares left over from his time in
the Army. Just a few short months ago, he never thought there'd be
a time when the past didn't reach out to grab him occasionally. He
knew it wasn't just working on puzzles with her that helped, of
course. Time and distance, and a new focus, no doubt did a lot. But
the times with Kate where there was nothing else, no concerns or
pressures, just the two of them, seemed to be the key.

After a while, Kate came out of the office and
wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind. "What're you
doing?"

He grinned. "Very important work here,
searching for this one tiny part of a tree that looks exactly like
all the other nine-hundred and ninety-nine parts of trees." He
pulled her around to sit in his lap. "Paperwork done?"

"Some. I got all the filly's details entered
in the stock book, at least, and closed out Chaser's breeding
history since she's the last. I'll have to wait for the power to
get her registered, though." Her lips slid up his neck and teased
along his jaw. "What are we doing the rest of the day?"

"Mmm, I've got some ideas." He slipped one
hand under her shirt and cupped her breast. "How about a picnic in
the living room? No need to cook, and a bottle of wine, music, and
a soft blanket."

A smile lit her whole face with delight.
"That's a great idea!"

"You get the blanket and music? I'll get the
food and wine?" He couldn't wait for her reaction to the package
under the tree. So far, she hadn't been in the living room to
notice it. He still wasn't sure when to let her open it. The right
moment would come along.

"Race you!" She darted off to the stairs,
taking advantage of his surprise for a head start.

Good thing he already had everything ready in
anticipation. He grabbed the wine, glasses, and the plate he'd put
together earlier with cold chicken, cheese, crackers and a couple
other things. He fully intended to win. And claim his
prize.

Kate rushed down the stairs as he reached the
living room and he hurried to place his burden on the coffee table.
The polished wood floor made her slide to a stop and she spread the
blanket in front of the woodstove.

"I win." His announcement drew a slightly sour
look from her.

"Only because you didn't have to go up and
down the stairs." She turned on the Metallica CD she'd won from him
in their first bet. "Besides, you cheated. No way you got the food
ready that fast." She turned back to him with a grin. "I like the
way you were already thinking."

Jakob pretended to pout, playing along. "Come
here. I need to claim my prize."

She grinned and approached, hands on her hips.
"Yeah? And what prize is that?"

He reached for her, pulling her close. Fuck!
She was perfect. Her soft curves molded to his hard angles, like
two parts of a puzzle. Instantly hard, he let his hands drift down
to the hem of her sweater and lift it. "My prize is this fucking
sweet body of yours." He drew the shirt over her head.

The sight of her breasts in the black lace bra
he'd chosen for her made his mouth go dry. He could never get
enough of them. Already, his palms ached for the feel of her. And
those parted lips brought delightful things to mind. He bent to
taste, letting kisses trail along her jaw.

"I like the sound of this prize. But don't
think you're getting off easy just because you won." She turned to
capture his mouth with hers, teasing at his lower lip with her
teeth.

"Oh yeah? What does that mean?"

She smiled into the kiss. "You'll find out.
Now get these clothes off."

Damn, she'd changed so much from the shy girl
he'd met. A thrill shot through him at the knowledge that he put
that confidence in her. She should never doubt her beauty and
appeal, but she had. And he'd devoted months to proving it to her.
If she would allow him, he'd spend the rest of his life doing the
same.

He peeled both their clothes off, not an easy
task with her mouth distracting him. He had to pause a moment when
she found his nipple and tugged with her teeth. When they were
finally naked, he lowered his head to kiss her again, putting every
ounce of the passion and love he felt into it.

Every time he made love to his Kate felt like
something incredibly important, but this time was even more so. He
had to make sure all the things he felt but couldn't say made it
from his heart to hers through each caress, every kiss. Words were
too inadequate to show her the depth of his need for
her.

Kate made that little whimper sound of hers
that always got to him, and didn't resist when he picked her up,
still kissing her, and moved them to the blanket she'd spread on
the floor before the wood stove. The fire flickered through the
tempered glass front of the stove, casting an eerie glow over the
room and making shadows leap and dance around them. Apparently,
while they played, the sun had set and darkness crept
in.

The moment her feet touched the blanket, Jakob
tugged her down to sit by him on the floor, and resumed his
possession of that lovely mouth. She lay back, tugging at his
shoulders in an attempt to move him over her.

He resisted. This time, he fully intended to
take his time with loving her. So instead, he settled to her side a
little. She moaned her objection, but allowed him to kiss his way
down the side of her neck. He paused for a minute, watching her.
Her lips, swollen from his kiss, parted for her tongue to sweep
across her lip.

The firelight danced over her skin and he took
a moment to admire the way her skin flushed in the rosy glow. The
little hollow above her collarbone always begged his attention, and
this time was no different. He laved the tender skin with his
tongue, relishing the taste of her. But soon, his own need and her
whimpers drove him onward.

The smooth curve of her breasts beckoned him
and he worked his way down. When he finally sucked her nipple into
his mouth, she arched into him with a cry, begging for more. He
gave it, gladly, and let his hand smooth down her belly to cup her.
Fuck, keeping to the plan would not be easy. His endless
fascination with loving her body acted as a huge
distraction.

He let one finger dip, gently parting her and
smoothing her moisture over the sensitive the flesh. Her thighs
fell open and her hips arched. A strangled sound left her throat as
she sought to pull his finger inside, but he drew back, and
released her nipple, too.

The rest of his life rested on the next few
minutes. He gave up a silent prayer. "Whoa, baby. Easy there. Time
for a little break." Damn, his dick might just kill him for this
idea, but there was no going back now. Eager, but trembling, he sat
up and reached for the light package he'd slipped under the tree.
"Time to open your gift."

It took a moment for his remarks to penetrate
the haze of her passion. "What? Now?"

"Yes, now." His heart seriously wanted to
pound right through his ribs. What if she didn't like it? Or worse,
thought him stupid for even thinking it? He knew she loved him, but
they hadn't discussed how either of them felt about
marriage.

"But I don't have yours ready. The storm
interfered with my plans." Apprehension filled her
voice.

Unable to help himself, Jakob leaned in and
kissed her. "If you like this, that's the only gift I'll ever
need." He helped her sit up and put the box in her
hands.

The impulse to bite his lip nearly overcame
him as anxiety hit harder. If he didn't get his mind off it, he
would likely fall to pieces right then and there, so he went for
the nearest foolproof distraction—his woman's body. As she started
unwrapping the package far too slowly for him, he let his fingers
slide up her thigh to tease her.

Finally, she had the box open, and she looked
up at him with mild confusion. "Is this a joke gift?" She lifted
the second box out of the first.

"Far from it, baby. Keep going."

Seeming a little more confident, she opened
that box, only to find a third. "Jakob?"

He gave her a nod of encouragement. "Keep
going. Almost there."

More careful, maybe a bit suspicious, she
opened the next box. For an instant she just sat there in silence,
staring. When she looked up, tears gathered in her eyes.

He slid in closer and cupped one hand behind
her head. "Kate, I know we haven't talked about it, and I don't
even really know… Anyway. Kate, will you marry me?"

The tears rolled over and panic surged in his
chest. Oh, fuck, what if she said no?

"No." The single word was so faint, he wasn't
sure he heard her right.

"Kate?" Emotion made his voice thick and
rough. The lump in his throat threatened to cut off his
air.

She looked up at him and the misery in her
eyes choked him. "I can't, Jakob. I thought I could. There's
nothing I want more." Her voice broke. "You'll be a wonderful
father one day. I can't give you that. I can't tie you to me
knowing that."

Sick fear gathered in his belly.
No.
He
refused to accept that answer. "Kate, you know how I feel about
that.
If
we decide we want kids, we'll adopt. There are too
many babies out there who just need a chance. I can't get hung up
on the biology of it. A child is a child and they're all precious,
no matter whose cells make them." How could he make her understand?
He tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Kate, I love
you
. I can live without a lot of things. I can't live
without you. Life without you was a dark place. I can't go back
there. Ever."

A spark of hope flared in her eyes. "Are you
sure this is what you want?"

The same hope took hold in his chest. "I've
never been more sure of anything in my life. I want forever with
you. Nothing else matters." He drew her into his lap, along with
the ring box, and gently took it from her. His fingers shook as he
lifted the delicate-looking gold from its velvet bed. "Say you'll
marry me, Kate." The firelight reflected in the facets of the small
diamond as he slipped the ring on her finger. "Please."

She nodded, turning to bury her face in his
shoulder. "Yes."

Thank fuck!

He tipped her head back for his kiss and
gently lay her back on the blanket. This time when she pulled him
over her, Jakob didn't have it in him to resist. He needed to be
inside her.

He buried himself in one smooth stroke and
paused for her to adjust, then set about pushing them both over the
edge, faster and harder until they both gasped for air. "I love
you, Kate."

Her body clasped around him with a shudder as
she cried out his name. One last thrust and he was lost, trembling
in her arms as release claimed him. Growing up, he was always
taught about some mystical peace and joy associated with the
Christmas season, and until this very moment, those concepts evaded
him.

The knowledge that Kate would be his forever
filled him with a sense that all was right with the world, for
once.

THE END

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Hell
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