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Christmas Eve: The Swiss Alps

T he cabin door clicks shut. A soft giggle followed by a deep chuckle has my lips curving into a smile. Turning off my e-reader, I set it on the coffee table next to my mug of hot cocoa. “How were the slopes today?”

Viktor wanted to celebrate his birthday—and our first Christmas as a family—with a big trip. So here we are, in a ritzy cabin in the Swiss Alps. Since I’m not the most coordinated person in the world, I gave up on skiing after day one.

After falling on my ass more times than I can count, I settled on staying cozied up by the fireplace with a good book while Lily and Viktor hit the slopes. We’ve been sightseeing in the evenings and enjoying all the local cuisine, too.

It’s been a magical vacation… the first of many, if Viktor has anything to say about it. Which I’m sure he does.

Lily kicks off her boots and shrugs off her winter coat, leaving them in a pile on the floor before running to me. “Viktor fell down… twice.” She’s beaming at his blunder, the missing teeth in her grin tugging at my heartstrings.

With a heavy sigh, my vampire collapses onto the couch on my other side. “I believe the second time, you fell on me and took me down with you, little one.” His lips morph into a smile when he reaches across me and tickles Lily’s side.

“What happened to your supernatural grace, city boy? Did you forget it at home?” After syncing our lifespans, Viktor didn’t seem to lose any of his extra abilities, like his speed or enhanced senses, but it’s still fun to give him a hard time.

“Brat,” he mutters, pulling me in for a hug. His lips press against the top of my head, and I melt into his cool body. He’s even chillier after being out on the slopes all afternoon, but the roaring fire in front of us staves off my shiver. “Little one, should we give Mom her present?”

Lily squeals, then hops to her feet and sprints toward the bedrooms.

My eyebrows knit together as I turn to face Viktor. The picture of calm, his features give nothing away. “I thought this trip was the present?”

“You know I love to spoil my girls. I couldn’t help myself.” He shrugs, playing innocent .

Before I can pry more information out of him, Lily flies back to the couch and hands something to Viktor. His fist swallows whatever it is before I can catch a glance. “What are you two up to?” I ask, pulling Lily into my lap. She wraps her arms around my neck and snuggles close.

But Viktor is on the move, slipping from the couch to kneel in front of me. On one knee.

Is he going to—

“Maggie.” His ruby gaze glitters as he searches my face, finally landing on my eyes, tears burning the backs of them as he brings his fist between us, opening it to reveal a small red velvet box.

“I’ve loved you since the first moment I saw you.

And every minute I spend with you, I fall deeper and deeper into the depths of your love.

You always say that I brought you back to life but, country girl, you did the very same for me. ”

He peels open the lid of the box, and nestled inside is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. Side-by-side on a white gold band, a sparkling ruby sits with a crystal-clear diamond. “Is that my wedding ring from Roman?”

“I hope you don’t mind. It only felt right.”

All I can do is nod as tears cloud my vision. “It’s beautiful, Viktor.”

“You and Lily mean the world to me, Maggie. And I’ll spend the rest of my life spoiling you both rotten and showing you how much I love you. Will you marry me?” His dark eyebrows crouch low over pleading eyes as he stares up at me.

How could I say no to this amazing vampire who clicked into my life perfectly when I didn’t even know I needed someone like him ?

“Yes! Of course!” Holding out my trembling left hand, Viktor steadies it in his and slides the ring onto my finger.

It’s then I notice a smaller diamond nestled between the two larger stones, near the band of the ring. “That’s for me!” Lily exclaims, wiggling in my lap and pointing at the smallest stone.

He thought of everything. Connecting the past chapters of my life with the new chapters yet to be written. “It’s perfect, Viktor. Thank you.” The first tear slips free, rolling down my cheek when he leans in for a kiss.

“Not as perfect as you, sweetheart.”

The rest of the evening passes peacefully as the snowflakes dance through the darkening sky outside. Cuddled by the fire, we eat and play some of the board games provided by the resort. Eventually, Lily’s eyes grow heavy, and Viktor offers to put her to bed.

“Goodnight, Lily. I love you.” Bending, I press my lips to her forehead before tucking the blankets tighter around her .

“Viktor?” The question in her sleepy voice has me settling on the edge of her bed.

“Yes, little one.”

“If you’re marrying Momma, does that mean you’re my dad now?” Her dark-blonde eyebrows crease in the middle as her eyes meet mine.

On the inside, my stomach knots, but I keep my tone even. “It doesn’t have to change anything, unless you want it to.” I stroke the flyaway hair back from her face. “But I’d be honored to be your dad. I’m honored just to know you, Lily.”

Her lips twist as she hums. She hugs her stuffed unicorn close to her chest. “I think I’d like for you to be my dad.”

My heart nearly erupts, it’s beating so fast. I can’t keep the smile from spreading across my face. “Okay.”

“Can I try it out?”

Curling my lips over my teeth, I fight back a laugh. “Yes, of course.”

“Goodnight, Dad. I love you.” She beams as she says the words, and I return her smile.

After one more kiss goodnight—and another round of “I love you”—Lily burrows under the blankets, and I doubt we’ll hear a peep from her until morning.

Closing her bedroom door, I cross the hall to the room where Maggie and I are staying. Dark wood furniture fills the space with soft bedding and cozy decor, making it the perfect winter escape from the snow after a long day of skiing.

Speaking of, fluffy white flakes cascade through the night sky outside, piling up rapidly on the snow-covered ground .

As I pull my eyes from the window and scan the room, my future bride is nowhere to be found.

My bride. The words settle in my chest. To say the past few months have been a whirlwind is an understatement.

I’m no longer her nanny; instead, I’m her partner in everything. On top of my new role as a dad, I’ve settled into splitting my time between helping Maggie with the financial side of the orchard and working with kids at the community center in Maple Ridge Hollow.

I still get to shape young minds, but I get to focus most of my time and energy on my two favorite girls—Maggie and Lily.

Father and I still have a long way to go, but we’re working on our relationship. He kept his promise and became an investor for the orchard, allowing Maggie peace of mind and the ability to expand her business.

True to her word, Maggie paid me back every cent I spent on the festival. What she doesn’t know is that I deposited it all into a high-yield savings account for Lily’s future.

“There you are, beautiful wife,” I say as I lean against the door to the bathroom.

Maggie is surrounded by a mountain of bubbles, soaking in the massive bathtub. “How did bedtime go?” She sips from a glass of champagne before setting it on the platform surrounding the jetted tub.

I snap my fingers. “Out like a light.” Kneeling next to the tub, I run my hand under the water, caressing her smooth thigh. “She called me Dad.”

“She did?” Water sloshes over the side of the tub when Maggie sits up. “Oh, Viktor, that’s amazing! ”

When she clutches my forearm, her new ring sparkles in the dim light of the bathroom. A few lit candles flicker along the edge of the tub. She went all out to set the mood in here, so I might as well take advantage. “Are you happy, sweetheart?”

“So happy, Viktor. I never thought I’d be lucky enough to find love again after Roman. You changed everything.” Closing the distance between us, she presses her lips to mine.

Every time she kisses me, the monster inside purrs. Even now, his chest rattles until the rumble takes life as an audible noise.

Wrapping my hand around Maggie’s slender neck, I hold her mouth to mine and give in to his desires. My tongue lashes against hers. My fangs nip at her plump lips.

When I swing my leg over the side of the tub, the tepid water soaks the thin fabric of my pajama pants, and they stick to my skin.

“Viktor!” Maggie squeaks as I settle between her thighs, not caring that the water is soaking my clothes. I just need her. “What are you doing?”

“I need my wife.” I nip and suck at her neck as she relaxes back into the tub, her moans filling the humid air.

Gripping her under the thighs, I lift her soaked body and deposit her on the platform around the tub. It’s big enough that she can recline on her elbows, hooded eyes keeping watch on me as I swipe my tongue through her folds.

“Mmmm…the first taste never gets old, sweetheart. Always so slick and ready for me,” I growl, pumping a finger into her tight channel.

Maggie’s spine arches, and her head falls back on a cry when I suck her clit between my lips .

“You’re already so wet, my sweet whore. What were you doing in here? Were you playing with yourself, just hoping I’d find you and finish the job?” Spreading her pussy wide with my thumbs, my eyes catch on a hint of crimson in her back hole.

Thumb landing on the ruby gemstone nestled between her ass cheeks, I press gently. “Naughty slut. You did start without me. What’s this?”

Her chest heaves, the skin flushed from the hot water and her arousal. “Merry Christmas, city boy.” She moans when I add a second finger to her pussy, curling them against her favorite spot while my thumb plays with the plug in her ass. “Please, Viktor.”

“Fuck, you’re perfect. Does my wife need to come?” Wife . That word does something to me, twisting my insides into a possessive mess. Yes, she’s my mate, but once we’re married, she’ll be mine in every way.

And I’ll be hers.