Cole in Her Stocking (A Crossing Forces Christmas) Read online

  Trying to hide tears was so like Andi.

  “Hey, listen. It’ll be okay. We’ll have an awesome Christmas,” he whispered.

  She met his gaze, blue eyes misty. “I know. I feel like an ass for being upset. I am looking forward to Christmas with you and our boys. Really, I am.”

  He smiled and kissed her, brushing a stray lock of chestnut hair out of her face. “You’re not an ass, babe. Sucks about your mom and Ed, though. What happened?”

  “They have the flu. Mom sounded bad.”

  “No Grandma and Grandpa Ed?” Ethan’s bottom lip trembled.

  Great.

  If their son cried, it’d be even worse on his wife.

  “They’re sick, baby,” Andi told him.

  “What about my presents?”

  Cole bit back a laugh; he’d let her handle this one.

  “They’ll come as soon as they can. They don’t want to get us sick, too.” She wiggled out of his arms, squatting in front of their four-year-old, admonishing him it wasn’t nice to worry about presents before ill grandparents.

  He couldn’t help but notice how the cotton of her sweats clung to her ass and stretched over muscled thighs. On full display as she rested one knee on the carpet.

  Cole swallowed, shifting on his feet and trying to convince his cock now wasn’t the time. He was tired of being too exhausted to make love to his wife. Cold showers sucked ass and his hand did nothing for him anymore.

  He wanted Andi naked in his arms, her back arched, blue eyes hazy with passion. Screaming his name as he tasted her.

  Knock it off. That’s soooo not for right now.

  He didn’t need tight jeans in front of his kids.

  Micah whimpered from the playpen and Cole jumped on the distraction. He hurried across the room and looked down at his son.

  Stirring from sleep, the little one yawned and he grinned, leaning down to scoop him up.

  The baby wormed his small warm body into Cole’s chest, and he held his breath while he waited for the scream that never came.

  He didn’t hold back a sigh.

  Relief was written all over Andi’s face when their eyes met. She straightened, smoothing Ethan’s red hair before coming over to him and Micah.

  “He’s awake. And not screaming his lungs out. There is a God,” she said.

  “I won’t say anything to jinx us, then.”

  “Please don’t.”

  Cole grinned and rubbed Micah’s tiny back. He glanced at the clock on the cable box. “Dinner’s ready.”

  After not having normal for longer than he could remember, he craved the little things. Dinner with Andi and Ethan, talking to them both in the bright kitchen of the house that had slipped from hers to ours not long after he’d come back to Texas.

  He set Micah in his carrier and held his breath as Andi set the table.

  Please don’t scream.

  Blinking wide blue eyes, his son grinned and his shoved his fist in his mouth, drool rolling down his little chin.

  “Does he need a teething ring? There’re a few in the freezer.” She grabbed two oven mitts.

  “He’s okay for now. Babe, I was going to do that. You should take it easy.”

  Andi flashed a smile that made his stomach flutter and his cock twitch.

  “I want to do this. You made dinner.”

  “Do I lose points if I admit it’s the freezer-section variety?” He winked.

  She laughed as she lowered the oven door. “Like I’ve just met you? I figured. But I thought you might’ve ordered in. I love Rizzoli’s lasagna.”

  Cole chuckled. “Sorry, not this time. You still love me anyway?”

  Her blue eyes locked onto his and her full mouth parted. “Always.” The teasing was gone from her expression and his heart tripped.

  “Daddy, can I have milk?” Ethan’s voice broke the spell and his wife whirled the other direction with a wink, hipping the oven door closed.

  “Of course, bud.” Making quick work of the kid’s request, he set the colorful mug on the table in front of the boy.

  “Thank you!”

  The both laughed at their older son’s enthusiasm at the same time.

  Cole helped her serve their supper, cutting the garlic bread and setting it on three plates before she took hers and Ethan’s to the table. He grabbed his own and followed.

  Their eyes met as they both took a seat.

  He grabbed her hand, bringing it to his mouth to press a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m glad you took vacation this week.”

  She smiled. “I’m glad you did, too. Too bad Chief roped you into being on-call as a part of the deal. Now if only your cell doesn’t ring.”

  “Oh, babe.” Cole groaned. “You know you just jinxed us.”

  “Nah.” Andi shook her head.

  Micah kicked his little feet and made cooing noises. His movements made the toys dangling on the handle of his carrier jingle. The baby giggled.

  “Wow. I almost want to ask where my kid went. Just who is this happy baby?” Cole teased, grabbing his younger son’s little foot and shaking it until Micah cooed again.

  “Don’t you dare say that!” Her expression was mock-outraged. “I like Happy-Micah better than Screamy-Micah.”

  “Me, too!” Ethan announced.

  He chuckled.

  Ethan shoved lasagna in his mouth, sauce on his little cheek.

  Andi shook her head and admonished him to wipe his face, but he did it, so she didn’t have to.

  He held his fork backwards as he went in for more dinner, but allowed his mother to turn the utensil and remind him how to stab the noodles she’d already cut up. The little boy flashed a grin before taking another bit.

  Glad he’s happy tonight, too.

  A smile played at Cole’s lips. Ethan had already grown so much since he’d come back, married Andi and moved in. It was a wonder to see. He only had more to look forward to.

  With both his sons.

  Evening faded into night, and he put Micah down after a bottle so Andi could read a story to Ethan following his bath.

  Falling into the rhythm of parenting should’ve been the hardest thing he’d ever done, but it wasn’t. Cole had found his niche.

  He thrived at being a father.

  Sitting in the rocker with his child in his arms was something he wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. A nightly ritual that only made him feel better with time.

  He stared down into Micah’s crib, watching the little guy sleep for a few moments. His heart stuttered at the innocent perfection before him.

  Why had he always thought he’d never want this?

  Damn good thing love had changed everything.

  Now that he had it, he’d never let it go.

  Not Andi, Ethan or Micah.

  Andi’s arms slipped around his waist and he fought the urge to jump. He hadn’t heard her enter the room.

  “Sorry,” she murmured. “Didn’t mean to startle you.” Her lips on his neck combined with her breasts pressing into his back shot bolts down his spine.

  Cole pulled her around to the front of his body, cradling her against his chest. His cock stirred to half-mast, throbbing as her warm clean breath caressed his cheek. “We should go to the bedroom. Now.”

  “Why?” Humor wrapped her words, and she rocked into him, tearing a groan from his lips.

  “Because I don’t want to strip you down in front of one of the boys, even if he’s only five months old.”

  Andi laughed. It was throaty, sexy, and told him she knew exactly how crazy she was about to make him. She took his hand without another word and practically dragged him to their master suite.

  At least they were on the same page. Cole wanted her—no, needed her. Was starved for her. His palms itched to touch her, his tongue burned to taste her.

  Damn, calm down.

  He was going to come in his jeans if he didn’t get a hold of himself. The zipper cutting into sensitive skin only made him want her more.

&nb
sp; Then again, it was always like this with her. Control wavered. Desire and love made his blood boil for Andi.

  His wife. Love of his life.

  “Cole? You okay?” She glanced over her shoulder, her hands at the bottom of her shirt.

  “Be better when you’re naked, babe.”

  She flashed a grin. “Look who’s talking.”

  His heart did another flip-flop and he yanked his tee up and over his head.

  Andi’s lips on his neck and fingers on the fly of his jeans jolted him as much as her naked breasts teasing his bare pecs.

  His lovely wife had wasted no time losing her bra along with her shirt.

  Cole let her push his jeans and boxer briefs off his hips. Then he took over, shoving them down and slipping out of socks and shoes. He left the denim in a pile right there on the carpet, his eyes glued to Andi’s intense blue gaze.

  She was devouring him, and she hadn’t even touched him yet.

  His cock pulsed and he groaned. “Andi.”

  Her eyes shot to his face and she licked her lips.

  Actually licked her lips.

  He fought a shiver and the tightening in his balls.

  She’s gonna frickin’ kill me.

  “I need you,” she whispered.

  Cole tugged her into his arms and took her mouth. Couldn’t agree more, but showing was better than telling.

  Andi moaned and kissed him back hard, rocking her cotton sweats into his pelvis.

  He tugged them off one hip. “Off. Now.”

  She smirked but took a step back, shimmying out of pants and panties.

  Cole stared—couldn’t help it. His wife was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  But she squirmed and moved to cover herself.

  “Babe, what’re you doing?” he whispered, taking her wrists and gently moving them away from her body.

  Andi blushed and looked away. “My stretch marks have stretch marks. I don’t know how you can look at me like that. I lost the baby weight, but…my body is different.”

  Cupping her cheeks, he forced her to meet his eyes. “Mine. Your body is mine. You’re mine. You are gorgeous and this body gave me Micah.” He caressed her shoulders, her breasts and her hips, the place she was most self-conscious of. “I love you. And my heart, my body, is yours.” He pressed her hand flat to his chest over his heart.

  She offered a watery smile. “I love you, too.” Her whisper was wobbly, her eyes misty. Her pink cheeks and kiss-swollen lips made him burn for her even more.

  “Now can I have you?”

  Andi laughed and he grinned when she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’ll always have me. But you can take me now.”

  Cole nipped her earlobe and swung his wife up into his arms. “I won’t have you crying, unless it’s to scream my name.”

  Her cheeks reddened again as their eyes met, her freckles prominent.

  He kissed her cheekbones before setting her at the center of their bed and following her down. Cole took her mouth as she wrapped herself around him; their bodies touched in all the right places. He wanted to make sweet slow love to her, but was too eager. Slow and tender would have to wait. He needed inside her.

  Now.

  Good thing his wife had the same idea. Andi rubbed her hips into his, and his cock jumped.

  He groaned and dragged his fingertips across her sex. A quick glance down told him she was already swollen and glistening for him. He parted her folds to feel her slickness, and bit his bottom lip to keep from moaning.

  Cole rubbed her clit until she squirmed.

  “Please…” Andi begged.

  Positioning himself, he thrust forward, filling her in one long stroke.

  She gasped and snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him down.

  He didn’t miss the invitation to kiss her when she tilted her face up. He captured her lips, winding their tongues together as he tasted her.

  She kissed him hard, deeper, exploring his mouth as he plundered hers. Andi moved with him, each lunge more frantic than the last.

  They were both covered in sweat. Her nails bit into his ass, but he got lost in the rhythm of their bodies until the pleasure was too much.

  His spine tingled, his balls tightened. He was so close.

  She cried out, arching her back and hanging onto him as her whole body contracted. Her heels dug into his ass, but he didn’t care.

  Cole held her tight to his chest, face buried in her neck as his cock throbbed inside her, shooting his release deep. Her inner muscles tightened in waves and a tremor shot down his spine as the pleasure intensified.

  Andi kissed him again, her body relaxing into their bed, and he followed her lead as his softening erection slipped from her body.

  She panted in his arms, her heartbeat thundering against his.

  “I love you,” Cole croaked. He took a deep breath, his head still spinning.

  “I love you, too.” She smiled and squeezed her arms around him.

  “Let me move, babe. I don’t want to crush you.”

  His wife always wrapped herself around him after they made love. She never wanted to let him go.

  “I like your weight on top of me,” Andi whispered, but loosened her hold.

  He chuckled. “So you always tell me. But I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You never hurt me.”

  Cole smiled and stood from their bed. “Be right back.” After a quick kiss, he jogged to the bathroom to get a warm wet cloth. He cleaned himself up and did the same to Andi when he returned to her.

  She wiggled. “That tickles.”

  Laughing again, he skimmed his fingertips over her sex.

  Andi shivered and made a grab for his wrist, but he was too fast, and repeated his move. Her flesh was still swollen and contracted under his touch.

  Damn, she was so hot.

  “You’re evil.”

  Shaking his head, Cole tossed the wash cloth in the nearest clothes basket and crawled back into bed with his wife. “That wasn’t a tease, babe. It was a promise. I’m nowhere done with you tonight.”

  She laughed and kissed him in answer.

  Chapter Three

  Andi traced his abs with her index finger until his muscles jumped. “Did I ever tell you, you’re hot?”

  Chuckling, Cole winked. “I think you may have mentioned it. But you’re hotter than me.”

  She met his eyes and cupped his face, caressing his stubble with both thumbs. “I love you.”

  His stomach fluttered. Her sapphire eyes were deep pools of emotion. Love, heat, and everything that Andi was stared back at him. “I love you, too.”

  She smiled and leaned up for a kiss that melted into something more.

  He cradled the back of her neck and took control. Their tongues danced, and dueled. Reluctantly he pulled away, in need of a breath.

  She sighed into his mouth and rested her forehead against his.

  They didn’t speak, but they didn’t need to.

  He smiled as she spread noisy kisses all over his face.

  Cole grabbed her sides and tickled her until she squirmed and they both sank into the sheets in a fit of laughter, Andi sprawled across his chest.

  “Work didn’t call at all. Weird, huh?” she asked, breaking the companionable silence that’d slipped over them.

  “Maybe the criminals are taking the holidays off, too.”

  Grinning, she lifted her head and arched an eyebrow. “Antioch might be small town Texas, but not likely, my love. You and Jared just got lucky tonight.”

  “Then I hope we stay lucky. Christmas miracle anyone?”

  “If only. A Christmas miracle could get my mom and Ed feeling better and down here.” Her forehead knitted and she rested her cheek on his right pec.

  Cole sighed and rubbed her back. Her skin was warm, supple and tempting beneath his palm. “Christmas will be awesome. You know that, right?”

  “I know.” But Andi echoed his sigh and her voice was heavy, as if she was
trying to convince herself.

  He ignored how his heart stuttered. Didn’t want her to catch on to how much it meant that they were sharing their first Christmas together as a family.

  The last thing he wanted was for her to feel guilty for being upset about her parents. She never liked last minute changes anyway, let alone something as big of a deal as Christmas.

  However, if she discovered how much he’d rather it just be her, him and the boys, she’d feel horrible for wanting more.

  That type of thing was totally his wife. Cole just wanted to show her she’d always have him. He’d always be there for her.

  “C’mere.” He kissed the top of her head as he pulled her closer. Her heavy breasts brushed his abs when she shifted against him and his cock stiffened.

  The need to converse faded and his blood heated, well on its way to a slow boil when her hands started to roam his body.

  Cole wanted Andi again.

  Her heavy-lidded blue eyes told him she’d read his mind. She scooted up his body and met his mouth half-way.

  His hands slipped to her waist to help her straddle him. His cock was granite by the time her delectable ass brushed it. Her hot center sliding along his shaft made his balls ache as she finally settled her sex against his, but he wasn’t in the right place.

  He needed inside her.

  She entwined their fingers and he raised his arms to give her some leverage, but when Andi only ground her hips into his, he growled.

  With a smirk, she leaned down to tease his nipples with hers.

  His were already peaked; Cole shivered from head to foot. His pulse thundered in his ears. “Babe, you don’t want to do that.”

  “Oh?” Breath exited her mouth on a whoosh when he lifted his hips and rubbed into her from underneath.

  His lovely wife fell onto his chest, where he took full advantage of her captured hands. Cole kissed her while grinding his pelvis into her, hitting the sensitive bundle of nerves at the top of her sex. Knowing Andi, it wasn’t enough friction for her to orgasm, but it was a hell of a tease.

  “Evil,” she panted and nipped his bottom lip.

  He groaned. “Let me inside and I’ll make it all better.”