A Siberian Werewolf Christmas (13 page)

Plus, she was feeling the effects from
her fall. He shouldn’t have pushed the matter. She needed to rest
and recover. Still, it was nice that she felt the same as he did.
The mating bond needed to be cemented into place and the only way
to do that was by physically making love to her. Perhaps in the
morning, if she felt better. He would keep her here until the bond
couldn’t be broken. No one would take his mate from him.

A knock on the door brought a frown to
his face. He’d told the Alpha female she could visit
tomorrow.

He walked over to the door and threw
it open. Zhora and Zhenya stood on his stoop.

“Sorry to bother you,” Zhora said. “We
recovered your horse and sleigh. The horse is in his stall. I gave
him a scoop of grain after rubbing him down.”

“Thank you, Zhora. I owe you.” Slava
reached to shake his hand.

Instead, Zhora gave him a quick hug.
“We are glad you and Maggie are safe.”

“Yelena sent over this elastic bandage
for Maggie’s arm. Is she available?” Zhenya asked.

A growl rose to the surface, and Slava
barely held back from grabbing the young pup by the shirt. Zhora
slapped his brother in the head, took the bandage from his hands,
and thrust it into Slava’s.

“Maggie, is my mate. I will care for
her.” Slava’s wolf receded as Zhora grabbed Zhenya by the arm and
pulled him off the stoop. He could hear Zhora chastising his
brother as they got on the snowmobile to return it to the security
building.

Slava chuckled and closed the door.
Zhenya was lucky to have his brother to look out for him. Another
wolf might have bitten first and asked questions later, especially
where a mate was concerned.

Slava carried the bandage into the
kitchen as the kettle began to boil. He set to work fixing the tea
and placing it on a tray next to the elastic strap. Now to care for
his mate. He glanced at his watch. Maggie should have had enough
time to soak. The water in the tub would begin to cool by
now.

He carried the tray to the door, and
then balancing the meal in one hand, let the door swing open. He
expected an indignant female response and waited for Maggie to
blast him for interrupting her bath.

Nothing happened.

Frowning, he hurried into the room and
then paused at the sight in front of him. His breath froze in his
chest. Maggie lay in the water, her sore wrist resting on the side
of the tub. Her hair was piled on top of her head, except for a few
small ringlets that lay against her cheek and neck. Her eyes were
closed, and her chest rose and fell in a gentle cadence.

Slava took a breath. He placed the
tray on the sink and knelt down next to the tub. She was exquisite,
from her long shapely legs to her firm round breasts. His hands
itched to caress her. His gaze touched each part of her and finally
landed on her face. He frowned at the shadows under her
eyes.

Slava gently touched her shoulder.
“Maggie, wake up.”

Maggie’s eyes flew open, and she
gasped. “Violet is pregnant with a boy.” She sat up gripping the
tub with her good hand. She blinked several times.

Slava frowned. Maggie acted as if she
was in a trance or something. “Maggie, are you all right? You fell
asleep in the tub.”

“What? Oh, yes. I’m fine. I received a
vision.”

“A vision? Come,
milaya
. Let me help you.
You need to get out of the tub.”

Slava slipped his arm around her
waist, ignoring his wet shirt. He helped her stand while she
stepped out of the tub. He grabbed the nearby towel and wrapped her
up. He didn’t want her getting cold.

Rubbing her down with the towel, he
tried to forget that it was his mate under his hands and treated
her like a woman who needed his care.

“Violet will be so excited. I saw the
boy; he looks a lot like his father, only he has his mother’s eyes.
I need to tell her.”

“The news can wait until tomorrow. You
need to go to bed. You were asleep in the bath.”

Maggie yawned. “Sorry about that. I
guess I am tired.”

“Here, slip on this robe.” Slava held
the robe and let Maggie put her arms in the sleeves before wrapping
the garment around her. He tied the belt and then looked into her
eyes.

“You can’t look at me that
way,
lyubov moya
,
with your heart in your eyes. I am trying my best to do what’s
right and care for you.” Slava led the suddenly quiet woman down
the hall to the master bedroom.

Maggie walked up to the bed and
lovingly caressed the wood. “This is a beautiful piece. Are those
wolves running through the trees?”

“Yes, it’s been in the family for a
long time. My great grandfather carved it as a wedding gift for his
wife. Let me get a fire started in here.”

“Do you have a shirt I can borrow?
Sleeping in the robe will be too bulky.”

“Of course, I should have thought of
that. Forgive me; I normally sleep in the nude.”

“Oh, well, I don’t. I mean, I normally
wear pajamas.”

“Do not worry,
malyshka
. Here you go.”
Slava handed Maggie a shirt from the chest of drawers. “I need to
bring in some more wood. Change and get under the covers where you
will be warm.”

Maggie nodded and Slava hurried from
the room. Grabbing a coat, he headed for the back door and the wood
pile. Thinking of Maggie wearing his shirt caused his body to
react. He should roll around in the snow to get control of his
libido. Part of the problem was the mating bond itself. Until it
was cemented into place he would suffer from the mating heat. Lust
and a need to claim pushed at him from his wolf nature. But he
wasn’t just wolf, he was also man. The man knew that his woman
needed to recover from her ordeal.

Slava piled pieces of wood in his arms
before heading back inside the house. Maggie was here with him.
Right now that was enough.

§

Maggie finished buttoning the shirt
and slipped under the covers. The cool cotton made her shiver.
Where was Slava? She pictured his amber-colored eyes and suddenly
she flowed into his mind. He was giving himself quite a talking to
as he fought the attraction between them. Maggie smiled, he was so
cute and he tried so hard to take care of her.

Hurry up, I’m
cold
, Maggie sent her thoughts to
him.

She could feel him freeze in place and
look around.

What’s wrong?
Maggie asked, suddenly worried about what might
be outside in the dark. Were there more of those wild boars around?
She remembered the sharp, curled tusks and shivered.

Maggie? You are
communicating with me through the mating bond?

Didn’t you say that was a
normal thing for mates to do?
She yawned,
feeling the weight of the day. Her eyes started to drift
closed.

Yes, lyubov moya. You
surprised me that’s all.

Hhm, come to
bed
.

§

Slava hurried inside and paused at the
bedroom door. Maggie lay in his bed with her red hair spilling over
his pillows. Her sprained wrist lay across the covers on her chest.
Once more, his mate slept. A sudden feeling of peace settled over
him.

He walked over to the fireplace and
got the fire going in minutes. Then he fetched the tray from the
bathroom and carried it into the bedroom. Setting it on the
nightstand, he carefully wrapped Maggie’s wrist and fastened the
bandage closed. She winced but didn’t wake.

Slava picked up a cup of tea and
settled in a chair by the fire. His whole life had changed
tonight.

Chapter Twelve

December 25th

Maggie woke up to the sun shining
through the window. She stretched her arms up over her head, and
then winced from the tenderness in her wrist. She looked at the
bandage and smiled. Slava had once again taken care of
her.

If the sun was out, it must be late.
It didn’t rise until after 10:30 a.m. in the winter. Today was
Christmas day, and she was missing it. Well, Christmas day in
America.

She glanced at the fully dressed man
lying beside her. Her lips quirked as she remembered his inner
lecture last night. She rolled her eyes and propped her head on her
good arm. He looked so soft in his sleep. But she knew better. This
man was anything but soft.

She reached out and traced his lips
with her finger. Well, parts of him were soft.

He blinked and looked over
at her. “
Dobraye utro
, good morning.”

“Good morning and Merry
Christmas.”

“S
RazhdеstvOm
, Merry Christmas. But our
festival of winter is January 7th. Didn’t Violet explain about
that?”

“Yes, however, today in
America, everyone is opening presents given to them by their loved
ones. I’d like to give you a present, Slava.”

“I can think of something I want.” He
reached over and brushed his fingers against her breast.

“I meant making breakfast. Although if
that’s what you really want, then by all means, let me give it to
you.”

“Before we do this, I think we should
talk.”

“Talk? You’re not going to say that
you will respect me in the morning. It’s already
morning.”

“Shh, you haven’t asked me about the
mating bond or about being a lycan.” His hand wandered to her other
breast. He tweaked her nipple through the shirt before rolling it
in his fingers.

“If you want me to listen, you have to
stop teasing me, Slava.” Tingles ran under her skin. If he stopped
touching her, she would cry.

“The mating bond is forever, Maggie.
Once I make love to you, we will be bonded for life. You will not
be able to live without me, as I won’t without you. I need to know
this is what you want.”

“Oh, I want you.” If he didn’t shut up
and make love to her, she would scream. Maybe she should help get
him motivated.

She reached down and undid the button
of his pants before pulling the zipper down. He wore silky boxers
underneath. Yummy. She worked her hand inside to grasp him. His
breath hissed out.

“Separation will be difficult for both
of us,” he said, his voice coming out strained. “Wherever you go, I
go.”

His skin was like velvet, and
underneath was a rod of steel. She moved her hand up and down his
shaft, tickling him with her fingertips.

“Does that mean you will be moving to
Virginia with me?” She’d have to give up her apartment. If it still
stood that is.

“If that is where you want to live,
then yes.”

“Wait.” Maggie released her hold on
him and then pushed his hand from her breast. When had he undone
the top three buttons of her shirt? “How can you move to Virginia?
Are you asking me to marry you?”

“I would like that very much. Is that
what you want?”

“Slava, a man should not ask a woman
to marry him while making love. What happened to taking me out to
eat, buying me roses, and surprising me with a beautiful diamond
ring?”

“Is that how you do it in
America?”

“Well, there are other ways, but that
is the general theme.”

“I see. Wait here.” Slava rolled off
the bed and headed for the door.

“Wait, where are you going?” Maggie
sat up. Had she hurt his feelings? Did she want to get
married?

“I’ll be right back. Now wait here.”
Slava walked out the door.

Maggie drew her knees up to her chest
and sat waiting. What had she done?

She heard a door open and close, and
then Slava walked back into the room.

Maggie released the breath she didn’t
know she held. “You came back.”

“Of course,
lyubov moya
. I told you
that we are forever connected. Heart to heart, mind to mind, and
soul to soul.”

“That’s a beautiful thought, to be so
close to another person.”

“That is the gift of the mating bond.
I’m sorry I don’t have a restaurant to take you to, or roses to
give you. I do have this. Say you will marry me, Maggie.” Slava
took her left hand and slipped a ring on her finger. “This ring has
been in my family for many generations.”

Maggie looked down at the square-cut
yellow diamond surrounded by smaller white diamonds that rested on
her finger. “Yes, Slava. I will marry you. The ring is beautiful,
the color matches your eyes.”

A tear slipped down his
face.

“Are you okay?”

“My mother said the same thing to my
father when he presented the ring to her. That the color matched
his eyes. I wish they could have met you. They would love to know
the woman who would give them grandchildren.”

She grinned. “Hey, you just asked me
to marry you. Let’s leave children off the table for a little
bit.”