A Special Ops Christmas (5 page)

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see them. She just didn’t
want them to see her in such an emotional state. Her mom had believed her when
she explained horrible she felt in the mornings, which was actually true, and
that was why she didn’t want to come over. They all expected her later,
however.

Vivianne was dreading it a bit. She knew her mom was sharing
the news about the baby, maybe this very minute. Tears stung her eyes. She used
to daydream how she would tell Aiden once they were finally pregnant. It’d just
taken longer than she had expected, and now Vivianne wasn’t sure if this would
be happy news, if he knew.

The morning sickness sometimes didn’t set in until she got
up, so Vivianne stayed right where she was, nestled under the covers. Her only
movement was to stretch over and pull her phone into bed.

There was a voicemail from Aiden.

“Merry Christmas Eve, baby. I love you. Miss you. Need you.
That stuff with Travis, let’s forget about it.  Let’s just look forward. Talk
to you soon.”

He sounded so excited, and he wasn’t angry! Sharing that,
being honest, had made her feel so much better. Strangely, it had also helped
to clear the hard feelings she had held onto about Aiden’s flirty thing with
Cindy. Maybe they really could move past all of this.

 I love you. Miss you. Need you.
She replayed the
voicemail several times. Too bad the team wasn’t able to come home for
Christmas; she’d give anything to see him.

She dozed off, holding the phone, thinking about Aiden,
until a light tapping sound woke her again. She wasn’t dreaming. Someone was
knocking on the front door, tap, tap, tap. Her family must have decided to come
over and cheer her up.

It made her smile—she did love all of them. Maybe she could
not to be the Grinch this Christmas and instead forget her personal struggles
for a day. She slid out of bed, happy to find she didn’t feel sick yet. Maybe
even her morning sickness would give her a break today. Her mom had said she
should be getting past the sickness stage. She prayed that were true.

Her family was still tapping on the door. Vivianne didn’t
see anyone through the small window next to her front door, though. What kind
of surprise were they planning? She pictured some kind of package on the porch
and the bunch of them standing in the yard, grinning in the chilly morning air.

She opened the door… and found Aiden!

On his knees.

“Aiden,” she breathed. She was still groggy and half asleep,
so at first she couldn’t be sure she wasn’t dreaming until he spoke.

“Vivianne Rose O’Riley, will you still be my bride? Will you
let me keep you to have and to hold, forever?”

She was so shocked to see him that she didn’t notice he was
holding out a small present. Even when she did see it, she didn’t reach for it
or move at all. She stood stock-still, tears running down her face, her
trembling hands covering her nose and mouth. Joy surged through her. Aiden was
really here! She was so overjoyed to see him. To hear his voice. To look into
his eyes.

And as she watched, his gaze dropped. Vivianne had come to
the door in her bathrobe, but she’d been sleepy enough that she hadn’t tied it
closed. He was at face level with her usually flat stomach, which was beginning
to round into a baby bump. She could hide it under her work clothes, but not
under a sheer nightgown…and this was Aiden.

Aiden’s eyes went wide and shot up to her face, full of hope
and questions. She nodded and realized how badly she was shaking.

But then doubt crept into his eyes, and he slowly stood up.
“Viv?”

Seeing his broad shoulders, seeing him right there in front
of her, broke through her haze. Vivianne all but collapsed onto him, throwing
her arms around her neck, pulling her body up against his. “Aiden.”

His familiar scent filled her nose. She felt at home.

He responded with, “A baby?”

She pulled him inside, not letting go. As he shut the door,
she explained. “I didn’t know for a long time, not until I started getting sick
every morning.”

His smile was hesitant. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She hated to see the hurt in his eyes. This should be happy
news. “I wanted to, but the few times we talked, we were mad at each other. You
all but said you were done with us.” Saying those words made her look away, at
their home.

What if she’d lost him, now, after he’d
made it here for Christmas? She hesitantly looked to his face again. His gaze
was on her abdomen, and a genuine smile was spreading across his face. “A baby.
Our baby, Viv.”

He reached for her and took her into his arms, offering the
solid protection of his strength and love. It’d torn her apart lately to think
she might have to live without this. “Our Christmas baby,” she whispered.

“Remember our honeymoon?” he asked. “And all the time we
spent in our room because we couldn’t keep our hands off each other?”

She nodded.

“That’s how I feel now. I want to hold you forever.”

She took him by the hand and wordlessly led him to their
bedroom, where she walked to the bed and turned around expectantly. “Aiden,”
she whispered.

He let go of her hand but only to wrap his arms around her.
She’d always loved the feel of his powerful arms keeping her safe, maybe
because she knew he was so strong but so gentle with her. His lips found hers
again, reclaiming her. She reveled in his familiar touch that was new today,
new because she fully trusted him. It was a Christmas miracle that he was here
on this special day. In the back of her mind, she wondered how he did it, and
if there would be a price to pay. But none of that mattered in this moment.

He pulled the robe from her shoulders. It easily slid over
her silk nightgown and fell to the floor. Aiden dropped to his knees, gliding
his hands up her legs and over the slick fabric, up her thighs to her rounded
stomach. There he paused, both his hands tenderly and softly pressed to her
womb.

She caught her breath as he took the edges of her nightgown
and began to slowly lift. He paused again to lay a gentle kiss on her stomach,
and then rose, taking the nightgown with him. He pulled it up and over her
raised arms, then tossed it on the floor, his gaze roaming her body.

“Pregnancy looks so good on you, Viv,” he murmured, taking
her in with his eyes and his hands.

She had expected him rip her clothes off and make crazy,
fast, urgent love to her. His slow and sensual attention took her by pleasant
surprise. After enduring the miseries of morning sickness lately, this
tenderness was exactly what she needed. He easily awakened her passion
,
kissing
her lips and her body, and then taking her to the bed.

“You’re so beautiful,” he breathed. “I missed you so much. I
thought I lost you.”

He stood and slipped out of his shirt, and then dropped his
pants. Seeing him naked never ceased to amaze her. This man—her husband—kept
himself in top shape with chiseled muscles defining every inch of him.
Everything a man should be, Aiden was.

He moved over her, like he wanted to make love, but instead
he reached down to the ground. She wondered what he was getting out of his
pants because they certainly didn’t need a condom at this point.

When he looked back at her, he had the small present again.
It was a small black box with a ribbon tied around it. She had forgotten about
it in the excitement of his arrival.

“I want you to know I meant every word of what I have said
to you. I vow to have and hold you forever, not just physically but emotionally
as a supportive husband.” His voice was husky with love and tenderness, edged
with lust. She was aching for him and suspected he felt the same. That made his
gesture all the more special.

He pulled the ribbon loose while she watched, and he opened
the box, revealing a glinting diamond ring. It had to be two carats!

“Aiden!” She glanced down at the slim wedding band already
on her finger, which had three small embedded diamonds. At the time, it had
felt like the perfect ring for her, for their love.

Aiden reached for her hand and slipped the stunning diamond
onto her finger, moving it up to nestle against her first ring. They fit
together perfectly.

“This symbolizes how our love is growing.” His voice gave
out. “And now we’ll have a family.”

A tear tickle its way down Vivianne’s face. She was crying
happy tears of love and shared memories and future possibilities. “Come here.”
It was all she could manage to murmur.

Physically, she yearned for him as she felt her body rise to
meet his. Emotionally, her heart sang joyously.

He made love to her looking into her eyes, wholly giving
himself to her. 

“I’ll be here forever,” he promised.

Suddenly she shuddered, crying his name, her entire being
releasing, taking flight in an exhilarating leap.

***

Aiden spotted them through the living room window the next
day after breakfast. He knew he’d been caught. However, he’d gotten Christmas
with his wife and won her love again. That was what mattered.

“Aiden?” Vivianne came up beside him, resting her hand on
his shoulder as she followed his gaze out the window. “Oh, no, what’s going
on?”

She looked at him and understanding washed across her pretty
face.

“Well, I might have broken a few rules,” he said.

“You did that for me, to get here for Christmas?” Tears
formed in her eyes. “You didn’t have to rush here that much.”

“Yes, I did.” He turned to face her and put his hands on her
shoulders, holding her and wishing to transfer his strength to her. “We might
have fixed things later, but I wanted to get here for Christmas. For you.” He
looked down at her stomach and smiled. “I’m so, so glad I did, Viv.”

She smiled as the doorbell rang.

Within minutes, Aiden left with them, walking down the walk
with his head held high and calm on his face. Only at the vehicle did he look
back toward the house to offer a quick nod at Vivianne.

Through the window, she mouthed, “I love you.”

Six
Months Later

“Congrats!” Daniels said, grinning at Aiden. They stood on
either side of Vivanne’s hospital bed. “And nice timing. I’m shipping out
tomorrow. Won’t be the same without you, but this…this is awesome, bro.”

Aiden met Vivianne’s gaze and wondered if his eyes were
glowing like hers. Wasn’t it strange—he’d always thought he was the stronger
one, at least physically, but not after his wife gave birth. His marriage, and
now his children, were such a blessing and miracle.

“Now which one is which?” Daniels asked.

Viv laughed. “This is Tiffany Rose and this is Jacob Allen.”

This time, Daniels and Aiden shared a look. They’d lost their
friend Jacob on a mission three years prior.

Little Tiffany was born first, with perfect tiny features
and bright, curious eyes. Jacob came into the world screaming. Aiden decided
right away both were tough. And beautiful. And perfect.

A camera flash went off. Martha had been taking pictures
nonstop. The room was full of parents, family, and friends, but Vivianne and
Aiden couldn’t send everyone out just yet. It was too exciting to share their
new family.

Aiden walked around the bed to grab Daniels in a bear hug.
“Thank you for what you did on Christmas.”

Aiden had only incurred some minor consequences for their
Special Ops Christmas scheme. Luckily he’d been able to take full blame and
keep his team out of hot water. However, it was well worth it. He had even been
reassigned to the nearby base and a new program. 

Several people were talking at once, and Martha was cooing
at both babies, but Aiden just looked at his wife, his lovely, strong,
beautiful wife. Her head rested back against the pillows, her dark auburn hair
fanning out around her, and her eyes were full of love. Vivianne smiled,
looking tired but joyful, and mouthed, “I love you.”

I love you, too.
He would always love and cherish her,
and he would give thanks for her every day of his life.

The End

About The Author

Kristen James loves writing romances with dreamy heroes who
will melt your heart. She enjoys the outdoors and watching wildlife in her yard
and along the river by her house. Besides reading and writing, she loves traveling,
cycling, hiking, berry picking, canoeing, fishing, and camping, especially
doing all these with her family. Life should be an adventure!

Visit
www.writerkristenjames.com
to learn more and read her blog. Connect on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/WriterKristenJames
and Twitter at @writerkristenj. She loves to interact with readers.

Amazon author page at

 
http://amazon.com/author/kristenjames

Also by Kristen
James:

A Spy for
Christmas

A Cowboy for
Christmas

Embers of Hope
,
Book 1, Second Gift Series

More Than a
Promise
, Book 2, Second Gift Series

More Than Memories

The Enemy’s Son