Mistletoe Mischief (Lost and Found #5.5)(14)

"Well, some of them he will want to put together himself, but others he'll want to start playing with right away. Like the bike."

Zeke glanced out the window a little dubiously. He would put the bike together, but he had a feeling Drew wouldn't get a chance to ride it for days yet. The slime-green toboggan Zeke had gotten him, on the other hand, would be used immediately if the forecast for more than a foot of snow was correct.

He retrieved the bike box from where he'd hidden it in the garage and turned on the forced air heater to warm up the space. Within just a few moments the heat was rolling, and he'd dumped all of the parts onto the concrete floor.

What a freaking mess …

The bike itself ended up being pretty easy to put together. It was the assorted extra plastic parts that made him curse a blue streak. The pieces were supposed to turn the bicycle into a motorcycle wannabe. It did end up being pretty cute, even though it was a trial, and he knew Drew would love it.

Ember ducked her head out the door. "How are things coming on your end?"

He stood, stretching his back. "Okay, I think."

She looked at the small pile of hardware on the floor at his feet. "Are you supposed to have extra bolts like that?"

"Yes," he growled.

"Well, when you bring it inside I'll have something to warm you up."

He looked up at her and wiggled his eyebrows.

She laughed lightly before disappearing inside again.

Zeke sat back down on the stool. There were a lot of stray parts. He started going through the directions again. If Drew got hurt because he hadn't read the damn papers right, he'd be pissed at himself.

That was what he'd learned he needed to do as a father. He took his step-dad status very seriously and once he and Ember were married he would start the adoption process. Drew was an amazing little dude. Cute like his mother but a little strong willed, bullheaded even, like his granddad. Zeke shook his head with a chuckle. What a combination.

When he wheeled the bike into the house, Ember was there waiting for him. She grinned when she saw the frustrated look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

He shook his head, unwilling to admit that he hadn't found a place for all the parts he'd had left over. He'd ended up putting them into a little cubby for later. The TBI he'd suffered when he was wounded affected his reading but Drew's safety was more important than his pride. If anything started wobbling on that bike, he'd ask one of the guys at work who was handy to help him rebuild it. 

Ember gushed over the bike, as he'd known she would. Hell, he could have put together a damn bow and arrow and she would have gushed, because she was just like that. She supported everything he did and made sure he knew it.

"Do you think he'll l-l-like it?"

She quirked a brow at him. "Are you kidding? I think he'll love it. I think he'll love everything we got him. Well, other than the clothes."

Zeke knew she was probably right, but he still worried. This was his first real Christmas as a dad and he wanted everything to be right.

"Hey," she said, stepping close. She cupped his rough face in her hand. "Why are you stressing? He's six. I guarantee you he will have an epic Christmas."

Zeke smiled down at Ember. She was totally right. "Okay. What's next on the list?"

Grinning, she stepped back and held her hands out to her sides in a cute pose. "Me."

A surge of heat rolled through him. "I get to do you?"

She giggled and nodded, reaching back to pull the ponytail holder from her long, dark hair. "I've always had this dream of being unwrapped under the tree by the man I love, my fiancé."

"Well, then," Zeke told her seriously. "I consider it my s-solemn duty to fulfill that wish. How would you l-l-like to be unwrapped? Top to bottom? Bottom to top? I can go slow and unwrap carefully, or just rip all that clothing off q-q-quick."

Ember giggled and turned to toss a blanket and a few pillows on the floor. "I think quick and dirty gets the job done tonight. We're both a little tired."

Zeke widened his eyes, "Oh, I'm fine now."

"There will be a little boy knocking on our door in just a couple of hours, though."

He winced, knowing she was right. Stepping behind her as she flung out the blanket to straighten it, he cradled her against his front. She shivered as he nibbled kisses down her neck. He reached around her front and started unbuttoning buttons, but she stilled his hands. Turning in his arms she whipped the shirt up and over her head. Zeke automatically looked down, then blew out a breath in surprise. Wow, her tits looked fucking awesome in that pretty green bra. "Can we leave this on? You look like a m-m-illion bucks in this."

Ember grinned, brushing her breasts against his chest. "You like this, huh?"

Zeke cupped her hips, letting her feel the instant erection she'd sprung him into.

"Oh, yeah … "

Even as tired as he'd been a couple of minutes ago, his heart began to thud heavily in his chest. Ember got his blood going like no one else ever had. Or ever would.

Zeke knew she was the woman for him, he had known it for a year now. It had been easy to give her the engagement ring earlier tonight. Actually, once he'd gotten the thing in his hands three months ago, it had been hard to keep it from her. But he was glad he had waited until tonight. Proposing in front of all their friends would be a memory they'd both cherish.

The metal on her finger was cool as she cupped his rough face. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too, babe."

She spun away from him, hips swaying back and forth as she crooked a finger at him to follow. Which he did, with a laugh and smile, unbuttoning his flannel shirt as he walked. Her eyes heated as he began to undress, and he loved that fire in her eyes. Never would he have imagined seeing that look on a woman's face again. After he'd been blown up in Iraq, his face mangled by the concrete wall, he hadn't been comfortable out in public. His looks had changed drastically.



       
         
       
        

This past year he'd decided that he was about done with the reconstructive surgeries. They were so stressful, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well; and not just for him but for Ember and Drew, too. He was pretty content with where he was now. No, he'd never win any beauty pageants, but he appealed to the only woman that mattered. And Drew didn't seem to care at all, though the boy had to recognize how different he was from other dads.

Ember stopped in the doorway of the living room and posed, hips cocked, breasts up. God, she was gorgeous. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders.

Zeke drew close and reached out to run a finger over the swell of her right breast. She backed away from his touch and glanced pointedly above her. A small sprig of mistletoe had been hung from the doorjamb.

"Did you d-do this?" he laughed.

He knew she had, but he loved the playful expression that lightened her face. "I did. I want to start some new traditions just for us. And I know that in general it's just a nuisance plant, but it's meant to be a good luck charm for a long married life."

He smiled at her. "I think it's a fabulous idea."

Reaching out, he wrapped her in his arms. "I love you, Ember, you are my whole world. I know I tell you th-th-that all the time, but I really m-mean it."

"I know you do, babe."

The acceptance and encouragement in her eyes fed his soul like nothing else could. And the need he could see in her expression encouraged his body. Zeke finished unbuttoning his flannel shirt, and dropped it to the floor. Then he did the same with the T-shirt he wore beneath.

"Are you sure little man is out?"

She grinned at him, her straight white teeth gleaming in the shine from the Christmas tree lights. "Totally. And Dad won't be over till later tomorrow. He's staying with Karen."

Zeke leaned back to peer down into her eyes. "How do you feel about that? Seems kind of sudden to me."

Ember smiled, her eyes calm. "I think it's fine. I know they haven't been together long, but they seem right together. He's been alone for a long time, and it seems only fair that if my life is evolving his should be able to as well."

Yes, that was very true. In the past year their lives had changed dramatically. And Hank's had, too. Hank had snapped around Christmas time last year, sending Ember to the hospital after hitting her in the fog of a flashback. It nearly broke her heart to do it but Ember had him arrested, it had been the best thing she could have done. Hank had gone to jail for a couple of days, then the judge sentenced him to counseling for his PTSD. And over the course of the year, Zeke had seen him change into a different man. Hank laughed more and seemed open to everything. His relationship with Ember had blossomed, as well as with his grandson Drew. Zeke felt privileged to be a part of his healing. 

The relationship with Karen had kind of come out of the blue, though. Hank had come home from the bar one night and said that he'd met someone. He'd been flushed and sweating, but there had been a masculine excitement in his eyes that was undeniable. Like Hank, Karen was a Vietnam Vet herself, having served in the Army as a nurse in the field hospitals. She was a calm, solid woman with a playful streak that balanced Hank out perfectly. It seemed very natural that they were together; like Zeke and Ember, they fit.