Sera laughed and leaned her hip against thecounter. “I’m glad you’ve completed the bond. Liam will let Davidnear me again now.”
“They are possessive,” Mia said, “andprotective.”
“Are they ever!” Sera agreed as the hauntingmelody of a Christmas Carol began to play on the baby grand pianoin the living room. Mia didn’t know who was playing the song, andshe couldn’t place it, but it was beautiful. “Come on, maybe we cantalk Cassidy into singing for us. She may be my devil child, butshe sings like an angel. No idea where she got her voice fromeither. She got the devil spirit from her father though.”
Mia laughed and walked out of the room withSera. Her eyes instantly found David, standing near the fireplacewith Liam, Jack, and Mike. Her heart gave a stuttering beat. Shedidn’t think she’d ever get used to seeing him and knowing hebelonged toher. His mouth quirked in a sexy smile when hespotted her. Her fingers itched to brush away the strand of blondhair falling boyishly across his forehead and into one of hiseyes.
Nope, she would never get used to seeinghim, or the way he could make her toes curl with a smile.
David stopped speaking mid-sentence when Miastepped out of the kitchen, and his gaze fixated on her. He’d neverseen her look more radiant than she did with the color high on hercheeks and her deep red sweater hugging her body. The scent of hisblood flowing through her cut through all the other aromas in theroom.
“Ugh, I hate this mating shit,” Jackmuttered from beside him, breaking the spell Mia cast over himevery time David saw her.
Mike laughed while Liam and David gave Jackdark looks. “I can’t wait for it to happen to you,” Liam said.
“Bite your fucking tongue. I’ll never besome whipped sap who gets led around by a woman,” Jack replied,then walked over to stand beside the piano as Doug continued toplay, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
“If Jack finds his mate, I hope she leadshim around by his balls,” Liam said.
David nodded his agreement. “His tonguewould be preferable.”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky and she won’t let himtalk,” Mike said.
“One can hope,” Liam replied, and the threeof them laughed.
“I wouldloveto see it happen tohim,” Mike said, taking a sip of his eggnog.
“What about you?” David asked.
Mike shrugged, but a look of longing crossedhis face before he quickly composed his expression once more. Davidsuspected being mated was something Mike might enjoy, or want. Overthe years, Mike had always seemed content to go from onerelationship to the next, but there was something in his eyes nowthat David had never seen before. Mike lowered his arm off themantle and straightened away from the fireplace.
“I’m glad it’s been settled between you andMia,” Mike said to him.
“For the most part,” David said. “There willstill be things to deal with, but….”
David’s attention was drawn back to Mia asshe made her way toward him. She still avoided bumping into anyone,but her body was nowhere near as rigid around others as it had oncebeen. A smile lit her face when she stopped to speak with Paige andEmma for a minute.
“But?” Liam prodded.
“But she’s mine and nothing will ever changethat.” David hadn’t meant the words to come out as a growl, butthey did.
“No, it won’t.” Liam clapped him on theshoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You’re in for one hell of aride.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” he replied asMia continued toward him.
He opened his arms to her, she slid into hisembrace and encircled her arms around his waist. She rested hercheek on his chest and hugged him. No one had commented on hertouching him so openly, but David knew it hadn’t goneunnoticed.
David rested his chin on her head and gazedaround the room as Sera guided Cassidy toward the piano. Cassidyscowled at her mother, but she reluctantly stepped up to the pianoand bent to speak into Doug’s ear. Doug finished the song he wasplaying before beginning “O Holy Night.”
Everyone within the room froze, and evenlittle Lev stilled in Emma’s arms when Cassidy’s voice filled theair. Mia’s heart leapt into her throat as the lanky, young girlstarted to sing. She’d never heard a voice so lovely and purebefore. Tears pricked at her eyes as Cassidy’s voice rose higher tofill the room with its haunting beauty.
When the last note faded away, everyoneremained unmoving and hushed until a log in the fire popped. Then araucous round of cheers and clapping erupted around the room.Cassidy crossed her legs and gave a sweeping bow before switchingher leg position and doing it again. Her pretty face glowed as herblue eyes surveyed the room.
“Sing, “Frosty the Snowman” next!” Hopeyelled.
Helpless to do anything but obey, Doug beganto play and Cassidy started to sing once more. Mia pressed closeragainst David as happiness encompassed her. This was her familynow. It was time she said good-bye to her past and embraced herfuture.
***
