A Forever Christmas - By Marie Ferrarella Page 0,45

that would in turn usher them to the ultimate moment.

And when they reached it, when a shower of lights and sounds and feelings finally rained down on both of them, they clung to each other, each trusting the other to keep them safe and whole, and out of harm’s way.

Chapter Twelve

It took a while for the euphoria to fade into the darkness. When it did, and Angel still hadn’t said a word, concern prompted Gabe to quietly ask her, “Are you all right?”

He heard a soft sigh escape and then she turned into him. There was a smile on her lips. “I’m perfect.”

Gabe laughed. “I already know that. But I’m asking if—”

Angel didn’t let him finish. She pressed her fingertips against his lips, not wanting to spoil the memory of the afterglow with questions about her temporary break from her present reality.

“Everything’s fine. Better than fine,” she added with feeling. Her eyes held his as she implored, “I don’t want to talk about what happened earlier.”

Ever so slightly, Gabe tightened his arm around her. “All right,” he agreed, although they both knew that she would have to talk about it eventually. Talk about what had panicked her like that. They needed to solve the puzzle that had been her life before she came to Forever and this could have been a very important piece in that puzzle.

But that was for later. For now, he wanted her to enjoy what they’d just shared. They both deserved a little happiness after everything they’d gone through in their lives before their paths had so abruptly crossed.

Not wanting her to feel that he was crowding her, Gabe began to get up.

Surprised, Angel caught his hand before he could leave the bed. “Where are you going?”

“To the sofa. I thought you might want your space,” he explained.

Space was the last thing she required right now. Space allowed her to think and all she wanted to do was feel, not think.

“Stay with me,” she said to him.

It was a request, not a plea, but either way, it wasn’t in his power to refuse her. Lying down again, looking for a way to lighten the serious mood, he warned her, “I might hog the blankets.”

In response, a smile curved her mouth. “I’ll chance it,” she said, curling up into him. “Besides, you’re nice and warm. It’s like having my very own fuzzy electric blanket.”

To emphasis her point, she lightly stroked her fingertips along the downy hair on his chest. With a contented sigh, she laid her head on it, the sound of his heart beating beneath her ear giving her more than a little comfort.

“Fuzzy electric blanket, huh?” Humor curved his mouth. “First time anyone’s ever called me that.”

Her even breathing told him he was talking to her while she slept. Gabe wasn’t certain why, but he found the thought immensely comforting.

* * *

“SO? HAVE YOU DECIDED yet?” Gabe asked Angel.

It was several days—several incredibly blissful, lovemaking days—later and he was finally getting the chance to make good on his promise to take her Christmas tree hunting.

While, in his opinion, Angel was in a class by herself in many, many ways, she now displayed a trait considered exceedingly common to the female of the species: she couldn’t make up her mind. In this case, she was undecided between two trees.

Initially, there’d been five trees, five semifinalists she’d circled around slowly so she could see which of the trees had the most “good sides.” Now that they were down to two, she was having a harder time finding one to eliminate.

“You’re going to have to make up your mind before it gets dark,” he told her. “Otherwise, we’ll have to come back.”

She noticed that he didn’t say “tomorrow,” which meant that he probably wouldn’t be able to take any more time off for at least a few days. Which, in turn, meant a few more days without a tree and Christmas was drawing closer and closer.

She had to make up her mind now. But it was hard.

“I have narrowed it down to just a couple of them,” she reminded him in her own defense. Vacillating, she made her way back to a small tree. Once cut down, she knew it would more than adequately fill the living room, the room.

“Angel…” Gabe’s voice trailed off as he waited for her to finally choose.

The temperature was dropping and they were both getting colder. It was time to pick a winner. “Okay, okay, this one,” she declared, choosing the tree closest