“Oh, I’ll make sure I kick him out before he even sets foot in the living room, let alone come close to the Christmas tree,” Jocelyn said from the sofa, where she was cuddled up with a Christmassy book and a cup of hot chocolate.
Max pursed his lips and shrugged.
“You know her. When she says something, she means it.”
Nick bit the inside of his cheek. His dad was right. He and his brothers could mess with their mother, but never with their Aunt Josie.
“At least tell us where you’re going?” Jake tried again.
“Nope,” said Avelyn. “It’s better this way. We all know you might just change your mind in a few hours and run away from the Schloss to find us. We can’t risk that, can we?”
Nick pretended to cough in an attempt to stifle a smile. Luke and Jake would never think of doing something so radical, but he would. His mothe
r knew who she was dealing with.
“Come on, don’t be all sad and pouty.” Avelyn had put on her coat and boots. Now that she was sure her sons couldn’t steal them again, she was ready to give them a big hug. “Come here, my pups. Give me a kiss.”
They covered her face in noisy, sloppy kisses, making sure to ruin some of her makeup.
Avelyn sighed, stood up, looked at them for a long moment, then wrapped herself around her husband’s arm. Despite needing this short vacation away from the family, the truth was she felt rather sad herself. This would be the first Christmas she and Max didn’t spend with their children and the entire Clan Blackmane. Then again, Nick, Luke, and Jake were old enough to understand their parents needed some time off. After all, it had been their idea. Jocelyn and her Beta, Ryan, would make sure the kids had fun. Avelyn and Max could trust them.
“Ready?” Max looked down at his beautiful wife and gently brushed a couple of stray red locks away from her forehead.
“Yes.” She beamed. “Let’s go.”
The boys followed them to the main door, then down the alley, to the car. More hugs and kisses were in order before Max and Avelyn could finally make their escape.
Kevin, Max’s Beta, had already taken their luggage to the cabin, along with supplies. He’d gone there that morning to make sure his Alpha would have everything he needed. Now, all Max and Avelyn had to do was get there and get cozy.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Avelyn said once they were out the gates of the Schloss.
“Me neither,” Max laughed. “It’s surreal, isn’t it? Finally, we get to spend a few days in peace and silence. Just the two of us.”
“Mmm… No more hiding, no more stress and worries they might hear us…”
Max let out a sigh of relief, then sped up. He was a good driver, and his wolf-shifter senses were accident-proof.
Avelyn started laughing. She rolled down the window to better enjoy the rush of adrenaline and freedom. The cabin was less than an hour away, but they couldn’t get there fast enough.
“Did you pack my early Christmas present?”
“Oh, yes…” She reached out to run her hand up and down his jeans-clad thigh.
Max took a sharp intake of breath. He was already hard. Just thinking of his hot, curvy wife dressed in the lingerie set he bought for her the day before clouded his mind with desire.
“I love you,” he whispered huskily. “I want you…”
She chuckled and lightly rubbed his cock through his pants.
“Eyes on the road, baby. Eyes on the road.
CHAPTER TWO
As the Alpha of one of the most powerful and influential wolf clans in the world, Max Blackmane owned many vacation houses. On the beach, on two islands in Hawaii, and all over the mighty mountains of Europe and Asia. For their first Christmas away since they’d been mated and married ten years ago, he chose to take his wife to the small, cozy cabin he owned in the Black Forest Mountains, near Triberg Falls, and very close to their home, Schloss Blackmane. They were still isolated enough to enjoy a few peaceful days together, but they were also one-hour away from their wolf pups, just in case anything happened. It was the perfect location.
When they arrived, Avelyn jumped out of the car. She wanted to run inside the cabin, get rid of her clothes, and wait for Max in her new, sexy outfit. She already had it on, underneath her fluffy pullover, long skirt, and winter coat. In truth, the underbust corset was starting to bother her. The landscape stopped her in her tracks. It was almost unbelievable, but the lush snow-covered mountains and trees made her forget about her corset pains.
“So beautiful,” she whispered, taking in the pristine view.