Mandy didn't fight back the moan that escaped when his big hands pulled her closer so that their bodies touched. It had been a while since they'd not been on duty as parents, she realized. They hadn't been just Mandy and Dalton, 'the couple' in months. The last time they'd tried to get all sexy with one another, they'd ended up in the ER with Walker because of an ear infection. When his fever had spiked to 103, she'd freaked out. Dalton had put his pants back on and driven them there without ever telling her she was overreacting or doubting her. If anyone deserved this time for just the two of them, it was the man in front of her.She curled her arms around his neck and leaned into his chest, tilting her head up, so she could reach his throat easier. When her lips connected with the saltiness of his skin, she attacked. Nipping, sucking, licking, tasting, and doing everything she could to remind herself of the couple they'd been before. Dalton was a treat she hadn't indulged in for to

Dalton did his best to calm the motion of his knee as it jiggled up and down. The heel of his foot wouldn't rest on the floor as he waited for Mandy to make an appearance. Reaching inside his suit pocket, he grabbed out the flask she'd given him as a gift and took a liberal drink of the Pappy Van Winkle she'd filled it with. It burned going down but it did wonders to calm his nerves.They had decided the first time they saw each other would be before anyone else saw them. She'd been worried about being able to control her emotions and truth be told, he'd been kinda worried about his. Now, he sat in the back hallway of the clubhouse, waiting for her to appear.His mind wandered as he tried to wait patiently. Everyone they knew and loved had congregated outside under tents with plenty of heaters inside to keep everyone comfortable. Thankfully there had been no freezing rain, although the temp had dipped down into the thirties. They were going to be able to pull this off; he knew it d

Meredith breathed a sigh of relief when she looked at the clock. Nine PM. This time of night was hers and Tyler's alone. Dinner, bath time, and bedtime were done and they could just be with each other.Towel-drying her hair, she had a seat on their bed, exhaling deeply. It'd been a long day, one of the longest she could remember in the past couple of years. Probably since she first started working at CRISIS. With Christmas only weeks away, CRISIS was filling up. They'd taken in more women and children in the last two weeks than they had the previous six months combined. Something about the holidays brought out the worst in some people, and relationships that were on the brink through most of the year hit their breaking point come December first. It was almost as if a switch flipped and there were no more compromises in marriages or dating couples, instead they spoke words meant to get a rise and acted on things meant to hurt.She could understand it. Too many families lived paychec

The moan she released when Tyler slid home caused Meredith to open her eyes wide and giggle. "I hope I didn't wake the kids up," she tried to whisper, but it didn't come out that way.He smiled tightly, hoping like hell she hadn't woken them up. He wasn't sure he could stop, even if one of them came through the door. "If you did, they might have to wait a few minutes before they come barging in here. I don't see myself stopping, you feel way too good right now."Giving him a saucy grin, Meredith threw down the gauntlet. "A few minutes?""You were the one saying I was an old man last night. Better hope I can keep it up longer than that," he shoved extra deep inside her, causing her to put her hand over her own mouth to hide an even louder moan this time.Sex with Tyler was usually so all-consuming, so loud, so animalistic, that they tried to do it only when the kids weren't around. Neither one of them liked to censor themselves, but today, they both needed to feel one another mo

Meredith rubbed herself up against his side, pushing onto her tiptoes to speak in his ear. He was so tall that she had to grip his shoulders and hold herself up there long enough so she could speak. "We've gotta get them to bed, otherwise we won't have enough time to set out the Santa gifts."Tyler glanced at the clock just over Meredith's head and was surprised at the time. She was right, it was much later than he'd thought it was. "When did it get to be almost ten o'clock?"She laughed affectionately, wondering the same thing. "I have no idea! Between making cookies for Santa, Addie dragging you outside to put out reindeer food, and Caelin coloring a picture for the elves, it's been a busy night."She felt every one of those activities tonight, too. Her eyes were dry and she wanted nothing more than to go lay in bed and take a power nap. She knew they wouldn't be able too, though, because as soon as her head hit the pillow… without a doubt, she'd be fast asleep. Being a parent