Another chapter to keep you warm on this very cold day..

Christmas morning arrived and Kate woke to find a few butterflies in her tummy. She realised she was a little anxious about meeting Steve's family for the first time. Her first meeting with Mark's parents hadn't gone particularly well. They hadn't liked her being a police officer, which was probably why Mark had grown to dislike it in the end. At least she wouldn't have to worry about that bit with Steve's parents, she just hoped they would like her.

She hopped out of bed and got ready for the day, even packing an overnight bag just in case she spent the night at Steve's again. With that done she headed to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast and phone Josh to wish him a happy Christmas.

Steve arrived and she threw her suitcase in his boot before adding to his collection of presents on the back seat. She had popped out to the shops to get Steve's parents some small presents as a thank you for having her.

There were quite a few cars on the road, all full with people and stacked up with presents as families travelled to be together. Despite that, it wasn't 'red lights all around' as Chris Rea sang on the radio and they arrived in plenty of time.

Kate need not have worried herself. Steve's family were very welcoming and made a fuss of her. She felt at home immediately and was soon one of the family, helping to prepare their meal.

Steve was happy to see Kate and his family, his parents in particular getting on so well. Although they'd only been on two dates, Steve had the feeling that Kate was going to play a major role in his life in the future.

Steve's parents were happy because they had sensed their son had been unhappy for most of the year. They had heard him talk about Kate a lot throughout the time they had worked together, and then it had stopped when Kate had left. Looking at him today he seemed back to his normal self and it was most likely due to the woman he had brought with him. He had never brought a previous girlfriend home for Christmas so he obviously felt a lot for her. They could see why. He had chosen well. As far as Mr and Mrs Arnott were concerned Kate was a very nice girl and if she made their son happy then they were happy.

With the meal finally ready the extended Arnott family sat down to eat. It was a noisy affair with ten people around the table and Kate loved it. After lunch, presents were opened, and then the games began. Steve had always been competitive since Kate had known him and after an afternoon with the family she could tell it was a family trait. She was thankful that she was in the same team as Steve and that they did ok in the final standings.

As with her Christmas day with Josh, it went so quickly and soon they were saying goodbye to Steve's family before they travelled north.

"Hope to see you soon," Steve's mum told her as they hugged before Kate got in to the passenger seat.

"That would be good," Kate replied. If she and Steve did work out, it would be good to get to know his family better.

"Did you have a good day?" Steve asked once they were back at his apartment. The drive back had been good and hadn't taken long.

"It was lovely," Kate informed him. "It's how I always wanted my Christmases to be. A completely hectic house bustling with people instead of rattling around by myself,".

"I'll have to see what I can do about making sure you always get that at Christmas," Steve promised, tucking that thought somewhere in his memory. He would do everything he could to make it come true.

"Chloe working tonight?" Kate asked casually. After the lovely day spent together she knew she wanted to spend the night with Steve.

"No, I don't think so," Steve admitted, pleased Kate was on the same page as he was. He was wondering how to ask her to spend the night but it looked like he needn't have worried.

"Good," Kate answered as she stepped into Steve's embrace before taking his hand and leading him to his bedroom. This time there weren't any interruptions and they finally were able to consummate their relationship.

Steve stood passively by as Kate undressed him slowly before he stood back and watched Kate remove all her clothing. It was a cold night and they quickly dived under the bed covers and in to each other's arms to keep warm. They took their time with their foreplay, each taking turns being on top and in control as they explored each other's bodies.

"You got any condoms?" Kate asked as she straddled Steve and kissed up his neck. Without replying he rolled them over to the other side of the bed so that Kate was now beneath him.

He reached over and pulled open the drawer on his bedside table revealing an unopened box of contraceptives. He passed them to Kate who opened the box before removing a foil packet. She tore it open carefully and Steve let her sheath him. She could see his tip glistening with arousal already as she did so.

"I love you," Steve said just before he pushed in to Kate. He thought he should probably finally tell her how he felt before they took the last step. This wasn't just a shag for him.

"Love you too," Kate replied with a gasp as she felt Steve enter and slowly stretch her open to accommodate him.

Steve was absolutely sure that this was going to be his final first time with someone. Like their first date, he wanted this to be as perfect as possible. He moved his hips very slowly and shallowly at first, allowing Kate to get accustomed to his size before he gradually increased the speed and depth of his thrusts.

"This doesn't feel weird either," Steve acknowledged with a smile.

"What doesn't?".

"Having sex with you," Steve clarified as he continued his hip movements. He'd been worried it might feel a bit incestuous. "Feels completely natural,".

"Yeah," Kate gasped as Steve hit a particularly sweet spot. She didn't want to inflate his ego but he was good at sex. Much better than Mark had ever been.

Steve kept his rhythm steady and soon Kate became more vocal in her gasps and moans and he could see a flush developing on her chest. She was gripping him tighter and he knew her climax was imminent. He could hear the blood rushing through his head and chest as his heart rate increased and knew his own was not that far behind either. He didn't want this experience to be over so he did the unthinkable and stopped his hip movements completely as he tried to calm his arousal.

"You ok?" Kate panted as she became aware Steve had stopped at the most inopportune moment. She had been moments from her orgasm when he had stopped and she was certain that Steve hadn't reached his peak either.

"Yeah," Steve said.

"Why have you stopped?".

"Want this to last as long as possible," Steve explained. "Savour every moment of being inside you,".

"Oh," Kate replied as she smiled. She knew what he meant.

They kissed and cuddled whilst remaining joined together as their arousal cooled and then when Steve felt able to move without climaxing straight away he started moving his hips again. Slowly like before and building up his tempo. Again and again as he felt his and Kate's orgasm approach he would tease Kate by stopping his thrusts and calm their arousal before slowly starting again. One time he even pulled out and turned Kate over on to her front before entering her again, both liking the new sensation with the change of angle of his penetration. "This ok?" he asked as he started thrusting in to her again.

"Yeah," Kate replied honestly. She had never been a fan of this position with Mark, feeling he had used it as a form of dominance over her and she hated giving up control of a situation. With Steve it was completely different and she felt as equal a partner as him. As he moved within her, Steve took time to kiss and explore the soft skin of her back and shoulders which were within easy reach of his lips.

Like before, just as Kate felt her orgasm approaching Steve withdrew and she groaned in frustration at the torture he was giving her by delaying her gratification. But she also was liking it a lot.

He returned her to her back gently before sliding in to her again. "Want to see your face," he murmured as he did so. Her arousal was copious and Kate could smell it in the air as Steve entered her easily in one swift thrust to the hilt. Looking deep in to her eyes, he moved his hips again in a slow gentle tempo accompanied by lots of slick sounds. Kate smiled, looking forward to the anticipation of what was coming.

Before long they were both thrusting against each other in a fast staccato rhythm. "Not sure I can hold on much longer," Steve admitted. After postponing his climax many times his body was now crying out for release.

"Me neither," Kate replied. She was craving her orgasm as well. A few more thrusts and they were crying out together.

"You ok?" Steve asked Kate as she returned to bed a little later. They'd both taken trips to the bathroom to use the facilities and clean themselves up a bit.

"Fine," Kate replied as she willingly snuggled in to Steve's embrace, the smell of their love making still lingering in the room. "That was my best Christmas present ever," she happily declared.

"Wait until next year!" Steve bantered back.

"I promise to be a good girl," Kate replied.

They spent the next couple of days together when they weren't at work. Mainly in bed as they couldn't get enough of each other and both hoped that that feeling never disappeared.

It was the ringing of Kate's phone this time on the morning of the 28th December that cut in to their time together. Christmas for one unhappy couple had proved too stressful and a husband had murdered his wife.

"I've got to go," Kate said as Steve did his best to keep her in his bed with a very thorough kiss and palming of her breasts. The whole of MIT had been summoned in to work whether they were due to be working or not.

"Just five minutes," Steve pleaded.

"There is no 'just five minutes' with us at the moment," Kate pointed out as she tried to escape Steve's arms. She knew if she gave in then she'd never make it to work.

Steve knew she was right and regretfully let her get up. AC-12 was quiet at the present time and he wasn't needed at work so would be by himself for the day. "I'll miss you," he said as he slid back to rest against the headboard as he watched her go in to the bathroom.

"I'll miss you too," Kate replied as she returned to the bedroom after a little while. He looked very sexy lying in his bed, the covers just covering his hips and his chest on display. A happy grin on his face after all the sex they'd just had. She was going to need a lot of will power to walk out his flat this morning. She went over to the bed and gave him a rather thorough kiss.

"Will you be back later?" Steve asked.

"Dunno," Kate replied. "I'll let you know," she promised as she finished getting changed.

As it was Kate was kept busy until New Year's Eve when the husband decided to admit what he had done after a couple of very long and tiring interviews. MIT had been very thorough and the evidence against the man was stacking up. He could see there was no way out and following his solicitor's advice decided to confess.

'You at home?' Kate texted Steve. She had no idea what he was up to. They hadn't had much contact during the case. The DCI had wanted things wrapped up as quickly as possible and everyone had done a lot of overtime. She didn't have long to wait before she got a reply.

'Yes'.

'Can I come over?'.

'You done?'.

'Yes!'.

'See you in a couple of minutes,".

"You don't mind spending the evening quietly here with me?" Kate asked a little later. They were in bed and had made love as soon as Kate had entered the apartment. Steve had suggested going to a local pub for midnight but Kate hadn't wanted too. She was exhausted from the case but was now worried she had prevented him from celebrating New Year how he had wanted.

"Of course not," Steve confided as he kissed her. "Wherever you are is where I want to be,".

"That's nice," Kate answered as she snuggled deeper in to Steve's cuddle. The last couple of days had been depressing and she just wanted to forget about it as much as she could.

They lay silently in each other's embrace for a bit, listening to a few early fireworks that had been set off. Kate almost drifted off to sleep with Steve gently stroking the skin along the length of her spine.

"Kate?" He suddenly asked, bringing her back to the land of the living.

"Yeah?".

"Are we going to give us a go?" Steve questioned. "You and me in a relationship?". They hadn't really talked about what was happening between them yet.

"Yes I think it's finally happening," Kate replied. "Is that ok with you?".

"More than ok," Steve answered easily before giving Kate a kiss. "So we are officially an item then?".

"Yes," Kate agreed before they kissed again. The noise of fireworks increased a lot outside breaking them apart. "What time is it?".

Steve looked at his watch. "Midnight," he informed Kate. "Happy New Year,".

"Happy New Year," Kate repeated before they got lost in each other again. "Got any resolutions?".

"Nope," Steve replied quickly. "Just one wish,".

"What's that?".

"That this time next year we are still together and pretty much in the same position as we are now,".

"That's a good wish," Kate said. "I'd like that as well,".