by Anna B. Doe
Then, just as quickly as it started, the moment is gone. Mason pulls back, starts rubbing the back of his head, only to realize he’s still wearing the beanie so he lets his hand fall by his side.
“You want to skate?” he asks finally, breaking the silence.
“S-sure.” My answer comes out shaky, but he either doesn’t notice it or doesn’t want to comment.
It doesn’t take us long to rent skates and change, and in no time we’re out on the ice. The holiday music is playing, bright lights illuminating the dark sky and ice, creating a postcard-worthy picture.
I look over my shoulder, expecting to find Mason struggling behind me, but he’s as graceful on the ice as when he’s out on the court.
“Basketball and ice skating?” I lift my brows.
“Don’t expect any fancy moves, but I can keep my balance okay.”
“Well, damn, and here I expected to see you twirling around like a pro.”
“Are you teasing me, Legs?” There is mischief shining in his eyes.
“Ma—”
I don’t get to finish because somebody shoves me away, making me lose my balance and stumble forward.
My eyes fall shut as I try to struggle against gravity, although I know it’s a losing battle. I’m prepared to fall, but I never reach the ground.
My head jerks up, only to find Mason standing next to me, his hands preventing me from faceplanting.
He helps steady me, but even then he doesn’t let go of my hand. The gloves cover both of our hands, a firm barrier from feeling his skin against mine, yet I can still feel the warmth of his hand enveloping mine.
Mason tsks. “If you wanted me to hold your hand all you had to do was ask.”
My mouth opens in surprise, but no words come out.
“C’mon.” Mason tugs at my hand and we’re skating once again.
For a while it’s the only thing we do—skate, in silence. Snow slowly starts to fall from the sky, giving the night even more of a magical feel.
Mason is the first to break the silence, asking about ballet, which leads to a conversation about my family. He keeps asking questions, so I tell him about how I started going to the center and why I decided to keep coming even after J.D. and Sienna came into my life.
It’s another half an hour before they tell us that our time is up and we have to get out.
“How about some hot chocolate?” he asks as we unlace our skates.
“I’m always down for hot chocolate.”
After returning the skates, we join the line in front of the stand that sells hot beverages. Although I’m dressed warmly, the cool night air is sneaking under all the layers. Hot chocolate should help, since I’m not ready to call it a night just yet. Thankfully, the line moves relatively fast so it’s our turn in no time.
“Two large hot chocolates,” Mason says and looks at me.
“One with extra marshmallows, please,” I supply.
He rolls his eyes. “One with extra marshmallows, one regular.”
“You’re so boring. Who drinks regular hot chocolate?”
“Umm… a lot of people?”
“A lot of boring people.”
I offer to pay, but Mason gives me a glare that rivals J.D.’s, so I shut up and let him pay.
“Let’s keep walking to stay warm?” I suggest as we pick up our steaming cups. I bring it closer to my face to warm my chilly cheeks.
“Are you cold?” There is worry in Mason’s voice as he takes me in.
“I’m fine,” I reassure him. “But I think it’ll be better if we keep on walking.”
We talk about his spying friends and basketball as we walk through the park. He tells me about a basketball camp he’s hoping to get into over the summer, and my heart aches at the idea of not seeing him for weeks, although a bigger part is happy for him. Mason is so talented, it would be a shame if more people didn’t see him play.
“Let’s take a picture,” I say when I see one of those cartoon standees with holes instead of faces. It’s silly, but he doesn’t protest. Instead he lets me drag him there, each of us taking one snowman. He takes my phone and directs it at us, snapping a few photos, before we move, letting a family take their turn.
Next on the path is an elf village. We stroll through, and Mason doesn’t give me shit when I stop to check something out on one of the stands.
“These look pretty.” I point at some leather bracelets, each one having a different charm interlaced with the leather strings. “Oh look, they have ballet slippers! And a basketball.” Without thinking I snatch the two and hand them to the saleswoman. “Can I get these?”
She smiles warmly at me. “Sure thing, hon.”
She takes them and puts them each in a little bag. Before I can even get my wallet out, Mason’s hand shoots from over my shoulder, handing the woman a bill.
I turn around and find him standing right behind me. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” he says and shrugs, and if I didn’t know better I’d think he’s embarrassed about it. I stare at him until the woman gets back, giving us the bags and change.
Moving out of the crowd, I stop and open the bag, letting the leather band slip onto my palm. “Gimme your hand.”
Mason obeys. I tug down his glove and push up the sleeve of his jacket so I can put the bracelet on. My fingers skim over his soft, warm skin.
“Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” he asks, chuckling once I tie the bracelet on his wrist.
“Nope, that’s the right one.” I offer him the other one, the one with the basketball, extending my hand toward him. “Can you put this on?”
Mason holds my gaze for the longest moment, then he takes the bracelet and slides it onto my arm. His fingers graze over the skin of my inner wrist. Tingles of electricity race up my arm, spreading the warmth through my whole body.
Just from the feeling of his fingertips on my wrist.
My phone beeps, signaling it’s almost midnight. J.D. will be here soon to pick me up.
I’m not ready.
I don’t want this night to end.
I don’t want to say goodbye to Mason.
Not yet.
“Mason?” I ask, looking up at him, suddenly feeling shy.
“Yeah?” His voice is low and rough, his hand still holding mine.
I’m not ready for this to be over.
“We’re standing under the mistletoe,” I point out. My tongue slides out, wetting my suddenly dry lips.
He looks up, and then back at me. “It seems so.”
His eyes bore into mine and it feels like I can’t breathe from the intensity hiding in them. He’s taking in my face, like he’s trying to memorize every inch of it. My heart is back to beating overtime, the butterflies in my stomach racing out of control.
Mason leans closer, his free hand brushing the hair out of my face.
“Have you ever been kissed?” he whispers, his hot breath brushing against my ear.
I swallow down the lump in my throat and shake my head no. His eyes widen in surprise, but it’s soon replaced by a satisfactory gleam.
“I’ll be gentle,” he promises.
Mason closes the distance between us slowly, almost teasingly. His lips brush against mine, the touch so tender it’s barely noticeable. His palm cups my cheek, and I lean more into his touch as I return each brush of his mouth with one of my own.
It’s soft and tender, just like a first kiss should be, and I can’t get enough of it. Enough of him.
Warmth spreads through my body with every swipe of his mouth over mine. I place my palms on his chest, seeking out some sort of balance. Strong, steady, reliable, that is everything that is Mason and more.
He’s the first to break the kiss and pull back, way too soon for my liking.
“Not yet,” I try to protest, but he only chuckles. His thumb swipes over my lower lip, making me shiver.
“I don’t want to bring down the wrath of your brother upon myself, since I
do value my life. And I kind of hope he’ll let me do this again.”
I place my forehead against his chest and sigh. What can I say to that?
“Fine,” I agree reluctantly, pulling back.
“Let’s get you back home.”
Interlacing our fingers, Mason pulls me closer, and together, we hurry toward the front of the park where J.D. said he’d be waiting.
The black SUV is parked there and all hope that maybe we’d be able to sneak in another kiss disappears.
“You need us to drop you somewhere?” I ask, looking at Mason.
He shakes his head. “I’m in the other direction, so I’ll take the subway.”
I frown, not liking the sound of it. “It’s not a problem. J.D. won’t mind.”
Once again, he cups my cheeks, his fingers brushing against my skin. “I’ll be fine, Legs. Let’s get you to your brother.”
I want to protest, but I know it’ll be futile. Mason interlaces our fingers again and takes me all the way to the car, waiting until I’m seated inside.
“Want us to drop you somewhere?” J.D. offers, like I knew he would, but Mason shakes his head, just like he did when I asked him.
“No, thank you. I’ll catch the subway. It’s faster that way.” Then he turns to me. “I had fun.” The words are quiet, but there is no way J.D. can’t hear them. Not that I care. Much, anyway.
“I had fun too.”
“See you at the center next week?” he asks hopefully.
“You know it. You still have to show me how to shoot a three-pointer.”
Mason grazes at his lower lip, slightly pulling back. “It’s a deal. Later, Legs.”
“Night.”
He nods to J.D. and then he’s gone. The door closes as he pulls back, and we watch him walk toward the station.
“So… You two had fun, huh?” J.D. asks, finally putting the car into drive a moment later.
“Yeah.” I trace my lower lip with the tip of my finger, still able to feel Mason’s lips over mine as he kissed me for the very first time. “Yeah, I did.”
Read Sienna and J.D.’s story in Until!
Stay tuned because Yasmin’s story is coming soon in Kiss To Forget!
Books By Anna B. Doe
New York Knights Series
#1 Lost & Found
#2 Until
#3 Forever
Greyford High Series
#1 Lines
#2 Habits
#3 Rules
#4 The Penalty Box
#5 The Stand-In Boyfriend
Blairwood University Series
#1 Kiss To Conquer
#2 Kiss To Forget
Standalone novels
Underwater: Modern Fairytale
About the Author
Anna B. Doe is a young adult and new adult contemporary romance author. She writes real-life romance that is equal parts sweet and sexy. She’s a coffee and chocolate addict. Like her characters, she loves those two things dark, sweet and with a little extra spice.
When she’s not working for a living or writing her newest book, you can find her reading books or binge-watching TV shows. Originally from Croatia, she is always planning her next trip because wanderlust is in her blood.
She is currently working on various projects. Some more secret than others.
Find more about Anna on her website: www.annabdoe.com
Join Anna’s Reader’s Group Anna’s Bookmantics on Facebook!
Christmas Fantasy
A Mr. Fantasy Holiday Story
Cambria Hebert
This short story features the main characters from my standalone novel, Mr. Fantasy.
If you haven’t read this contemporary romance standalone yet you can find it here: https://books2read.com/mrF
Chapter One
Nora
“Carter!” I cried the second the call ended.
Even though our island home was spacious and he could have been anywhere within its walls, I heard his feet pounding toward me before my cell even hit the counter.
Seconds later, his tall, lanky frame came around the corner, nearly black hair falling into his eyes, but he was too focused to care.
“Nora?!” he half called, half demanded while glittering eyes searched everywhere before finding me at the expansive kitchen island. “What’s the matter?” He worried, taking in every inch of me as he rushed closer, hands hovering at the ready to fix whatever was wrong.
For a moment, I forgot the reason I was bellowing his name. I forgot the reason I was upset. Suddenly, I was reminded of how softhearted this CEO with his aloof reputation actually was. I was reminded of just how much he loved me.
“I’m okay.” I assured him quickly, slipping into his arms more fluidly than a silk camisole slides over skin.
His body temperature was higher than mine, making me purr and push a little closer. The tip of my nose nudged against his neck, and my lips itched to press a kiss against the skin I found addictive.
Like a true addict, I didn’t deny the craving, instead pressing my slightly open mouth against him, indulging in his taste. “I’m sorry,” I whispered and felt the muscles in his midsection ripple. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m okay.” I assured him again.
The palms of his hands slid against my hips, tightening in a grip I found reassuring as his lips grazed my hairline. “I thought you’d fallen or something.”
A sympathetic sound filled the room as I lifted my face. Our lips met with familiarity, but sparks of excitement still skittered along my frazzled nerves. Opening my mouth, I welcomed every stroke of his tongue, melting into his frame and accepting the escape he always so readily offered.
His sigh was like velvet when he pulled away, touching our foreheads together while resting his hands on either side of my face. “Why don’t you tell me why you were yelling like a drama queen just a minute ago?” The timbre of his voice was deep and delicious, making it hard to focus.
I smiled softly, pushing my cheek against his palm a little farther.
Then reality dawned.
Jolting back, I felt my eyes narrow dangerously on his stupidly handsome face. “What did you just say?”
His smile was rueful, and it turned into a chuckle that made the back of my neck tingle. But I would never, ever tell him that.
“I’m a drama queen?” I challenged.
Eyes crinkling at the corners, lips trying not to tug into a smile, he glanced around behind him as though he were looking for someone else in the room.
Stepping forward, I jabbed a red-painted nail in the center of his chest. “You’re the one who made a no-heel policy at Ansoft and told everyone to wear sneakers.”
Instantly, his humor morphed into a scowl. Regarding me with some of the “icy CEO” vibes he gave everyone else, he said, “I wouldn’t have had to do that if you didn’t fall over in every pair of heels you own.”
My mouth dropped open.
He reached over and, with one long finger, pushed up my chin, effectively closing my mouth.
Smacking him away, I glowered. “I do not fall over in all my heels.”
“Shall I call Knox and ask him to provide testimony for all the times he’s saved you from busting your butt?”
“My bodyguard would never rat me out!” Too late, I realized I’d basically admitted Knox had all the dirt on my clumsy feet. My mouth fell open again.
“Keep doing that, and I’m going to kiss your mouth shut,” he murmured, angling his body closer and pushing up my chin once more.
Any other time, I would have called his bluff, which I knew wasn’t a bluff because Carter Anders did not bluff. And man, could he kiss.
But not right now. Right now, we had urgent business.
Jabbing my finger toward my cell, I announced, “I just got off the phone with my mother.”
His brow furrowed. “Shouldn’t they be on a plane?”
A low whine emitted from my throat. “The airlines are shut down.” My lower lip wobbled. “They
can’t come.”
His eyebrows turned down. “What?”
“Some freak blizzard is taking over all of the northern East Coast!” I wailed, tossing my hands up into the air.
Hooking his palm around the back of my neck, Carter tugged me into his chest where I clung, sniffling into his silk shirt. “All right now, good girl.” He soothed. “They’ll get on the first flight they can when everything reopens.”
“By then, it will be after Christmas.”
“Then they can come for New Year’s. I’ll have a private fireworks show set up to watch from the beach.”
I pulled back, blinking up at him through damp lashes. “It won’t be the same. I haven’t been apart from them for Christmas in my entire life.”
“You still have me,” he said gently, hugging me again.
A strangled sound ripped from my throat as I pulled back once more. “That’s even worse!”
“I’m flattered,” Carter mused, making a face.
“Not like that!” I gasped. “But that’s what makes this even worse. It’s our first Christmas together, and I wanted to give you the family-style holiday you haven’t had in so long.”
A shadow passed behind his onyx eyes, and all I could think about was the ghosts of Christmas past haunting him. Taunting him.
My husband-to-be deserved so much better. I wanted to give him so much better.
Suddenly, I felt haunted too. Haunted by all the past holidays this man spent alone, locked up on this beautiful yet secluded island just waiting for the days to pass, remembering what his life was like before his family shunned him.
No tree. No presents. No holiday cheer of any kind. Just a man rattling around his gorgeous yet empty island, telling himself that it didn’t matter when, in fact, it mattered very much.
“Stop.” The word was soft but commanding, knowledge lacing his tone.
My eyes sought his, and I found him watching, luminous eyes reading my thoughts like it was no trouble at all.