by Anna B. Doe
I fall forward, bracing my arms on the headboard for support while grounding my hips against every movement of his. He tilts his face up and captures my mouth, sliding his tongue in and out of my mouth in rhythm with the stroke of his hips.
Over and over. Harder. Faster. Longer. Slower.
The pressure builds, and tingles travel down my spine while I grind my hips, swiveling against him. My body trembles, heat pulses through me, until I can’t contain it anymore. I come apart in an explosion of ecstasy, stars and strong powerful strokes.
Chapter Six
Colt
I wake up to Em’s body wrapped around me. Smiling, I run my hands up and down her back. Stroking her skin as I press my nose into her hair. She smells so sweets. Strawberries and coconut. And now a hint of cinnamon.
Stirring in my arms, she sighs and stretches her body out along mine.
“Morning.” I cup her cheek when she raises her head to look at me through sleep hazed eyes.
“Morning.” She smiles lazily and moans. “Time is it?”
“Time to get up. Dad’ll be banging the door dow-”
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“Any minute now,” I finish.
Em laughs and rolls onto her, wiping her hands over her face. I sit up and lean down to kiss her.
“Happy Christmas,” I whisper against her lips.
She smiles into the kiss, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Stay in bed.”
“Can’t.” I peck her once more and then grab my shorts and pull them on.
Dad and Jody are already in the kitchen with coffee and papers when I walk in. They seem to have this routine down.
“Happy Christmas,” I say, clapping dad on the shoulder and pressing a chaste kiss to Jody’s cheek. It’s awkward and weird but I know dad will appreciate the effort. The slight smile he gives me, tells me so. Being with Em has helped me decipher emotions and facial expressions more than ever. I’m not sure I like it, but it’s definitely beneficial when I need to realize she’s pissed at me.
I pour myself a coffee and slump into the chair beside dad, reaching for his toast. “Hands off.”
“I’m hungry.”
“Shoulda woke up earlier.”
“It is early.”
“It’s ten.”
My eyes widen. “Bullshit.”
“Colt.”
“No way fucking way is it ten.”
I don’t sleep in. Most days I’m awake before the sun comes up. Yesterday I woke at eight. I’ve never slept until ten.
Jody laughs and nods her.
“Whoa.” My mind is blown. How? Why?
Dad, sensing my thoughts, shrugs and explains, “Maybe you’re finally relaxed and content.”
“Maybe.” Or it was just mind-blowing sex. I love it when she takes control. “So, what’re the plans for today?”
Dad and I always had a quiet Christmas. A small dinner, exchanging presents and at night, after dark, I’d climb up the tree between mine and Em’s house with a gift for her and a plate of food. If I didn’t feed, no one would. She couldn’t live on school lunches when we weren’t at school.
Dad shrugs. “We feast, drink and be merry.”
“Don’t forget the gifts,” Jody adds with an excited smile.
“And the gifts,” dad agrees with a smirk in Jody’s direction.
After a while, Em wakes up and greets us all with a kiss. Mine has tongue, so who’s the real winner here? We sit and watch a game. I give dad a nod of appreciation at the fact he pre-planned and bought an old recorded game of basketball with him for today. The same one we watch every year.
Jody and Em disappear to the kitchen to prepare the food and when I offer to help, I get literally get kicked out of the kitchen. Em’s foot is so far up my ass, I think I see stars.
Clyde and Jordan are dressed in chicken-sized Santa suits, clucking happily and pecking at the presents under the tree, while dad and I keep the fire roaring. I check on the turkeys, ensuring they’re warm and fed. I still don’t know what to do with them when we return home. They definitely can’t live in our apartment.
We sit down and eat lunch. Roast beef, roast potatoes, mustard greens, salad and stuffing. So much stuffing. By the time we’ve finished eating, I absolutely stuffed. I’m so full, I’m afraid I’ll explode if I move.
Dad wants to exchange presents, so I drag my lazy ass to the living room, pulling Em down into my lap.
Dad gives Jody a gold bracelet with a heart locket. She tears up at the sight of it before handing dad his gift. A new set of golf clubs. Dad whistles low, pulling her into his arms and kissing her so deeply, I need to close my eyes and bleach my brain.
“Get a room!” I call out and Em slaps me on the shoulder.
Jody reaches under the tree again and hands dad two packages with a huge, bright smile on her face. Dad glances down at them before passing one to me and one to Em.
Em's mouth drops open. She’s always shocked, in utter disbelief when she’s given something without expectations. Growing up, if she received a gift, it came with a price. Usually one higher than she could afford. Damn, her parents were assholes.
Was it wrong to hope they got a shotgun for Christmas? Probably was.
Em wipes away a tear and smiles at dad. Peeling back the paper, she opens a small box and laughs. In her hands is a necklace with a ball and chain hanging off it.
“It’s perfect,” she gasps between laughs.
“Wait, who’s the ball and chain?” I ask and dad shrugs.
“That’s for you to figure out,” he chuckles.
Next, I open mine. It’s smaller than Em’s, flatter. Opening the envelope, I stare at it. My mouth drops open in surprise. “Dad?”
Dad nods. “I bought it when you were you were born. Planned to give it to you on your wedding day, but it seems fitting now.” He grinned.
I stared at the paper in my hands. “You have to be kidding.”
“Nope. It’s yours. Do what you want with it. Sell it. Grow it. Build on it. It’s yours.”
I shove Em off my lap and stand up. Dad rises to his feet as well. Tears in his eyes, he pulls me in for a hug. “Love ya, kid.”
“Love you, too.” I hug him back, squeezing tighter, holding him longer. I didn’t know how else to say how much I loved him, how grateful I was for his gift.
Land.
He’d given me land. One town over from his home. Right where I wanted to live.
I released him and sat back down. Em climbed off the sofa and crawled across the floor to three where she retrieved another package. It was a perfect square.
She handed it to me, pressing her lips to mine. “Happy Christmas, Colt,” she whispered and kissed me once more.
I tore into the wrapping, my heart beating with excitement. It could have been a loaf of bread and I would still be this excited. It doesn’t matter what it is. All that matters is she gave me something. She thinks about me. She cares about me. She loves me.
My heart leapt into my throat as my fingers wrapped around the rough rubber. I pulled the ball out of the box and examined it. There was a faded black scribble on one side.
“No fucking way,” I breathed.
“Way...” Em said, leaning into me, holding onto my arms and resting her head on my shoulder.
“An MJ signed ball? What the fuck? How?”
Em shrugs and winks, “I know people.” She points into the bottom of the box and it’s there I find a signed piece of cardboard with no less than ten players scribbles.
I drop the ball and the box to the floor and lunge for her, pushing her back into the sofa as I kiss her with as much love, passion and gratitude as I can muster.
She is fucking perfect.
This time it’s Jody who clears her throat. I pull back, falling into the sofa as Em tries to right herself.
Sweeping a hand over her hair and taking a deep breath she plastered on a fake, composed smile. “Thank you,” I say quietly, accepting the ball from dad who picked
it up after it rolled away.
My nerves are shot as I lift Em’s gift and hand it to her. It means so much more than what it initially appears to be and I’m so fucking nervous. Scared. My stomach rolls. My lip trembles.
“Your hands are shaking,” she says softly, placing them over my mine. “Relax.” Her lips press against mine briefly before she pulls back and tears into the wrapping.
Opening the small box, she lifts the lid to find the key.
Dad stands at the same time I do, pulling Jody to her feet. I tug Em to a standing position. She frowns at the key in her hand but lets me drag her outside to the garage. One of the reasons why I didn’t want her to take the turkeys out there was the fact I was hiding her Christmas gift out there.
I pull open the doors. They’re heavy and moving slow from the build-up of snow o the ground but the moment the light fills the dark room Em gasps. Her hands cover her mouth and she squeals.
“No way?”
“Way.” We say almost echoing mine and dads conversation minutes ago.
“A car, Colt?”
“A car.” I grin, tucking my hand in my pockets as she runs her fingers over the cool metal, exploring every smooth, sleek line of the cherry Impala at her fingertips.
She stops and turns to face me, her smile falling slightly. “Don’t get me wrong, I love it. I do. But we can’t afford it.”
I wince and shrug sheepishly. “We can.”
Everyone stops. No one breathes. No one utters a word. All eyes are on me. It has been absolute hell keeping this quiet for so long.
“We can.”
“How?”
“Can’t you just accept it?” I ask her.
“No.” she shakes her head.
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. I knew this would happen. REaching for her, I pulled her into my arms. “I signed a deal.”
Her eyes widened. “With New York?”
“BAck home,” I said, unable to hide the grin.
I hadn’t told anyone about being approached a month ago because I was so nervous, so unsure. It seemed like a deal that was too good to be true. “I finish out my school year. With you. On weekends during the season, I head home for training and games. The travel isn't ideal, but it’s the best of both world. I can stay at school with you, live with you, train with the guys, but at the weekend, I’m the new point guard for the Lions.”
Em lunges for me, her arms wrapping around my neck, legs around my waist as she kisses me. “I’m so proud of you. I love you so much,” she says.
Dad comes over and wraps me in a hug, pushing Em aside. “Good job, kid.” I hug him back, Em’s hand at my waist, dad’s arms around me and Jody nearby cooing happily.
Best Christmas ever.
Books by Mackenzie Lane
Want to read Colt and Em’s story? Check it out Blurred Lines, book 1 in the FU series here:
https://www.writerlustpublishing.com/blurred-lines
Still craving more? Book 2, Crossed Lines is available for preorder now!
https://www.writerlustpublishing.com/broken-lines
About the Author
Mackenzie Lane enjoys long walks down the wine aisle and watching Supernatural on repeat. She’s in a long term one-sided relationship with Chris Hemsworth, though he’s not aware of it.
Author of sexy contemporary romance, as well as dark and sci-fi romance. If you like your books steamy and gritty and raw, then you’ll love Mackenzie Lane.
It’s a no holds barred romance and comes with an overall general trigger warning of bad language, adult scenes, drugs, alcohol and violence.
Mackenzie Lane also writes lighter, young adult and new adult romance under the name R. Linda.
You can find those books here: https://www.writerlustpublishing.com/r-linda
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Sweet Christmas
A Sweet Dandelion Christmas Story
Micalea Smeltzer
Chapter One
She watches the snow fall outside. Her hand pressed to the glass in wonder like she’s never seen it before. I know that’s not true. But like me, I think she’s seeing things through new eyes. But while she’s staring at the falling white flakes like they’re the most magical thing, I’m looking at her.
I’m always looking at her.
With surprise.
With awe.
With love.
God, with so much love.
Last Christmas, she was in Paris with her friend. I was here alone. The two of us worlds apart for so many reasons.
The biggest, our age difference and falling in love with her as her guidance counselor and she my student.
I let her go for more reasons than that.
Mostly, to let her spread her wings.
I’m certainly not old, but I’ve lived. Dani deserved that chance and many more. I gave them to her because I knew if I didn’t she wouldn’t take them.
I hoped she’d come back to me and she did.
I wondered for a while if I’d lost her for good, and the thought crushed me, but I knew, even if she didn’t come back to me, if she fell for another guy, even her friend Ansel, that I’d done the right thing.
Right isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking.
But in the end, things worked out.
She turns from the window with Tally, her cat, cradled in her arms. My dog Zeppelin stands at her side, always guarding and protective of her sweet and gentle soul.
The first time I saw her I’d never seen someone with such sadness, pain, and turmoil in their eyes. The tragedy she endured was weighing her down, burying her six feet under with fear and anxiety.
But my girl, she rose above it.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” A small laugh leaves her as she sets Tally down.
“Because I can.”
Because for so long I couldn’t look at her the way I wanted to.
Her smile is blinding as I cross the living room of my cottage I bought after moving out of the city. Stopping in front of her I let her make the first move.
She wraps her arms around me, hugging me, and if I’m not mistaken she sniffs my shirt. She must like the smell she finds because she lets out a contented sigh.
Tilting her head back, she smiles up at me. “I love you.”
I cup her cheeks in my hands. “Not as much as I love you.”
No one, not one single person on this planet, has ever loved someone as much as I love Dandelion Meadows.
“I beg to differ.”
I shake my head. “Trust me on this one.” Lowering my head, I cover her lips in a tender kiss. Her fingers tangle in my shirt, holding on tight. I smile against her mouth and step back. “What were you thinking? When you were looking out the window?”
She looks over her shoulder at the open front window at the snowy night. Back at me, she bites her lip to hide her growing smile. “I was thinking about how much I want to make snow angels but it’s probably kind of childish.”
I look out the window too. The thick flakes cover the grass, a good three inches already covering the ground, and if the weather report is correct there will be another six come morning.
“Things that make us happy shouldn’t be deemed childish. If you want to make snow angels we will.”
She bounces on the balls of her feet. “Really?”
I nod and she squeals, racing for her snow pants and jacket.
Dani still has her own apartment, but most of her things have found their way here, including her cat.
Slipping a pair of waterproof pants over my sweats, I grab my winter coat, racing out the door after her.
She squeals when my hands squeeze her waist, picking her up and swinging her around.
Settling against me, she wraps her arms around my neck. Her yellow scarf nearly obscures her smile, but I don’t miss it.
Before Dani, I didn’t k
now love could be like this.
So pure and consuming. She owns my whole heart. She’s my best friend. The first person I think about when I wake up and the last one when I go to bed.
“Put me down. I can’t make a snow angel in your arms.”
“We could try.”
She sticks her tongue out at me, a snowflake landing right on it. “Ooh.” She pulls her tongue into her mouth. “I didn’t mean to but I caught it.”
I have to laugh to myself, because I think the same thing about her. I didn’t mean to fall in love with her, but I did.
Kissing the end of her nose I set her down and she immediately falls backwards—a trust fall with the earth. It catches her in its embrace, the blanket of snow puffing around her. With a giggle she starts moving her arms and legs back and forth rapidly, making the most perfect snow angel I’ve ever seen.
Okay, so it’s a little wonky, but the only perfect snow angel I’ve ever actually seen is in a movie.
“Lachlan, get down here,” she commands. “Make one with me.”
Smiling, I can’t ignore her request. Without the same gusto, I get down on the ground—not trusting to break my fall quite so gently—and mimic her movements.
Turning my head to look at her, her face is dotted in red, green, purple, and blue from the colored lights I hung up at the beginning of the month. Dani stood in the yard giving directions and setting up the lit deer a few feet from where we are now.
“You really have to stop looking at me like that, Mr. Taylor.”
I suppress a chuckle. “What am I looking at you like?”
“Like…” She pauses, her nose crinkling in thought as she searches for the right explanation. “Like I’m the greatest thing you’ve ever set your eyes on. There are far greater wonders in this world.”
“Ah,” I breathe, “not to me.”
Are we being cheesy? Yes. But when you’ve been through what we have to get where we are now, you cherish your person, your relationship, every moment, and every hope for the future that much more.