by Anna B. Doe
“Give me a break. I haven’t seen you in a long time.” I thrust my erection against her, nice and slow, letting her feel what she does to me. “I haven’t been inside you in a long time either.”
Her eyes dance as she stares at me. “Maybe we should tour the rest of the cabin first—” she starts.
But I silence her with my lips.
Chapter Five
Autumn
Ash’s large, muscular body presses me deeper into the bed as we kiss, and I let my hands roam. Slide my fingers into his thick, soft, dark brown hair. Run my hands down his wide, muscular back. Along his firm sides. Slip my arms in between us so I can smooth my hands up his broad chest, curling my fingers into the soft flannel shirt he’s wearing. He’s got the rugged look down pat today, with the jeans and the boots and the dark blue and black checked flannel. He hasn’t shaved in a few days either, so his cheeks are covered with dark stubble.
It’s a sexy look. My boyfriend is a very sexy man.
And lucky me, he’s all mine.
“Let’s take this sweater off,” he mutters, his hands diving beneath the hem, warm fingers tickling my stomach. I bat his hands away and he lifts up, allowing me room to take my sweater off. I pull it over my head and toss it onto the floor, then stretch like a cat beneath him, my lips curling into a faint smile.
“Your turn,” I tell him.
He rises up on his knees and slowly undoes the buttons on his flannel shirt. I watch him, my mouth going dry as my gaze lingers on those long fingers working the front of his shirt. I enjoy undressing Ash, but I get equally hot watching him undress too. But for some reason, this moment feels extra hot.
I’m guessing it’s because it’s been so long since we’ve been together. And he just looks so…manly with the jeans and the flannel and the thick stubble covering his face. Or perhaps it’s that intense glow in his dark brown eyes as he watches me unabashedly watch him.
Whatever it is, I start to feel restless. Edgy. I shift and move beneath him, my skin growing tight. My heart starts to race the moment he whips the shirt off, revealing that he’s wearing a pristine white T-shirt beneath. The soft fabric clings to his defined chest, silently begging me to touch him.
“Maybe you should become a logger,” I croak, swallowing hard.
A sexy smile curves his lips. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You look very—handsome in your lumberjack getup.” I wave a hand at him. “Are you trying to grow a beard?”
He runs a hand over the thick stubble on his jaw, making a scraping noise in the otherwise quiet of the room. “Maybe. You like it?”
I nod eagerly. “I love it.”
“It’s winter break. I’ve got no one to impress.” His grin turns wicked. “Except you.”
“I’m so impressed,” I say, a gasp escaping me when his hands settle on the waistband of my leggings. He slips them beneath the fabric, his fingertips brushing the top of my panties and a shiver moves through me. “Take off your shirt.”
He removes his hands and makes quick work of removing the T-shirt, ruffling his hair when he tugs it off his head. My gaze roams over his bared, muscular chest. The dark curling hair in the center. When we first got together, there were only a few sparse hairs there. It’s filled out over the last few years, and I kind of love it. When I was younger, I thought hairy chests were gross.
But when it’s just right, like Ash’s? Sexy.
“You’re looking at me like you want to gobble me up,” he murmurs, his deep voice knocking me from my thoughts.
“Maybe it’s because I want to.” It’s my turn to reach for his waistband. I curl my fingers around the denim and tug. He falls forward, bracing his hands on either side of my head, his face directly above mine. “Is this all we’re going to do in the cabin for the next two days? Have sex?”
Ash raises a brow. “You have a problem with that?”
I slowly shake my head as I also slowly undo the snap at the front of his jeans. “Nope. Not at all.”
“I’m glad we can both agree,” he murmurs, right before he dips his head and proceeds to kiss every last thought out of my head.
No more thinking. Only doing. A fire starts low in my belly, stoked by his thrusting tongue and wandering hands. He’s trying his best to remove my leggings from my body while I’m equally working his jeans past his hips. Eventually we end up mostly naked, him in his boxer briefs, me in my bra and panties. He cups me between my legs, his fingers pressing against the spot where I ache for him the most, and a long moan escapes me.
I’m all about foreplay, but right now all I can focus on is getting him inside of me. “Ash,” I murmur as he presses his mouth against my breast, his tongue licking at my lace covered nipple. “I need you.”
“I know. Hold on.” I love his confidence. The way he talks to me. How he commands me in bed. The sex has only gotten better over the years, and my body knows it.
As in, my body is a needy, restless thing, and it’s demanding that Ash do something about it.
He kisses me everywhere, his mouth roaming my skin. When he kisses the spot above my panties, I shiver. When he slips my panties down past my hips, I’m already lifting toward him, eager for more. And by the time he’s discarded my panties completely and his mouth is latched firmly on me, I’m an incoherent, moaning mess.
He licks and teases. Strokes and torments. Pushing me closer and closer to that delicious edge, my entire body going tense, my breath catching in my throat as everything tightens within me, focused on that one single point where his lips and tongue suck—
And then he pulls completely away, leaving me a broken, desperate mess.
“What are you doing?” I practically whine.
“Give me a second.” He sounds out of breath. I open my eyes to find him standing beside the bed, doing his best to get rid of his underwear, bracing his hand on the edge of the mattress so he doesn’t fall, and I can’t help it.
I start to laugh.
Ash mock glares, his boxer briefs long gone, a very naked, very erect man standing directly in front of me. “What are you laughing at?”
“You.” I point at him. “Me.” I jab a thumb at my chest. “Us.”
He grins as he rejoins me on the bed, sliding his hot, hard flesh against mine. “You think I’m funny?”
“Mmm hmm,” I say with a nod, spreading my thighs wider for him.
“You weren’t laughing just a minute ago when I was going down on you.” He kisses me.
“That wasn’t funny business until you pulled away and left me hanging.” I pout, but he kisses it away.
“I won’t leave you hanging now.” He rises up a little, grabs the base of his erection and enters me fully, making me whimper.
One of the perks of being in a long term relationship? Trusting each other completely. Oh, and no condoms. I’m on the pill. Feeling the heat of him push inside me?
Best sensation ever.
We start to move, slowly at first, as if we’re trying to draw it out, but that doesn’t last long. It ramps up with every thrust, our breaths accelerating, my heart storming inside my chest as we move together. Just like that I’m back on that edge, teetering from one side to the other, desperate for the fall. He reaches between us, his fingers working their usual magic, and just like that, I’m spiraling. Mindless. Weightless. Shuddering and shaking beneath him as he increases his pace. Until he’s slamming into me, his body tense, his mouth falling open as the orgasm sweeps over him.
When he collapses on top of me, his mouth finding mine, one hand cupping the side of my face…
I’ve never felt so complete.
Chapter Six
Ash
We’re sitting on a giant overstuffed chair together in front of the tall Christmas tree, our feet propped on the equally giant ottoman, a thick furry blanket wrapped around us. I’m wearing boxers and that’s it. Autumn is in one of my T-shirts, naked underneath. It’s our last night here, and we’ve discovered over the last twen
ty-four hours or so that it’s best to have easy access to each other at all times.
Meaning, we’ve had a lot of sex in this cabin. Hey, we had months to catch up on. And after that particularly vigorous last session we just had, I’m feeling pretty worn out.
But happy. Really freakin’ happy.
Autumn nestles her head against my bare shoulder, a contented sigh escaping her. “Do we have to leave?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” I run my fingers through her silky hair, my gaze stuck on the tree. It’s fake, but it’s beautiful, and the lights literally twinkle on it. The snow stopped falling yesterday afternoon, but it’s still cold enough that there’s at least half a foot still on the ground. Getting out of here tomorrow is probably going to be rough. Glad I’ve got four wheel drive. Bet I could buy some chains nearby too, if I had to.
Not going to worry about it though. I’d rather focus on the here and now.
Autumn lifts her head, her gaze meeting mine. “It’ll be nice, though. Seeing my aunt and uncle. They’re coming on Christmas Eve.”
“I like them.” Her uncle is a retired NFL player too. Owen Maguire was freaking amazing on the field. I like just listening to what he says, soaking up all those stories and advice. He’s smart. So is Autumn’s dad. I’m a lucky son of a bitch to be surrounded by such greatness.
And then there’s Autumn. The love of my life.
“When we’re done with school and I’ve been drafted into the NFL, I’m going to ask you to marry me,” I say casually.
Autumn sits up so she’s facing me, her eyes wide, her lips parted. “Are—are you serious?”
“Of course, I’m serious.” I cup her cheek. Smile at her. But she’s not smiling back. And I don’t like that. Not at all. “Isn’t that what you want?”
“Yes,” she says without hesitation, which fills me with relief. “But I don’t know what I want to do with my life.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“I have no plan. I thought I wanted to be a surgeon, but that takes so much schooling, and yeah, what if you are drafted into the NFL, and then you have to move clear across the country, like to…I don’t know. Tampa Bay?”
I make a face. “That is the last fuckin’ place I want to be.”
Sorry. Not a Buccaneers fan.
“It’s possible though. You could go anywhere. And you’ll want me to follow you,” she says.
I dip my head so our gazes meet. Lock. The expression on her face is kind of scaring me. “You do want to follow me…right?”
She nods. Again, with no hesitation. I feel only a trickle of relief. “Yes. Of course. My goals are yours. But I’m still not even sure what my goals are yet. I’ve been thinking about pursuing a career in psychology…”
Her voice drifts and she grows quiet. All I can hear is the snap and crack from the fireplace. I got a pretty good fire going earlier, and it’s keeping the entire room extra warm. Makes it easier for us to be nearly naked.
“What are you thinking?” I ask when she remains quiet.
“Maybe I want to be a psychologist? That means more schooling. I’ll have to get my masters.” She frowns. “Will that be possible?”
“I’m not going to snuff out your dreams, baby.” I cup her face with both hands now, tilting her head up so she has nowhere to look but at me. “You’ve supported me all this time, and I support you. We’re a team. Whatever your dream is, it’s mine too.”
Her eyes immediately fill with tears, and the sight of them breaks my heart a little bit. “You mean it?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” I’m almost offended she’d doubt me.
“I know you would, it’s just…being an adult is scary,” she whispers, right before she starts giggling. “Sounds silly, but it’s true.”
“Hey. I know. I agree. It’s scary shit.” I lean in and drop a kiss to her perfect lips. “But I’ve got you. And you’ve got me. Right?”
“Right.” She nods. Kisses me again, her lips lingering as she murmurs, “I love you.”
“I love you too. It’s going to be a good Christmas,” I promise her.
“It’s going to be a good year,” she promises back.
“A good life,” I vow. “With you.”
Autumn smiles, joy lighting up her eyes. “Yes,” she whispers. “With you.”
Epilogue
Autumn
Christmas Day…
I sit cozied up next to my boyfriend on the couch, my head resting on his shoulder. Christmas carols play softly in the background, and there’s a fire roaring in the fireplace, the burning wood seeming to pop and sizzle in time with the music. Outside, snow is gently falling. It’s been snowing since we woke up. For the first time in my life, it’s a white Christmas.
A magical one too.
My entire family is in this house. Mom sits in Dad’s lap in the overstuffed ottoman that is closest to the window. Their heads are pressed together as they watch the snow, their lips moving as they whisper secrets to each other, their gazes meeting, their mouths curved.
A contented sigh leaves me and Ash squeezes me closer. “You all right?” he asks.
“Never better,” I answer, my gaze meeting Ava’s and we smile at each other. She’s sitting across from us in the loveseat next to her boyfriend, who’s currently got his lips pressed against her forehead. Eli never wants to leave Ava’s side, and I think she feels the same way.
Jake is in the kitchen with his girlfriend Hannah and Beck. They’re hunting for snacks. My uncle Owen is stretched out on the couch in the family room, taking a nap. Aunt Chelsea is sitting on the floor next to the Christmas tree, my cousins Blair and Ruby sitting with her. My cousin Knox is slumped in Dad’s recliner, staring at his phone.
Our family keeps growing, and I love it. Someday, my cousins will bring their boyfriends or girlfriends, and we’ll grow even more. If I look farther into the future, I can see babies. My parents will become grandparents, and they will spoil their grandchildren rotten. I can envision a dark haired, dark eyed baby in my arms, who will look just like Ash.
I tilt my head back and smile when I catch him watching me. “Is this the best Christmas or what?”
“Or what,” he teases, leaning down to brush my lips with his. “Do you know how grateful I am for you? For your entire family?”
My chest tightens at the sincerity in his tone. Ash was on a path of destruction before we got together. He didn’t have the best family life after his father died. His mom lost focus and became a drug addict. She had an abusive boyfriend who treated Ash terribly. It was a bad situation that was certain to get worse, until Ash was pulled out of his mother’s home. In a way, he was saved.
Thanks to my parents.
Maybe even thanks to me.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’m grateful for you, too.”
He smiles, and the sight of it still makes my heart flip. Will that ever stop? I don’t think so. “It’s a good Christmas.”
“It’s a great Christmas,” I correct, laughing when he dips his head and nuzzles my cheek, tickling me. “Thanks to you.”
“Nah,” he murmurs, his lips tickling my skin. “It’s all thanks to you, babe. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I say.
“Merry Christmas.” He kisses me, his lips lingering.
“Merry Christmas.”
Books by Monica Murphy
The Callahans
Close To Me
Falling For Her
Addicted To Him
Meant To Be
The Dating series
Save The Date
Fake Date
Holidate
Hate To Date You
Rate A Date
Wedding Date
Damaged Hearts Series
Friends series
The Rules Series
About the Author
Monica Murphy is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of new adult, young adult and contemporary romance. Her books have been translated in al
most a dozen languages and she’s sold over one million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she’s also known as USA Today bestselling romance author Karen Erickson.
She is a wife and mother of three who lives with her family in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through many angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.
A Wicked Holiday Surprise
A Wicked/Rivals Crossover Holiday Story
Piper Lawson
Chapter One
Annie
“I can’t believe we’re here,” I gush, leaning over the console between our first-class airline seats.
The man I love cocks his head, glancing around the cabin. “Me either. We were supposed to be on a charter.”
The holidays are my favorite time of year. My rock star fiancé, Tyler… not so much.
We both had tough childhoods, but his was worse.
Now, I’m his family. My dad and Haley are too, along with our friends.
“We’re going to Dallas to see family. It’s not as if we have to walk,” I tease.
He rubs a hand through his dark hair. He’s itching for a guitar—I can tell from the tension in his strong jaw, the glint in his gorgeous chocolate eyes, the way he’s idly tapping one foot on the carpet. Any time the man’s not touching a guitar is a damn waste.
Unless he’s touching me.
“Besides,” I continue, “it’s been a long time, and we both need a break. Four whole nights.”