by Codi Gary
“And what did we choose?”
Jared pulled out the red and white swirled bulb with white glitter dusted over the top.
“Oh, that’s cute. I’m going for that one.”
He laughed and took out the other. It was a Gingerbread man with his mouth open and a bite taken out of his head.
“You are disturbed.”
“It reminded me of that story you told me about your dad chasing you with the half eaten gingerbread man. I thought it was funny.” Jared hopped out and went around to get her.
The minute she opened the door, she pressed her lips to his in a hard, fast kiss.
“What was that for?”
Anna Beth’s cheeks flushed. “For thinking of me.”
Jared grinned. He brushed his mouth far back on her cheek, near her ear and whispered, “Can’t help myself.”
Anna Beth smiled, but when he reached for her, she held her hands out. “You don’t have to carry me again. I can make it.”
Jared lifted her out and kicked the door shut with his shoe. “Yeah, but I feel manly when I carry you. Plus, it makes it easier to do this.”
He leaned down and kissed her lightly, playfully.
“Mmmm, so it’s for your benefit. I guess I’m okay with that.”
The chief and his wife got to the front door first and held it open for them.
“Honey, why don’t you carry me across the parking lot?” his wife asked.
The chief leveled Jared with a hard stare. “Lord, look what you started, Cross.”
“Sorry, sir.”
The chief clapped him on the back as went inside. “Have a good time tonight.”
“You, too.”
They trailed behind the older couple and followed the signs to a large great room with a full buffet against the wall. The fireplace blazed and a ten-foot-tall Christmas tree sat in the corner. Underneath were small packages with numbers on them.
“Wanna eat and run?” he asked.
“I told you, this is your night, but I think we should play the White Elephant game. I want my ornament.”
Jared laughed as Anna Beth took the presents over and set them under the tree. When she came back to his side, she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him.
“Checking one more thing off my list.” She looked up and he followed her gaze to the mistletoe over his head.
“I feel used.”
“You shouldn’t. I love kissing you. Now let’s eat.”
“At least my lips rated before your stomach.”
Three hours later, Jared laughed again when they ended up back in the truck with not one, but both of their original ornaments.
“I can’t believe the chief’s wife stole my glass fox and I ended up with this.” She held up the maimed Gingerbread man.
“Stop, you’re hurting his feelings. Don’t you think he’s been through enough?”
“I suppose.” Anna Beth put the ornament back in the bag. “Why is it snowing again.”
“This is Montana in December, A.B.”
“I know, but still.”
“Just be glad you aren’t driving and buckle up.”
Anna Beth pushed the middle console up and slid across the seat next to him. She clipped her seatbelt and leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Take me home, Officer.”
Jared turned the ignition and after he backed up, placed his hand over her knee. “Your home or…”
“You promised me a fire, eggnog, and a Christmas movie. I plan to collect.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She turned toward him and placed a hand on his chest. “Mmmm, I kind of like it when you call me ma’am.”
Jared scoffed. “If you’re referring to our run in at the market, you caught me off guard.”
“I figured, but it was still funny.”
“For you, maybe. I felt like an idiot.”
Anna Beth slid her hand down over his stomach. “I never thought you were an idiot.”
“Really?” he said, glancing down at her with one eyebrow arched. “Never?”
“Okay, maybe a time or two you tested my opinion.”
“That’s just a sweet way of calling me—shit!”
Jared swerved to avoid the massive bull elk on his side of the road. His heart thundered as he passed it in the left lane.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“I’m fine, but damn, that was close.” She retracted her nails from the front of his shirt. “Did I hurt you?”
“Nah, you’re fine,” Jared said. “That elk took ten years off my life.”
“Maybe I should keep my hands to myself until we get to your place.”
“Probably best. You are too distracting for your own good.”
Twenty-Six
Anna Beth stood in Jared’s bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror as her stomach fluttered nervously. The sequins on the sides of her dress had rubbed the under skin of her biceps nearly raw and she couldn’t wait to get out of it. A stack of Jared’s clothes were folded on the bathroom counter for her to change into for their movie night, but she needed him to unzip the dress. And once he unzipped it, he’d see the bustier she wore beneath it.
Which was the whole point in wearing it, but she hadn’t been with a man in over two years. What if she sucked in bed? She’d only ever been with Ian, while Jared had experience with multiple girls.
Stop freaking out. This is Jared. You want this. You are overthinking it and it’s making you anxious.
Jared knocked on his bedroom door. “Anna Beth? You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just thinking.”
“Can I come in?”
Anna Beth took a deep, shaky breath. “Yes, come in.”
The door opened with a creak and Jared came around the corner into the bathroom, looking completely at ease. He’d lost his jacket, shoes, socks, and tie the minute he walked in the door and, while Anna Beth liked fancy Jared, she preferred the relaxed, rumpled version.
“What’s up? Are you ready to watch the movie?”
Anna Beth swallowed. “Yes, but can you unzip me? I can’t reach it with these sleeves.”
Jared cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah. Sure.”
He sounded nervous too, and she relaxed as he stepped up behind her. Not that she wanted him to be scared of being with her, but for some reason, his uncertainty made her more confident. Jared’s presence at her back made her skin tingle along her neck and shoulders. His fingers skimmed along her back softly, feather light touches leaving a trail to the top of her dress. The rrrrrft of the zipper was the only sound besides their deep breathing. She held the front of the dress against her chest when it would have slid down. He kissed her shoulder tenderly, lingering.
“Done,” he whispered.
Anna Beth shivered, the breath she’d been holding rushing out.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you downstairs.”
This was the moment. She loved him. She wanted him. All she needed to do was be brave.
Just as he rounded the corner, she called out, “Jared!”
He stopped, his hand gripping the doorway. He turned around, his hands loose by his side.
“Yeah?”
Before she chickened out, she dropped the dress to the floor. Standing before him in nothing but the red plaid bustier, matching cheeky panties, and black thigh highs, she barely restrained herself from grabbing the dress off the floor and covering herself.
Jared’s eyes widened as he took her in, his surprised gaze traveling from her bare feet all the way up to her face. Smoldering. The word fit his expression to a tee and her heart flipped over in her chest as he took a step towards her, then another until they were less than a foot apart.
“You realize you look like Christmas wrapping to me.”
Anna Beth released a breathy laugh. “Are you calling me a gift?”
His hand cupped her cheek. “Yes, Anna Beth. The best damn gift I’ve ever received.”
Jared cradled her
face between his palms and she opened her mouth as he covered her lips with his own. Shocks of electricity shot through her body, leaving echos of heat as Jared sweetly slid his tongue inside.
Pleasure like she’d never know filled her up, losing herself in his touch as his hands ran over her shoulders and her arms until his fingers laced with hers. Jared broke the kiss, backing up with her toward the bed and Anna Beth kept her eyes glued to his face. When Jared reached the bed he stopped, his hands still holding hers.
“If you’re not ready, tell me and we can just snuggle up and watch TV.”
His reassurance and care for her feelings melted her as nothing else could and she slid her arms around him, her cheek pressed against his chest. “I want this. I want you.”
Jared lifted her chin with one hand and kissed her again. Anna Beth didn’t expect him to fall back onto the bed, bringing her with him with one arm around her waist. Anna Beth never imagined watching him unzip her bustier, without breaking their connection, would leave her panting with need.
And when he rained soft kisses over her collar bone. Her chest. Finally, taking her nipple into his mouth…
It was like being kissed by sunshine.
Anna Beth’s shyness dissolved as desire raced through her, and her hands traveled between them to the belt of Jared pants. She’s never been great at unbuckling belts, but Jared let her take her time, continuing with his loving administrations. When he took her nipple into his mouth, licking it with quick flicks of his tongue, she forgot about the belt and her hands fell to the bed, her back arching.
Jared’s deep chuckle tickled her chest as he pushed himself up onto his hands, hovering over her. “You are so adorably distractible.”
Anna Beth’s cheeks warmed. “It’s hard to concentrate when you do that thing with your tongue.”
Jared kissed her again. “I’ll remember that.”
When Jared pushed himself up off the bed, she thought he was stopping and protested lightly.
“I’m just helping you out, A.B,” he said, finishing what she started with his belt. After shucking his pants and boxers, he crawled up the bed until he lay on his side next to her. “Now, where was I?”
When Jared’s mouth covered her nipple again, she moaned, cradling the back of his head in her hands.
Anna Beth’s body hummed as Jared kissed his way over her stomach, his hands sliding her underwear off one leg and then the other. His head dipped between her legs and tears stung Anna Beth’s eyes as Jared gently brought her closer to orgasm, taking his time with her. The slow, steady pressure of Jared’s mouth and hands on Anna Beth’s clit lifted her higher until she was soaring, calling out his name in total abandon.
Anna Beth’s eyes fluttered open when she heard a drawer opening and closing and the sound of a wrapper ripping. Jared came back over her, his hard body pressing into hers, and she looped her arms around his waist, cradling his hips with her thighs.
As Jared sank into her, Anna Beth tangled her legs with his, closing her eyes when he filled her. Her mind drifted as he moved inside her to their first kiss in the snow, the joy as she’d lost herself in him, forgetting everything but the way he made her feel. Loving Jared was more than an all-consuming passion and need. Feeling treasured. Protected. Loved.
Anna Beth opened her eyes, her gaze locking with Jared’s and she saw it. Love. Jared loved her.
When his rhythm picked up, she held on, burying her face in his shoulder, whispering, “yes,” in a husky chant as she came again. Jared joined her moments later, the sound of her name on his lips like a little prayer and she almost told him.
I love you, Jared Cross.
Instead, she curled up against his side, her hand splayed over his abdomen, watching his chest rise and fall rapidly at first before slowing to deep, even breaths.
“So…” she said.
“Yes?”
“That was amazing.”
Jared laughed, his lips brushing her forehead. “I knew it would be.”
“How?” Anna Beth asked, her eyes lids heavy.
“Because it’s you.”
Anna Beth’s eyes drifted closed, a small smile on her face. “That’s really sweet, Jared.”
“Are you falling asleep on me, A.B.?”
“Mmmmm. A little bit.”
Jared tightened his arms around her and she snuggled close.
“Go ahead and rest, sweetheart. We got all the time in the world.”
Twenty-Seven
After fifteen minutes of watching her sleep, Jared extracted himself from Anna Beth and went to the bathroom to clean up. He disposed of the condom in the waste basket and took a quick shower, whistling while he lathered and rinsed his body.
Being with the woman you loved was a completely different experience than having sex just to get off. Every look they shared, every moan of pleasure or shiver of release flowed like a song. Something he wanted to replay over and over.
Jared shut off the water and wrapped a towel around his waist, thinking about what came next. Talking to her about staying in Snowy Springs. Finishing her list. Ian’s letter. There were only a few more things she needed to accomplish and after that, he’d have to give her Ian’s letter. Nervous didn’t begin to cover it, but he wouldn’t let a ghost come between them. She’d loved Ian, but Jared was here. He loved her and would do anything to make her happy.
That had to count for something.
He came back into the room to find her propped up on one elbow, the sheet pulled over her chest. Her blonde hair fell around her shoulders, onto the sheets, and despite her claim of color stay lipstick, her lips were no longer red.
“All cleaned up?” she said.
“Yeah. I would have asked you to join me, but you seemed to be tuckered out.”
Anna Beth yawned. “I didn’t mean to be, but it’s the good kind.”
Jared leaned over the bed, his lips brushing hers. “That’s what a guy loves to hear. Do you feel like watching a movie now? Clothing optional?”
Anna Beth giggled. “Hmmm, naked Netflix and chill? Sounds fun, but can I at least borrow some socks. My feet are like ice cubes.”
“Sure. I think I have a pair of sock slippers my mom got me last year. They have big foot on them.”
“Let me guess, because you have big feet?”
“Exactly.” Jared opened his sock drawer and while he dug through the folded pairs, Ian’s letter dropped over the side and onto the floor.
Anna Beth, now sitting on the edge of the bed in the sheet, went for it. “I’ll get it.”
Time stilled as Jared moved to beat her to the envelope. “No, don’t.”
Anna Beth shot him a puzzled look as he tried to snatch the envelope out of her hand. “I was just going to hand it to you. What’s your prob…” her voice trailed off as she looked at front of the envelope. “Problem.”
Jared watched the emotions shift across her face as her gaze flicked from him to the white rectangle in her hand. “What is this?”
There was no easing into this one, not when she looked tense enough to snap. “It’s a letter from Ian.”
“But why is it addressed to you?”
“I don’t know why. He sent it two years ago—”
“Two years?” she said, shrilly. “Why? What does it say?”
Her green eyes were wild and he knew she must be thinking the worst. “He wanted me to give it to you when you were finished.”
“With what?”
“I don’t know. The list?”
Anna Beth’s eyes narrowed. “Wait, you knew all along about the list?”
“No, well, he mentioned a list, but not what it entailed. He just asked me to help you when you came back to town.” Jared waved his hand toward her. “You can read it. There’s a letter for you inside as well.”
Anna Beth pulled out his letter, scanning the page. Jared’s stomach lurched as he tried to decipher what thoughts may be rushing through her mind..
“What the…I…I don’t even know
what I want to say right now.” She looked up at him, tears pooling in her eyes. “And why were you hiding it from me?”
“Anna Beth, I wasn’t hiding it.”
“It was in your sock drawer, Jared, like a dirty little secret.” Anna Beth started gathering up her clothes. “I can’t believe you kept this from me.”
“Anna Beth, I didn’t do this to hurt you. I was respecting his wishes.”
Anna Beth laughed bitterly. “You didn’t even know him.”
“That’s true, but he entrusted me with it.”
“And what about us? He sent this to you when we weren’t even speaking and you didn’t think to mention it when we started talking again?”
Jared took a calm, even breath. “Honestly, it’s not as though we were conspiring to harm you. He wanted me to hold the letter for you until the time was right. I was going to give it to you. Despite whatever you’re thinking, I would never intentionally hurt you.”
Anna Beth drew a deep, shaky breath. “I know that. Deep down, I do, but...I am too upset to do this.”
“Do what? Talk? Let me explain myself?”
“Yes!” She dashed at her cheeks. “Can you please leave so I can get dressed.”
“Anna Beth, please…”
“Jared, I can’t think clearly when I’m around you. I thought we were creating something special, but...I need to process everything. And I can’t do that here with you.”
Jared’s shoulders sank like a thousand-pound sack dropped on them from the sky and he turned to go but he stopped and faced her once more.
“Honestly, maybe some part of me wanted to follow his wishes because I was afraid if I gave you the letter, I’d lose you to him again. It’s not pretty or right, but it’s the truth. I did what he wanted because I love you and I didn’t want this to end. Guess I called that one, huh?”
She didn’t respond, just continued to gather her clothes and he released a shaky breath. “I’ll give you some space and drive you home.”
“Thank you.”
Jared collected some clothes from his drawers and closed the door behind him. The sound of Anna Beth’s sobs tore through him, ripping his heart to shreds. He took the stairs slowly, his knees weak. When he finished dressing in the living room, he sank onto the couch, his eyes stinging with tears. Jared sniffed, trying to hold his emotions at bay as Rip trotted over and put his head in Jared’s lap.