Once Upon a Holiday

by Claudia Burgoa

  June

  This is either the best day of my life or the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. By the way he kisses me, I want to believe this was the best decision I’ve made for myself. When we open the door of my hotel room, he takes my hand and drags me to him. He bends his head and my mouth opens automatically for his.

  This kiss is just as powerful as the one downstairs. A strike of lightning, the collision of two stars, a supernova being born.

  It’s exceptional. Bigger than life, bigger than the universe. Never before have I felt sucked into a black hole and charged with the energy of the sun at the same moment.

  His lips are soft, firm, commanding, in charge of us.

  I clear my throat, breaking the kiss and take off my jacket and look at his body.

  “Do we have any rules?”

  He smiles at me, shakes his head, and reaches out to my face. “Only to enjoy the moment. Tomorrow we’ll be a memory. You’ll be the beautiful brunette from Thanksgiving week and …” He shrugs. “Hopefully, I’ll make this unforgettable enough you’ll remember me.”

  Placing his hands on my waist, he pulls down my skirt and grins when he finds my leggings. “You’re layered up, I like it.”

  I rise onto the balls of my feet, trace his neck with my jaw, and mumble, “More action less words.”

  “Don’t move,” he commands as he begins to undress me slowly. First my turtleneck, then my leggings. He slides down the straps of my black bra and I’m thankful I wore something sexy today.

  He unveils my breasts.

  “Look at you,” he whispers in awe. “You’re beautiful.”

  “What do you have?” I ask, tugging his black shirt.

  I open my mouth wide. The sight is quite spectacular. Never before have I seen someone as handsome and sculpted like marble. A sexy mass of muscles and strength.

  He’s so fucking sexy.

  Hesitantly, I touch the lines of his flat stomach, running them down until I unfasten his pants. My mouth waters as I stare at him, at his heavily aroused erection.

  I want to touch him, grip him, and suck his engorged head.

  It’d be fun to straddle him, but he makes the next move, pulling me into his arms and wrapping them around me. My hands slip around his back.

  “Make it unforgettable,” I whisper against his lips.

  He responds voraciously, kissing me with such an intensity I feel like I’m on fire. We get caught up in the heat. He pulls me onto the bed, lowering himself over me. I feel the hot wisp of his breath against my throat. I shiver with pleasure as he nibbles my skin. First along my neck, then my tits.

  I push my hips up, seeking some friction, a way to relieve the ache between my legs but nothing works. His mouth is at my breast. His tongue tracing circles until the tip hardens. He repeats the same with my other one. He begins to lap faster and tug harder until I start moaning.

  “Please,” I beg and I’m not even sure what I want, for him to bring me to my knees or to have him inside.

  I grip his shoulders when his fingers tease along the insides of my thighs, padding his way up to the middle of my body where he moves the thin fabric of my panties. I cry out and lift my hips when his thumb caresses my slit.

  With ease and expertise, he lowers my panties with his teeth and then pushes them down the rest of the way with his hand.

  “Are you sure you want this?” he asks just as I’m on the edge and about to fall into a powerful orgasm.

  “You’re cruel,” I protest. “Of course, I want it, I want everything.”

  He flashes me an assured smile as he moves his body back up and spreads my legs wider. One second his face is between my legs and the next his tongue slides over my clit, slippery, wet, long, and hot. Every nerve in my body awakens. He does it again, pressing hard and moving slowly. The feeling is too much, overwhelming and wonderful.

  This guy knows what he’s doing. It’s all too much. His mouth, his fingers, his wild lips sucking me. Those teeth nibbling me. And the tongue sliding from my clit all the way to my back hole. My blood runs hot, my cells vibrate with pleasure. I’m tied into knots. I can’t think.

  I’m weak. Desperate. The thundering of my heart matching the rhythm of his mouth. My lids become heavy, I’m so close, I can feel it. I want him inside. But before I can speak, everything goes dark for a second, it’s the prelude before the entire universe explodes and the sparks illuminate the horizon.

  “I need you,” I say and I’m not even sure where those three words came from, but I feel them.

  I feel it.

  The desire to have him inside, for him to claim my body.

  It scares me for a second because I’ve never said those words to a man before—ever, and I don’t even know his name. I was just letting the pleasure take me wherever it needed to go.

  This guy doesn’t lose momentum, his body covers mine, his eyes find mine. His smile, those bright green eyes. Something about him feels familiar, comfortable. His kisses though, they’re possessive and this one is erotically arousing as I can taste myself.

  Pleasure surges and buzzes with each flick of his tongue inside my mouth. I gasp when he stops and moves away from me.

  I watch him roll the condom down his length and then, he’s over me again. His lips at my tits. One of his knees opening mine. Pushing himself up, his mouth finds mine, and my body goes still when I feel him pressing himself slowly against my entrance.

  The way his thickness fills me, easing himself slowly makes me tremble. I clutch his shoulders, my nails denting his skin. He’s too big and the deeper he goes the more I want.

  He moves gently, pulling out slowly, thrusting just at the same pace. It’s a different rhythm, erotic, even sexy. The same way he kisses me. I want this fast and lift my hips, urging speed. I want it harder, faster. He doesn’t budge, with one hand he pins my hip down.

  “I want this to last, relax, feel it. This is the first of the night. Let the pleasure flow through your veins, let me lead.”

  So I let him take me the way he wants. It’s different and I never thought I’d enjoy it the way I do. The sweet thrusting pushes me to the highest place I’ve ever climbed and then in one instant I erupt like a volcano filled with hot lava, melting in him. He rides my orgasm and now plunges himself faster and harder until he finds his release and moans.

  He collapses, his chin resting on my shoulder. “I could be doing this forever.”

  “Me?”

  “Worshiping you,” he mumbles.

  He moves away from me and I whimper at his absence. What is wrong with me? He comes back in bed a few minutes later and tucks me into his side. He traces lines with his fingers and says, “You’re a beautiful piece of art.”

  I don’t understand the line and before I can ask, I feel his mouth against mine. I relax, he’s not leaving yet. We have all night. Whatever happens tomorrow doesn’t matter.

  Sterling

  It’s around four in the morning when I wake up to the feel of her next to me. I smile at the sight of the beautiful woman who shared one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time. If not, the best night of my life.

  A part of me wants to break the only rule I set and ask for her name. I could take the jet and visit her often. We could come to an arrangement.

  But why do I even want to try that?

  It’s her. The way her body molds to mine. She let me possessed her, take control of the night. Still, she demanded a lot from me.

  How could we fit so well when we don’t know each other?

  She’s just perfect, and fuck if I don’t need her touch. I can feel happiness running through her blood. If I needed an antidote to my fucked-up life, I’d drink her whole and keep her with me.

  This feeling inside me is so much different. She’s like a blue sky. She’s sunlight. The laughter of a baby. A masterpiece.

  I haven’t fucked or kissed this much in one night since … I can’t remember. She’s nothing like any other woman I’ve ever met. Let alone had in be
d. She’s like heroin. You want to shoot it through your veins and hope it stays forever. Thank fuck, I learned fast that drugs only last for a few moments. The high leaves fast and the despair increases.

  How bad would it be to change our dynamic and stay with her the entire week? I ask myself as I watch her. Her head rests on my bicep, her long hair tied into a braid—courtesy of the little blow job fantasy. Fuck, she took me deep and swallowed every drop. I wonder if she’ll let me fuck her pretty ass. God, I bet she’s an ass virgin and I fucking want to take that for myself.

  Make her mine, I repeat for the thousandth time since we decided to take this step. That’s not the way I operate. She can’t be mine. She’s destined for someone else. A guy who’s waiting for her and will make her happy.

  But why not me?

  Why does this thing between us feel so right when I know it’s impossible?

  Her eyes flutter open, she smiles at me. “You’re awake.”

  “And so are you,” I mumble, kissing her swollen lips. “How are you feeling?”

  “Is it time to think already?”

  “Not if you don’t want to.”

  She smiles at me, and fuck if I don’t want to be inside her again. I can’t get enough of her, her lines and curves. Last night wasn’t enough to get to know her body. I want to know it so well that I can sculpt it by memory after I leave her. Carve a version of her that I can keep for eternity.

  “I don’t want this to end yet,” she whispers and pushes herself slightly and hooks her arms around my neck. “Kiss me.”

  I don’t hesitate and kiss her. We fit so well; it doesn’t take much for us to melt into one.

  “You with me?” she asks.

  “Always,” I mumble, taking her mouth and moving inside of her, thrusting and pulling slowly. Enjoying the last time and the feel of something so perfect as … fuck. My blood freezes but I can’t stop plunging inside her.

  What the fuck did I just do?

  Broke the number one rule, but it feels like the best mistake I’ve done in my entire life.

  June

  I wake up confused, happy, and yeah satisfied. Everything during the night felt like a dream. When I look to the side, the bed is empty. It was bound to happen, yet my heart clenches at the thought of never seeing him again.

  Except, the guy sits by the window, thoughtful.

  Last night was … actually, when I thought things could never be better, he proved me wrong and this morning it was beyond my wildest dreams.

  This was magical—and unexpected. Still, when I see his face, I feel inadequate. I’m not sure what to say. No names, no numbers.

  No second moments.

  It started and it ended in one night.

  But what if?

  “We got carried away last night,” he mentions.

  “Carried away?” I ask.

  “You don’t happen to be on the pill, do you?”

  I can’t help but laugh. If only he knew. “No, but I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  His expression doesn’t change.

  “Look, I’m clean and the possibility of conceiving a child after what happened today is low. Condoms are only eighty-five percent effective, what I have is ninety percent. There would be no consequences.”

  It’s a dream of mine to be a mother, but he doesn’t need to know about my hopes, the misery I live, and my next chapter.

  He runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “Good, I just. This isn’t—”

  “Are you clean? Because that’s something that I need to know,” I interrupt him.

  He nods. “It’s the first time I’ve lost my head and didn’t use a condom. You?”

  I nod and yawn.

  “Go back to sleep,” he suggests and moves toward me. “I’ll keep an eye on you.”

  Will he be here when I wake up?

  June

  When I wake up, the guy is gone. A part of me is disappointed because we had an extraordinary night.

  Unforgettable.

  I stretch, push myself out of bed and smile when I find a note and a few origami flowers made from the hotel notepad on my nightstand.

  Thank you for this night.

  I recall the heat in his kiss. How alive I felt in his arms. The feeling disappears fast when I remember the guy doesn’t fit into my plans. This was perfect, I feel refreshed and relaxed.

  Who knew casual sex was so liberating?

  No names, no commitments, no expectations. This was the perfect ending to my old life and the beginning of a new one. Next year everything is going to change.

  “You got this, June!”

  I pack my things, check my phone, and make sure I have the address for the house I’m looking at today. And surprise, surprise. The asshole who manages the company cancels on me via text.

  Unknown: We have to cancel the showing of the house on Viking Lane. There’s no one available to meet you this week.

  I call the company’s phone number and the stupid voicemail picks up right away and I leave a message. “How can you be in business when you’re so unreliable? If I don’t see the house, I won’t lease it. Find someone to show it to me this week. This is important. You’re playing with someone’s life.”

  Disappointed, I drive by the house to make sure it’s not the money pit and looks exactly how the videos and pictures showed. At least, from the outside. The place is beautiful, even when some of the greenery is dead because winter is coming. There’s more to the house than just a mansion, it’s a place—a fairy tale waiting for a happy ending to happen.

  The possibilities of what I can do with it during the holidays are endless. I can hire a company to decorate it with twinkle lights. Not just the house but all the evergreens that surround it. If I’m lucky, it might snow enough that I can have a white Christmas. Maybe I can stay here for the entire year—the doctor said things might not work the first time around.

  When I arrive at Jackson’s house, Emmeline, his wife, is the only one there.

  “Where is everyone?” I ask.

  “Your brothers and your dad went fishing, they’ll be back tonight. They have some crazy schedule to follow.” She rolls her eyes. “On Thursday they are running a marathon, in case you want to go along. Your mom went to buy a few things we’re missing.”

  I assume that Eileen, Jason’s wife, is with him. It’s a relief not to have Jackson asking me about my life, my company, and my plans as I enter the house. He thinks that as the big brother he should know everything.

  It’s also refreshing not to have Alex ask me about his life the moment he spots me. That’s the problem with being his agent and sister. Jason is the only one who doesn’t put me through a thorough interview every time he sees me.

  “Where are Jeannette and Teagan?”

  She frowns. “Their plane doesn’t arrive until tomorrow.”

  Bitch, seriously? I had dinner with her last night. Liar. I grab my phone and text her.

  June: You owe me.

  Jeannette: Why?

  June: You’re not at Jackson’s.

  Jeannette: Fuck, weren’t you staying at the hotel?

  June: For one night.

  Jeannette: Can we be even?

  June: How long are you hiding from them?

  Jeannette: I said I’d arrive tomorrow at four?

  June: You definitely owe me.

  Jeannette: Love you!

  As I’m about to text her, I receive another text from the unknown number.

  Unknown: You can have one month free to make up for today. Let us know how you want to proceed.

  I grin.

  “Everything okay?” Em asks as she pours a glass of wine and hands it to me. “It’s just the two of us. The girls are taking a nap.”

  “Yeah, I thought Jeannette was arriving last night,” I say casually. “And the management company is offering me a deal. A free month.”

  “You could stay here,” she offers.

  “With my brother hovering?” I shake my head. “You’re a sa
int for taking him off our hands.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  I take a deep breath. “Good, I’ve been taking hormones. My mood swings aren’t bad but I’m horny as fuck. It’s a process.”

  A long process because the doctor said that it can happen at the first try or … might take longer.

  “Everything will work out,” she assures me. “Trust the journey.”

  And I do because I know what’s waiting for me at the end of the road.

  “I’m skeptical because it might not happen, and I might have to—” What are my options?

  The doorbell interrupts us. She smiles and says, “Hold that thought, let me check who it is. Your brother’s gadgets are convenient if not a pain in the ass at times.”

  She checks her phone and says, “It’s your mom. Are you still not telling them?”

  I shake my head. “Not yet. You and Hannah are the only ones who know about it.”

  Hannah, my best friend and next door neighbor, is one of my biggest supporters. Well, her and Emmeline. My family won’t learn until the treatment has worked. If I say anything before, they’re going to talk me out of it. Don’t get them wrong, my family is loving and supportive but not all the time.

  “Just remember there’re many options and you have to stay positive,” she says, walking away. “We can talk about this later.”

  I take a deep breath and focus on something else because Mom can sense when something is happening to me. She just does.

  “Junie Bean!” Mom says when she walks into the house.

  “Hey, Mom,” I greet her, marching to meet her so I can help her with the sacks she carries.

  “Go outside and help Em, I left more things in the trunk.”

  “Did you buy the entire store again?” I ask and don’t wait for the answer. I know it. She bought everything she could because Jack and Em could use stuff in the future.

  Like during Armageddon or whatever catastrophe happens from now and until the next time she visits. How does Em feel about Mom? I bet she hates her.