by Lynn Crain
“What is going on?” She looked from Santa to Eggther. The latter began to shift on his feet while the old man just leveled a look at her.
“What ever do you mean, Janice?” Santa questioned.
“Don’t take that tack with me…” she began, “I know when my own son releases magic, and it wasn’t your everyday type of elf magic. That was something more…something special,” she ended on a whisper. “What have you done? He’s not ready for this.” A comforting hand touched her shoulder.
“He’s got to grow up sometime, Janice,” her husband said in a quite voice.
“But this way, Bevan?” she questioned, turning to look into his deep blue eyes. “Surely not this way.”
“What way is that, Janice?” Santa’s question intruded upon their conversation.
Janice turned sad eyes toward him. “Santa, what is going on?” she questioned tensely.
The old man drew himself up and sighed. “I brought home a present for Jedrick,” his normally calm voice boomed into the tense silence of the room.
“A what?” Janice asked.
“Really?” Bevan questioned, beaming, only looking serious when his wife threw a scathing glance in his direction.
Santa sighed again. “Janice, please sit down. You two know that Jedrick hasn’t done as well this year as in past years. His designs are suffering and it shows.’
“He’ll get over that,” Janice defended.
“He’ll get over what, Janice? That he’s lonely? That he needs someone of his own to love?”
Janice fidgeted in her chair. “He’ll find someone.”
“That’s what I said,” Eggther interjected. “But do you think anyone would listen?” He shrank down when they all glared at him. “I think I’ll just leave and keep everyone away.” The elf turned and ran, shutting the warring factions within the confines of Santa’s office.
Once the door shut, all eyes returned to the man behind the desk.
“Janice, we just couldn’t wait…we need Jedrick at his best…and what he needed was someone to love.”
“But what do we know about this girl?” she asked.
“Enough…this girl has to want to believe in magic all her life…she’s just never had any herself.”
“Well, that’s a good start,” Bevan proclaimed. “You have to believe magic exists.”
His wife let out a sigh. “That doesn’t tell me a thing.”
Santa reached out and patted her hand. “Give them a day or two and then go visit…I’m sure that she’ll need some company. As you know, this is unlike anything she’s ever known and she’ll need someone to talk to about it.”
“What will her family think?”
“I believe that she’s all alone and needs love too. Trust me…they are perfect for each other.” Santa looked at the worried parents. “It will be okay.”
“If you’re sure,” Janice said and got up slowly. “A couple of days?”
“A couple of days.” Janice bit her lip.
Santa knew the look of determination in Janice Lochlin’s eyes. He had seen that look before. He had bought Jedrick and Tessa one night of being alone, if they were lucky.
Chapter Four
Jedrick snuggled deeper under the covers and pulled Tessa closer to him. He lay there only for a moment longer, savoring the feeling as he listened to the incessant knocking on his front door. Sighing, he knew he could try and pray for whoever pounded to just go away, but it still wouldn’t happen.
Unhurriedly, he eased out from under the covers and stood staring at the woman who occupied the bed with him. Her long hair spread out in tangled curls around her head made her look like a wild child, and he supposed that in many ways she was. But now looking down at her, he saw her as the gentle caring woman that he knew her to be. They had talked into the night about many of their hopes and dreams. He didn’t want his family to ruin this for him.
Grabbing a T-shirt from where he had left it on the chair in the living room, he smiled, thinking of Tessa in his flannel pajama top. Still smiling, he opened the door and was confronted with his very concerned mother. Sighing, he ushered her into his cozy warm living room.
“Mother, don’t start,” he began, his voice holding a hint of warning as he shut the door.
“Jedrick, you know what happened, don’t you? How can you say that, then?” Janice stood there with a look of concern on her face. “Could I at least take off my coat?”
“Of course you can, Mother. I didn’t mean to be rude. Could I get you something to drink? Hot cocoa?”
His mother started taking off her leather cashmere-lined gloves. “A nice cup of hot cocoa would be wonderful, son.”
He turned and walked into his kitchen. His house always seemed too small when his family came around mainly because there were so many of them. He didn’t know what it was but something about them made him feel small and insignificant when the whole brood got together. Maybe it was that they all seemed so well adjusted with their lots in life and he seemed…well…so out of place. His mother never visited him except when she wanted to give him advice in how he should live his life.
But something clicked when Tessa came into this house. Suddenly, he felt just like every other member of his family. Wanted. Needed. Loved. He wasn’t going to let any of them dispel this feeling.
Filling the large mugs with the warm drink, he returned to the living room and found his mother sitting on the couch waiting for him in front of a roaring fire. She patted the seat right next to her, indicating exactly where she wanted him to sit.
Ignoring her wishes, Jedrick put the tray on the coffee table and sat in the comfy chair facing the fireplace. “Thank you for the fire.”
“You’re welcome, son.”
“Mother, you’re crazy if you don’t think I know what happened.” Lifting his cup, he took a drink of the chocolate.
Janice gripped her cup tightly and sighed. “Jedrick, everyone felt it. I’d hoped you realized that was the case.”
His eyes opened wide. “Everyone?” God this could be the height of humiliation. His family would just never leave it alone. Heaven help him.
“Everyone, Jedrick. It was no small blast of magic energy to those so inclined.” She sipped her drink as she allowed her son to take in what she’d just said. “And you live in a place where everyone would be touched by it.”
“Other than the fact that everyone will tease me mercilessly, I just don’t know what I could have done to prevent this, Mother.”
Janice eyed him over his cup. “Well, first, you could have asked your father what to do.”
“One usually doesn’t talk about his sex life with his father. Or his mother, in fact.” Jedrick frowned knowing that he really had never had the right time to talk to his father about something so intimate.
“One does when one’s an elf and can release magic, Jedrick. And an elf son would make the time to do so.”
“Mother,” he began.
“Don’t Mother me. Jedrick, while elven magic is a natural by-product of elven lovemaking, it can be filtered or dispersed so that it remains your own private business. As it was, everyone knows and I don’t think that is what you had intended. Or was it?”
He fidgeted in his seat. “No, it wasn’t at all what I wanted or intended. And God only knows what Tessa will think when she finds out.”
“Tessa doesn’t know about your magic? Surely she saw it. And just what did you want son? Besides release that is.” His mother always stated the obvious in a matter-of-fact way.
“Tessa knows a little…we didn’t get much of a chance to exchange life histories, Mother! I’m not going to discuss this with you any more.” Jedrick’s frown deepened.
“All right, son, I really do understand. But you know your father and I aren’t quite over the hill yet.” She eyed him again over her cup, mischief shining bright.
“I know. Santa bringing her here was such a surprise. I didn’t know what to say at all. And when I woke up and she was lyin
g next to me and stroking my ears…well, I…” he stammered, trying to remember just what he wanted to say to the woman sitting across from him. This was his mother that he was talking to after all.
“Stroking your ears, huh? Smart woman.” Janice watched her son and chuckled. “It’s really okay, Jedrick.”
They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Jedrick spoke again. “There has to be a reason for your visit other than the magic, Mother.”
“I think the magic was quite enough, thank you very much.” She looked at her son. “All right, I’ll quit torturing you…we would like you both to come to dinner this evening…we would really love to have you. Then everyone in the family could meet your mystery woman.”
He looked at his mother, now more confused than ever. He could have sworn by the way that she was originally talking to him that she thought he and Tessa weren’t such a good idea. And now she was inviting them to dinner? “Who all will be there?”
“I believe all your siblings, your father and I, of course. Probably Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as your grandparents.”
Jedrick leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. A full house…would he survive it…or more to the point, would Tessa? “Is Aingeal home?” He eyed his Mother casually and continued after receiving her affirmative nod. “Could you please make sure she doesn’t make any reference to the magic and sex thing? She is so embarrassing when all she does is talk about sex and her relationships.”
“I believe that I could accommodate you in that area. So that means you will come?” She smiled at affirming nod. “Good. We’ll see you there.” She got up and looked around. “Now where did you put my parka?”
Jedrick retrieved his mother’s coat from the coat rack and helped her into it. Walking her to the door, he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you, Mother, for making this less painful than it could have been.”
She smiled and patted his cheek tenderly before putting on her gloves. “You always were my sensitive one. I just hope that this all works out for the best.”
He let out a deep sigh that came from the depth of his being, letting out all his pent-up emotions. “I hope you’re right, too.” He watched his Mother get into the family sleigh and pull away from his house.
Slowly, he walked back into the bedroom, wondering how Tessa would feel about going to his family’s place for dinner. But it was too late now for second thoughts, they would have to make the best of it. And he had to hope the results weren’t disastrous.
Walking into his room, he stood and looked down at the woman he thought was the most beautiful creature in the world. Never in his wildest dreams had he hoped to find someone like her and never had he thought he could share the elven magic with a human like he had. It was something really special, and he knew she’d felt it too. Lifting the covers, he slid back in beside her and took her in his arms.
Breathing in her scent, he couldn’t help himself and allowed his hand to wander to her breasts. He’d encouraged her to wear one of his flannel-pajama top and her breasts were pushing against the fabric, the nipples hard nubs. Rubbing gently, he pulled a groan from her.
* * * *
Tessa felt the tender caress across her chest and smiled as she remembered where she’d fallen asleep. “Ummm…that’s nice,” she said, groggy with sleep still clinging to her mind. Turning fully into his arms, she placed a kiss at the base of his neck. “You were gone for a while. Where were you?”
“Can we talk about it later?”
Pulling back, Tessa eyed him cautiously. “Bad news?”
“No…I just like what I’m doing better.” Moving his tongue out of his mouth, he laved her neck from ear to breast. Deliberately, he massaged her through the shirt to bring her nipples to hard nibs.
“Jedrick, that feels wonderful,” she murmured, running her hands under his shirt and up his chest. Moving closer, she tangled her fingers in his hair and let the strands slide over her hands. She loved everything about his hair; its color, the weight of it in her fingers, and how she felt when it curtained around them when he happened to be on top. This was what she was meant for…this man and his love…and she would do almost anything to keep get it and keep it.
“Good…you feel wonderful too,” he murmured and rolled on his side pulling her with him. He tugged her body so that she lay along his complete length.
Jedrick began caressing her everywhere, starting from the top of her head, he continued a slow exploration of her body. One hand slid down her taut stomach to the swell of her hip and caressed the warm flesh. Inching his hand back up her side, he rubbed and massaged along the way until he traced her collarbone. Cupping her face, he tipped back her head to touch her lips, his tongue snaking out to gently lap at its fullness. Languorously, he tugged on her lower lip, nipping and biting it until she gasped, opening her mouth to his. Silently, his tongue slipped into her mouth learning each and every nuance of what he felt there. Finally, he placed little kisses along her neck and ears, blowing on them to make her shiver with delight.
“You need to stop,” Tessa whispered. The mere touch of his hands and lips sent a warm shiver through her. “This is unfair; I’m not returning the favor here.” She could feel his deep chuckle more than she could hear it. Still, she was not going to wait idly while he was allowed full privilege with her body. Swinging her leg over him, she sat up over his finely honed body. “I said stop,” she warned, “or you’re not going to get what you want.”
“And what is it that you think I want, woman?”
She just smiled and leaned over him, grinding her hips into his. “Oh…I don’t know…what do you think?”
“You do know what I want.”
“Good…hope you don’t mind if I take a little too,” she murmured, and leaned down to kiss his neck, her hair fanning out like a curtain over them. Her lips continued to explore his flesh for a few moments. Sitting back up, she reached out and brushed a tender finger along his cheek. “Do you know just how good you look?”
“No…I never really thought about it, but I’ll take your word on it.”
Grabbing his hand she placed it over her breast. “Do you feel that?” Tessa watched him for a moment and continued once he agreed. “That’s my heart beating a mile a minute…it has never done that for any one else. Just you.”
Bending forward again, she brushed his lips lightly with her own before deepening the kiss. His lips were full and smooth, warm and sexy. She pressed her lips firmly to his, caressing his mouth more than kissing it. “I want you,” she said, “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.” Reaching down, she tugged on his shirt. “I want to get rid of this.”
“Tsk-tsk, it’s all about what you want. What about what I want?” Jedrick whispered.
Tessa smiled, seeing the smoldering passion in his eyes. “It will be about what both of us wants.” Tugging his shirt up over his head, she tossed it to the floor and followed her hands to his chest. Kissing one nipple and then the other, she waged a war with each until they were peaked with desire. Who ever said that a man’s nipple couldn’t be an erogenous zone? If his moans were any indication, they had to be wrong. Slowly, she worked her way down his body to his flat stomach. Once there she moved her tongue in his belly button, rimming the smooth skin. And still she worked lower, finally tugging on his pajama bottoms to remove them below his crotch.
“Tessa.”
She could hear the warning in Jedrick’s voice but she chose to ignore it. She knew what she wanted and paid no attention to him. Unhurriedly, she slid her tongue down the length of him, tasting the tangy precum located on the tip of the wide flat mushroom head. Brushing her tongue around the rim, she was rewarded with a slight increase in size. God, he was big! Leaning over him, she closed her lips around his cock and sucked him into her mouth as far as she could.
“Tessa, please…let me bury myself in you…you don’t have to do this.”
Snickering, she said, “What makes you think I’m doin
g this for you?” Reaching underneath him, she squeezed first one side then the other of his butt, feeling the muscles become harder with each caress. She was going to make them take the time to explore, to arouse and to give each other maximum pleasure. She wanted to learn every nook and cranny of his sexy body.
“Tessa,” he breathed, “I’m not going to be responsible for what happens if you don’t stop soon.”
“Just tell me one thing.”
“Anything,” he murmured, caressing her head, pushing her hair out of her face so that he could see her.
“Are we going to get the same light show that we had before?”
Chapter Five
Tessa was more nervous than she had ever been in her life. For what seemed like the millionth time, she smoothed down her wool heather plaid sweater. But this was Jedrick’s family and she wanted to make a good impression. They had taken a leisurely shower after making love for the better portion of the morning. During that time, they had discussed their families and got to know each other even better. She had decided to wear a pair of jeans and a bulky sweater, noticing that Jedrick did much the same.
The closeness of Jedrick’s family scared her and she didn’t want it to show. She didn’t come from a large family. It had always been her Mom and her Dad and eventually they’d had Angie when they became older. But that had all stopped when her parents had died in the car accident five years ago…there had been no one left but herself and Angie…both of who were only nineteen at the time. It had taken everything in her to learn to cope with being alone. Angie helped, but sometimes it wasn’t enough. It disturbed her profoundly that she was the end of her family line.
Now here was a family that was huge in comparison to most and Jedrick wanted her to be a part of it. She didn’t know whether to leap for joy or hide her head in despair. But she was going to give it her best shot.