He nodded, leaning toward her mouth again, but she retreated.
“I’m gonna kill her.”
“And I’m gonna thank her. You know what triggered this, I mean, me coming for you?”
On tiptoes, trying to get closer and closer to him, she shook her head.
“The photo you have of me on Facebook. The one with some quote about the fear of never attempting.”
“Oh.” She lowered her heels to the ground, her cheeks burning. “You saw that?”
“Yes, I did, and I would love to know what you meant by that quote.”
She shrugged. “Exactly what it says.”
“Yes, but I need to hear it.”
“I put it there a couple of months ago to give me strength, I guess. I wanted to approach you and be honest about my feelings, but I was scared of what would happen. I thought you weren’t interested in me the same way I was in you, and I didn’t want to risk losing the moments I had with you, even if it was only talking and joking a little.”
He ran his finger over her lips, and her breath caught. “I wish I’d found out sooner. I ignored my own feelings because I thought it would ruin our friendship.”
“But what about the university and their rules?”
“I guess I’m gonna have to quit.”
Gasping, she tried to move away from him, to look at him and make sure he was joking, but he held her in place.
“No, don’t quit your job because of me.”
He chuckled, but his eyes were serious. “Don’t worry. I’ve been thinking about quitting for a couple months. I would be able to work full-time for Storm like they want. Besides, it’s more fun, and it pays a hell of a lot more.”
“Are you sure?” She didn’t want him to look back and blame her for quitting his job.
“Yup, I am. More and more, I believe I was meant to be a professor for a short period of time, so I could meet you.”
A smile took hold of her lips, but only for a second before he kissed her again.
“I think it’s better if we go up to my apartment,” she whispered against his mouth.
“I think so, too,” he replied, without releasing her.
Keeping a tight grip on his hand, she led him toward the stairs. “Let’s go.”
When they closed her apartment door behind them, he stood before her, his intense gaze on hers, his expression serious. For the first time in her life, she shivered with anticipation, lust, and love. Nervousness and excitement played low on her belly before spreading through her entire body.
He took her hands and pressed them to his chest, covering them with his palms. “I want you to know you can count on me. I’m here, and I don’t plan on going anywhere, not without you. You’re not alone.”
Natasha smiled, her heart warm and swollen with pure happiness—something she had never experienced before. She welcomed the feeling with arms wide open.
Jason wiped the tears from her eyes. “Merry Christmas, my love.”
On tiptoes, inching closer to him, she whispered, “Merry Christmas.”
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Juliana is a Brazilian girl living in Connecticut.
She would love to be Wonder Woman, Cheetara, Elektra, Buffy, Phoebe, She-ra, Rose, Korra, Cornelia, a blood elf shadow priest, and other various kick-ass female from comics, TV series, movies, books and games, but she settles for—the less exciting but equally gratifying life—a wife, mother, friend and a writer. Her heroines are like the ones cited above and she also writes about the heroes who drive them crazy—and occasionally hot.
Since her first stories, she wrote about 20-something year old protagonists without knowing it wouldn’t fit in today’s traditional publishing market. Nowadays, besides writing full time, she battles for the recognition of New Adult as a category.
You can visit Juliana at:
www.julianahaygert.com
A Christmas Evening Vigil by Robert C. Roman
The Triple Alliance, led by Kaiser Otto II, struck without warning. The combination of Prussian military might, Austrian clockwork, and Ottoman funding cut through the unprepared Entente powers like a chainsaw through Brie; hamstringing Britain, pinning Russia, and very nearly destroying France. The year is 1908, and the Entente is almost defunct. Sebastian Cole and Leigh Abrams each came within a hair's breadth of giving their lives defending the last Entente stronghold. What each saw in the other that day draws them to each other. Their Duty forces them apart. Neither could be who they want to be for the other if they forsook that Duty.
Leigh is trying to be an Officer worthy of serving with Sebastian. Sebastian is trying to recover from physical and mental wounds of battle. Worst of all, the Triple Alliance is still set on winning the war.
A cowardly attack on Christmas Day leaves Sebastian standing alone against the might of the Ottoman Immortals. There is no sane way for Leigh to reach him in time to help.
A Christmas Promise by Amanda McIntyre
Widowed Irishman, Brady McCormick made a promise to his young wife the day she died - to bring their son to America and begin a new life in the land of opportunity. Living in charity with a distant uncle in New York, barely scraping by, Brady is unsure he will be able to uphold the promise, much less quell the loneliness, until an angel appears at the docks, Saran Reichardt.
Headstrong and tenacious, gentlewoman Saran knows she's unlike most women of society. Dedicated to teaching and helping the impoverished, she has no need of a man to take care of her, but an accidental encounter with a stormy-eyed Irish immigrant and his young son changes her perception of what need really is. Will this holiday give them both the hope and faith they desire or will their own stubbornness keep them apart?
Contents
Title page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Table of Contents
Title page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Her Heart's Secret Wish Page 5