by Lacey Black
“Hell of a Christmas gift,” I acknowledge.
“It was the car he had when they met, but when money got tight, he sold it. Well, she found the man they originally sold it to, and he agreed to sell it back to her. She had it delivered here yesterday for a tune-up. A friend is supposed to drop her off at four so she can take it home to surprise him.”
“That’s awesome.”
Glancing at his watch once more, he adds, “I’ll need about twenty minutes or so at home to shower and change.”
“How about I meet you there? I have to finish putting together my dish for dinner, and I could probably use a shower myself,” I say, snorting a laugh.
Linkin wraps his arms around my waist. “I kinda like that I made you all dirty.”
“Me too,” I whisper.
“Okay,” he starts, taking a step back. “You better get out of here before I rip your clothes back off you and bend you over the car this time.” That piques my interest.
A lot.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he chastises, knowing exactly where my mind was. “I’ll meet you at your place in about an hour.”
“Sounds good,” I say, stepping forward and reaching for his neck.
Chris wasn’t short, but he wasn’t exactly tall either. He was just…average. The fact that I have to work to kiss Linkin is actually quite a turn on. And the fact that he always seems willing to kiss me isn’t so bad either. Not that Chris didn’t want to kiss me, but he wasn’t big on random public displays of affection…or those in private either.
With a smile on my face and whisker burn on my neck, I finally bid Linkin farewell and head towards my car. Oh, yes. I definitely made the right choice in tracking down my slightly mysterious and oh so sexy mechanic this afternoon.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Chapter Sixteen
Linkin
I’m nervous as I step up to her door. I’ve never really done the whole parents thing before.
But what do I have to be nervous about? I’ve met them all before? She dragged me off to a luncheon with her entire family a few weeks back, so what makes this so different?
Maybe because it’s a major fucking holiday and I had my dick inside her less than two hours ago? I swear her dad is going to know that I’m having sex with his daughter and kick me out of his house. And believe it or not, I really want her family to approve of me. If this baby plan goes through, I’m going to be in their lives for a long damn time. I’d hate for it to be uncomfortable.
Before I can knock, she opens the door, a vision in tight red material. “Why are you just standing out here?”
But instead of answering, I just stare.
She’s wearing a long sweater dress that hugs every curve of her body, black tights, and short little ankle boots. Her hair is straight and sleek, draping down her back like some Greek goddess. It makes me want to weave my hands in it and pull. While I’m buried to the hilt inside her.
My dick is concrete-hard in point two seconds.
“Wow,” I finally say, taking one more appreciative glance before returning to her green eyes. They’re smiling and full of mischief.
“Are you done?” she retorts.
“Not yet, but give me a few minutes and I will be,” I reply, taking a quick moment to adjust my throbbing cock in my suddenly too-tight jeans.
“Get in here,” she says, grabbing my arm and pulling me inside her apartment. It smells sugary sweet with a hint of evergreen.
“Did you bake?” I ask, following her into the kitchen.
“Just some sugar cookies. I bought red frosting and silver and gold sprinkles. I thought Bri could decorate cookies for Santa after dinner.”
“That sounds awesome,” I say, stepping up behind her, pressing my front to her back. “You smell amazing,” I add before placing a kiss on her neck.
“Thank you. You smell pretty delicious yourself,” she says, pulling my arms tightly around her front. There’s no way to mask my current state of arousal at this point. “And you look nice.” She’s talking about the long sleeve button-down shirt I found in the back of my closet. I’m pretty sure I’ve only worn it once or twice, probably to either a wedding or funeral.
She spins in my arms and stands up on her tiptoes. “You trimmed this up,” she says, running her cool fingers over my beard.
“I’m not a complete caveman,” I tell her with a smile.
“I happen to like your caveman side,” she says, reminding me of our tryst in the shop just a little over an hour ago.
“I promise to have a little more finesse next time. Maybe even take you to a bed.”
She seems to climb up my chest like I’m a tree, wrapping those fucking boots around the backs of my thighs. “Not that that doesn’t sound great, but I happen to really, really like you unhinged. In case you couldn’t tell, it sort of turns me on.” Lexi slides her sweet pussy against my aching cock, sending every single ounce of blood I possess straight to that one concentrated area. Suddenly, I can’t think at all. At least not about anything other than getting her naked.
My hands find her ass, the glorious globes fitting perfectly in my hands. “Firecracker, you gotta stop rubbing against me like that or we’re going to be late to your dinner.”
She makes a snorting noise. “We’re already late,” she says as she flexes her pussy against me.
“You’re a temptress. You know that, right?”
“Only with you,” she whispers before her lips lock on mine, and I’m gone.
Pinning her against the wall, I start to remove all of our clothing, which considering she’s still wrapped around me like a steering wheel cover, makes it pretty difficult. Yet I manage to strip us both naked without setting her feet on the floor.
“We’ve got ten minutes,” she whispers, breaking the kiss to position my dick right where it wants to be.
“Not that I’m proud of this, but I’ll only need five,” I tell her right before I thrust into her warm, wet pussy. “And you’ll have no less than two orgasms.”
Thrust. “Two? In five minutes?”
“Fuck yes.” Thrust, thrust.
“Do your worst,” she says, gripping onto my skin and holding on tight.
When we finally leave her apartment fifteen minutes later (so worth being late), I’m smiling big at the three more orgasms I was able to give her, even if that third one took me past the ten-minute mark. She doesn’t seem to mind, though. Her grin and flushed cheeks tell me she is just fine with running a little late to her dad’s house this evening.
Her hand slips into mine as we make our way down to her car, which is already laden with gifts and treats for this evening. Contentment washes through me as I climb behind the wheel and back her car from the parking spot. It’s almost freeing to be with her, as if the secrets and demons of my past aren’t still nipping on my heels.
But I push that all aside as I follow the directions to the home she grew up in. Tonight is about us, spending time with each other and getting to know her family. Before I can even think about my words, they’re already out of my mouth. “Will you come with me tomorrow to my mom’s place? It’s not much, but she cooks a mean honey glazed ham.”
Lexi glances my way, but I keep my eyes on the road. “You want me to meet your mom? On Christmas?”
“Why not? I’ve already met your entire family,” I remind her.
“I don’t have a gift for her.”
“She doesn’t need a gift, Lex. In fact, she’d probably be mad if you bring one and she doesn’t have anything for you,” I remind her, knowing that my mom is going to shit a brick when she sees me walk in with my girl.
My girl.
Feels fucking amazing to say it, even if it’s only in my head.
“Okay,” she says with a shrug and a warm smile. “I’d like to meet your mom.”
* * *
“You had sex!” AJ exclaims too loudly to Lexi when she gre
ets us at the door.
“Hush!” Lexi whispers harshly, glancing around to see who overheard the declaration.
“Oh, don’t be shy. You know just about everyone here had sex before they came. Well, except Meg. And, well, me.” AJ shoots her sister a look before turning to face me. “Good to see you again, Linkin. Even if you are wearing your clothes this time.”
I bark a laugh, while Lexi hits her sister in the arm. “Stop trying to picture him naked,” she chastises.
“Oh, too late for that,” AJ snorts, leading us into the living room.
There’s a large tree in the center of a picture window and it’s overflowing with gifts. Everyone gets up to greet us, while helping to relieve some of the packages I’m holding and placing them wherever there’s room near the tree.
“Good to see you again, Linkin,” Dean says, extending his hand to shake mine.
“You too,” I reply before moving on to the next guy. Soon, I’ve received welcomes from Ryan, Levi, and Lexi’s dad, Brian. Her sisters are all there, wide knowing grins plastered on their faces.
“Oh, look who’s here! It’s Lexi Lou and her stripper!” Grandma exclaims when she enters the room.
“Grandma, seriously, we’ve been over this. He’s not a stripper,” Lexi grumbles as she steps into her grandma’s waiting arms.
“Such a shame, though,” she replies before turning her attention to me. “Merry Christmas, Linkin,” she says, wrapping her surprisingly strong arms around my waist.
“Merry Christmas. Thank you for having me.”
Before she replies, I feel a sharp pinch to my right ass cheek. “Oh, believe me, the pleasure is all mine,” she says with a wink and saucy grin.
“Stop fondling him. It’s Christmas,” Lexi rebukes.
“Christmas is the season of giving, Lexi Lou.”
“I don’t even want to know what pinching his ass is giving you,” she grumbles before taking my hand in hers and leading me towards the kitchen.
“Lexi!” Grandpa exclaims from the opposite side of the kitchen island.
“Merry Christmas, Grandpa,” Lexi coos while giving the elderly man a big hug. “Your wife is molesting my date again,” she adds.
“Link, I apologize,” he says, extending his hand towards me. “That woman is hornier than a three peckered billy goat,” he adds, shaking his head.
“Stop talking,” Lexi begs.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. You can be my partner later when we play Euchre.”
“Sounds good, sir,” I say, wondering when the last time I actually sat down and played cards was.
“You gotta watch out for Dean and Ryan. Those two boys are cheaters,” Orval conspiratorially whispers.
“What?” Ryan exclaims as he enters the kitchen. “Dean, Orval’s calling us cheaters.”
“Are you kidding? This from the man who stuffs Jacks up his sleeves?” Dean enters the room, joining the conversation.
“Those were extras. I had no idea they were there.”
“Sure you didn’t,” Levi chimes in as he joins us in the kitchen.
All able hands, which surprisingly turns out to be the male hands of the family, make quick work of whipping boiled potatoes into creamy mashed potatoes, carving the turkey that smells devine, and pulling pans from the oven. Levi, actually, looks surprisingly at home in the kitchen, and seems to be telling everyone else what to do. I help where needed, which right now appears to be buttering steamy rolls and placing them in a fancy breadbasket.
When the food is ready, we gather around the table, hands folded in prayer.
“Lord, bless this food we are able to receive on this glorious Christmas Eve. I’m thankful that my son-in-law, six granddaughters, great granddaughter Brielle, and others could join us for this meal. I’m also grateful for the love of a good woman, my wife, Emma. Without her, I’d be lost in this world.” For some reason, my throat burns with emotion. I’ve never thought it possible to love someone the way Orval appears to love his wife. They smile at each other, even through prayer, and the prospect makes me yearn.
Yearn for more in life.
I feel Lexi’s hand wrap around my wrist, as if we’re being pulled together by some invisible, magical force. Just the feel of her fingers on my skin calms me and brings me comfort.
“Please continue to watch over us, guiding us each day. Continue to watch over our Meggy, giving her extra comfort and strength, as she continues to learn to live her life without Josh.” There’s a sniffle somewhere in the room, but I don’t dare look up to find the source. Something tells me I already know where it came from.
“And continue to bless our family with love and laughter. In your name we pray, Amen.”
“Amen,” we all say in unison.
When I glance down at the woman standing next to me, she gives me a sad smile, her gorgeous green eyes filled with unshed tears. A louder cry comes from the corner, and Brian is there, comforting and holding is daughter.
“It’s her first Christmas without him,” Lexi whispers, watching her dad hold Meghan.
“The pain will never go away, but over time, it’ll lessen a little more.”
Lexi nods her head, and pulls me towards the kitchen. We fall in line and fill our plates with more food than I’ve eaten in the last week. Even as Meghan joins us at the table, chatter and small talk commences. We eat and laugh and enjoy each other’s company. There’s teasing and loving glances and maybe a few wandering hands beneath the table.
Even through the sadness and heartache, you can still feel the love, the happiness, the unity.
Life goes on.
* * *
“I can’t believe all those toys,” I say, steering Lexi’s car towards the apartment building. “Where in the hell are they going to put them?”
She laughs as she replies, “I don’t know, but that’s their problem.”
“I think Dean almost had a heart attack when he realized most of the gifts under that tree were for his daughter.”
“She’s the first niece, first grandchild, and first great-grandchild. What do they expect?”
“Help renting the U-Haul?” I offer with a laugh.
When we pull into the parking lot, I quickly help gather up all of Lexi’s goodies. She got a few new sweaters and scented lotion-y stuff from her sisters, a new smock with her name embroidered on the front, and a gift certificate to Adam & Eve from her grandparents. The looks on the girls’ faces when they all opened the gift certificates to the online sex toy retailer may have been one of my favorite moments of the night.
“This is what holidays will be like when we have a baby, won’t it.” I didn’t realize I say the words out loud until Lexi stops and turns to face me.
“What do you mean?” she asks, questions written on her beautiful face.
“A loving family who spoil and worry and stick their noses into each other’s business. Our child won’t want for anything.”
“Probably not,” Lexi confirms softly.
Not used to dealing with so much emotion in one day, I offer her a genuine smile. “Good.”
We’re quiet as we head up to the third floor. I bypass my own door and head down the hall towards hers. Our arms are laden with gift bags, but I manage to slip her key into the handle and unlock the door. When I walk in, the first thing I notice is the scent of pine.
“Is that the tree?” I ask, depositing all of her bags onto the kitchen table.
“What?” she asks, and I don’t fail to notice that she locks the door behind us.
“It smells like pine in here.”
“Oh, that. No, that’s not the tree. I bought a pine scented candle to cover up the scent of your dead, rotting evergreen.”
Laughing, I step forward and wrap my arms around her. “It didn’t smell that bad.”
“Even the critters vacated it. They couldn’t take the stench of death,” she quips with a smile.
“Oh, my little
firecracker. Whatever will I do with you?” I ask, nuzzling her neck like some poor lovesick sap.
“I can think of a few things,” she purrs, her hands slipping under my button-down and skimming up my abs.
“I like the way you think,” I say, placing a chaste kiss squarely on her lips. “Let’s get this stuff put away so I can defile you in front of the dead tree.”
“Oh, that won’t take much. I’m the naughty sister,” she says, turning and grabbing the leftovers and putting them in the fridge.
“Oh, I believe it.” To punctuate my statement, I give her a quick slap on the ass.
We make quick work of putting away all the food and stacking the opened gifts in the corner of the living room. They’re all things she’ll have to put away after I leave. But when she comes into the living room with two mugs of homemade eggnog, something tells me I won’t be heading out anytime soon. Instead, I pop back into the kitchen, grab the leftover cream puffs Levi made for dessert, and join her on the couch.
“That was very stealthy of you to stick the cream puffs into our bowl when no one was looking,” she says, the corner of her lip curving upward.
“These little fuckers are delicious.” I should probably savor it and take bites, but instead find myself shoving the entire treat into my mouth and chewing.
“They are,” she says, reaching for one. Before she can grab one, I move the bowl just out of her reach.
“Hey,” she says, leaning forward and chasing the bowl.
Shaking my head, I take one of the treats and hold it up to her mouth. I’m transfixed on her movement as she slowly leans forward, her eyes locked on mine, and takes a bite of the puff. My heart thunders in my chest as her little tongue slips out of her mouth and licks away traces of white cream off her lips.
I almost groan.
Lexi leans forward, taking the rest of the cream puff into her mouth, and moreover, my fingers as well. Her eyes dilate as she sucks the sweetness off my fingers. How in the fuck can something as simple as eating dessert turn so erotic?