Hot for the Holidays (21 Holiday Short Stories): A Collection of Naughty and Nice Holiday Romances

by Anthology

  "I need to ask you something," He breathed deeply sending a gentle mist into the cooled air.

  "Not again," I joked through chattering teeth, though it wasn’t really cold. I shivered in nerves.

  His smile only touched one-half of his face. "You can say no if you want. I’d understand," He smiled wider, and I let a small laugh escape my lips. "Wait for me," he said, and I stopped breathing. I looked at him with wide eyes, and he looked back at me with the same.

  When my lungs felt heavy, I let out a rushed breath of air. "What?"

  "Wait for me, Rosalyn. I want you here when I get home. For me," My heart raced with the reality of what he was asking me. He wanted me to be here for him when he got back. He wanted me.

  Though years had passed, I’d always thought of him. I’d always wondered where he was or what had become of him. Now I knew. Now, I knew Malik again, and without any hesitation, I smiled. "Okay."

  "Okay?" he said louder than we’d spoken since we got here and then looked around to make sure he hadn’t disturbed anyone. "Okay?" he said again quietly and leaned his forehead against mine.

  "Yeah. I’ll be here when you get back. For you. The entire time you're gone, I’ll be here for you," I barely got the last words out when he swooped me up in his arms and spun me around. I laughed and buried my head into his neck.

  "Kiss me, Rosalyn," he said loud again. "Kiss me like you mean it."

  I laughed lifting my head to meet his lips and I did. I kissed him like I meant it. I kissed him for all the kisses we’d missed and for all the kisses I’d be counting down to.

  When we pulled away, he lowered me back to my feet and reached into his pocket for his phone. "I’m not fucking this up again. What’s your number, email, address, everything," I laughed and repeated all my info to him and he punched it into the phone, then reached around my waist and pulled me toward him bringing his lips to mine. "Merry Christmas, Ro," he whispered.

  "Merry Christmas, Malik."

  About Kimberly Rose

  Kimberly Rose is a wife, mom, and writer. She found her love of writing in her teens pouring out an angst-ridden heart into journals. Kimberly self published her first book, Truth in Wildflowers, in 2014. She will be spending the holidays at her home in Honolulu, Hawaii with her husband and daughter.

  Kimberly loves connecting with other authors, readers, and bloggers. You can find her at:

  authorkimberlyrose.wordpress.com, authorkrose@yahoo.com, https://www.facebook.com/authorkimberlyrose, or a Starbucks.

  Other Books By Kimberly Rose

  Truth in Wildflowers (Truth Series Book 1)

  Truth in Watercolors (Truth Series Book 2)

  Special Delivery

  By B.A. Wolfe

  A Keaton Series Short Story

  Cassie and Aidan are sharing their first Christmas together as a family in this Keaton Series short. But this year, the holiday isn't turning out quite like they expected. Both soon realize the best gifts don't come wrapped in a bow under the tree, making this a holiday neither one are soon to forget.

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This Christmas short features two beloved characters, Cassie and Aidan from Stay, A Keaton Series Novel. If you haven't yet met these two and would like to before reading about heir holiday adventures, grab their book here.

  Chapter One

  The scent of freshly baked cookies lingered in the family room as Jase set a full plate next to a glass of milk by the fireplace.

  "No, no, Daddy." Jase pushed Aidan's much larger hand away from the plate of decorated sugar cookies. "Sanna be sad. His cookies."

  "He won't miss just one," Aidan said, and reached for the candy cane shaped cookie.

  Jase's brown eyes narrowed. "Daddy bad boy." He pointed his chubby little finger toward the couch. "Time out."

  I bit back a laugh along with Aidan, who turned his head in an attempt to hide his smile.

  "When did our three-year-old turn into the parent?" Aidan chuckled and eyed me with disbelief.

  "Our little man is growing up." My voice was full of sweet sorrow. I missed the days of Jase being small enough to cradle in my arms in the rocking chair. But there was no use trying to slow down time, especially when we had another on the way. I palmed my ever growing stomach as I watched Jase run from Aidan, giggling. Both of them wore their new pajama bottoms—Batman for Aidan and Robin for Jase.

  "Baman! Baman gonna get me!" Jase screamed between shrieks of laughter as Aidan chased him. It was their thing, Daddy was Batman and Jase was Robin.

  A huge smile splayed across my face as the picture perfect scene continued next to our twinkling Christmas tree.

  In one loving sweep, Aidan scooped our little toddler into his arms. "It's time for bed, Robin." He perched him on his side and walked toward me. "Give Mommy a kiss and tell her goodnight."

  "Figh more minutes? Pease?" Jase asked, his bottom lip flipped down.

  Aidan chuckled. "No way, mister. It's already way past your bedtime."

  Jase turned his neck to look at me, his lower lids pooling with tears. "Momma, pease?"

  I gently palmed the side of his cheek. "Honey, if you don't go to sleep now, Santa won't come."

  He sniffled and wiped under his nose before he tucked his cheek into the side of Aidan's neck.

  "It'll be morning before you know it," Aidan promised as he rubbed his back. "Give Mommy a kiss goodnight before I tuck you in."

  With the saddest most precious face, my brown-eyed toddler lifted his head and left a wet kiss on my mouth. "Nigh, Mommy."

  "’Night, sweet boy. I’ll see you in the morning." I pushed his overgrown blond hair out of his eyes.

  "Nigh nigh, brudder." Jase's tiny hand waved down at my stomach and I laughed.

  Aidan heaved an exasperated sigh. "Clearly someone doesn't want a sister."

  "You're the only one who thinks we're having a girl," I teased. Aidan and I had yet to find out what we were having. But that didn’t stop Jase from believing his 'brudder' was cooking inside of me.

  "All right, buddy, let’s head to bed."

  Jase shook his head at Aidan’s comment and then brought his lips to whisper loudly into his ear, "Wha bout Mommy's neckace?"

  Aidan’s eyes crinkled in a smile. "We'll give mommy her present in the morning. It's a surprise, remember?"

  "Shhh." Jase put his finger in front of Aidan’s lips before turning to look at me. "It a prise, Mommy."

  It was hard not to laugh. I nodded,pretending I hadn’t heard their secret. "Okay, sweetie. We'll have our fun in the morning. Night night, Jase."

  Aidan hugged Jase closer to his side. "What bedtime story should Daddy read to you tonight?"

  Jase’s mouth spread wide. "Baman Sabes Sanna!"

  Aidan's husky chuckle vibrated around me. "Batman Saves Santa, huh?"

  Jase nodded eagerly.

  "Mommy's going to soak in the tub while Daddy tucks you in," I told Aidan, bummed that I’d miss story time, but desperately in need of a quiet moment.

  "Sure, leave me alone on this one," Aidan teased.

  I flashed him a wink. "You got this, Batman." I struggled to my tiptoes and kissed Aidan's cheek and then Jase's before I waddled down the hall to relax.

  * * *

  I stood in front of the large mirror in the bathroom. Water from the bath was still beading along my skin. My towel lay in a puddle at my feet as I stared at my baby belly in the reflection; I was thirty-seven weeks pregnant. My husband, the good man that he was, loved my body no matter what shape it was in, but this was over the top.

  My first pregnancy was so much different. I was young, scared, and barely wanted to look at my ever-growing stomach. It was a constant reminder that I was about to become a mother when I wasn't ready. But this time it was different. Life was different. I was older, married, and we were a happy family. Still, there was no getting over the enormity of my stomach. Would he still think I was sexy like this?

  I gazed down at my belly, then ran my hands down my sides and felt
a few kicks from our active baby. I glanced back up at the mirror and frowned. Yet another stretch mark rippled across my lower abdomen. My eyes drifted shut and I released a slow exhale. It'll be worth it. It'll all be worth it once he or she is here.

  The door creaked open and his tantalizing scent swirled around me, reaching me before he did. My husband’s body steadied behind me; his bare chest warmed my cold back. I sighed as he ghosted his fingers down my arms and protectively held his hands over my stomach. "You're gorgeous, Cassie," he whispered. "Stop picking yourself apart. I know that's what you're doing in here."

  I blinked and let a faint frown twist my lips as my head fell back against his shoulder. "It's hard, okay? I'm exhausted and huge. I feel like a ten story building, Aidan."

  He nuzzled the curve of my neck and his peppered jawline tickled my skin. "I wish you could see yourself the way I do. You're glowing and it's so sexy. And there is nothing more beautiful than the mother of my children."

  I was grateful that he thought so, but how could he not see what I did?

  I groaned and slid his palms toward the center of my belly. "This is not sexy. My body is broken. This little one is doing a number on me. My feet," I paused to lower my chin to glance at my feet that I could barely see over the curve of my protruding stomach. "They're so swollen."

  "I know what you need." His warm body left mine and I immediately shivered. He grabbed my plush pink robe from behind the door and proceeded to drape the fluffy cotton over me. He helped thread each arm through the wide sleeves before he stood in front of me and tied a loose bow in the front. Holding my sides, his cheeks split in a comforting smile. "How about a foot rub?"

  My insides turned languid. "I think I'd like that."

  He winked and I slipped my hand inside his, and followed him back to our room. As I padded across the carpet, a floodgate of guilt coursed through me. It was Christmas Eve and we had a million things to get done, including building our son's bicycle and filling his stocking. Not to mention the cookies and milk I was already planning to eat. "Aidan," I blurted as he opened our bedroom door.

  "What, Sweet Tea?" He glanced at me over his shoulder.

  An immediate smile perked at my lips at the mere mention of his nickname for me. When we first met, I bumped into him at a coffee shop, literally causing his iced tea to spill down the front of him. Later I found out that it wasn't regular tea, but sweetened. He called me his Sweet Tea ever since.

  Releasing the air in my lungs, I pointed out, "We have so much to do tonight. The foot rub can wait." I glanced down the hall at the array of holiday colors beaming onto the walls from the lights on the Christmas tree. A gentle finger touched under my chin to bring my worried gaze to his smiling face. "It's all taken care of, baby."

  My eyebrows arched high at his admission. "The bike?"

  "Done." A devious smirk curled his lips. "Now, let me take care of you." He released my chin and ushered me into our master suite. My toes sank into the plush carpet and the deliciousness of the moment began to rock me like a tidal wave. Every inch of my skin ignited as I regarded Aidan's hooded gaze. Hunger floated through his brown orbs as though they'd never seen me before.

  He stood before me in just his cotton pants. My eyes froze on his rippled chest, quickening my pulse. He hadn't even touched me yet and I was on fire for him. He closed the distance between us, the moonlight from the window casting down on him as he reached out for my eager body.

  He held my waist with a firm grip, and walked me backward until my legs hit the bed behind me. The subtle movement sent currents of desire racing through my veins, tingling every nerve ending. There were no words, just breaths, thundering pulses, and rhythmic heartbeats filling the room. It was the only sound needed until my name fell from his lips in a murmur and I melted.

  I didn't care if it was the hormones rushing through my blood or that my husband was sexy as sin, I needed him now. "Oh, Aidan. I need you."

  "I know, baby." He always knew what I wanted, needed. And he always delivered. "I need you too," he purred.

  My body hummed at his words. Sinking my teeth into my lower lip, I watched with hunger as he tugged his pajama pants and boxers down and kicked them to the side of the room. My impatient hands reached out, touched his bare hips, and grazed my hand down his hard erection.

  "Fuck, Cassie," he groaned and I released my lip. I smirked, loving that my touch was as intoxicating to him as his was to me.

  I ran my fingers up his thick arms and over his powerful set of shoulders. He stared down at me with a look that sent shivers down to my core. There was no waiting any longer. I brought my hands down to the tie holding my plush robe together. His long fingers stopped mine.

  "Let me." His husky voice swirled around me as if it were a part of the oxygen I breathed.

  My skin prickled under the plush material and I nodded.

  Ever so slowly, he untied the simple bow. A warm rush of air hit the center of my body as the sides parted to him. He stood before me, completely handsome with a slow smile curving his lips. "Gorgeous," he whispered as he ran his palm up my stomach and between the globes of my breasts. He stopped and his fingertip outlined the curves of my fuller breasts.

  My nipples immediately pebbled from his touch. What I wanted was for his hands to cup and knead me, to relieve the heavy ache. Instead, he pressed an open mouth kiss along the tender skin of my collarbone and lowered to his knees.

  He glided his hands along my thighs, the swell of my hips, all of my curves. Hunger flared in his eyes as he peered up at me. His lips brushed my aroused flesh. "I'm going to worship this body and show you how much I love it." Desire saturated his promise. Nearly knocking over at his words and the way they traveled through me, I gripped the bed behind me.

  He ghosted feather light kisses along my thighs and over my stretch marks before he worked his way up the center of my body as he stood over me. "You're mine and you're beautiful." Gently, he pushed the robe from my shoulders until it fell behind me in a soft puddle. Cool air swirled around my overly hot body and I moaned.

  "I love you. When you smile, when you moan, when your eyes roll back every time I touch you. You're mine," he whispered. His mouth hovered over mine and I swore I heard his heart beating between us.

  "I'm yours," I said in a broken whisper.

  His smoldering eyes were full of demanding desire. "Don't ever forget it, Sweet Tea."

  Blood whooshed through my ears as he claimed my lips in a primal way, not holding back. But it wasn't enough, I needed more. Grabbing his strong hand from my waist, I guided it downward. I wanted his touch to help relieve the ache pulsating between my thighs.

  "Touch me," I murmured between kisses.

  His smile creased against my mouth. "Mmm. Don't worry, baby. I'm gonna take care of you. I'll touch you . . . all over." He kissed a path across my jaw and up to my ear, and caused another moan to slip from my lips.

  "Oh, God." Afraid my knees would give, I braced my hands on his torso. His hard muscles suddenly tensed beneath my fingertips.

  "Not God, baby, just me . . ." The tip of his finger circled the apex of my thigh, leaving a wake of fire as he teased. "All me . . . now close your eyes."

  I did as he said and shut my lids, my breath held in anticipation. Every nerve ending I possessed was centered on my sex. And without warning, his fingers dipped inside me and I screamed his name. Electricity spread throughout my veins, sinking deep into my muscle all the way down to my bones. I fisted the comforter behind me as his fingers continued to pump in and out in a steady rhythm.

  "You're so fucking wet."

  Aidan's lips descended to meet mine and hungrily I took them; sucked his breath into me; drank in the sweetness of his kiss. Took everything he gave me.

  His free hand trailed up my side, and the second his cold fingers pinched my taut nipple, I moaned into his mouth. I latched my fingers onto his bicep for support. Leaving my lips as I gasped for air, he showered my neck and collarbone with tender kisses.r />
  "Turn around, baby." His voice murmured against my sweaty flesh. "I'm going to take you from behind."

  Regaining my breath, I did as he said and spun around, my back now facing him. He gently moved his hands down the length of my back and I moaned louder than before. His fingers curled around my shoulders, pulling me toward him until my spine hit his muscled front. His erection pressed firmly against my ass. "Can you feel how badly I want you?" His warm whisper tickled the skin of my ear and I nodded, barely breathing.

  Trailing his fingertips down my arm, he slowly circled the outline of my breasts. Releasing a loud breath, I dropped my head back onto his chest.

  Kissing my neck, Aidan slid his right hand down my ribs and over my belly, heading toward my sex. I reached behind me, toward the nape of his neck, tangling my fingers in his short hair as he dipped his fingers inside of me. Between my sensitive nipples and wet sex, it wasn't long before his name fell from my lips once more.

  "I'm going to love you all night, into the early hours of the morning, baby."

  "Promise?"

  A deep growl ripped from his throat at my question, and in one swift movement my palms were steady on the comforter in front of me. "Bend over," he said, and pulled my hips back so my belly wasn't pressed against the bed. "Like this. Are you all right?"

  "Yes." I glanced over my shoulder and found his eyes filled with hunger. "I need you now. Please, Aidan."

  "I'll be gentle." He smoothed his hand over my ass before pressing feather light kisses down my spine.