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

by Anthology

  I dip my head to the crook of her neck and suck, ever so lightly. Her pulse dances under my tongue, a frantic, heated rhythm.

  "W-What are you doing?" she breathes.

  I trace my tongue up, up, up her neck, before biting the lobe of her ear. She gasps. I chuckle. "I seem to have smeared my perfectly painted mistletoe. I need to erase," I hiss as I grind my painfully hard cock into her stomach. "And start over. Preferably somewhere else."

  She says nothing, but she tilts her head slightly giving me better access, silently offering me the approval I crave. My needy fingers trail down her back, underneath her sweater as my lips meet hers for the first time in years.

  Heaven. Perfection. Annie. Pure fucking ecstasy.

  Her tongue glides over my sugared lips, and I pull away a fraction. "Should I paint you here?" I run a trembling hand over the small of her back. I move around to her stomach, trailing my fingertips upward until I dive into her lacy bra, tweaking her already hard nipples. She gasps. "Or what about here?"

  She grabs my neck and levels me with hungry eyes. "Everywhere. I want you everywhere, Emmett."

  I crash my lips to hers, and her throaty moan unleashes any restraint I have left. Tongues dueling, limbs grasping, hearts intertwining—five years’ worth of pent-up passion roars through me as I lift her and wrap her legs around my waist. I stumble through the kitchen and down the hallway.

  "Not here," she rasps, pulling my hair and biting my lip. "The things I want you to do to me can’t be done on a Harry Potter comforter. I’m looking for a different kind of magic. One room over, Emmett. Hurry."

  I chuckle as I follow her commands, her sweater hitting the floor before we land in a pile on her bed. Clothes fall away, as well as the years of anger and regret. There’s nothing left between us but hunger and overwhelming passion as I run a light finger across her forehead, down her cheek, and over her swollen lips.

  "How can it be?" I smile as her eyes cloud over in question. "Five years crawled by without you—pure fucking torture. One look at you, and it’s gone. One kiss, and you own me. How can that be?"

  Her mouth moves over my body in soft touches, light whispers, and I enter her on a prayer. My body moves in perfect harmony with hers as I pray to possess her from this moment on. I silently beg her to never leave me again, because I know I won’t survive this time.

  * * *

  Christmas Day

  "Cookies and milk for breakfast, huh? That’s what you and Luna eat every Christmas morning?" I ask, as I pop the rest of my expertly decorated tree into her waiting mouth and lay back onto the sofa.

  "Mmm, hmmm," she mumbles through the crumbs and giggles. "The breakfast of champions."

  She snuggles closer into my chest and pulls the quilt up to her neck, burrowing in, her back to my front. The clock on the wall says it’s Christmas morning, but the dark and stormy weather beyond these walls disagrees. I wrap my arms and legs around Annie and reach for another cookie.

  "What else would you be doing if Luna were here? I want to know your traditions." I place a firm kiss to the top of her head. "I want to know everything."

  She shrugs and flips in my arms, placing us chest to chest. "Truthfully, Luna and I would still be in bed at this time. Ever since Luna was old enough to be excited for Santa Claus, we’ve had problems. She tries her hardest, she really does, but she can’t fall asleep. She lays in bed with her eyes squeezed shut, her knees pulled to her chest and her blanket clutched in her fists. Then a few minutes later, she starts whimpering. ‘Santa’s not gonna come, Mommy. I won’t be asleep, and he’ll pass up our house.’ This goes on for hours, so we don’t roll out of bed the next morning until after ten, most years."

  "Aw, poor Luna."

  Annie lifts up and gives me the evil eye. "Poor Luna? Poor Mommy! I have to get up and put out all of her presents once the little wizard finally falls asleep. And don’t get me started on the years I have to put toys together. Doll houses, kitchen sets, a replica of Hogwarts School. I’m a walking zombie the next day."

  I brush a stray hair from her forehead and tuck it behind her ear. "That sounds …"

  "Tiring?" she offers with a laugh.

  "Wonderful," I admit with a smile.

  And it does. I want to sneak presents into the house while Annie reads The Night Before Christmas to Luna. I want to see that little girl’s face light up when she runs down the hallway and gets her first look under the Christmas tree the next morning. And, more than anything, I want to see the love in Annie’s eyes when she opens a gift picked out by the little wizard and me.

  I want this family.

  Now I have to figure out a way to make my dreams come true. I can only hope Annie wants the same thing

  Chapter Ten

  Present Day

  Annie

  "You’re so cold. Downright fucking freezing," he teases with a pull on my hair.

  I pepper kisses on his feet as I crawl back into bed.

  "How about here?" I lift up and kiss his nose with a giggle. He pops my ass playfully before I can pull away, and the sting is downright delicious.

  "You passed up the campfire, woman," he complains, pointing to his already hard cock with raised eyebrows. "Seriously, sweet Annie, someone needs to teach you how to play the hot/cold game."

  "I think I get the gist of it," I say as I trail lower, lower, lower with open mouthed kisses. "Some things, you never forget."

  He stops my descent by running his hand up my neck and into my hair. He’s still playful, but softer, more thoughtful.

  "You never went back to him after you left me?" he asks, and the vulnerability in his eyes squeezes my heart.

  How can he not know?

  "Never," I say simply, and he smiles. "How could I move on from you? Why would I go backward? I couldn’t settle for nothing special after experiencing what we shared. Who settles for Spam after eating steak?"

  His fingers flex, and his lips curl into a smile. "Tube steak." He chuckles as he grinds his dick into my stomach.

  I burst out laughing and slap his arm.

  "Perv!" I shout as he tosses me over and settles on top of me. The weight of him centers me. The laughter between us lightens my heart.

  "You love it."

  "I do. I really do."

  His features soften, and I know he understands. I can only hope he feels the same.

  Drops of water tap on the window pane, melting ice threatening to end our reunion. I look up and see his frown, the same one painted on my face. We both feel the end approaching. It’s been two days, and the roads remain closed.

  He sighs and drops his head. "Any time now—"

  "I know," I whisper. "I’m sure the phone will ring soon. I’m not ready to let go."

  He jerks up and his brows furrow. "Hey, no one is letting go, okay? We’ll figure it out."

  I want to believe it. I want to believe we can hold on this time, but I’m entering dangerous territory here.

  I lightly kiss his worried lips as I breathe in, memorizing his feel, his scent, his love. It’ll never be enough to feed my craving, I’ll always want more.

  And then the peaceful silence is shattering with the ringing of my phone.

  * * *

  "Kiss me," he orders, fingers woven in my hair, forehead pressed to mine.

  How can I say no? I shut my eyes tightly and breathe in his scent.

  I curl my fingers into his lapels, not caring if I wrinkle his perfectly pressed suit. His tie brings out the gray flecks in his gorgeous blue eyes, and the cut of his suit brings out the animal in me. I want to drop to my knees. I want his hand on the back of my head, guiding me. I lick my lips hungrily at the thought.

  "I need to go or I’ll be late. This meeting is important, sweet Annie." He drops his lips to my forehead and turns the doorknob.

  "Okay," I whisper, uncurling each finger with a pout.

  "I’ll be gone for most of the day with this meeting and dropping by my sister’s house. Once I get back, and you get home
from picking up Luna, we’ll talk. Yeah?"

  "Yeah." I nod my head and press my lips together, wishing I could say every single thing I feel in this moment. I’m paralyzed with want, hope, but most of all fear. I’m so damn afraid.

  He crosses the threshold, and the door slowly edges closed. Before the latch clicks into place, I spring forward.

  "Emmett!" I shout, making him turn back to me.

  I love him so much. Why can’t I say that?

  "Come back to me," I blurt. "I want you to come back to me."

  I shrug stupidly, a foolish smile playing on my lips. I wish I had more courage.

  "Okay, sweet Annie."

  And then he shuts the door.

  Chapter Eleven

  Present Day

  New Year’s Eve

  Annie

  He never came back.

  "Mommy, I want to stay up and watch the ball dwop. Can I, pwetty please?" Luna’s little fingers vibrate as she clasps them in front of her with pouting lips.

  I rub my eyes, trying to soothe the sting, blaming the damn fireplace smoke for the irritation. No way is it the two sleepless nights I spent in bed with Emmett or the five sleepless nights of crying that followed when he vanished without a word. No, it’s that damn fireplace, for sure.

  I’m such a fool.

  "Sure, baby, but only if you cuddle with me. I need my Lou Lou time." I push a stray curl behind her ear and tug on her earlobe as I pull away. She giggles and dives into my lap.

  "I always want to cuddle with you," she laughs, then raises a finger in the air. "But only after we light spawklas. They look like weal life wands."

  Luna jumps out of my lap and dances around the living room, beyond excited at the thought of lighting fireworks. I smile at my baby girl and fight the pit in my stomach.

  I knew better.

  I knew the fire would swallow me whole, and I accepted it willingly. Now I have to suck it up and move on with our lives. And I will—I’ve been doing it for years. This time will be no different.

  Except it is.

  I’m angry at myself for believing in him. I hate him for being everything I’ve ever wanted in our lives. I hate him, most of all, for showing me exactly what I will never have. Maybe that was his plan all along …

  Wouldn’t that be fitting? After three days of wonderful, I pushed him away. Five years later, he replays the events, only in reverse. Strangely poetic, but cruel and cutting, nonetheless. Did I get what I deserve?

  Luna squeezes between my legs with a package of sparklers in one hand and her coat in the other. She shoves the fireworks into my chest and I take hold before they spill onto the floor.

  "Hold them while I put on my coat. It’s gonna be so cool!" One arm slides in perfectly, and she twirls around, trying to catch the second sleeve. She huffs, stamps her foot, and blows her unruly curls out of her face in true Luna fashion. I giggle at her theatrics and help her put it on and zip it up.

  "There, all ready," I say, as I pull up and cinch her hood in place.

  "Let’s go!"

  She tugs my hand, and I place a quick kiss on her already fleeing head. I take off toward the bedrooms as she bounds to the front door.

  "Just one minute, Lou Lou," I holler from my bedroom. "I need to grab my coat. Wait for Mommy, okay?"

  I hear the creak of the front door, and shake my head. Once Lou Lou gets an idea, it’s full-speed ahead. I throw my coat on and rush to the front, ready to have the listening talk for the umpteenth time.

  "Hey Doofus," Luna shouts as she peers out the cracked door.

  "Hey looney Luna. What’s shaking?"

  I stop cold at the sound of his voice. My lungs are lead, my legs jelly, and each breath feels like swallowing sand.

  She leans into the door and cocks her head like a flirty teenager. She shoves the sparklers forward, and I assume he takes them from her. I can’t see his face, and thank God he can’t see me. I move closer to "hot mess" status with every passing second, trembling hands and watery eyes giving me away.

  "Wanna light spawklas wif me?"

  "Of course," he says, and I hear the smile in his voice. "Did you like the cookies I made you?"

  She giggles and claps her hands. "Santa loved them so much, he left me a bike. You did good."

  Emmett’s chuckle filters through the house. "Happy to help, little one. Hey, do you think I could talk to your mom?"

  Luna stays silent for a moment, then shakes her head in the negative. "I don’t think she likes you vewy much, Doofus. You should go away. I think you make my Mommy sad."

  A smile plays on my lips as I listen to Luna take up for me. My little hero. We’re a team—it’s the way it’s always been with us.

  Faint whispers linger down the hallway. I crane my neck to hear, but I can only make out shushes and giggles. Without warning, the door swings wide open, leaving me face to face with a bundled up Emmett. I jerk back, stumbling gracefully.

  Luna whips around, all smiles and laughs, holding a flying broomstick and a tiny ball with wings.

  "A flying bwoomstick, Mommy! Can you believe it? And a golden snitch." She prances down the hallway toward me, the golden snitch dancing in her hand. She passes me with a giggle and disappears into her room.

  "Bye, Mommy." And she closes her door.

  What the hell?

  Emmett clears his throat from the entryway, and I narrow my eyes at him. He has a black beanie cap pulled down low, wisps of his unruly hair curling around the edges. He jams his fists into his low slung tattered jeans, and a smile tugs at his lips. He better keep his damn smile to himself, if he knows what’s good for him.

  Stay strong, Annie. Resist the hottie doofus.

  I narrow my eyes at him, square my shoulders, and drum up all the anger I can muster.

  "Did you just pay off my daughter with Harry Potter crap?" I hiss.

  "I did." He nods, looking strangely proud of himself.

  "That wasn’t a compliment, Doofus," I huff, roll my eyes, and busy myself with tidying the living room. Anything to avoid his gaze. "Well, I obviously can’t take the gift away from her now. Thank you for the present, but you need to leave."

  He grabs my arm from behind and spins me to face him. I gasp at the feel of his fingers pressing into my skin, and my resolve weakens slightly. Just his touch—a simple brush of his hand undoes me.

  "I don’t want to leave," he whispers. "I came back for you … and for Luna."

  I pull my arm free and shove his chest. "The time for that is long gone, Emmett. You should have come back five days ago!" I shout/whisper, looking over my shoulder toward Luna’s bedroom. "No visit. No phone call. Nothing. Message received, loud and clear."

  "Ask me where I’ve been."

  "I don’t care." I shake my head furiously, clenching my eyes closed. Shutting him out.

  "Dammit, ask me, Annie."

  He won’t let go of me. He refuses to let go even though I pull with all my might. The bastard had no problem letting go before. Please, just let me go.

  "Where were you? Where the hell were you?"

  The tears take me by surprise. The pain clenching my gut causes me to double over, and Emmett catches me just as the first sob escapes. He pulls me to the couch and cradles me in his arms, whispering softly. Caressing my hair. Rubbing my back. Wiping my steadily falling tears.

  My tears finally slow to a drip, and I stare at my hands clutching Emmett’s shirt. I loosen my grip and lift my eyes to meet his. I wish he weren’t so gorgeous. Why can’t he have a hideous, hairy mole or a thin, receding hairline? Instead, the beautiful doofus smiles with a softness that makes heart sigh and my stomach flutter.

  "I spent the past few days packing up my apartment in New Orleans. Everything I own is in that moving truck parked in your driveway." I study his face, his smile, the curve of his angular jaw. I stare into his smiling eyes, wanting more than anything to believe what I’m hearing. "It’s true. I just left West and Alex’s house. I signed a six month lease on the garage
apartment. I hope to God you forgive me, otherwise it’s going to be a really long six months looking across the driveway."

  He chuckles as he brushes my hair out of my face, his eyes fixated on my lips.

  Oh no you don’t!

  "Why didn’t you tell me all this? You made me believe you left me, Emmett? Do you have any idea how badly you hurt me?"

  His face falls at my accusations and he presses his lips to my forehead.

  "That meeting? There was a spur of the moment opening in Providence General’s residency program. They offered me the position, and I accepted on the spot. I said yes for you. For us."

  I say nothing, staring at Emmett in confusion and surprise, trying to process everything he’s laying on me right now.

  "I was so afraid if I told you what I was doing, you’d say it was too fast. I couldn’t chance you pushing me away again, so I took the job, broke a lease, signed a new lease, and landed here. On your doorstep. Because this is where I belong. There’s no where else in this world I want to be than here with you and Luna."

  "You’re wrong," I whisper, pressing my forehead to his.

  He tenses underneath me and grabs my wrists. I shake my head and pull away to meet his eyes.

  "No, listen to me, Annie—"

  "As far as I’m concerned," I interrupt, and a long overdue smile spreads across my face. "This isn’t fast at all. We’re five years behind, if you ask me."

  His lips catch mine on a gasp, hungry and wanting, relief settling softly as our ever-present heat rises higher, higher, higher.

  "I’m never gonna let you go, sweet Annie." His lips brush mine with each spoken word, and it feels like a promise.

  "Doooooooffffuuuuuuussssss?" Luna sing songs down the hallway. "Can I come out now?"

  I drop my face to nuzzle Emmett’s neck and laugh at my little girl’s perfect timing. Emmett cranes his neck to get a good look at Luna, and bursts into fits of laughter.