Holiday Love (Love Collection)

by Natalie Ann

  She kissed him back with everything she had, her body plastered to his, her hips grinding against the bulge that started to grow in his pants the minute she invited him in.

  They might have stood there making out for hours, or maybe it was five minutes. Time just seemed to stop at that moment and all he felt was her in his arms, her taste on his lips and her need matching his.

  She dropped her arms from around his neck, grabbed his hand, and led him through her dark apartment to the back. In her small bedroom, she hit the light on the wall. “I want to see you.”

  “I’ve got no problem with that,” he said, reaching for her.

  “No. I want to see you now,” she said, her hands going to his tie and undoing it fast. “No dating comes with no sex. It’s been a long time. You lit a fire in me with that kiss weeks ago so I either need some water thrown on me, or you need to build that fire up and show me how high you can take me.”

  “The only water that will touch you will be when we shower together tomorrow,” he said standing there while she started to unbutton his shirt.

  “Sounds like a plan. Can you back it up?”

  She was tossing down a challenge that he hadn’t heard in years. He was damn well going to take her up on it.

  He spun her around and unhooked the button at the back of her neck, then lowered the zipper. “I’ve been imagining what is under this dress all night. I need to know now.”

  “You’ll be in for a surprise then,” she said when the dress fell to the floor and he found out she had nothing on but her birthday suit.

  “Holy shit,” he said, the member in his pants turning to titanium when he got a glimpse of her magnificent ass. He turned her around and took in the sight of the front of her as well, his eyes looking over everything twice, then a third time. He had a fondness for ‘neat and trimmed and barely there.’ “You must have read my mind.”

  “Or we like the same things,” she said, reaching for his shirt now. His tie was long gone somewhere in the room and now she was yanking his shirt out of the waist of his pants while he was reaching in his back pocket for his wallet. “I’ve got a whole drawer full.”

  He dropped his hand away from his pocket and started to remove his clothes with the help of her eager fingers. Then he picked her up and laid her on the bed, coming down on top of her, just letting their naked bodies touch each other, skin to skin, heat to heat, charging them both up for a night of loving.

  Her hips moved up and he knew she wasn’t going to let him draw it out, to play with her, to even look, touch, or taste as much as he wanted. At least not now.

  “Get a condom out,” she said, turning her head.

  He reached over and opened the drawer, then pulled out a brand new box. “You’re going to make me open it. I better not get a paper cut from the box.”

  She laughed. “I bought them for you. Now you know how long it’s really been since I figured the ones I had had expired.”

  He leaned back and looked into her eyes. He didn’t see anything but arousal that he was positive was mirroring his own.

  “I know we’re both in a hurry, but you wanted this to be the best night ever, so do you trust me to show that to you?”

  “I trust you to give me what I want. What I need to feel. What I’m craving so desperately,” she said, her body rubbing against his.

  He lowered his head and kissed her again. His tongue going in her mouth, meeting and matching her excitement, her urgency, even her desire. Her nails were now on his back and they were leaving marks. If she was this reactive to kissing, the night was only going to get better for both of them.

  He moved down her body, his mouth tasting every part of her he could. He stopped at one rock-hard nipple and pulled it in his mouth, his teeth grazing it and nibbling harder than he meant to. But when her hips slammed into his again, he knew that the sensual creature under him was just fine with all sorts of play.

  “Owen, please don’t make me beg for it.”

  He’d love to hear her beg and he’d be making her do it later tonight, but for the moment he’d put them both out of their misery.

  And when did he ever think of sex as misery? Never. It wasn’t this time either. But he had no words to describe the need he felt at the moment.

  Sitting up, he opened the condom and slid it on, his eyes moving to hers, watching her watch him. Then her eyes lowered and stared at the part of him standing proud. “I’m going to be one happy girl,” she said, her eyes glowing.

  Okay, she knew exactly what buttons to push to get him to move.

  Sliding over her body again, he nudged her legs apart and slid right in. She was wet and tight and pulling him into a vortex of feelings he’d shut his body off from for years.

  Sex had always been that before... somewhat shut off from feeling it fully. He always felt good physically during sex, yet he held another part of himself back.

  But in more than a year, he’d completely shut down, physically and emotionally. Now he was opening up again and with that came the key to unlock every sensation and nerve ending he’d fought to keep hidden.

  He moved in and out of her, feeling pressure below and pressure in his chest. She was breathing heavy, but not much heavier than him.

  Her legs came up and wrapped around his hips, her nails digging into his waist and her teeth on his neck. “I can’t tell you how good that feels,” she all but shouted between moans.

  “Yes,” he said, which was all he was capable of voicing at the moment.

  He was moving faster in her, slamming her back into the bed every time she lifted up. Then she seemed to clamp down around him, shouting out his name and forcing him to empty everything he’d kept bottled up for so long.

  It wasn’t just the best night for her, it was for him too, and it’d only just begun.

  Just a Kiss

  Jill was taking inventory of her body at the moment. It had been used and abused in a delicious way she hadn’t felt in way too long.

  Maybe never quite like this.

  She didn’t even think she had it in her to let go that much. Or to even voice what she wanted. She’d never done that before, especially with Darren. He’d been sensitive and always had to take control when they were in the bedroom.

  But she was sick and tired of keeping everything locked away, and starting fresh meant being someone she always wanted to be.

  It seemed Owen liked that a whole lot.

  “Can you move a bit? You’re kind of heavy,” she asked.

  He grunted and flopped over, so she took that moment to suck in some much-needed air. She was pretty sure she was holding her breath there for a few minutes while the pressure built so high and tight. Enough that she might have come close to passing out, unless that was from the orgasm because it’d been stronger than ever before too.

  “Where are you going?” she asked when he sat up in bed.

  “To the bathroom,” he said.

  “I’ll join you,” she said. He frowned and she reminded him, “Shower. You said we were going to shower together.”

  “I said in the morning.” He reached his hand down and pulled her up to stand next to him though.

  “We can do that too,” she said.

  He laughed and they walked to her bathroom. He took care of the condom while she turned the water on. “Shower or bath?” she said.

  He looked at her small tub. “Shower. I won’t fit in that.”

  “True. Do you have a bigger one at your house?” He hesitated and she said, “Don’t take it any way other than curiosity for another time. If we get to that.” She hoped she kept the hurt out of her voice.

  “I do have a bigger one.” That was something, that he answered her.

  “Then sometime in the future, maybe if you’re ready then, we can try it out. But until then, we can handle the shower.”

  They climbed in together and he showed her exactly what it meant to have the best sex of her life because sex came in all forms and Owen showed her how good his ha
nds and mouth really worked.

  She was right. Best. Night. Of. Her. Life.

  ***

  The next morning, Jill rolled out of bed earlier than she wanted to, but she knew darn well Owen would have to get up and leave so he could change before he picked up Luke. She figured he wouldn’t be showing up in a wrinkled suit at his parents’ house.

  They hadn’t talked all that much after they made their way out of the shower and fell into an exhausted slumber. Nor did they say any words when his hands were roaming all over her body waking her up again in the middle of the night.

  But the unspoken thoughts were there that he still had to get home to his son and he was trying to juggle both of them. She was thankful he was trying to at least fit her in there.

  “You don’t need to get up,” he said when she was standing.

  “I’ll go put the coffee on and make us some breakfast. I know you’ll have to go soon.”

  “Kicking me out?” he asked.

  “No, but it’s seven already. By the time you eat and drive home, change...”

  He sat up. “True.”

  “How hungry are you?” she asked.

  “Starving. Maybe not for food though,” he said, reaching for her.

  “Too bad,” she said. “I’m starving for food. You’ll have to think of another way to wear me out next time,” she said, giggling and walking out of the room.

  It wasn’t meant to put any pressure on him. She wouldn’t regret the night they just had together at all, but she was going to let him know she wouldn’t jump every time he reached for her.

  “I guess,” he said, sighing, but he was smiling at the same time, so she ran into the bathroom fast, brushed her teeth and then made her way to the kitchen.

  She was just pouring coffee into a mug for him when he walked in dressed in his pants and shirt. If he looked extremely sexy all rumpled, she was fighting from saying that, because she knew darn well he’d reach for her again and she was terrified of falling into any weak ways.

  “Do you like pancakes?” she asked.

  “Doesn’t everyone?” he said back, leaning down and kissing her softly, then deepening it until she found herself clinging to him tightly. He sure could make her mind get sidetracked in a hurry with just a kiss.

  “Have a seat and it will just be a few minutes,” she said.

  Once breakfast was done, she put the plate on the table and sat next to him. Her apartment was pretty tiny. Just a small kitchen with a table between that and the living room. She had a tiny patio, then her bedroom and bath.

  “How long have you lived here?” he asked.

  “Four years.”

  “So, after your divorce?” he asked.

  “Yes. Since it was just me, I didn’t need a lot of space. We’d had a bigger apartment with two bedrooms, one that Darren used as an office for schoolwork before. He kept it and I moved here.”

  “Is he still there?” he asked.

  “No. He bought a house.”

  “Here in Clifton Park?” he asked. She wasn’t sure what all the questions were about.

  “Yes. We grew up here. He’s got a nice new house in one of the developments that just went up.”

  Owen just nodded and if he detected any bitterness in her voice, he didn’t comment on it. She was trying to hide it, but it seemed that Darren had or was getting all those things they talked about having together for years when they were married and planning their future.

  “I never thought I’d end up back in Saratoga again. Least of all on the same street as my parents.”

  “I’m sure it’s convenient for Luke, though.”

  “It is. Not my first choice, but it’s a nice area. My parents’ house is really too big for them now, but I’ve got two younger sisters, and it didn’t seem like a lot of house back then. Now they’d never move.”

  “How big is your house?” she asked. She was thinking if it’s in the area he grew up in, then it couldn’t be new.

  “Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, living room, dining room, office, big kitchen. Basic and enough for us for now.”

  “Do you plan on staying there?”

  “No clue. For the foreseeable future, it’s where I’ll be. The house is in good shape and had been renovated for the most part before I bought it. It didn’t need a lot of work other than some paint when I moved in, which is good since I don’t have all that much time. There’s more yard than I’m used to, and though Luke loves it, I wasn’t so fond of the maintenance of it this summer. I’m glad there’s no need to mow now.”

  “You could just hire someone to do it,” she said, surprised he did it himself.

  “I could, but it was quiet time for me. And Luke likes it, so we did it together. Or did some things together. It’s worth it for that alone, even if it did eat up several hours on the weekend.”

  “That’s sweet,” she said.

  He finished up his pancakes pretty fast and she was trying not to be hurt that he seemed to be rushing to leave now. He’d started this conversation, but maybe she shouldn’t have pried as much.

  “That I do my own lawn work?”

  “No, that as much as you don’t want to do it, you do anyway so you can have that bonding time with your son.”

  “Like I said, Luke is my world. He has to come first.”

  “I get it, Owen. You don’t need to remind me.”

  He pushed back from his chair and grabbed his keys, but pulled her forward and kissed her hard. “The thing is, I don’t know what I want anymore. What needs to come first, second, last or if it can all be equal. I just know that last night was something I’d been waiting for and as much as I want to go get my son, I don’t want to leave you either.”

  Her heart was racing. She’d love to say “Stay and be with me today” but she’d never put that kind of pressure or guilt on him.

  She wouldn’t make him choose.

  She’d done that with Darren and he didn’t choose her. She couldn’t handle that happening again, so she wouldn’t even voice that option.

  “Then go home and be with your son and if you get a minute later today, you can send me a text or give me a call. If you don’t, then know I’m thinking of you and can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

  He nodded his head, kissed her quickly and left. When he didn’t call or text her at all during the day or that night, she told herself not to cry and not to let it bother her. She’d see how he was at work before she let her emotions get the best of her.

  Moment of Truth

  The next day, Jill got to work a little earlier than normal hoping to beat any other employees and wanting to see Owen.

  To see how he reacted around her.

  To see if he was different or maybe...more.

  She’d given herself one hell of a pep talk this morning that she was stronger than she was before. That she didn’t need a man in her life and she didn’t need one to make her happy.

  Sure, Owen made her happy when he was around, but she was telling herself that maybe she needed to dial it back a touch.

  In her mind, they’d had a fabulous night, and she’d thought he felt the same way. So then why not at least text her last night to let her know that it was as special for him as it was to her?

  Saying it to her face, in the heat of the moment...that was all fine and dandy. But the morning after...that was the moment of truth.

  She was telling herself he wasn’t using her. Unfortunately, it was hard to get beyond that this morning when he’d failed in her eyes the day before.

  When she pulled into the parking lot, she only saw his SUV. Good, they might have a moment to talk, if he even made an attempt to.

  She walked down the hall and past his office, turning her head to look in, trying to play it cool. Trying to play it sophisticated.

  She’d like to think he sensed it was her walking by since he was looking in the hallway already.

  “Hey,” he said, moving his hands around his head in a silent way, asking if anyone was
around.

  She strutted forward like the confident woman she was trying to be.

  “I was the second car here. I think it’s just us,” she said, desperately wanting to lean in and give him a kiss. Not that she would, because even though he wasn’t acting frigid toward her, he wasn’t exactly sending her a charming smile that warmed up her blood.

  He didn’t seem like the same man that blew her mind with fantastic sex Saturday night either.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t call or text you yesterday. When I got to my parents’, Luke was lying on the couch running a fever. I don’t know why my mother didn’t call me.”

  “Is he okay?” See, she’d totally overreacted. Typical of her.

  “No fever this morning, but he had a bellyache. I figured it was best to keep him home for the day. I’m hoping to get out of here early or finish anything I need to do so I can leave.”

  She took a risk and walked closer, putting her hand on his shoulder, and when he laid his larger one on hers quickly, it was enough for now. “Let me know how he’s doing.”

  She jumped a few feet away from him when they heard voices, then walked to the doorway, looked around, didn’t see anyone and skirted out fast.

  The next three weeks were much of the same and she was trying not to be hurt over it. They’d been on a whopping two more dates. One because his sister Lacy took Luke bowling with Sadie and gave Owen a few hours alone. She was touched he’d called her right away and asked if she was available. That maybe that was his first thought when he could have used the time to get something done without interruption around the house.

  She was ready, willing, and able, and those two hours spent rolling around on her bed had been so worth it. She was trying to tell herself to not look for more, even though she wanted it so badly.

  That maybe she was showing her cards too soon or being too accommodating for him. That maybe she should have said, “No, I’ve got plans, don’t think I’ll jump when you want it.”

  The second date had been for lunch, which of course meant they had to keep their hands to themselves. She was surprised he’d even suggested it a few days ago, but she guessed he knew she was a little miffed about the way things were going.