A December to Remember: a Holiday Romance Anthology

by Howe, Olivia

  She jumped up from the oven, and graced me with a smile. "Can we get a tree? I know it's late, but I would hate to spend Christmas without having a tree."

  "Yes we can get a tree. Go get dressed. I'll take the cookies out when they're done, and we'll scrounge stores for all the left over decorations we can find."

  She ran over and kissed me on the cheek, before bounding to the spare room to get her clothes. When she said she was staying for Christmas my heart nearly burst out of my chest. There was something in her voice that alerted me that I might not be the only one with lingering feelings.

  I barely survived when she broke my heart, but I was willing to place it in her hands again. Yes that made me sound like a pussy, but she was, and still is my soulmate. This time I wasn't going to give her the option to run away. She was mine, and I needed to convince her.

  "You're not getting away this time, Ezzie," I growled into the empty kitchen. The timer on the microwave binged at my announcement. When I went to check the cookies they didn't look ready. I glanced at the timer and noted it still had a couple minutes left on it. I smiled to myself, realizing my ghost was onboard.

  "Can we call a truce? Maybe you can help me out?" I asked the empty kitchen, as the microwave pinged for real.

  "Who are you talking to?"

  "Nobody." I smirked as I sat the cookies down to cool. My mind was made up, and with the help of the holiday, and hopefully my new partner in crime. Ezzie would be mine before the eggnog ran out.

  "First off we need to get you some real clothes. You're going to freeze in that." She may have looked sexy in her faded jeans, converse, and thin green sweater, but it would do nothing to keep the winter air from seeping into her bones.

  When I went by her I brushed a kiss across her cheek. She inhaled sharply at my touch, and I shot her a wink before walking into my room to change. The game was on, and this time I would not lose.

  Chapter 9

  "I'm so hungry," Ezzie said, piling the shopping bags on the kitchen table.

  "Get the plates down, and I'll unpack the food."

  Ezzie and I had been out all day. We went to every store imaginable getting decorations for the house and bar. She talked about what she wanted to do with the bar, and every so often she would call my house, home, making me smile every time she did.

  Ezzie almost yanked my arm out of the socket when we strolled by a Christmas tree lot. A huge Douglas Fir now graced the bar downstairs, and a tiny pathetic tree with missing branches and drooping limbs stood proudly in my living room. Ezzie fell in love with it while I was paying for the other one. It was ugly and pitiful but somehow it fit.

  After we ate, Ezzie dragged me downstairs to fix the bar before it opened. I pretended to grumble at each order she threw at me.

  "Stop complaining. I know you love it." She winked at me, as I stapled the last strand of lights around the bar.

  I flipped the switch, igniting the bar in twinkling Christmas splendor. Ezzie clapped her hands together and preformed her happy dance.

  "Jake it's perfect." She ran over to me, and hugged me tight. Her face was lit up with happiness and I wanted it to stay there.

  "Ezzie." I wasn't sure what to say so I slammed my mouth to hers letting my actions speak for me.

  Ezzie moaned opening her mouth, and inviting me in. I swept her into my arms, tangling my fingers in her hair and pulling her close. Her hands gripped my shirt, as our tongues frantically reintroduced themselves. My cock strained against my jeans, and when she pressed her stomach against it my balls tightened ready to explode.

  "Oh, uhmm. Shit."

  I pulled away from Ezzie to see my bartender, Corey looking around the bar. "You got a tree," he said focusing on it while I untangled myself from Ezzie.

  "I thought you said you didn't like Christmas, because it was the girl who broke your heart's, favorite holiday."

  I rubbed the top of my head, refusing to meet Ezzie's eyes. Her fingers threaded through mine and squeezed.

  "Corey this is Ezzie. Ezzie this is my bartender, and manager, Corey."

  Corey's face spun to mine, his eyes were filled with shock. One night, after I had hired him, I drank a little too much and told him my sob story of Ezzie. From the way he was fidgeting with the zipper of his hoodie, he recognized her name.

  Ezzie removed her hand from mine, and went over to shake Corey's hand. Corey's face was an impressive shade of red as he took her hand.

  "It's nice to meet you, Corey. Your brother's adorable. Don't freak out but he hasn't left your side since he passed away."

  Corey’s eyes widened at her words. He was one of the first people I met when I moved to New York. I hired him to be my contractor while I renovated the bar. When UB opened, he bartended for me on the weekends. At the time he needed the extra money to help with the medical bills his mom was buried under. Corey's younger brother died of cancer a year before I moved to New York, and the emotional and financial devastation he left in his wake was immense.

  With Corey's long brown hair, muscular build, and tattoos the ladies came in droves when he worked. His pockets overflowed every night with tips, and he had the bills paid off within two years.

  Corey quit his contracting job, and became my full time bartender and later on I made him my manager when the bar started to grow. He loved UB almost as much as I did, and I knew it was in good hands when he was in charge.

  Ezzie moved behind the bar when Carl walked in.

  "Fuck dude, I'm sorry. I didn't realize she was your Ezzie. I'm not going to lie that was creepy as hell that she knew about my brother."

  "She sees spirits, it’s what she does."

  "I'll admit I kind of like that my brother's hanging around me. As long as he closes his eyes when I'm with a lady friend." Corey's face looked disturbed at the thought of his brother peeking in on him. "She seems to know the regulars." He eyed Ezzie suspiciously, as she laughed at something Carl said.

  "She filled in for you while you were out yesterday. Get used to her. I'm not letting her get away this time."

  "Do I need to call my old boss?" Corey took a deep breath, and stared at Ezzie. The more he watched her, the more his face filled with worry.

  "She has her own business, Corey. I'm not replacing you. Hell, when I convince her we need to be together, you'll be in charge while I fly with her to her appointments."

  I hit Corey on the back, hopefully dislodging his fears. He looked over at me, and studied my face. When he saw what he needed to see, his face relaxed.

  "Business will thrive with your ugly mug no longer scaring the women away." Corey slapped me on the shoulder, and made his way behind the bar. He talked to Ezzie about his brother, while they readied the bar for opening. Ezzie had him wrapped around her finger within minutes, and I could see a friendship forming between the two of them.

  People surged in, and with every mention of the decorations, Ezzie would shoot me a smug look. Her self-satisfied attitude made me laugh out loud.

  "Are you laughing at me?" she asked.

  I put my arm around her shoulder, and kissed the top of her head. "I am. You're enjoying the decoration compliments way too much."

  "Don't be a sore loser. You know this bar needed a woman's touch."

  There was the opening I needed. "You're right about one thing, it did need a woman's touch, but not just any woman, it needed you."

  Fear touched her eyes at my declaration. Whatever put the worry on her face, I was convinced was the same reason she wouldn't marry me all those years ago. I needed to find out what the cause was, and rip it out of her brain. Her weak story about her family being cursed had never sat right with me, and her reaction tonight showed there was more to the story.

  "Ezzie you belong here."

  "Jake please don't do this. Not tonight." Leaning down, I touched my lips to hers. I didn't push her. I let her get acquainted with them there wanting her to get used to it. Low whistles and cat-calls sounded thr
oughout the bar.

  "We'll talk later."

  Her face was flushed, and her lips were slightly parted inviting me to come in for another taste. When she saw me leaning back toward her, she turned around and poured a shot. Corey took the orders from one of the waitresses and came over to me.

  "Don't push her too fast. She's skittish and she looks like she’s ready to run. Are you sure she’s worth the trouble?"

  "She's worth it. I was stupid to let her go for so long."

  Ezzie clinked a shot glass with Carl, and slung back another shot.

  "She's going to hate life tomorrow." Corey shook his head, as he went over to fill his orders.

  "Hey Ezzie." I put my hand on her shoulder, when she wouldn't turn around.

  "Here." She placed the shot she had just filled into my hand. I left my other hand on her shoulder as I slammed the shot back.

  "Trade you," I told her, after I put the shot glass down and handed her my bottle of water.

  "Thanks." I kissed the top of her head and went over to help Corey, giving her some time to sort through her problems.

  Ezzie avoided me for the rest of the night, sticking with Carl and the other regulars that worshipped her. I gave her the space she seemed to need, but that didn't stop me from touching her every time we were close.

  Corey helped me close down the bar, while Ezzie sat on a barstool watching the waitresses clear their stations. Her head rested on her knees, completely curled into herself. Corey kissed Ezzie on the cheek and pounded me on the back before leaving us alone.

  "Let's go to bed." I switched off the lights, and grabbed Ezzie pulling her off the stool.

  When I reached to turn on the security panel, Ezzie stopped me, and punched in the code.

  "You were always with me," I said in her ear.

  "You were always with me too," she answered, hiccupping loudly before falling in a fit of giggles.

  Chapter 10

  Ezzie laughed as I half dragged, half carried her up the stairs. When I got her into her room, she plopped down on the bed still clutching my hand.

  "I have a secret for you," she slurred.

  "Oh, yeah?" I could have been a gentleman, and told her to stop before she revealed something her sober brain probably wouldn't want her to, but I needed all the ammunition I could get to win her back.

  "Come here and I'll tell you." She tugged on my hand and I sat down on the bed. "Closer," she ordered.

  I leaned into her until my nose touched hers. "What's your secret, Ezzie?"

  She giggled before her face became serious. "I had so much fun shopping with you today."

  "That's it? Because if it is, that secret sucked."

  "When you kissed me, I wanted you to lean me over a chair and fuck me. My panties were soaked all night thinking of you being inside me."

  "That makes two of us."

  "Your panties were wet all night too?" she asked, exploding into laughter.

  I smiled and sucked her bottom lip into my mouth quieting her laughter. "No," I said releasing her lip. "My dick has been hard since the moment I saw you. I had to stop myself all night from grabbing you and bringing you upstairs to fuck you."

  Our breaths were coming out in haggard bursts. I snaked my hand under her shirt and glided it up the smooth expanse of her stomach before stopping at the bottom of her bra. Sucking her bottom lip into my mouth, I teased it with my tongue as I molded my hand over her breasts. Her nipples were hard beneath her bra as they pushed against the padding.

  "Do you have anymore secrets?" I asked as I lifted her shirt off and sucked her nipple through her bra. She cried out. Her hands went to the back of my head to keep me in place as she arched against me.

  "God Jake, keep going."

  A frustrated growl escaped me. I needed her. I craved her, but I knew if I took this any farther without knowing what was keeping her away from me, I would have to start all over again in trying to figure out her secret.

  My mouth detached from her nipple, and I kissed my way up her body stopping at some of my favorite places. When I reached her mouth, her movements were frantic. Ezzie clawed at my shirt as she thrust her tongue in and out of my mouth. I wasn't going to have sex with her tonight, but I wasn't going to stop us either.

  "I missed you so much," I told her sucking on her neck right below her ear.

  "I missed you too."

  "Why did you leave?" The moment the words were out of my mouth her body pulled away. No longer was she arched against my body, rubbing herself on my cock. Her arms dropped to the mattress, and her head flopped on her pillow.

  "To protect myself."

  "From what?"

  "From you."

  "I don't understand. We were perfect together. Look at us now, we're still perfect for each other."

  "Jake I can't do this tonight. I'm drunk and tired. Can you please let it go?"

  So many impulses surged through me. I wanted to shake her, and make her tell me what was blocking her from being with me. I wanted to punch a hole in the wall, and scream out my frustration. I wanted to plunge my rock hard dick into her, so she could feel how perfect we were.

  I didn't do any of those things.

  Instead I rolled off her, picked her up, and carried her into my bed. I undressed her, and yanked on another one of my t-shirts over her body. The sight of her naked skin was too much for me to resist. I stripped down to my boxers and climbed under the covers.

  Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pulled her into me until she was molded against my body. I waited until I felt her body relax and her breathing evened out before whispering in her ear.

  "I'll give you tonight, but tomorrow we're going to talk."

  She stiffened under me, and I was ready to haul her back to me if she tried to escape, but she just nodded her head before falling to sleep.

  My sluggish mind woke me up, when I realized something wonderful was going on with my dick. I wasn't sure how I was able to think with all the blood pulsing to my cock. My eyes opened to the most beautiful sight I’d ever witnessed. Light shined through my window, giving me a perfect view of Ezzie's as her lips descend down my shaft.

  My hips bucked from the feeling of her warm wet mouth as it surrounded me. She looked up at me with innocent eyes, her lips stretched wide over me. That look alone had my balls in a tight bundle, ready to explode. Ezzie eased off my shaft, and shot me a quick smile.

  "Morning," she said before swirling her tongue around the head.

  "Morning," I grunted.

  My hands fisted into the sheet, so I didn't grab the back of her head and do all the dirty things my mind was displaying.

  She smiled again before sinking all the way down my shaft and slowly pulling back up, swirling her tongue around the tip. My eyes rolled back when she went down again. When she came back up, I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her off me with a pop.

  "My turn."

  She let out a squeal when I tossed her on her back and yanked her legs apart.

  "I wasn't finished," she pouted.

  I pushed her panties to the side and stroked her wet slit. "You're soaked."

  She moaned when I circled her clit.

  "I need to see you." I pulled her panties down, and threw them across the room. "You're fucking perfect."

  Her pussy was bare, and her pink lips were glistening with need begging me to taste her. I leaned down, and swiped my tongue across her lips. Her hips shot off the bed as her sweetness coated my tongue.

  "Where do you think you're going?" I asked, grabbing her hips, and pushing them into the mattress.

  "Fuck, that felt amazing."

  "You haven't felt anything yet." I pushed my tongue further into her, and pressed a finger into her. She was so fucking tight, I almost came on my sheets. Her hips pressed harder against my face as I pushed another finger into her, and sucked her clit into my mouth.

  "Oh my god," she screamed.

  "You taste so goo
d."

  "Keep going," she cried, pushing my head back down and not letting go until she came all over my face.

  I lapped up everything ready to do it again.

  "That was amazing."

  Something about her words had me abandon my station between her legs.

  "Yes, Jake. You are the only one I have ever been with. Don't look so smug," she answered my silent question.

  "Hell yeah. I'm smug, but what have you been doing while we were apart? Did you join a nunnery?" My heart wanted to burst with happiness, and my dick wanted to burst with as well.

  She laughed as her cheeks stained from her blush. "Jake it has always been you. The night I left you, I threw myself into my work. I never let anyone get close to me."

  I needed to get to the bottom of why she left me, and prove her wrong because after that confession I was never letting her go.

  "Want to see if I've improved?" I asked, crawling up her body, sucking and nipping on her skin until I reached her mouth.

  "Well you couldn't have gotten any worse," she giggled.

  "Challenge accepted." I grabbed my cock, and rubbed it up and down her pussy making sure she was ready.

  "I'm sure you've had some practice." Her voice was hesitant, and I wanted to smack her ass for being so insecure about my love for her.

  "It's only ever been you, Ezzie."

  Her eyes flew to mine searching my face.

  "I'm not going to lie and say I didn't try, but I could never go any further than making out. Being with someone else felt wrong. I’ve been waiting for you to come back to me. I told you I would wait for you."

  "No practice? This is probably going to be awful." With her taunt, I pushed into her making us both groan. I wanted to slam into her, but I held back my impulses.

  She pushed up until I was all the way inside her. Her pussy was tight and it felt like heaven had engulfed my cock. I held onto her hips letting her adjust to me.

  "I'm ready," she said, rocking her hips up and down on my shaft.

  I leaned over and took her nipple in my mouth sucking on the hard peek. Ezzie rocked faster, pumping up and down, surrounding me with her passion. I gave her complete control, and she seemed to have no trouble using the power I gave her.