by Violet Paige
Within seconds of pressing the ignitor, the flames spread across the floor of the oven .
“How did you do that?” Cami gasped .
He grinned devilishly and followed the same steps with the second oven. He faced her. “Your gas lines were disconnected and the valve was shut. Easy fix .”
“I should have been able to figure that out.” She stared at the temperature gages, racing to high temperatures .
“Not your fault. Music is your thing, right? Not mechanics.” Evan leaned against the baking counter. It was where the dough was rolled and the icing was swirled. “There were some people back there who wanted to say hi. Wish you a Merry Christmas.” He eyed her. “Why did you run away like that ?”
Her lungs filled with air. “I needed to fix the ovens,” she lied .
He folded his arms across his broad chest. “I don’t believe that .”
She bit the inside of her cheek. “I just needed to leave. I had to go .”
“So I was right about you not really being back, wasn’t I? You don’t have any intention of staying .”
Her eyes flared. “Of course I’m back. I’m trying to re-open The Sweet Treat . You’re standing in my kitchen .”
He huffed. “Until something better comes along, you mean. Or until they call you back to Nashville .”
“That’s not true. You don’t know that. You don’t know what you’re talking about, Evan. You haven’t known me for a long time .”
His dark eyes, were instantly darker like swirls of rich chocolate. “That’s something we can agree on. I don’t know you anymore. The girl I knew never would have left Harpers Point in the first place .”
“I’m not the only one. You left too,” she blurted .
“What else was I going to do, Cami? You were gone .”
The air was hot and silent between them. The ovens were on full blast. Cami wiped the side of her forehead with her palm, smoothing her hair in place .
“It was a long time ago,” she whispered .
“Yeah. It was .”
He pushed off the counter. “Looks like you’re in business with the ovens. I’ve got to get back to the square .”
“Evan, wait.” Her hand landed on his wrist before she had time to think about what she was doing .
His eyes darted to hers. They held her in that moment. A moment of longing and regret. Regret that she had ruined the most precious gift of her life. They pinned her to a time when they didn’t need words to talk. When their connection was like the lyrics of a love song. When Evan looked at her as if she was his entire world .
Where had those people gone? Who were they now ?
He looked down at her fingertips. She pressed into the flesh below his palm. She knew she should let go, but she couldn’t. She was afraid if she broke the connection, she’d never get it back. Evan would never stand in the kitchen again. He’d never seek her out in town. He’d never look at her the way he did at the tree lighting. She couldn’t let go. Not now .
Eight
Evan
H er touch burned his skin in a way that opened a deep wound he thought had healed. It wasn’t healed. It never had been. It was a rough gash that had ripped through him the day Cami Addison walked away .
Every time he saw her, she reminded him it wasn’t going to heal. There weren’t enough stitches or Band-Aids .
He reached forward, brushing the side of her cheek with his hand. And then his lips crushed hers with a kiss that had been simmering for twelve years. Her hands wrapped around his neck as he pulled her toward him. Her lips were soft and warm. She tasted like cinnamon. Exactly like he remembered. His mouth moved with passion, drinking her in. He had thirsted for these lips for so long. She whimpered gently as her tongue twirled against his. Her body was small against his. He tipped her chin upward, deepening the kiss. Breathing her in. Holding her close .
As quickly as the kiss started, it stopped. Evan yanked away, leaving Cami gasping for breath .
“What’s wrong?” she panted .
He strolled to the front of the shop. “I’m locking the door.” The blinds were already drawn .
The deadbolt clicked in place and he rounded the corner, turning off the lights and tracking Cami like she was his prey .
He lifted her on the baking island. Her hands cupped his strong jawline, wrapping to the back of his neck. He took her mouth with a vicious kiss. He wanted her to feel it. He wanted her to remember every inch of skin his lips touched tonight. He would sear his kiss into her .
Cami moaned, and his cock came to life. Solid and thick, straining against his pants. Her head hung back on the table as he made a trail along her throat. Her fingers combed through his dark hair .
He pulled the buttons on her shirt until it fell open, revealing her creamy skin. The shirt dropped from her shoulders are onto the floor when Evan unhooked her bra and tossed it across the kitchen .
He stared in disbelief. “Your tits are fucking gorgeous,” he growled, taking one in his mouth. He sucked greedily until Cami cried out .
He moved to the other side, coaxing her nipple to form a hard peak. He smiled with satisfaction. Her mouth parted and he kissed her, pushing her back on the table while he climbed on top of the counter .
“Too many clothes,” he groaned, reaching for her zipper .
Her hands tugged on his tie and loosened his collar. “Too many,” she whispered .
He shoved her pants out of the way and his palm skimmed her lace panties. Cami gasped when he slid a finger between the fabric and her skin .
“So wet,” he growled .
She whimpered when he pushed his finger inside her. She clamped around him, arching her back and pointing her glorious tits upward. Shit. He wanted to fuck her right now. He wanted to make it last all night. He wanted everything at the same time. But his dick was hard, and there was only one place it wanted to be—buried inside the sweetest pussy he had ever known .
“You used to be my virgin, didn’t you, Cami?” He stepped back to the floor, kicking the pants from his ankles. He kissed her knee while he continued to pump his finger inside her .
“Yes,” she whispered. “I was yours .”
His lips moved to inside her thigh. He nipped at her skin with his teeth. “I was the first man inside you .”
“Oh God, yes,” she mewed. “You were my first, Evan .”
He spread her knees wide just as he dove between her legs. He ripped the panties away and his tongue licked and lapped between her slick folds .
“Oh shit,” she whimpered, bucking on the table .
He lost his damn mind. She tasted so sweet. So perfect. He latched on her clit and sucked while he pushed another finger inside her. She was tight and hot. He wasn’t naïve enough to think she’d never been with another man, but her body felt like it still belonged to him. Like it always had. She gave him her virginity, and tonight he wanted to relive every second of it .
Her body began to shake. His eyes locked on hers while his tongue moved wildly. She grabbed her tits, twisting in rhythm while her firsts orgasm began to claim her .
“Fuck, you’re sexy,” he growled, sucking her juices as she came in his mouth .
When the last wave slowed, he climbed back on the table, positioning his cock at her entrance. She looked in his eyes and he thrust deep inside her .
“Oh God,” she screamed, opening her body to him .
He moved in and out, lost inside her. Lost in the past. Lost in the present. There weren’t words for what she did to him. Only that he knew he couldn’t stop fucking her until they were both spent. Until they both had nothing left .
He kissed her, dragging his lips over hers. “I want you from behind,” he groaned .
She nodded as he rolled her on her stomach and slid her feet to the floor with his. He leaned over the table and pounded into her with a solid slice. Shit. Her pussy felt like heaven .
“Fuck, Cami.” He slammed into her again and her knees buckled .
; “Again,” she begged. “Oh it feels good .”
He smiled. She always liked it rough. She liked to experiment. Back then he thought it was because they were exploring sex together. Figuring things out. But now, in this moment as he fucked her from behind, he wondered if she was always a sex tiger. His sex tigher .
He gripped the sides of her hips as she wiggled backward to meet his thrust .
“Touch yourself and come on my dick, baby,” he ordered .
“Oh, Evan.” She panted hard .
“I know you can.” He moved in and out of her, coating his cock with her juices. He watched in awe as she slapped the table with one hand and moved the other between her legs .
“Oh, shit,” she moaned when her fingers found her clit. He instantly felt her tighten around his dick .
“My little virgin,” he whispered in her ear. “Always my virgin .”
“Yes,” she echoed. “Yes. Yes .”
He kicked her legs to the side as she exploded around him with another orgasm. She vibrated until he thought his cock was being buzzed by an electric shock. Fuck. She was hot. Cami Addison had grown up to be a sex goddess .
“Where’s the back staircase?” he asked, almost completely out of breath .
“Over there.” She pointed to the end of the kitchen. “ But — ”
He scooped her up against his chest. “I’m not done fucking you, yet.” He grinned, taking the stairs as quickly as he could .
The stairs emptied into the hallway in her apartment. It was easy to find the bedroom. The place was a wreck. Parts of that teenage girl were still evident. He cleared the bed and laid in the center .
“I’m going to fuck you the rest of the night. All night. And you’re going to come as many times as I want you to come. Do you understand, my sweet virgin .”
She nodded. “Yes .”
“Good. Spread those fucking sexy legs of yours .”
She chewed on her lip as her knees fell away and he stared at her beautiful glistening pussy. It was slick and wet and the only place he wanted to be right now was buried up to his balls inside it .
He coated himself with her essence before pushing the thickest part of his cock inside her .
She groaned at the intensity .
“Feel good, baby?” He placed her ankles on his shoulders so he could go deeper than before. Deeper than when he was behind her in the kitchen .
“Oh yes. All of it feels good .”
He pumped in and out of her, watching her tits bounce. She was sexy and gorgeous. A beautiful siren who had called him back to her with her dangerous curves and sassy mouth. He leaned to kiss her, twisting his tongue with hers .
“Don’t stop,” she begged. “I want to come again. Please .”
He grinned devilishly. He had her right where he wanted her. Begging for him. Needing him. Wasn’t this what he always fantasized about? Having this kind of power over her again? Wasn’t this exactly what he had dreamed about on those hot nights in the desert? That Cami Addison would come crawling back and beg to be in his bed? That he’d fuck her and toss her out the next morning? Wasn’t this the dream ?
“Evan,” she whispered. “Please let me come. Please .”
She brought him back to reality. The sweat dripped down his chest. His cock was growing harder and his spine was twitching. How was he going to hold off? He wanted to come when she came. He wanted to fill her with his seed. He wanted her to wake up in the morning filled with his come inside her .
“Come with me, baby,” he coaxed .
She nodded, panting his name. Her hips moved in perfect rhythm as he pumped in and out of her. Racing faster and faster toward the finish line. His heart thudded and his ribs felt like they could split open if he didn’t explode now .
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” he growled as he shot fireworks deep in her center, spilling every drop he had while she writhed under him .
“Oh,” she whispered, clinging to him .
He kissed her slowly and collapsed against her breast. Her tits were still hard .
He didn’t know when, but sometime during the night he fell asleep just like that, buried inside the love of his life .
* * *
T he next morning Evan walked into City Hall. The town cleanup crew had canvassed the square. There wasn’t a single paper cup or stray marshmallow on the lawn. No one would ever know there was a town celebration last night. There was grass where the cocoa and cider tents had been. The stage was broken down and the speakers were packed up .
“Good morning, sir.” Georgia greeted him with a cup of coffee. “Beautiful tree lighting last night, wasn’t it ?”
He grumbled, taking the cup. Today’s mug had a big red Santa on the front, followed by the words Ho Ho Ho on the back. Was she fucking serious ?
“And having Cami sing again.” Georgia sighed. “She has the voice of an angel. Don’t you think? I just wish her aunt had been here to see it. She would have been so proud of her .”
Evan ignored her, and read the stack of messages and the emails Georgia had transcribed on sticky notes .
“Would she ?”
Georgia’s mouth dropped. “Of course she would. That child has been through a lot. And she’s home now. That’s what matters. She came home .”
Evan shook his head and walked into his office .
Georgia called after him, “The mistletoe shoot is tomorrow .”
“Yes. I know .”
“I wonder if Cami knows about it .”
Evan looked up from his stack of messages. “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter .”
Her heard her exasperated hmph from the other side of the divider. He didn’t have to see her to know she was fiddling with her glasses and trying to scroll through something on her computer screen .
He had a feeling that’s how the rest of the season was going to go. Whatever the occasion was, the town matchmakers were going to try to find ways to pair him and Cami together. And it was a long season between now and Christmas. It wasn’t as if he could get out of his responsibilities. As mayor, he was obligated to attend all the official Harpers Point functions. Too bad he couldn’t catch Mellie Miller’s strep throat .
Fucking her last night was a mistake. He had taken it too far. He never should have kissed Cami like that. He shouldn’t have tasted her lips. He never should have buried himself inside her sweet pussy. He woke up with the sting of cinnamon still on his tongue. And there was a problem with that. He was addicted to cinnamon. Especially, Cami-flavored cinnamon .
Nine
Cami
I t was hard to concentrate, but she had work to do. Cami broke off a corner of the first batch of fudge. She touched it to the tip of her tongue, waiting for the chocolate to melt in her mouth like buttery sugar .
She closed her eyes. It was good, but not as good as Aunt Sophie’s. She pushed the giant tray aside and started stacking the ingredients to try another batch. She had read the recipe repeatedly, and though she had measured everything precisely, something was off. It definitely didn’t taste like the fudge her aunt sold at the shop .
She laughed to herself, remembering Aunt Sophie always said she baked her sweets with love. She wondered if sex was part of that equation. Because this morning she woke up more satisfied than she had been in years. Evan’s heavy frame had been draped across her body. It was just one time. And she wasn’t going to make a big deal about not having a chance to refill her birth control prescription since she had moved back. But there was something magical about the way he had taken her last night. Like it was their first time all over again. Like she belonged to him the way she used to .
She blushed when she thought about how he called her his virgin. It was reminiscent of the past, but that’s what she had been. Untouched by anyone, except Evan. Her body burned in the shower, missing him, but he had rushed out saying he had to get to the office .
Cami twirled across the kitchen and turned on the radio. A Bing Crosby Christmas song played and she started s
inging along .
Maybe she needed to try one of the candy recipes. She had already made three attempts at the fudge. Cami flipped through the recipe box until she landed on one of her favorites .
“Oh my goodness. It’s the mini peppermint ganache recipe.” She clutched it between her fingers. It was an undertaking, but with Bing singing, she thought it was worth a try .
Cami rummaged through the fridge and the pantry, gathering the extra ingredients .
She swirled the cream into the center, leaning against the counter as she watched the mixer combine the layers of chocolate. As soon as her hands touched the stainless steel surface, she pictured Evan. It was like a violent shock to her heart when she saw his piercing eyes staring back at her. And that kiss? She swallowed hard, trying to push it from her head. The first thing she did this morning was scour the counter with cleaning solution .
The beater hit the sides of the bowl, but she couldn’t stop thinking about it. About him. His head between her legs. The way he made her come over and over. There was something about the possessive way his lips took hers that made her think there was a part of Evan Jacobs that she needed to know more of. She didn’t like to think about him being with other women, but he wasn’t the same man in bed she knew before .
She turned off the mixer and scooped the mixture into a flat pan. She hoped this was the right one .
The heat from the oven curled into the kitchen when she slid the pan inside. She set the timer for an hour. Now she needed to make the ganache .
“Cami is that you?” She heard someone call her name .
“Yes.” She wished her voice sounded more confident. She turned from the pot on the stove .
“Oh my gosh.” Jamie Braxton ran past the counter and pulled her into a giant hug. “Samantha told me she saw you, but I hadn’t been by. I’m sorry .”