Under The Kissing Bough: 15 Romantic Holiday Novellas

by Kathryn Le Veque

  When they broke apart a few minutes later, panting and aroused, he said, “Just so you don’t have any doubt, Annie.”

  She touched kiss-bruised lips. “Why did you stop?”

  “You’re tired and you’ve got to be up early,” he said before he kissed her again, long and slow. “So I’ll go if you want me too.” He kissed her again. “But I don’t want to. I want to kiss you Annie, everywhere you’ll let me. I want my hands on you,” he said, running his fingers into her thick, wavy hair, pausing only to undo the clip that was now dangling from just a few stands.

  “But?”

  Still the hesitation. He heard it in her voice. He took her hand and pressed it to his heart.

  “No buts. I want to be with you,” he said, then looked down, which meant she did too. “And you can see there’s no lack of eagerness.”

  That got a laugh, and to his delight, she pressed into him––an exquisite torture as her feminine curves molded around his arousal.

  “Last chance, love. I’m trying to be considerate, even if it means a very long, very cold shower,” he rasped through a dry throat. “I’ll go if you say go.”

  She reached up, curving a hand around the back of his neck. “That won’t be necessary,” she murmured, pulling his head down for another long, sweet kiss.

  The kiss got hotter the moment she unclipped her queen’s robe and let it fall to the floor. She broke off their kissing to close the door to the back room.

  He grinned. They weren’t going to make it upstairs.

  “I don’t want to wait,” she said, stepping back into his embrace. “I want you now.” She hesitated, then shifted her hands to his belt buckle. “May I?”

  “Oh, Lord,” he said on a groan. “You have to ask?”

  She laughed and tugged at his belt. He set his hands at her waist and lifted her onto the empty worktable. She squeaked in surprise. “You’re really strong.”

  “You’re really light,” he answered, bringing her close for another devastating kiss. He was falling for her, fast and hard, and he didn’t care one bit. “And really beautiful.”

  “You don’t have to say that,” she said, in between kisses.

  He framed her face with his hands. “I do, because you are. You’re elegant and lovely,” he said, running a finger over the arch of her brow. Her eyes fluttered closed, then opened and her gaze held vulnerability.

  “Annie,” he said, continuing to lightly run his fingertips over the perfection of her skin. So soft. Such texture under his fingers. He traced the shell of her ear and she shivered.

  Inspired, he let his mouth caress the same places over which his fingers had danced. Annie melted into him.

  He was so focused on kissing her, on touching her, that he nearly came when her hands slid down to grip him.

  “Oh, Gods, Annie, if you do that again, I’ll embarrass myself,” he said, but he pushed into her seeking fingers, wanting nothing more than to feel every bit of her.

  She unfastened his cloak, then tugged at his jacket and sweater. He shed them as fast as he could, along with his shirt. Her cool hands were like a brand on his bare skin. As she slid them lower, tracing the muscles, and the trail of dark hair down his torso, he thought he’d go mad.

  In return, Reyn kissed her neck, biting ever-so-lightly at the pulse point, making her shiver again. He tugged at her sweater, and with one smooth shift, she pulled off shirt, sweater and camisole.

  The delicate bra was a surprise. It was scarlet and black, with a little rosebud in the center.

  “I like roses,” he said, kissing the spot between her breasts, just above the decoration. “But I like your breasts more.” He let his hands rest on her ribcage, hoping that he wasn’t going too fast. He was about to die with wanting her.

  “I like the lace too, but I want you to touch me,” she said, unfastening the bra and letting it slide off the table to lie on top of his cloak and her clothes.

  “Your wish is my command.” He let his hands roam over her as she undressed him, both of them at a fever pitch. She moved into his hands like water made flesh, smooth and welcoming. Together they urged one another higher.

  “Annie,” he said, hoarsely, “Annie.”

  She’d slipped off the table in her haste to undress him. He turned her gently, so her back was to him. She raised her arms to clasp them behind his neck. Her jutting breasts were a visual delight. He cupped his hand around one of them, but his other hand glided over the passion-slick flesh between her thighs, and he slid his fingers in and out until she bucked against him.

  “Don’t stop,” she cried as he continued to slide his fingers through the curls at the apex of her thighs. “Don’t stop touching me, don’t stop.”

  “I won’t,” he promised.

  “Reyn!” She quaked in orgasm and he held her tightly. She gasped his name in release.

  He was nearly desperate to feel her clench around him as she had around his fingers. “Where?”

  She understood him, because she grabbed her cloak and his, and tossed them on the table. “Here.”

  He fished out a condom, grateful that he’d been hopeful enough to put one in his wallet.

  The foil packet fell away as he set her on the table again. This time he climbed up with her. She pulled him down for a kiss that nearly blew off the top of his head. With her lithe form under his, his body was throbbing with his heart, a heavy, excited beat.

  “Now, Reyn, now,” she insisted, pulling him down onto her, guiding him in. “Oh, Reyn.” She arched into him, rolling her hips to bring him deeper. He nearly came right then.

  They moved together in a slow rocking pace that made her gasp and come again, shouting his name. Her pleasure was so intense, her muscles tightening around him like a velvet fist, that he couldn’t take it anymore. “Annie!”

  His shout of release rang into the open framing of the ceiling in the old building, and her name echoed.

  With his breathing racing in and out of his lungs, Reyn fought not to crush her with his weight. She reached up and pulled him down for a kiss. He braced on his elbows.

  “Annie,” he whispered, brushing her hair back from her forehead. “You’re beautiful.”

  “You keep saying that,” she whispered back. She ran her hands up and down his back. “I don’t know what to do with that.”

  “Believe it.” He kissed her again, a kiss of promise and delight. “You have such rich, thick hair. It’s like satin.”

  “Heavier,” she said, smiling. “More like lead.”

  “Ha. Not from where I’m sitting.” He kissed her again and her fingers clenched on him.

  “You’re very furry,” she murmured, running her hands around to his chest. “Like a pelt.”

  “Keeps me warm on cold Massachusetts nights.”

  “Question is, will it keep me warm?” She met his gaze steadily, only trust in her eyes.

  “If you let me stay, you’ll be warm,” he said, smiling.

  “I like warm.” She shifted just a little, and he felt himself hardening again. “And I like you. Will you come upstairs?” she asked, then her face lit with a blush, “I mean––”

  He grinned. “I certainly hope so.”

  She grinned back. “Let’s take this someplace more comfortable.”

  “Deal.”

  They dressed with record speed and, after setting the alarm, they scampered up the outside stairs like naughty teenagers. In her bedroom, he helped her get her sweater back off. “This is like going through airport security,” he joked. “Put your clothes on, take your clothes off.”

  “Much more fun this way though,”

  “Truly.”

  ####

  They made love in the bed, and again in the shower before crawling under the covers to sleep deeply.

  “I have to get down to the shop,” she said as they woke in the dark of early morning. “The kids will be coming in soon and I have to be sure we didn’t leave anything down there.”

  He finished dressing,
as did she. They were both grinning like fools.

  “I’m off today. I’ll help you with whatever you need until the cauldron lighting and the dinner.”

  Snickering, they made sure everything was shipshape in the back room. She arranged their cloaks on the reinforced hangers and hung them up.

  Annie ran her hand over the table. Had they really made love there?

  She heard his phone ring and stepped into the shop. Reyn had carried all the refreshed bins full of stock for the market to the front door to load into his truck. He’d stopped there, leaning on the bins, to answer his call.

  “I’ve got some obligations, but yes, I’ll try to get someone to fill in,” she heard him say.

  She heard the excitement in his voice. “That sounded important,” she said when he hung up. “Everything okay?”

  He looked at her––stared, really––for a long moment. “I have a job interview. Something I can’t put off. They want me to fly out for a final interview.”

  Her heart sank to her boots. He really was leaving. Maybe for good. “Where?”

  “Michigan.” He said the word like it was a new toy.

  Halfway across the country. A different world.

  “I don’t know that I’ll take it,” he said. He must have seen the dismay. “Seriously, Annie, it’s just an interview.”

  “I know. And you have to go. If you don’t, you won’t know,” she said, putting on a brave face.

  He slid his hands down her arms to twine his fingers with hers. “Know what?”

  “If it’s right for you. If you need to leave here to be whole.” Annie held their joined hands to her cheek. “I knew it was too good to be true.” She smiled. “I also know that if you don’t go, you’ll always wonder.”

  He tugged on her hands. “Did you go? Or did you wonder?”

  She pulled back and knew that he saw the tears in her eyes, but she wasn’t ashamed of them. “I went. I came here. I came home. But for me, this is my place.”

  “It’s been my place.” She wondered if he knew how resigned he sounded.

  “You applied for the job. You took the first interview. You’re taking this interview,” she said evenly. “You need to know. If you hadn’t needed to know, you wouldn’t have even applied.”

  He was silent for a few moments, then he nodded. “Will you cover for me?”

  “You know I will.”

  ####

  It was cold and sunny when the market opened for its first, full day. There was a light layer of snow on the ground, but the walkways were clear and people were out in force. The first full day of the market was a non-stop, retail success. The constant pace let Annie forget, for a little while, that Reyn was going for the interview and she’d have to be a solo queen of winter for a couple of days.

  At six p.m, Winona came to get them. “It’s Yule!” Winona enthused. “Time for the Yule log.”

  Putting on their robes, Annie and Reyn met their court at the front of the common.

  The two groups of kings, queens and courts marched in procession around the walkways to the usual cheers and applause. Winona waited for them at the cauldron, and once again she had the mic. This time, she held a long, metal-covered box.

  “Welcome the kings and queens of the winter market!” she called, introducing them all. Reyn took Annie’s hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm.

  The gesture warmed her to her toes even as her chest ached in anticipation of his leaving. She knew Michigan would hire him. He was so well trained and so impressive, how could they not?

  Winona opened the box. “This is from last year’s Yule log. As the New Year is kindled on Yule and the Light grows stronger, so the Yule fire is symbolic of the fire that holds back the night, and the evils therein. Tonight we light the Yule fire from this spark, and from that to the section of this year’s Yule log in the cauldron.” Annie knew that the other, main piece of the Yule log was in the giant fireplace at the coven meetinghouse.

  Winona put the mic in its stand and held the box low between the two kings who moved to stand opposite one another the way they’d practiced.

  “Kings, cross swords!”

  Still holding Annie’s hand, Reyn drew his sword. Winona had explained that there was a steel rim running along the outer edge of the blade. They would have to cross the swords precisely to strike the necessary spark.

  The men drew swords and crossed them. A great spark dropped into the box like a comet. Winona quickly raised the box as flames sprang up inside.

  “The Yule log of the past becomes the spark of today,” she called, and stepped up on the platform where the cauldron sat. She upended the box into the cauldron and the roar of fire could be heard as kindling caught and the section of the Yule log did too. Then the flames could be seen coming from the cauldron, licking up the stout piece of oak.

  “Happy Yule! Happy Yule!” Everyone in the square was hugging and wishing each other well. People came one by one to light candles at the cauldron, then cover them with old-fashioned glass chimneys to be carried home to light the Yule fires in every house.

  They were congratulating themselves on a job well done when the fire siren went off. The wail of it was to call in the volunteers, and men and women thrust parcels and children into their partners’ arms and dashed toward cars. Some just ran for the fire hall. Jake unclipped his cloak and handed it to Annie.

  He went to kiss her on the cheek, but she kissed him on the mouth, and whispered, “Stay safe.”

  “I will,” he said, and ran for the station.

  ####

  They wouldn’t save this one. Delight soared in the arsonist’s gut as the fire flowers blossomed through the downstairs windows. This was a fancy house on the river owned by some idiot from Boston. He came up every other weekend with women and liquor. They stayed inside and partied.

  It was empty tonight, except for the glory of fire.

  The house was fully engaged when the fire department arrived.

  Hatred burst out in a growl of sound. It was too soon! Damn them. Missing Reyn at the daycare had been infuriating. He’d moved at just the wrong time.

  Glass windows shattered and the firemen pulled hoses to douse the flames. They were ruining everything!

  It needed to burn all the way to the ground. That was the best feeling, seeing the ashes smoldering in the dawn.

  But Reyn Shapleigh and Jake Strongbow were spoiling all the fun.

  Again.

  Sliding down into the leaves on the bluff, she took aim. She wouldn’t miss a second time.

  A YULE TO REMEMBER

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Reyn flew out the next day and Annie worried the whole time he was away. There had been more shots fired at the firefighters at the house on the river. Reyn’s helmet would have to be replaced, as it had taken a glancing blow from a bullet. Jake, too, had reason to be nervous, as his car was hit just as he stepped out of it.

  When a propane tank exploded on the grill behind the house, they’d all taken cover.

  The town was buzzing with the news of a shooting at both scenes.

  Reyn was as safely on a plane, Annie reminded herself. She was worried, and she wanted him to reassure her, but she didn’t ask for it. She wasn’t Reyn’s girlfriend. Not really. Her angry inner self declared that even if she was involved with him, it didn’t matter. He was leaving.

  The market concluded at six that evening. People had come out in droves, but it was obvious they were nervous about the shootings. Annie and Beryl closed up the booth and hurried back to the Classic Cauldron to change for the progressive dinner. People would start at the mayor’s house for appetizers and salads. Then to Estelle Hestworth’s house for the main course. From there to Lucille Birkland’s, then to Winona Aylesworth’s house for dessert.

  Last stop would be at Dolores Webb’s house for after dinner drinks and dancing. Dolores owned one of the largest grand, old homes and it had a ballroom. The night promised to be a lot of fun.

  “So wh
y am I not excited?” she said to her reflection as she got ready.

  “What did you say, dear?” Beryl called from the other room.

  “Nothing, just talking to myself.”

  Beryl laughed. “Yeah, I do that a lot.”

  “Beryl,” Annie said, stepping out of the bedroom and into the living room. “Does this look okay?”

  “Wow, girl, you’re going to make Reyn’s jaw drop.”

  “He won’t be there,” she said, watching Beryl’s face. “He had a thing he couldn’t get out of. It’s you, me, Jim and the court getting pledges tonight.”

  Reyn had fought the fire the night before, gone home to pack, and called her. He’d come by long enough to kiss her, then headed to the airport.

  The kiss had been bittersweet, at least on Annie’s part. But he’d come by, hadn’t he? That meant something, didn’t it?

  “Interesting,” Beryl said, watching her closely. “And how do you feel about that?”

  Annie pretended nonchalance. “It is what it is. I’m not his keeper, nor am I his girlfriend, so…”

  “You two not getting along?”

  Annie shrugged again. “We get along fine.” Understatement of the year. She’d never felt anything like she’d felt in Reyn’s arms. She wanted to bask in the feeling, but she was afraid to want it too much.

  “I’m older than you,” Beryl said, stating the obvious. “But I’ll tell you, when it’s right, it’s right and even outsiders can see it. So, don’t give up on this just yet.”

  “Nothing to give up on,” Annie said, though her heart was hurting. Two dates and a one night stand weren’t a commitment. When Beryl would have said more, she cut her off. “Let’s go.”

  The end of the market, the progressive dinner and the next day’s events just weren’t the same without Reyn. Sure, she enjoyed dancing with other people. And Reyn texted her every few hours, which made her happy.

  Yes, she had a great time with her friends, the court, and others as they caroled through town, stopping at various businesses to get pledges. And his call the previous night had warmed her heart. But somehow, when they got to Christmas Eve, she was feeling the stress of doing the job alone. After all the attention he’d lavished on her and the help, too, this made her even lonelier.