by Zoe Chant
“Or maybe,” Jasper began, running his finger through the icing sugar on the poffertje plate, “Maybe you’re right here.”
He lifted his finger to her lips. Her eyes widened with shock— and then went dark, her pupils wide with desire. She opened her mouth. Her lips glistened, and she leaned forward, just enough to touch the tip of her tongue to Jasper’s finger.
He went hard so fast it hurt.
Abigail sat back fast, her cheeks burning. “I…” She looked up at him and licked her lips. A sudden wild look flashed through her eyes, and then was replaced by burning determination. “Are you doing anything… else… tonight?”
Jasper leaned further forward. “You tell me.”
“Oh. Oh.” Abigail’s lips parted. She looked dazed— and then her eyes focused on his. He saw the moment she made up her mind. “Would you like to, um. Head across the road to my place?”
Her eyes widened, as though she couldn’t believe what she had just said. Jasper felt her tense, like a deer about to bolt. He caught her hand between both of his, raising it to kiss her fingertips— and then her words sank in.
“Wait… across the road?” Jasper stared at her like an idiot.
The corners of Abigail’s mouth quirked up, and she nodded out to the dark, undecorated apartment across the street.
“That’s…” Jasper groaned and hung his head. “Oh, God. I walked you all around town, and we ended up at your local?”
At the back of the restaurant, behind the counter, the waiter sniggered. Abigail glared at him. “Mind your own business, Gustaaf!”
“And bring us the check, please!” Jasper added.
Abigail caught his eye. Her lips parted, and for just a moment, she looked uncertain. Jasper pulled her hand to his lips. The uncertainty in her eyes faded, replaced by sparkling excitement.
Jasper whipped the check away when it arrived, ignoring Abigail’s protests. Dinner was absolutely on him. His dragon wouldn’t have it any other way.
Gustaaf waved at them as they left. “Hey, Abigail! Merry—” He laughed as Abigail shot him a dirty look. “Have a good night,” he finished, and cackled.
Abigail rolled her eyes as they stepped back onto the street. “Oh, he is never going to shut up about this. I’ve just given him gossip for weeks.” She paused. “And his Nan. Oh, God.”
“Having second thoughts?” The idea of Abigail taking him home on their first night appealed, he had to admit— God, that was putting it lightly— but he didn’t want to pressure her into anything.
Abigail grabbed his hand. “Hell, no.” She laughed, ducking her head. “Hey, the universe literally threw me into your arms… who am I to argue with that?”
CHAPTER 4
Abigail
Abigail’s heart beat like a drum in her chest. What the hell am I doing?
Never tell a guy you liked him. That was the rule, wasn’t it? The rule that had served Abigail very well so far… in her life as a single lady, who lived by herself, opposite an all-night pancake parlor.
And never ask for anything at Christmas. Never even hint that there’s anything you want. You’ll only be disappointed.
But she’d never liked someone the way she liked Jasper before. Even her stupid high-school crushes hadn’t been as sudden and overwhelming as what she felt for him.
And none of them had liked her back. Whereas Jasper… oh, God. She couldn’t be imagining it, could she? The way he looked at her?
Her chest thudded as she waited for Jasper to respond. Even after all the time they’d spent together this evening, she didn’t really believe he could be interested in her. Or maybe she just couldn’t let herself believe it.
Time seemed to stretch out, even though she knew it couldn’t have been more than a few seconds.
“Well then,” Jasper said, his voice like molten chocolate. “You’d better take me home.”
Red and gold flared in the depths of his eyes. Abigail swayed forward. She tried to tell herself it was because she wanted to look at his eyes more carefully, see how this trick of the light and colors really worked— but she knew that wasn’t the truth. She moved towards him because she wanted his touch, wanted the feeling of her hand enclosed in his but all over her body. She wanted her skin to thrill at his touch, wanted the edgy excitement inside her to bloom into hot need and—
She took a quick step forward. Her hands made fists in the front of his winter coat, pulling him closer, pulling him down to her so his face was level with hers. A soft moan escaped her lips and then she was kissing him, his lips soft against hers but not pliant— he was kissing her back, his tongue flicking out against her lower lip, his arms folding around her and holding her tight.
The world around them disappeared. The cold night, the stupid, fake decorations, all faded away. There was nothing but the hot tenderness of Jasper’s mouth on hers, the taste of icing sugar on his lips, the strength of his arms around her… and the promise of his body under far too many layers of clothing.
Stupid Christmas. Stupid winter. Why couldn’t they have met in the summer? She bet Jasper looked incredible in a bathing suit. Or less.
Her fingers tightened on his coat. “Go?” she murmured into his lips.
He didn’t say anything; his grin against her lips was answer enough.
It shouldn’t be this hard to unlock a door when I’m sober, Abigail thought as she wrestled with her key. At least the door clicked open. Just in time. Jasper’s fingers were snaking around her jaw, pulling her in for another kiss. She just managed to trip backwards into her apartment and kick the door shut behind them before he flicked his tongue against her lips and every sensible thought disappeared from her mind.
She had a coat rack. She ignored it. Her winter jacket hit the floor, and the sensation of Jasper’s hands whispering against her sides was so intense she almost forgot to help him with his coat, too. Like a good hostess.
Her fingers fumbled at his buttons. One. Two. Too many. At last the heavy coat fell away and revealed… a Christmas sweater.
With… dancing Christmas trees on it?
Abigail groaned. There was only one thing to do with this. Off.
The sweater disappeared into a far corner of her apartment, knocking something over. Too bad. So long as it’s gone…
Abigail ran her hands down Jasper’s chest, feeling his pecs through the thin fabric of his shirt. A moan escaped his mouth as her fingers ghosted over his abs. And lower. Suddenly his hands were hard on her waist, pulling her to him.
“Bedroom?” he gasped into his ear, and heat bloomed inside her.
She grabbed his belt buckle and tugged. “This way.”
It wasn’t far. Her apartment was only a dozen paces end-to-end. She could usually stumble from the front door to her bedroom in seven steps. Tonight, it took her zero steps, because Jasper carried her.
He set her down at her bedroom door and kissed her again. Desire flooded her veins. Her skin was on fire, and the only thing that would quench it was his touch. Skin to skin.
She pushed him back until the backs of his legs bumped against her bed. Still kissing him, she let her hands wander: over his chest, his sides, venturing under the hem of his t-shirt. Heat blossomed between her legs as she felt bare skin under her fingers.
Jasper moaned as she ran her fingertips along his skin, tracing the line where his hips disappeared under his pants. He spread his hands over her lower back, caressing her curves. His hands rose; one thumb brushed over her breast. Abigail trembled.
He broke the kiss and stared down at her, the shifting colors of his eyes almost lost in the black depths of his pupils. “I wish I’d been here for Halloween,” he breathed, raising one hand to brush her neckline. It was daring— too daring for a family gift store, really— swooping deep to reveal a dramatic sweep of cleavage. His fingertips brushed the lacy fabric, agonizingly close to her bare skin.
His fingers explored further, ghosting around the back of her dress. His breathing became impatient, and then
he groaned and rested his forehead against hers. “How does it come off?” he asked, defeat mingling with frustration in his voice.
“Wow, a real romantic, aren’t you?” Abigail couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face. She directed his hand to the zip under her armpit. Really, he didn’t even know that some women’s dresses zipped at the side? But he was so good at kissing… it didn’t add up. And it didn’t matter. She stopped even trying to calculate.
Jasper unzipped her slowly, tenderly, as though she was the most precious and delicate thing in the world. He kissed every inch of skin he uncovered: her shoulders as the dress’s lacy arms slipped down, her breasts, her nipples—
“God, sorry,” she muttered as his lips pressed against her Spanx. “That’s, uh. That’s so not sexy.”
She pulled away, already trying to tug the supportive underwear down before he could get a good look. It wasn’t that she was ashamed of her body, it was just that… well, it didn’t fit very well in any of her work uniforms. It needed to be squeezed into shape. Like a sausage, she thought, and her shoulders slumped.
“Let me.”
Jasper fell to his knees in front of her. Abigail couldn’t be self-conscious in the face of his tenderness. He rolled the underwear down over her belly and hips, kissing and caressing her until she was completely naked in front of him.
Abigail trembled. Jasper looked up at her, his eyes dark, and then smiled and dipped his head between her legs.
She almost screamed as his tongue flicked out and lapped against the hot nub of her clit. Pleasure make her hips jerk and her knees weak. He licked her again, more gently this time, and a moan escaped her lips. His fingers tightened on her thighs.
Abigail muttered something that wasn’t even close to being a word and grabbed Jasper by the shoulders. She pushed him back onto the bed. He sprawled very attractively.
“That dress was incredible,” he said, his eyes black with desire, “but you look even better out of it. God, you’re so gorgeous.” He pushed himself up and reached for her hand, pulling her down on top of him. “So—” He kissed her hand, and moved on to her wrist, “Goddamn—” the inside of her elbow, her collarbone, “beautiful.”
His lips brushed along her neck. His teeth nipped at her jawline. By the time he pulled her face down to his, she was boneless with longing. But not boneless enough that she couldn’t peel off his shirt. Oh, God. His chest looked as amazing as it had felt. As for his pants…
“Jasper…” A tiny corner of her sensible side, all but drowned by desire, waved its hand. She groaned. “Oh, hell. I don’t know if I’ve got…”
Jasper’s eyes widened. “Oh. I don’t—” He cleared his throat. “I wasn’t exactly expecting…”
Wasn’t expecting to get laid? So, what, I’m just that appealing? Abigail wasn’t sure she believed it… but a tendril of warmth uncurled inside her, shining gold with satisfaction. She pushed herself up on her elbows. If neither of them had condoms, then she really should be trying to stop thinking about how amazing his chest felt against her bare breasts, her nipples pebbling against his hot skin. She definitely shouldn’t be losing herself in the memory of his kisses. Or imagining how the hot, hard ridge pressing against her belly would feel in her hands… between her legs…
She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing her brain into gear. “Bathroom cabinet,” she managed to spit out. “Or— emergency kit? In the kitchen…”
She did have condoms somewhere. She remembered buying them. A long, long time ago. When moving to a new town was going to mean a new life, a new, exciting Abigail.
Where had boring, dateless Abigail put them?
Jasper’s eyes met hers. “Bathroom?”
“That way. I’ll check the kitchen.”
Abigail pulled open drawers. The first aid kit? Maybe she would have put the condoms in there? But where was it? She wracked her memory. It was in the kitchen, she knew— she’d had some paranoia about slicing herself open while preparing dinner. Aha!
“Dammit,” she whispered as she found the bag and ripped it open. Bandages. Antiseptic. Insect repellent?
No condoms.
“Here!” Jasper called from the bathroom. She ran back to the bedroom and found him brandishing a strip of condoms like a flag.
Abigail jumped back onto the bed at the same moment he did. Her limbs tangled deliciously with his. Hot, hard, and hers.
Jasper kissed her. She kissed him back, eager and hot with desire.
Her fingers found the button fastening his pants. The zip. The hard, thick rod of his cock brushed against her knuckles as she pulled on the zip, and her stomach fluttered. Oh, God. She was really doing this. And she wasn’t worried, or shy, or trying to hide her belly and thighs. She wanted him to touch every part of her.
She dragged his pants down and took his cock in her hands. It was hot, and hard, but soft as well, the skin delicate, his sharp intake of breath heart-achingly vulnerable as she wrapped her fingers around his length.
The tear of foil. His hand wrapped around hers, and then he pulled the condom on. Ready for her. She rolled onto her back, pulling him with her. Her legs fell apart naturally. She’d never wanted anyone as much as she wanted him, now. Right now.
She cupped his cheek in one hand. His eyes were flooded black, pupils blown wide and dark with lust. But there was fire there, too, and gold, colors swirling in a ring around the black. Her breath caught in her throat.
Jasper kissed her until she thought she would melt with desire. He buried one hand in her hair, the other sliding down her side to her hip. Abigail’s breath stuttered as he moved on top of her.
For one heartbeat, they lay still together, Jasper’s cock pressing against her entrance. He pulled his lips away from hers and gazed down at her, fingers tangling in her hair. His face was flushed, his eyes shadowed with desire. Abigail trembled with anticipation.
“Please,” she whimpered, and wrapped her legs around him.
He thrust into her and it felt so good Abigail gasped. Jasper groaned as he filled her completely, their two bodies joining as one. He kissed her, and when he stopped, his eyes were blazing.
“You’re amazing,” he whispered, and began to slowly pump in and out of her. Sensation sparked deep inside her, every movement building the bonfire of her pleasure higher.
Jasper moved slowly, taking his time. Abigail watched his face, and the heat in his eyes made her skin tingle all over. He smiled and kissed her again, teasing her lips and then moving on to her jaw, her neck, the delicate skin under her ear…
“Tell me if you want anything else,” he whispered, and Abigail had to bite her lip to stop from whimpering.
“I think if you went any faster, I’d explode,” she admitted. Jasper’s slow, careful lovemaking was the most intense she’d ever experienced. It was so… intimate. She’d been so eager for him— and she didn’t want it to be over yet.
“Hmm.” Jasper’s chuckle vibrated against her neck. “I’d better slow down, then. I want to enjoy every inch of you.”
Goosebumps broke out on the backs of Abigail’s arms as his eyes caught hers. He buried himself inside her again, slowly, God, so slowly— and then he was trailing kisses down her collarbone, onto her breasts.
He took her nipple in his mouth and swirled his tongue around it until Abigail gasped. A bright pulse of pleasure went directly from her breast to between her legs, electric-sharp. She rolled her hips, wriggling under Jasper’s weight. Oh, she wanted to take it slow, too, wanted to see what Jasper meant by every inch— but her body was demanding more. It wanted fireworks.
Not yet, she pleaded with herself, squeezing her eyes shut.
Mistake.
With her eyes shut, her body’s other senses went into overdrive. She breathed in, and Jasper’s scent filled her, soap and spices and a sweetness that made her knees tremble. She heard his every breath, and felt them too, felt how the muscles of his back tensed as he groaned.
And him moving inside her, slow, sl
ow, slow. And unstoppable.
A wave of pleasure caught Abigail by surprise, sending electric warnings through her body. She moaned and pulled his face to hers. Her breath mingled with his, rougher now. His hand slipped from her hip, strong fingers gripping her thigh, pushing her leg up.
Abigail cried out as he pushed into her again. Just the slightest change in angle, her hips shifting with Jasper’s thrusts, and she was lost.
Her whole body shuddered as pleasure pulsed through her. She squeezed her legs around his waist, and he pumped in and out of her, every slow thrust forcing her orgasm further. Every time she thought she’d gone over the edge, Jasper was there, teasing more pleasure from her body.
She whimpered and he kissed her, breathing in her gasps and cries until his whole body tensed. He groaned into her lips. She felt him in her core, his cock flexing and pulsing, and she was gone again, tumbling over the edge with a cry of helpless passion.
Jasper cradled her head, holding her under him. His. Abigail’s body was limp with satisfaction, and God, everything felt so right. Her vision was hazy. She frowned, trying to focus, and the first thing she saw was Jasper gazing back at her.
He was still deep inside her. They were both panting and sweaty, and Abigail was half convinced her body had actually disintegrated from the strength of the orgasm she’d just had.
So the sight of Jasper’s eyes looking down at her, bright and multi-colored and dancing with pleasure, really shouldn’t have turned her on again so quickly.
CHAPTER 5
Abigail
*
DECEMBER 21
FOUR DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
Abigail woke up happy, and it took her a moment to remember why. After all, it was only a few days until Christmas. Her alarm was blaring, which meant she had less than an hour to plaster on a happy face and deal with the holiday crowds at work. She should be edgy and miserable, tension twanging in her muscles before she even ventured out of bed.
Instead, her whole body was suffused with the warm glow of complete satisfaction. She smiled, her cheeks heating up as she remembered why.