by S. L. Scott
He picks me up, making me squeal, and carries me into the room where he gently places me on the end of the bed. “I want to do this, Hayley. I don’t want to build up to it. I want to cannonball right into the deep end of this relationship with you. I’m in love with you. I have been since you walked into freshman orientation in that white sundress.”
“You remember what I was wearing?”
“I’ll never forget.”
“You always did know exactly what to say to make me feel special.”
“They’re not just words. I need you to feel them like I do.” He sits down next to me and rests his hand on my thigh.
I kiss him on the cheek, letting my lips linger on his skin. “I want so much more with you, too.” I kiss him again then move down to kiss him on the corner of his mouth.
He weaves his fingers into my hair as he holds me there. He closes his eyes, enjoying this as much as I am. “Mmmm.” When I stand up, he falls sideways onto the bed. “Don’t leave me,” he says with his face against the blanket.
“I’m right here.” I situate myself at the top of the bed where I lean against the headboard.
He’s happy as he settles in next to me, but I see him watching my every move. “Come closer. I want to hold you,” he whispers. I move closer and so does he. We meet in the middle, something we’ve always been good at.
Words aren’t needed. I close my eyes and move forward until our mouths meet again. His lips are soft, feeling, and loving. Everything I knew they always would be. But the kiss ends too soon.
“I’ve wanted you for so long,” he says as his rough breath hits my skin as he moves himself lower down my body.
No lies, no walls, no barriers or obstacles standing in our way. “I’ve wanted you, too. God Nick, I’m on fire right now.” Desire burns on the inside, flaming the fire I feel for him.
With that confession revealed, he kisses over my chin and down the side of my neck. His hands are all over, tempting, taunting. He squeezes my breasts then slides his hand down over my hips and lower where he drags my shirt up. “I want this off.” I lift up and he pulls it off me.
My hands are on the buttons of his jeans, and I open them in quick succession. “I want these off.”
A deep chuckle vibrates from his chest, and he unzips my jeans. Slowing down, he ever so carefully pulls my jeans down my hips and takes them off me. Only my bra and panties cover me except for his gaze taking me in, and his fingers, light to the touch, as he strokes my thigh.
He’s seen me in my bra and panties many times before, but this time is different. We both know it as the air between us flairs with passion.
His shirt comes off, then his jeans before he hovers over me, keeping our bodies apart. I run my finger under the waistband of his black boxer briefs, appreciating every sit-up and push-up he’s done to mold his body into the art it is.
I’m the opposite. I’m lean, but soft with curves.
Slowly, so slowly, his hand runs over my shoulder and down my arm. “Lift up,” he says, and I do. He slips his hand under my back and pops the clasp on my bra open. After dragging the straps down, he drops the bra over the edge of the bed then takes hold of the sides of my panties. He slides them down my legs and resumes his position above me. “You’re so damn sexy, Hayley. This might not be slow.”
I squeeze my thighs together, feeling the way my body is reacting to him and his seductive words. Indulging in the feel of his muscles and strength, I encourage him. “Come down here.”
His arousal is prominent. Stroking over his large bulge twice, he says, “I can’t believe you’re real right now.”
“I’m here and I’m real and sometimes I get lonely.”
“You’ll never be lonely again.” He strips his briefs down, exposing himself to me. I’ve never seen him fully naked before, and he’s a sight to behold—all hard lines and muscular dips with that sexy V that leads the eyes straight to his large erection. His erection. I sigh, unable to stop myself from staring. I want to touch him, taste him, and feel him deep inside of me.
I wrap my hand around him. Nick remains steady as he watches me grip and flex my hold on him. He closes his eyes and relaxes on top of me. His knees on either side of my hips trap me as he takes hold of my wrist and places it above my head. He uses his tongue to explore my collarbone and his breath against my wet skin makes it goose bump.
He releases my hand and glides his across my stomach to my most private place. He’s no longer tentative, but wanting and demanding. His fingers slip down farther causing my back to arch up and my eyes to close. I moan as he rubs between my legs.
His mouth covers my breast and his tongue sweeps over my nipple as I hold onto his shoulders. I say, “I want you inside of me.” I know he can hear the plea in my tone.
Sliding my hands down his rib cage and lower to his hips, I reach around and dip my hand into the muscular indention on the sides of his buttocks. I squeeze his ass while pressing him harder against my center for friction.
“I need you,” I whisper, followed by a whimper when his fingers slip inside of me for the first time. That’s what this is. It’s a first time, erasing our pasts and starting our future.
I lift up, needing his lips on mine, but he moves lower and drags his tongue between my breasts and over my belly button where he swirls it around. He slides to the right to gently bite my hipbone, which is punctuated with a playful laugh from me.
“Baby, your body is incredible,” he says, the words are deep and meaningful, full of lust.
I want to say something, but my words would be nothing but fillers in the moment we’re sharing. So, I don’t speak and let my breathing, my body’s restlessness, and racing heart speak for me instead.
He leaves my stomach and kisses his way even lower. His eyes are locked on mine as his mouth reaches my lower lips. His tongue dips between them as his fingers move further down.
I feel drunk, and I haven’t had any alcohol tonight. I’m drunk on him and how he’s making me feel. His fingers push in as his tongue begins to work a rhythm of torturous pleasure, making me beg for more. My thoughts are blurred into sweet oblivion as my body frenzies under his attention. The sound of my bliss can be heard as he stays down there until I’m quaking in ecstasy beneath him. I call out the name that will be the only one to ever escape my lips again in the throes of passion. “Nick!”
When I open my eyes, he’s above me. He looks delighted and has an irresistible smile. “That was amazing,” he says. “I fantasized about watching you come. You’re even sexier than I imagined.”
“Kiss me,” I reply, wanting to feel his weight on top of me again.
He complies, and the tip of his erection waits at my entrance while he makes small adjustments until we’re comfortable. After a long kiss full of meaning, he looks me in the eyes. I give the minutest of nods, and he pushes in, watching my every reaction as I watch his.
My eyes begin to close, but he says, “I want to see your eyes.” His voice is deep and husky with yearning.
I focus on him and take a deep breath while both of us acclimate as our bodies meld together. “I love you.” I say needing to reveal this passion, the sensation of finally feeling him inside of me, engulfing me whole.
“I’ve loved you forever, and I always will.”
He kisses me again, starting a slow gyrate with his hips—in and out, up and down, push and pull.
I spread my legs farther apart, wanting him deeper and deeper. He fills me, my body, my mind, and my soul with his presence and his love. His fervent kisses cover my neck as my nails scrape lightly across his back, not intending to leave marks, but enough to express the ardor I’m feeling for him.
My hips meet his, thrust for thrust. We let go of ourselves and move on instinct until we’re both erratic. We continue in this sexual tug-of-war until I lose myself once again just as his hands still on my shoulders. With three final thrusts, he reaches his own peak.
He drops down on top of me, and I wrap my arms arou
nd him, caressing him to me. After placing small kisses behind my ear, he whispers through jagged breath, “The only option.”
“The only. Always.”
He kisses me slowly, giving me all of his love. “Always.”
Chapter 8
The next morning, I wake up to the smell of pancakes, coffee, and something else, something fresh. There’s a bouquet of purple pansies lying on the bed next to me. The flowers are straight from his garden, and I smile because I know they were always meant for me. Just like Nick.
I hop out of bed and dash into the kitchen, not caring about morning breath or lack of clothes. I just want to hug him, kiss him, and convince him to return to bed with me so I can show him how much I love him all over again.
I throw my arms around his waist and startle him as he cooks. While I rest my cheek on his back, he covers my arm with one hand and holds the spatula in his other. Glancing over his shoulder, he smiles and raises his eyebrows. “Good morning, baby.”
“This is the best morning ever.”
He tosses the spatula onto the counter and turns to face me; my bare chest is against his bare chest. He slides his arms around my waist and his fingers apply a gentle, loving pressure on me, keeping me close. “Do you remember the first thing I ever said to you back in college?”
I lean my neck back to see his face. “No. I just remember we were friends from day one.”
“We were sitting next to each other in the auditorium. I don’t think I ever told you that I paid some guy ten bucks for the seat next to you.”
I giggle, but I’m too anxious to say anything because I want to hear more.
“I whispered in your ear like this.” He leans down. “You’re hot. You want to go out tonight?”
I burst out laughing because I was expecting to hear something sweet and sentimental, not a bad pickup line. I’d forgotten all about that.
He’s laughing and I’m sure it’s over the embarrassment of his youthful arrogance. “After all of these years, I’ve realized that was where I went wrong. Even back then I thought you were the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, and it was very intimidating.”
“Are you still intimidated?”
“Yep, but I’m older, and I know better than to use awful pickup lines on you now.”
I stare into his eyes, holding onto his shoulders to ground me to earth as my heart soars.
He says, “I also know that you drink hot chocolate when you can’t sleep and eat peanut butter M & M’s when you’re stressed. And when you’re worried about someone you love, you wear that gold necklace with the little bluebird on it that you got when you were seven.”
I lean my forehead against his chest, and he holds me tighter. “Why are you talking about the past?” I’m starting to choke on my words, a poor attempt to keep myself from crying.
“Because I also know that you would have never married any of your exes. Not because you’re scared to commit, but deep down you’ve always known we were meant to be together just like I knew that first day. I’m finally where I’ve always wanted to be, and instead of paying ten bucks, I’ve paid seven years to be next to the hot girl. I have one question, and it’s not a marriage proposal, though I’ve thought about that a few times this morning already.” I laugh and he says, “You’re hot. You want to go out tonight?”
I want to be with him, but I don’t want to go out. “No, I want to stay in, preferably for the rest of the weekend. Oh, and no marriage proposal?”
“Not yet.”
I’m not disappointed. “I can live with ‘not yet.’ ”
He cups my face and kisses me sweetly. Leaning back to look me in the eyes, he says, “Hayley Harper, I’m madly in love with you, and I want you to know that I also count the seconds we’re apart. You should prepare yourself now, because one day, I will propose to you and make you my wife.”
I love that romantic notion. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
I lift up, he leans down, and we meet in the middle, sealing that promise with a kiss.
The End.
Part Four
All I Want - A Tryst with a Twist
Introduction
From New York Times Bestselling Author, S.L. Scott, comes this contemporary holiday romance.
Christina can’t stop fantasizing about the guy who works down at the Christmas tree lot. Lawson spends a lot of time at the local coffee shop, not for the coffee, but for the view of the pretty barista who works there.
Christmas holds more than presents for these two as they unwrap a fantasy making their tryst with a twist a reality. This sexy short story will captivate your imagination while capturing the holiday spirit.
©2012 S.L. Scott
Chapter 1
Lawson’s back hurt and his face had three new scratches—one above his left eyebrow that stung, and two other smaller ones on the right side of his jaw.
He had just finished debating with a customer—politely, of course—who insisted that an eight-foot Christmas tree could fit into the back of her small hatchback. After measuring the inside of the vehicle to prove that it could only fit a six-footer without damage to the top of the tree, she still insisted they try to fit the larger tree. The next ten minutes were spent maneuvering the tree at an angle inside the car while still trying to protect the pristine point from being damaged.
The owner of Winter Wonderland, his boss, walked up and collected the money for the tree from the customer just as Lawson hopped out of the car. After the business-side was handled, Lawson waved his arm in front of him, giving the car owner the honor of shutting the back. He knew it wouldn’t shut and gave one last warning. “I really think we should trade this out for a shorter tree. We’ve got some beautiful six-foot Firs in the back corner.”
She shook her head defiantly, feeling smug in her insistence. Just as she slammed the hatchback closed, they all heard a snap. “Oh no!” she exclaimed.
Pressed against the window was a broken tree top. From behind the cash register, his boss shouted, “Sorry. No refunds. Lawson, it’s your break time.”
Lawson stepped closer then looked back over his shoulder. As soon as he saw his boss leave the area, he said, “If you’d like, I’ll reshape the top of that tree for you. It will look like it was always meant to be six feet.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, sure. It’s the holidays, after all.”
He spent twelve minutes of his lunch break helping the customer out—a customer who drove away from the Christmas tree lot with a smile on her face. She had tipped Lawson five dollars, and he knew exactly how he’d spend it.
After tossing his work gloves on the shelf next to the register stand, he rubbed the fresh wound above his eyebrow again, and told his co-worker, “I’m taking off. I’ll be back in a bit.” He hoped he still had enough time to grab a coffee from his favorite coffee shop.
There was a chain coffee place closer to the tree lot, but he liked the one two blocks farther down best. He didn’t like it for its coffee, though theirs was quite good. He liked the staff there and found them friendly. But a petite brunette barista was his favorite, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
As Lawson started for the coffee shop, his buddy on the lot began teasing him. “Going for another cup of Joe? How many times have you gone over there this week? Four?”
“Maybe… maybe five.” Lawson turned, and began walking backwards so he could jab back. “You still stalking that bartender down at O’Sullivan’s?”
“Changing the subject is a sure sign that you have it bad.”
“Have what bad?”
His co-worker belly-laughed, leaning his elbows on the counter. “That’s either the best damn coffee in town she’s serving over there, or you’re a goner.”
“I was a goner the first time I ever laid eyes on her, my friend.”
The playful taunts continued, and Lawson should’ve been paying better attention, but with
his back to the world, he ran right into someone.
He turned quickly with his hands out, losing his balance and struggling on the slick ice. Hearing a scream from behind him, he reached out to help, but ended up toppling them both over. After falling right on top of the person, he soon realized there was a woman beneath him.
Though it was freezing outside, both of their faces heated as they stared straight into each other’s eyes. He instantly recognized the green-eyed girl as the barista from the coffee shop, and her eyes went wide as she lay beneath him. He hoped she couldn’t feel his excitement to see her and how he considered their current compromising position quite the turn-on.
Scurrying to get up, he slipped on the icy ground again, landing next to her. They both laughed, nervously, and tried again. This time, he paid special attention to his footing and stood, planting his feet down firmly before offering to help the pretty girl up.
Apologies abounded as she staggered to her feet. She looked down and he wondered if she was hiding her pinking cheeks. “You’re him,” she said softly.
“Him?”
Looking up, she glanced towards the manmade forest to their right. “From the tree lot… from here.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s me.”
They stood together, facing each other, still holding hands, neither knowing if it was for stability on the slippery ground or because they just wanted to be holding the others hand.
An awkward moment later, they released their grip, not because they wanted to, but because society dictated that as the proper thing to do. She blushed, and he looked down at his feet with more awkward apologies following. “I’m sorry for knocking you over. I should’ve been watching where I was going.” He paused then said, “But I’m not sorry for running into you at the same time. I was heading over to the coffee place—”
“Oh, I’m keeping you. Sorry about that. I’ll let you go, so you can get your coffee.”