“You’re the best Christmas present I’ve ever received,” I whispered in awe, praying she heard the sincerity in every syllable of my words. “I love you with every molecule of my being.”
With my confession, I sank into her warmth.
“I love you more than I ever dreamed possible. Thank you for loving me,” she murmured against my lips before she kissed me with all the heat and fire that burned within her for me.
Though our lengthy absence and the degree of our passion set a pace that was far quicker than I wanted, those precious minutes conveyed all the love and longing we had for each other.
THE NEXT MORNING, I was giddy when I woke up with Izzy still in my arms. As I’d drifted off to sleep in the early morning hours, exhausted from all our catching up, I still wasn’t convinced the whole thing wasn’t a wonderful hallucination from some drug a fan had slipped me. It wasn’t unheard of. After a show a few months ago, Jett had to get his stomach pumped after a fan roofied him during a meet-and-greet.
As I stroked my hand up and down Izzy’s bare back, I made a list of everything I wanted to do now that she was here. “You’re thinking too much,” her voice croaked, her breath hot against my chest.
“Just planning,” I defended.
“Uh-huh.” Her fingers danced across my torso as I struggled to gain coherency enough to explain.
“Yeah, I was thinking about what kinds of clothes you’re going to need for some of the appearances we have in the next few days. I have a suit and even a tux being delivered today.” I wanted her by my side, but I was sure she hadn’t packed formal clothes for her trip.
“I don’t have to go. I can just stay here and occupy myself until you get back, and then I can strip you out of your fancy clothes and ravage you.” Her hand ghosted past my stomach and grasped my hardening erection.
Unable to stop myself, I thrust up into her warm grip. “Or you could get a fancy dress and some F-Me heels, and I will do just that in some dark corner of the party.” I smirked at her.
Her breath hitched, and her hold on my shaft tightened. “That sounds like a helluva good idea. But how about you plan later and make love to me now.”
“My pleasure,” I rumbled as I rolled over on top of her.
“And mine.” She grinned cheekily before I kissed her senseless.
AFTER WE WERE SATED ENOUGH, I arranged for Izzy to go shopping with Mireille and Tansy, the stylists employed by the label. After arming her with a list of the events, I sent her out the door with the exuberant girls with a scorching kiss and a smack on the butt. Then I hastily dressed and went in search of Joe. While Izzy was dressing, I’d sent him a text about what I had in mind, and he took care of lining everything up.
With Joe’s help, I managed to buy a small Christmas tree and decorations for it. I purchased fifteen special ornaments and a ton of hot pink ones to fill out the look. Joe reminded me to get wrapping paper and everything else I needed to wrap her gifts.
As we ascended to my room, lugging all the spoils of our trip, he asked, “You going to decorate the tree together?”
♪ Fa La La by Justin Bieber
I paused to ponder his question. I’d planned to do it myself when I got inside. But maybe we should do it as a couple. “I don’t know, man. I was going to just throw it up while she was out. But we’ve never done this part of Christmas before. Not even when we were kids.”
“So, in the, what three years since you’ve officially been a couple, you haven’t put up a tree together?” The disbelief on the big man’s face was almost comical.
“No. We’ve always just crashed one of our family’s holidays. Never had one of our own. What should I do?” I was nervous all of a sudden. I wanted to do this right. Make it a Christmas to remember.
“If it was me, I’d assemble the tree. Maybe put on all those pink ornaments you got. But save all those special ones that symbolize things from your love story to put up together,” he suggested as he shifted his load of bags to one hand, so he’d have a free one just in case when we got off on my floor.
“Good idea. You want to help me assemble the tree?” I asked. I didn’t want to admit I was a little intimidated at the thought of putting the tree together.
“For Izzy, of course.” He winked at me, and I gave him a fake glare.
Hours later, the tree twinkled in the corner of the master bedroom. Though I wasted a lot of paper, finally there were four boxes wrapped in metallic, pink paper and tied with black ribbon. I stuck them beneath the tree with their good sides facing out. Izzy was the master at giftwrap, each box always a work of art. Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice my uneven ends, the jagged cuts or the half a roll of tape on the boxes. The sentimental ornaments were wrapped in tissue paper and nestled in a gift bag in the chair. One more look of inspection, and I was satisfied.
Still dripping from my shower, I dashed to get my phone when it alerted me of a text.
Tansy: On the way up from the lobby.
Me: Thanks
Hastily, I dried off and pulled on a pair of plaid lounge pants. I skipped the shirt. Giggling drifted in from the hallway just as I sank down on the couch in the living room. Moments later, Izzy swept into the room in a fit of laughter and breath of fresh air. I stood and crossed the room in three long strides. Taking Izzy in my arms, I fused my mouth to hers, completely ignoring the other women in the room. Bags crashed around my legs as Izzy dropped them and threw her arms around my neck. I was vaguely aware of Mireille and Tansy dumping more bags in the corner and hanging up some garment bags in the closet.
♪ Then He Kissed Me by the Crystals
A throat cleared. “Um, it was fun, Izzy. We’ll just leave you guys… to it. Text if you need anything else,” Tansy said.
Izzy drew back from me. “Thanks so much for helping me. I had a blast.” She beamed at the girls who’d become her friends when she came on the first tour sponsored by the record label a few years ago.
“It’s always our pleasure to spend this one’s money,” Mireille joked as she headed to the door with Tansy in tow. “Plus, we love hanging out with you. We’ve missed you around here.”
“Thanks, guys. I owe you one,” I told them, hoping they’d hurry up and leave us. I knew it was rude, but I barely even looked at them. I was far too smitten with Izzy. My world had narrowed to the pocket of air surrounding her body.
I scarcely heard their synchronized “Bye” or the click of the door. I was too busy memorizing Izzy’s features. “I missed you,” my voice was husky with emotion.
“I know. And I wasn’t even gone that long, but somehow it felt like forever.” Her breath brushed against my face. It smelled like chocolate and peppermint.
I pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“You know I love surprises.” She clapped her hands together enthusiastically.
Bending my knees, I scooped her up and carried her bridal style to the closed bedroom door. “Close your eyes,” I commanded.
She obeyed. Once I entered the bedroom, I set her on her feet in front of the tree. “Open them,” I whispered.
“Dawson,” my name was a whisper on her lips as she moved closer to the tree. “It’s beautiful. I love the pink butterflies.” She reached with one finger to delicately trace the whimsical wings on the one I used as a tree-topper.
“Sorry I couldn’t get a bigger tree. I didn’t have a lot of time to work with.” I hoped she wasn’t too disappointed. Her family always had a huge tree.
“It’s perfect. I love it.” She turned and wrapped her arms around me.
“The decorating isn’t done yet,” I mumbled against her soft lips.
“No?” She quirked her brow at me and glanced back at the decorated tree.
I shook my head. “This is our first real Christmas that’s just us. So, I saved the special ornaments for us to put on together.”
“You got special ornaments?” Tears shimmered in her eyes.
“Of course. I’ve help
ed your family decorate their tree so many times over the years. Your favorite ornaments to hang always have a story. I want that for us. So…” I stepped to the side, pulling her with me, and picked up the gift bag of ornaments.
When she unwrapped the first tissue-covered bundle, she exclaimed, “A puppy.” She hung the brown pup on a branch.
“For the little fella who brought us together.”
Next was a concert ticket replica. “To symbolize your career,” she said.
“No, to commemorate our summer of music when we went to all those shows. Remember Sinful Serenade, Def Lepard, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers—”
“Feral Silence, Journey,” she finished. “That summer was epic.” The ticket found a spot on the tree.
She giggled when she unwrapped the green bottle, followed by a treehouse, ballet slippers, a music note, a pair of butterflies and a letter sticking out of an envelope. Each one was placed on the tree strategically. An easel, a heart, a surfboard and a camera joined the memories on our tree. When she revealed the little red car, her eyes met mine, and in unison we said, “Road trip to Ohio.” We’d christened every state as we traveled from South Carolina to Ohio with the car my dad had given me the summer before our senior year. Next up was a rose, followed by a mini tour bus.
♪ Summer on You by Pretty Much
Her brow furrowed when she pulled out the paintbrush ornament. “I thought we honored my art with the mini easel one.”
“The easel was for all the drawings you’ve done over the years to capture our memories. This…” I said as I took the ceramic replica brush tipped in red, “…represents the memory of you doing that nude painting of me which marked the official beginning of us.”
She blushed at the reminder. Even after all this time, I still loved making her blush.
“Speaking of that very sexy painting, you know if you sold it, you’d be rich,” I teased.
She shook her head. “I could never part with it.”
“’Cause you look at it while you touch yourself?” I nudged her shoulder and nibbled her earlobe.
She smacked my arm. “No.”
She pulled out the last ornament in the bag and tore off the paper. Holding up the ball of red yarn, tears glistened in her eyes. “The red thread of fate,” she whispered, fingering the handmade friendship bracelet wrapped around her delicate wrist.
I spun my matching one around my wrist. “Yeah. Put it on the tree.”
Once the last ornament was placed, she stepped back into my arms, her back against my chest. “It’s perfect,” she breathed.
“Yeah, it is,” I agreed, looking down at her.
“Wait, the tree needs one more thing,” she exclaimed, scrambling out of my hold. She stooped by her suitcase and pulled out three wrapped packages. “Your gifts need to go under the tree.” Skipping over to the tree, she slipped them in next to the ones I’d stashed there.
“Let’s open them now,” I begged. The anticipation of opening presents always got to me.
She planted her hands on her hips. “No, we have to wait for Christmas.”
“Please.” My lip jutted out in a pout. Sauntering over to me, she pressed her lips to mine, completely distracting me from my whining.
“If you’re a good boy, I’ll let you unwrap one gift after I shower,” she promised.
I cast my eyes back to the tree. “I’ll be good,” I vowed. “While you shower, I’ll order room service. What do you want?”
“Surprise me,” she called over her shoulder as she moved to the living room and scooped up one of the shopping bags. She blew me a kiss, then went in the bathroom. The distinct click of the lock echoed in the stillness of the room.
“Why’d you lock the door?” I shouted at the closed door.
“Because if I didn’t, you’d distract me from taking my shower. And that would delay dinner and would then delay the gift you get to unwrap for being good,” she reasoned. I could imagine the sexy scolding look on her face as she said it all.
“OK,” I sighed and picked up the phone once I heard the shower start.
“Hi, I need to place an order for room 525.” I spoke into the receiver.
“What’s the passcode for the room, sir?” the heavily accented voice asked.
“Flutterby.” Izzy touched every aspect of my life.
“Very well. What can I get for you?”
“I need a cheese tray, an order of your French-fried chicken, heirloom tomato salad with the lime cilantro dressing, an order of fries and an assortment of chocolates and pastries,” I rattled off.
“Your order will be delivered shortly, sir,” he stated very formally.
I snapped my fingers. “Oh, and add a bottle of champagne and some water.”
As I hung up the phone, the sound of falling water continued to emit from behind the locked bathroom door. While I waited on the food and Izzy, I cleaned up the discarded tissue paper and tidied up the rest of the suite. In the living room, I opened the balcony doors. Grabbing the lighter from the mantle, I lit the candles on the table. With nothing left to do, I found myself back in front of the Christmas tree. I couldn’t help myself. I picked up each of the gifts Izzy had placed under the tree and gave them a shake. I couldn’t guess anything from the weight and sound of them.
A knock on the room door startled me, making me nearly drop the package in my hands. My heart raced as guilt made my face flush. I shut the bedroom door as I moved to the main door. A young man in a suit rolled a silver cart filled with covered dishes. Efficiently, he helped me set them up on the table.
“Thought you might like some roses for your table too, sir.” He produced a vase of perfect roses from the bottom of the cart.
♪ The Rose by Bette Midler
“Thank you so much.” Izzy would love them.
We stood back, examining the set table. “How does it look?” I asked.
“Perfect, sir. She’ll love it,” he said with a broad smile.
I dug in my wallet to give him a generous tip, and he handed me a slip of paper. “What’s this?”
“Reheating instructions in case the food gets cold before you get a chance to eat it,” he said with a wink and left.
This hotel’s service was amazing. I’d have to compliment them to hotel management.
“Flutterby, food’s here,” I called out.
Behind me, the quiet slide of the bathroom door across the carpet seemed unnaturally loud in the silent space. Counting in my head to ten, I pretended to arrange the roses. Her form entered my peripheral vision. When I turned to face her, my jaw fell open and the rose in my hand fluttered to the floor.
“Should we eat? Or do you want to unwrap your gift first?”
She spun in a seductive circle. Her body was crisscrossed with a wide, red ribbon. A perfect bow rested between her breasts. With the placement of the satin, I couldn’t tell if she wore anything beneath the ribbon or not. My Adam’s apple bobbed hard in my throat as I drank in the sight of her.
♪ All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
I stepped over to her, trailing one finger from her shoulder to her palm. Her skin was so soft. “I want to unwrap my gift first. Unless you’re starving.” Please don’t be starving.
“I’m hungry. But not for that.” She waved her hand towards the table.
“The food will keep. You and I still have a lot of lost time to make up for,” I whispered huskily.
Forcing my racing heart to calm down so I could appreciate the moment, I slowly reached forward to grasp the end of the ribbon. I rubbed the satiny band through my fingers for a moment, my eyes never leaving hers. Anticipation shimmered in her gaze. I counted two measures worth of beats in my head before I gave a sharp tug on the end of the bow. A gasp parted her perfect lips. Good, I surprised her. She expected me to be impatient in tearing open my gift. Usually I was. It was nice to know I could still astonish her every now and then.
I gathered a length of the now loose ribbon and wadded it in my
hand. Slowly, I walked around her body, letting the red tape filter into my palm. The pounding in my chest increased in intensity with each inch of flesh I unwrapped. It was as if my heart wanted to burst through the confines of my chest and caress her soft, creamy skin itself. Leaving its own trail of red to mark and bind her to me.
After a few revolutions of my sun, Izzy, I’d unveiled enough of her to know what she wore beneath the gift wrap was another gift. I was ready to orbit her at the speed of light to get this top layer peeled away. But I was determined to be patient. It went against everything screaming within me, but she and this moment deserved to be savored.
“How many feet of ribbon did you use?” I croaked out, my fingers tracing the edge that still clung to her breasts. She shuddered beneath my gentle touch.
“Ummm…” She panted as I leaned forward and pressed my lips to the spot on her neck where her pulse fluttered rapidly.
“How many, Izzy?” I asked impatiently.
“I can’t do the math while you’re distracting me.” A moan vibrated her throat beneath my lips.
“Try. I need to know how many more feet of ribbon I have to unwind from your gorgeous body before I can have my wicked way with you.” My tongue traced a path from the hollow of her neck, where she smelled so sweet, across her delicate jaw and up to her sensitive earlobe.
“Y-you could just keep unwinding it,” she suggested.
“You’re making me dizzy,” I breathed into the shell of her ear.
“I… uh… I think it was ten yards, so thirty feet.” Her fingers gripped my hair, jerking my mouth up to meet hers. There was no gentleness with her kiss. She thrust her tongue against mine with a ferocity I’d never seen in her before. It was scorching hot. Just as I was tilting her head to change the angle, she tore her lips from mine. “Now finish unwrapping me and make love to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I saluted with a wink.
With renewed determination, I quickly circled her, untwisting the yards and yards of red. After what felt like an eternity, I finally peeled the last scrap of scarlet from her. I stepped back to get the full effect of what she was wearing. Or rather, what she wasn’t wearing. The bra and panties, if they could even be called that, were made of a series of strings. Black strings that revealed far more skin than they covered. I twirled my finger in the air, begging her to spin for me. As she did, the strings shifted, revealing tantalizing tidbits of flesh.
Notes of the Heart: Book 2 of the Lyrical Odyssey Rock Star Series Page 29