Twisted Christmas

by Sara Cate

  “Oh, I did,” Val exclaims. “I met James years ago.”

  “What?” I whisper, feeling the third bomb of the morning go off. I look at Knox, but the asshole doesn’t even have the courage to look at me, then I look at my sister.

  “Yeah, I met him when he came to see Knox years ago! It was so fun!”

  “Years ago, huh?” I repeat, the broken pieces shattering even further. If Val met Knox’s father years ago--presumably when we were still dating, then that means Val and Knox were already going behind my back for a long time. It wasn’t a ‘mistake’ that ‘just happened’. And now, here they are, married and together and meanwhile, I spread my legs for my ex’s father. Over and over again.

  Val nods, her face falling when she looks at me, but those eyes… they remain sharp and focused. She really knows what she’s doing, but I’m no longer the kind of girl that takes crap from anyone.

  “Oh that’s nice!” I say, with a smile of my own, but it’s fake. “It’s good to hear that you met your future father-in-law years back. I mean, you and Knox must’ve been close since he always told me his father was never home when we were dating.”

  An awkward and tense silence falls between us. Knox shifts on his feet, Val is kind of glaring at me, but James, he watches me with… a slight bit of amusement mixed with that male dominance that makes a shiver go down my spine.

  “If it’s all the same, I really did want to meet you,” James says, stepping closer. I have to crane my neck to keep holding his gaze because as the sharp pain of my sister and ex’s betrayal digs a new hole in my soul, James seems to be the only one that’s keeping me calm.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I totally spaced.” Val scrambles and perks up then. “James, this is my sister, the one I was telling you is a workaholic and has no life whatsoever,” Val sing-songs, annoyingly. “And Nicki, meet James Cross.”

  Val’s introduction is biting, but I don’t give a damn because suddenly, my steamy one--well, my two-night stand--is right in front me, towering over me, watching me, taking me in, studying me the way only he does.

  I can’t help but catch a whiff of his rich masculine scent that I swear is still on me. I see his large hand rise up, reaching for me and now all I can think is where those very fingers were a few hours ago.

  “Hello Nicole,” James says smoothly in that rich baritone that had me curling my toes as he groaned in my ear last night, but the way he says my name… I can’t help but shiver and he catches the tail end of it as he grasps my hand in his. The devil has the audacity to smirk, a hint of humor in his eyes. Urgh.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cross,” I say in a hot whisper, as electricity passes between us. He holds my gaze and I know he knows but can he also sense the anger building up in me?

  “No, no,” he purrs with a note of darkness in his voice. “The pleasure is all mine.”

  Jesus Christ.

  Can this damn earth open up and swallow me whole? What did I ever do to get this double burn of pain, embarrassment and hurt all in one go?

  As if I just got burned, I snatch my hand back and take a couple of steps away from James. “I’m sorry, I feel slightly lightheaded.”

  It’s then that James moves, as silently as ever and before I know it, he’s right by my side.

  “Long night, huh?” he asks smoothly, his rich baritone snaking its way back into my veins like a drug, but I can hear the teasing in his voice. Urgh, I want to punch him or something.

  “Well, I wouldn’t say that exactly.”

  He smirks, his eyes saying what his lips won’t. Liar.

  “Okay, now that we’ve all met, I think it’s time we all hit the road!” Val says, interrupting the moment! “We’re already behind schedule.”

  “That’s because Dad disappeared last night,” Knox grits, speaking for the first time as he glares at his father, but James is unperturbed as he looks at me.

  “I’m sure you and Val needed some space,” James says smoothly, then his voice lowers and becomes so fucking rough, I can’t help but look at him.. “And besides, I had a problem to take care of, I’m not one to leave important matters neglected in the cold.”

  My God!

  The canal lust and the intent behind those words. Oh my God! I think I’m wet again. Shit!

  I completely miss the way Knox is glaring at his dad or the slight frown on Val’s face. I’m just focused on James, but then I quickly step back, shaking my head to expel this hold James has over me but something tells me he hasn’t begun yet. This is going to be a long Christmas.

  “Yay! You’ll love the cabin, Nicole! It’s so huge and gorgeous,” Val says as she quickly grabs Knox’s face and pulls him down for a kiss right in front of me. “I know Knox and I love it so much, especially after the last few days in those rooms…” she trails off and they start kissing again.

  My stomach starts to protest as bile rises up my throat.

  I don’t think I can do this.

  I can’t stomach going to stay in a cabin that Val and Knox made out or fucked in--that’s basically what she’s telling me--let alone spend the next few days in close proximity to this kind of hurt and betrayal. I just can’t.

  “You know what…” I start, walking toward my carry on, my mind scrambling to come up with an excuse so I can get the hell out of here. “I think…”

  “I’ll carry that for you,” James says smoothly, grabbing my carry-on before I can reach it. When the hell did he get close to me? I strain up and look at him, panic in my eyes. Behind us, Knox and Val are laughing about something as they get ready to leave, but James is watching me. “No running.”

  “James…”

  “I won’t let you.”

  I believe him. I can see he won’t let me go. It’s right there in his eyes and the way his well defined body is curved my way, his gaze tracking every minute twitch and move I make.

  “Ready to go, Mr. Cross?” Val says, interrupting the moment.

  James and I break apart smoothly, but now, I’m just mad. If he respected me, if he actually cared for his one-night stands, he’d let me leave right now with whatever shreds of dignity I still have because right now, I might as well have the word ‘STUPID BITCH’ tattoed in neon green on my forehead.

  “Of course,” James says smoothly, then he opens the front door and looks directly at me. It’s both a dare and a warning. I’m so fucked. “Shall we?” he asks, watching me.

  What could I do besides nod mutely like a fucking Barbie doll and pass through the door with my heart in my throat?

  The drive to the cabin is even more tense for me on all fronts.

  Firstly, Knox and Val are all but dry humping each other in the backseat of the luxurious Jeep. Val’s haughty laugh is grating on my nerves with each mile, but secondly, I’m in the passenger seat, which means I’m so fucking close to the expert, silentky brooding driver, James.

  Just last night, in this very car, he was Mr. Cross from the ultra-penthouse that I’d been lucky enough to meet in a lonely bar years later. The same Mr. Cross who couldn’t keep his hands off me the entire drive to his apartment. I remember the way he trailed his fingers under my skirt as he drove and now those expert, deft fingers are on the steering wheel again, But he’s no longer the ultra-rich, steamy alpha, I mean, he still is all that, but he’s more now and I literally have no idea how to react to that

  Last night, I was humming with lust and need but now, I’m buzzing with tension, nervousness and a bit of anger.

  I can feel his more than occasional glances at me every few minutes but I do my best to stare out the window.

  James and I are silent on the drive over, but the pull and tension between us keeps mounting but if there’s one thing I’m grateful for, it’s the way he leaves me alone and diverts all of my sister’s snarky comments about my life to something else.

  When Val comments about how hard I work, James says he loves people who work hard and adds in a low voice while looking at me, “Hard workers deserve to be re
warded.” That shuts her up and heats me up.

  When she tells James about one of my most embarrassing high school moments, the time I stained myself when I got my period at school unexpectedly, I look away at the verge of tears as I remember the comments mean boys and girls made at school, but James just brushes it off, not giving her the reaction she needs. Instead, he removes his jacket, claiming that it’s too hot in the car and places the large jacket on the console between our seats, then, in a move so daring that drives my senses into overdrive, he reaches over and grabs my hand.

  Shocked, I look at him only to realize that he put the jacket there to hide what’s happening up front from Val and Knox.

  Suddenly, I’m emotional for a whole other reason. I’m mad at him sure, but for the rest of the way to James’ cabin while Val flirts with Knox, talking about their ‘rad’ and ‘crazy’ wedding night, I cling to his large, calloused hand.

  I’m sure my grip is tight and at some point when Val starts talking about how she was closer to our parents than I was, I think my fingernails dig into the flesh of his hand, but James doesn’t flinch. When I realize what I’ve done, I try to let go of his hand, but he stubbornly refuses.

  Overwhelmed and grateful at this man that I know I should stay away from, I apologize by lowering my head and plant kisses where I hurt him.

  That’s when I hear a low growl coming from beside me. Hmm, he’s aroused.

  Smirking, I glance at him through my eyelashes only to see his heavy lidded gaze intently focused on the road but I know better, he’s focused on me.

  To prove it, he pulls my hand slowly over to his side and makes me cup his steely hard on through his jeans. A hot thrill rushes through me, I can’t help but hum low in my throat as I look at James who faces the road with a pained expression on his face. Good.

  I cup him in my hand, then, biting my lip to stop myself from purring with want, I give him a quick but tight squeeze, feeling naughty and a bit more alive than I was a minute ago. James grabs my hand so fast, I almost start laughing.

  “Behave,” he murmurs in that low voice of his, but I only squeeze him through his jeans in response. “Fuck.”

  “Did you say something, Mr. Cross?” Val questions from the backseat, breaking the naughty bubble James and I are in. When I glance back at her, she has a quizzical expression on her face.

  “I said we’re here,” James says after clearing his throat.

  Shocked, I turn around and low and behold, my jaw drops to my lap.

  “Oh my gosh, we’re here!” Val screeches. “Look at that, Nicki!”

  Feeling hellish, I give James’ hard cock one last squeeze through his jeans, then I snatch my hand away just in time to hear him curse softly.

  “Wow, that’s huge,” I say, impressed by the huge cabin that is secluded in the mountains.

  “That’s what you said last night,” James growls so low, I smile then look out the window.

  “What?” Val questions.

  “Nothing,” James says, as he drives up the long driveway leading toward the beautiful cabin. See, I wasn’t expecting to give a damn about this Godforsaken trip that’s given me a whirlwind of emotions since I boarded the plane, but as I look up at the huge log cabin, surrounded by ever-green pine trees, I instantly fall in love with the place.

  “Wow,” I breathe when I step out of the car, wanting to get a closer look. Everyone gets out of the car then Knox comes to stand close to me.

  “Wow is fucking right at how obnoxious this place is,” Knox says, a bit of annoyance in his voice. “It’s the only thing my dearest father wanted in the divorce settlement. Forget about fighting for his marriage, no, he wanted this pile of wood in the mountains like the selfish hermit he is.”

  “Knox!” Appalled at Knox’s blatant disrespect for his father. “You can’t say that.”

  “Why not?” he scoffs. “It’s fucking true.”

  “Knox, baby, that’s not nice,” Val says going round and pressing herself to his front like this a fucking club. “We’re here to celebrate the holidays and our love.”

  Why is Val rubbing her ‘marriage’ in my face? I fucking get it. But what Knox says is stuck in my head.

  I glance at James and notice his jaw is clenched, his eyes are hard but he doesn’t say a word. It looks like these jabs between father and son are a common occurrence. But James’s silence tells me everything I need to know. He’s a man that values his peace and tranquility, and he apparently loves this cabin. I think it’s sweet.

  I watch as James rounds to the back of the car to get my carry-on, then he’s back with it.

  “It’s gorgeous,” I murmur for his ears only. “Can’t wait to see more of it.”

  He looks down at me. For a heartbeat we stand there watching each other.

  “Why don’t you get settled and then we’ll get acquainted when I give you the tour of the grounds?”

  “Actually, I can do that,” Knox says, stepping forward.

  Val frowns unhappily, looking at her new hubby. “But, I never got the tour,” she whines.

  I do my best not to roll my eyes, but James is still watching me. He raises an eyebrow and I nod.

  Yes, she’s always been like this but somehow, she’s worse now than she was when we were growing up. But hey, you opened up your home and your family to her. I’m fine.

  James glances at Val with a small frown that I would’ve missed if I hadn’t spent hours studying his face, then he looks back at me, but he doesn’t say a word. Suddenly, I’m desperate to know what he’s thinking, but I bite my bottom lip.

  “Nicki?” Knox calls.

  “Yes?”

  “Do you want a tour right now?”

  I look up at James, so glad that he’s right in front of me and he’s the only one that can see my face right now.

  “I think they’ll be plenty of time for that,” James says, looking into my eyes. “Maybe now Nicole can go up to her room and freshen up after her long…” I glare at him. “flight… and then we can all get brunch?”

  Nice save.

  “Yes! That’s a good idea James!” Val gushes, all high school cheerleader type of bullshit she loves to pull when vying for attention. “Knox and I wanted to surprise you with an incredible brunch!”

  “You are making brunch?” I ask, my eyebrow raised. “Since when do you cook?”

  “Since Knox and I’ve been taking couple’s cooking classes,” she gushes.

  It’s like I’ve just been whiplashed...again.

  “Cooking classes?” I croak, glancing at Knox, but he can’t even look at me.

  “Oh yes!” Val goes on. “I said it as a joke one day but he surprised me with our class passes the next day! He said a couple that cooks together…”

  “--stays together, yeah,” I mutter, the hurt in my chest blooming as I recall saying those exact words to Knox only for him to blow me off after I begged him to take cooking classes with me. I guess I was the wrong one for him.

  Everything I wanted with him, a future, a marriage, even freaking cooking classes, he gave it all to my baby sister!

  “Isn’t he the sweetest?” Val gushes, her arms circled around Knox, but she’s watching me as if she’s waiting for me to react.

  I don’t.

  “He really is,” I mumble, schooling my facial features when I see the Cheshire grin on my sister’s face.

  “Come on baby, let’s go to the kitchen and this time try to keep your hands to your task instead of me.”

  I clear my throat, looking straight ahead.

  “Well, then,” James starts. “I’ll show Nicole to her room.”

  “You don’t have to--” I start, but he cuts me off.

  “I insist.”

  A hot thrill rushes down my spine, leaving me breathless as those two tersely worded word.

  “How can I resist?” I murmur.

  “You simply can’t,” he counters.

  He picks up my bag and I follow him down the hall, completely disregarding
Knox and Val who are watching us as we go.

  The cabin is nothing like I’d pictured it would be, but then again, what was I expecting? Moths and rotting wood just to spite my ex and my sister? Yeah right. Everything about Val is sparkly and if she wants grand, expensive shit, she gets it. Val has always had the ability to get whatever she wants. Even if it was mine.

  The cabin is more like a mansion, with every tasteful and expensive design you’d expect to find in a secluded cabin in the mountains.

  I love the intimate ambience in the room, it reminds me so much of the night I had with James years ago at the hotel but more than that, the space reminds me of the man himself.

  It’s a bit rustic with a pre-war style to it, yet you can see the modern aspects all over. The huge Christmas tree in the warm living room, and just beyond, there is a wall of floor-ceiling length windows that show a spectacular view of the evergreens and the mountains in the distance.

  “Wow,” I whisper in awe. “I wouldn’t mind living up here all year.”

  “I wouldn’t mind having you here snowed in with me either,” James whispers in my ear and then he’s moving. “Come on.”

  I have no idea what I was expecting but there’s something about this place, something about these walls that feels so… James Cross.

  There’s so much I want to ask him, but the tension between us is crackling like electricity. I catch the way the muscles of his forearms flex as he pushes my little carry on with him. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance that I might make it out of this fucking holiday with my sanity in check and my broken heart in the pieces I can manage.

  We go up a flight of stairs and then I silently follow James down a very dark, very long hallway until we reach one of the only two doors that are visible on this side of the cabin.

  Strange, why is there only two doors?

  We passed so many rooms on our way up here and this side has a more sinister feel to it, more secluded. Why did he bring me up here?

  Blindly, I follow James into the room and before I know it, a strong arm snakes it’s way around my waist and then I’m hauled up to a strong chest in a flash. Before I can take or breathe or think, firm lips smash against mine.