by Piper Stone
She crept quietly into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Grabbing a bottle of water, she closed the door and leaned against the counter as the soft hum of the appliances soothed her aching body somehow. Licking her lips, she closed her eyes and heard his words play over and over again in her mind. I love you. Shivering, she hugged herself and sighed as she sipped the cold liquid. Could he love her really? His actions and his words told her so many things.
As the wind howled outside, she moved back and forth, dancing to the rapid beat of her heart. Twirling, she felt light on her feet as she gyrated, bumping against the counter and chuckling. Her little dance number getting wild as she bounced into the island and laughed out loud as a flutter of papers cascaded to the floor. She bit her bottom lip and shook her head as she rounded the corner and leaned over, grabbing the stack. Placing them onto the counter, the travel brochure caught her attention. Even in the dim lighting she could tell the colorful papers were for a very festive island location. Unable to resist, she opened the folder and glanced at the materials.
An island retreat, her favorite place in the world, one that she’d talked with Thorne about over one too many glasses of wine long ago. She longed to move to a beautiful secluded beach and do nothing but write romantic poems. She smiled and fingered the vibrant ads as she noticed the papers nestled in the back. Her curiosity killing her, she eased them out and stared, blinking furiously to understand what she was seeing. The plane tickets, hotel reservations and full itinerary for two adults completely grabbed her attention. “What?”
Cristal jerked the papers to the kitchen sink and turned on the fluorescent light. Her hands shaking, she read and re-read the information, feeling a horrible level of rage building within her. What the hell? The plane was leaving the twenty-third of December, barely a few days away. Stunned, she had no idea what to think. He was leaving with another lover in a few days after just… just… fucking her? The realization hit her hard. Every part of her was floored to the point that she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even think and yet she knew she had to get out of the house.
Choking, she realized she was stuck in the middle of a goddamn snowstorm with no car and few clothes. What the fuck am I going to do? Groaning, her eyes darted back and forth across the damning evidence. Mortified that she’d allowed herself to get involved with him, she shivered and clutched the papers to her chest, staring out the window into the blackened night. As she gripped the counter, clawing the marble, tears streamed down her face.
“You left our bed, beautiful. Why?”
The words somehow caught her off guard. “Our bed?”
“Yes, our bed. One I hope you’ll consider sharing for a very long time.” Growling, Thorne moved close, purring as he neared her.
“Stay away.”
“What?” He stopped short and sighed. “What did you say?”
“Just leave me alone. I know I’m stuck here because of the damn storm, but in the morning I’ll find a way out.” Every emotion raged within her and she had no idea what to say.
Thorne moved toward her. “What are you talking about? Did I hurt you?”
Yeah, you asshole! Taking another woman to the freaking islands after fucking me. “I just need to get away. Just stay the fuck away.” Her anger building, she gripped the papers and fought throwing them in his face.
He didn’t stay away. Instead, he crowded her space, leaning over her shoulder. “You’re angry with me for this?”
“This? This?” Incensed, Cristal jerked around to face him and hissed. “When were you going to tell me?” Pitching the brochure in his face, she rolled her eyes.
“I… I wasn’t sure you’d want to… to… I wasn’t sure if…” Thorne cocked his head. “Wait a minute. What do you think this is?”
She snorted and jerked past him. “Taking another lover to the islands for the holidays is uncouth by anyone’s standards. Jesus Christ, what was I thinking?”
Thorne hesitated, his mouth twisting before he spoke. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me, buddy!” Throwing the stack in his face, she stomped out of the kitchen, admonishing herself for trusting another man. Seeing the gorgeous tree shimmering in the living room, she fought breaking down into a fit of tears. Hearing his thumping footsteps behind her, she resisted running like a frightened child.
He grabbed her arm and yanked her around, thrusting her against his body. “Who the hell do you think this is for?” Thorne held out the brochure.
Cristal eyed his angry look and hissed. “I’m not going to just fuck you so you can go and be with another woman!”
“I don’t want to fuck another woman!”
“And you aren’t going to fuck me either!” Jerking away from him, she stormed to the end of the room.
“Stop it! I bought these tickets for you! For us! I wanted to show you how much I care and how much I love you. I didn’t know what else to give you so I planned a trip.”
Cristal stopped short and could barely hear anything over the ragged thumping of her heart. “You planned a… a trip for us? Us? Why?”
Thorne groaned. “Come here.”
“No. No!”
“Come. Here. Now.”
There was something so wonderful about his beguiling and commanding voice. Did he really plan a trip for them? “I… Why?”
“Because I want to give you your Christmas gift,” Thorne murmured, his tone full of love.
She turned and gazed into his eyes. With the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree as a backdrop, the stunning view of him standing fully naked and aroused sent a jolt of dancing heat straight into her pussy. “Gift?”
“Uh huh. Come here.” His grin infectious, he beckoned her with his index finger.
“You don’t have another girl?”
“Are you fucking out of your mind? I can’t even handle the woman of my dreams, yet. But I damn well plan on trying and experimenting and tasting and…”
Cristal bit her bottom lip and inched forward, her feet heavy, but her heart and mind more than curious. “I don’t know what to say.” She looked away, unsure of herself.
“Please come here and talk to me.”
“What’s going on between us, Thorne? I have to know.”
He sighed and shook his head. “I haven’t been honest with you. It’s time I start.”
Just hearing the words forced a tremor down her spine. She’d made a fool of herself, she just knew it. “Oh?” Fool!
Thorne nodded toward the tree. “I misled you.”
She glanced up at the tree. The tiny golden package caught her attention. Trembling, she moved closer. “How did you mislead me?”
“I wanted to get you into bed.”
“Yes.” Cristal swallowed hard and stared into his shimmering eyes, noticing tears welling in the corners. “That I understand.”
“I wanted to taste your sweet pussy.”
“Yes.” Tell me something I don’t know. Cristal watched as he pulled down the package.
“And while I love it, crave it and want so much more. I… I need something from you.”
“What?” Barely able to recognize her voice, as she gazed into his eyes, she could see the glimmer of love shining through.
He handed her the package. “Open it.”
“Why should I?”
“Open the box.” Forcing the tiny box into her hand, he cupped his over hers and leaned forward, brushing his lips across hers. “Please.”
Every part of her body shaking, she managed to slit the little foil ends, pulling out the small velvet box. Unable to breathe any longer, she glanced into his eyes as he lowered himself to his knees. “I… What are you doing?”
“What I should have done years ago.” Thorne grabbed the box from her hand and opened it slowly. “I’ve been a fool, Cristal. Please marry me.”
Taken completely aback, Cristal envisioned years of their friendship as the memories and images passed by her eyes in dazzling Technicolor. The stunning ring of rubies
and diamond was huge and amazing and wonderful and… And she was in shock.
“Please.”
She turned her head and gazed out the window, concentrating on the falling wisps of snow for a moment, garnering strength. When she turned back to look into his eyes, tears tumbled out of her own. “I love you and I’ll be your wife, but…”
“But?” His voice caught.
“I have one request.”
Standing slowly, Thorne placed the ring on her finger. “Anything and everything.”
Feeling playful, Cristal gazed at the ring and grinned, finally turning her hungry look to the man who would become her husband as she fingered the silk tie on the robe and grabbed his hand. “Unwrap me and you get to keep what’s inside, forever.”
The End
Piper Stone
Piper Stone writes in several genres including thrillers, erotic romance, dark erotic, Domestic Discipline, spanking, Domination and submission and traditional romance. She has a love of the non-traditional, preferring to create worlds that defy the imagination. Wine and sous vide cooking are only second to her love of golden retrievers and you might find all three nestled in the pages of a book or two.
She has several releases from Blushing Books including the upcoming books Shadow – Maverick, and the Fire Devil series.
She will also have several releases with Bethany’s Woodshed in the upcoming months.
Dark + Dangerous + Delicious = D3
Literary Emotions Unleashed…
Connect with Piper Stone:
darkdangerousdelicious.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Other Titles by Piper Stone
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Piper Stone and Blushing Books!
Truth Or Dare
Submissive For Hire
Honor and Obey Series
Honor and Obey, Vol. One
Dirty Little Secrets Series
His Demands - Book One
His Hidden Girl - Book Two
His Judgment - Book Three
Power Exchange Series
Becoming - Book One
Rescue Me Series
Maverick -Book One
Shadow - Book Two
Missoula Smokejumpers Series
Standing at the River’s Edge - Prequel
Three Rivers Run Deep - Book One
Embracing the Quiet Night (Christmas Novella) -available Dec. 2017
Anthologies
Hero Undercover
Connect with Piper Stone:
darkdangerousdelicious.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Hot This Christmas Season
12 Naughty Days of Christmas 2017
Bethany Leigh
©2017 by Blushing Books® and Bethany Leigh
All rights reserved.
No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by Blushing Books®,
a subsidiary of
ABCD Graphics and Design
977 Seminole Trail #233
Charlottesville, VA 22901
The trademark Blushing Books®
is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Bethany Leigh
Hot This Christmas Season
Cover Art by ABCD Graphics & Design
This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.
Chapter 1
“Wait till you see the new cop,” said Jodi, plonking her bag on her desk next to Fel’s. “He is hot.”
Fel grinned as she looked up from the report she was writing. Every summer, Jodi developed a crush on some hot guy. Last year it had been a surf lifesaver; the year before that a volunteer ranger helping to cover the busy Christmas season. Now, Jodi ran a comb through her unruly blonde curls and used her phone to check her appearance. Smitten again!
“He’d just arrived when I left the store,” Jodi continued. “Kane said he’ll bring him in here and introduce him to everybody once he’s dropped his bags off.” She placed her phone on her desk, turned on her computer. “It’s about time we had some eye candy around here.”
“It doesn’t matter what people look like, it’s how good they are at their jobs,” Gerry, the head ranger, commented primly as he passed their pod, coffee in hand. Silver haired, with middle age spread, Gerry had worked at Tarwin Point National Park for twenty-five years.
“So what’s wrong with good-looking guys doing a good job?” Fel quipped.
Gerry rolled his eyes. “Whatever this new senior sergeant looks like, I’m glad to have the cops here,” he said. “There was a bit of trouble last night. Somebody playing loud music at two in the morning, keeping the other campers awake.”
The heady Australian cocktail of Christmas, New Year’s and long school holidays drew the party crowds to the Tarwin Point campgrounds over summer. So every year for the five weeks between Christmas and Australia Day, the poky police station that occupied one corner of the visitors centre was home to two police officers. The rest of the year it stood empty.
Fel turned back to her report. She had just an hour of her shift left, and wanted this tedious task out of her life before she drove home. She’d spent most of the day wading through the latest proposed amendments to the park’s plan of management tome before addressing them in her report. The only part of today that hadn’t been dull had been decorating the visitors centre’s Christmas tree.
The office door creaked open.
“Look out, team,” said Gerry. “The cops are here.”
Fel swivelled her seat around to greet the police officers. She spotted Constable Kane Hamilton first. She knew him well now; he’d worked at Tarwin Point the last couple of summers. He was in his early twenties, with dark curls, freckles and a cheerful grin. She waved to him just as a second uniformed officer stepped into the office.
Fel’s hand froze mid-wave and her heartbeat quickened.
Jodi had been right.
The new cop was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark brown hair and angled cheekbones – totally hot.
But he was also the boy she’d played with as a child, when she’d spent school holidays with her grandmother in the country.
Nick Loxton.
The boy she’d played spanking games with.
Spanking games she had introduced him to.
Principal and naughty schoolgirl. Cops and robbers. Ten-year-old Nick bringing eight-year-old Fizzy (as she’d called herself then) into line with his hand, a ruler, and a switch from the backyard they’d pretended was a cane.
Their games – and friendship – had come to an abrupt end when Gran had moved into an old people’s home when Fel was nine. She had never seen Nick Loxton again.
Until now.
She wanted to sink into the ground.
Fel swung back to her computer and feigned sudden fascination with the plan of management report. She heard Gerry say, “Kane, you know everybody here. Nick, let me introduce you to some of the rangers. Team, this is Senior Sergeant Nick Loxton. This is his first summer at the park, so let’s all make him welcome.” He led Nick over to Jodi and Fel’s pod first. “Nick, this is Jodi Hammersley.”
Blood pounded in Fel’s ears and her throat was dry. Would Nick remember her? More to the point, did he remember the spanking? Lots of people didn’t remember much about their childhood, and the spanking wouldn’t have meant as much to Nick as it had to her.
“And this is Fel Martin,” said Gerry. “She’s been with us – three years, isn’t it, Fel?”
Fel braced herself to bluff this out. “Yes.” She held out her hand to gr
eet Nick.
He took her hand in his much larger one and her breath hitched as she imagined it landing on her bottom. Nick smiled and said, “Nice to meet you, Fel.” There was no indication that he remembered her.
“Would you like a coffee?” Jodi asked him. “You and Kane, I mean? We’ve got some cake as well.”
“Yeah, why not?” said Nick. “Unpacking my bags can wait.”
Gerry led Nick across to the other rangers’ pods. Fel didn’t feel ready to handle small talk with Nick over coffee and cake. The damn report would have to wait till Nick was out of the office, even if it meant working late to finish it. She grabbed her phone, and hurried across the office, acting like she needed to make an important call.
Fel walked past the tourists crowded around the exhibits in the visitors centre and stepped outside. It was like entering a furnace. No wonder so many campers sought refuge in the air-conditioned visitors centre. Fel aimed for the shade of tea tree, and stood, phone against her ear, her mind a kaleidoscope of thoughts and fears.
How was she going to get through the next five weeks?
She wished she’d applied for annual leave this summer.
Nick shook hands with two young male rangers, whose names he’d already forgotten because he was distracted. In the corner of his eye he saw Fizzy – or Fel, as she called herself now – dash towards the office door, phone in hand.
He’d recognised her straightaway, even though she was twenty years older, much taller and curvier, and her chestnut-coloured hair was cut in a stylish bob and not scooped up in a ponytail. When they’d shaken hands he hadn’t been able resist checking her free hand for rings. He was surprised how chuffed he felt that she wasn’t married or engaged. Not that it meant there was no man in her life, of course.