Snow and Seduction (A Holiday Romance)

by Evelyn Moreau

  Just as he made it to her, he stopped in his tracks. The scene that greeted him was not one he expected. Her back was to him. She was safe for the moment. Unscratched but on edge. Relief coursed through his veins to counteract his adrenaline rush.

  His eyes roamed over her. Good. She was in one piece. Her entire body was tense, ready to fight her foes. He couldn’t see what was in front of her.

  “I’m here, bomboncita, I’m here. What can I do?”

  She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Don’t just stand there, help me!”

  He crunched through the snow and took a few steps closer. Kennedy was surrounded. Clutching a stick, she swung wildly at the animals cornering her. Luke had been expecting a fox, maybe a coyote. But this? This was an entire pack.

  Of possums.

  He dropped the axe to the side, trying to hold off the laughter bubbling from his chest. It was no use, the sound poured from his mouth.

  “Are you…are you laughing right now?” Kennedy sounded shocked.

  He tried to compose himself. He really did. “Kenn, drop the stick,” he managed to say between laughs.

  “Hell no. These-these things are trying to kill me.” She swung at the air with her stick.

  He sobered up. “Drop the stick and back away. Slowly. Just trust me.” Somehow the phrase ‘playing possum’ must not have computed in her panic to escape. Possums were generally non-combative. If she stopped taunting them, there was a good chance that they’d leave her be.

  It took her ten minutes, but she eventually dropped the stick. She was walking backwards towards him. Only fifty more feet to go and he’d have her safe in his arms.

  “That’s it, just walk towards me. Easy now.”

  As soon as she was in a safe distance, she hurled herself in his arms. Salty little drops decorated her cheeks. Luke’s guilt ate at him. Possums or not, his woman was scared.

  “You saved my life.” A small sob racked her body as she clung to him. He rubbed her back and murmured soothing words in her ear.

  He debated whether or not to tell her that her life wasn’t in any danger. If he was honest with himself, he didn’t want to. Her body pressed against him, willingly, was all he’d craved for the past few days.

  Settling his hands at her waist, he whispered in her ear, “I think we’ve had enough of the outdoors for today. Ready to head back?”

  She nodded, her mouth inches away from his. Standing at barely five-foot, Luke let her pull his face the rest of the way down. She kissed the corner of his lips. He tightened his grip on her hips. A few loose strands of her hair tickled his nose. And he breathed in her familiar scent.

  Feather soft, she licked his bottom lip. Patience was not a virtue he prioritized. Yet he let her take control of the kiss, not wanting to scare her away. Her full breasts pushed deliciously against his chest. The icy cold didn’t prevent her heat from seeping into the marrow of his bones. The little brain in his pants wanted to lay her down right there in the snow. But the brain in his head recognized that her safety was more important.

  “Let’s get you back inside where it’s safe and warm,” he said against her mouth.

  Grabbing her gloved fingers, he tugged Kennedy in front of him, making their way back to the cabin hand-in-hand.

  Luke held Kennedy’s hand tightly as they walked. Maybe, in his odd, eccentric way, Santa was looking out for him after all.

  He cracked a smile at that. In a million years, Luke never thought he’d be so grateful for a pack of feral possums.

  Chapter 16

  Species extinction was horrible.

  Catastrophic.

  On the other hand, Kennedy wouldn’t be too sad if every single possum vanished off the face of the earth. Permanently. She shuttered thinking about how the entire situation could have taken a turn for the worst if Luke hadn’t found her.

  Her knight in shining armor deserved to be rewarded. In fairytales, knights in shining armor were rewarded with gold. The modern-day woman that she was, Kennedy planned to offer her hero a juicier, moister alternative.

  In her bedroom, Luke played the role of sexy nurse. It was completely unnecessary, but he was convinced that she needed care. He was sweet, and good, and caring. She appreciated it, she really did. But that’s not what she wanted right now. The only thing that could make her ache go away was in his pants.

  She frowned as he took off her shoes and put her in to bed like a sick toddler. How was she supposed to entice him when he saw her as his patient? She blew out a breath.

  Luke scrunched his eyebrows. “Are you hurt? I can ask Gretz for the First-Aid Kit.”

  “No, you don’t have to do that. I’m alright,” she said, taking his hand. He didn’t look convinced. “I promise,” she added.

  Luke’s presence made her feel cherished and protected. Kennedy didn’t have many opportunities to let down her guard. Usually she wore her independence like a shield. A safeguard against letting people in. But Luke’s baby blues were sincere. He really did have her best interest at heart.

  Five years ago, she hadn’t believed him. Five years ago, she was an idiot.

  Intense longing rose from her core, through her belly and bloomed in her chest. Normally, she pushed those feelings back down. The time had come to put up or shut up.

  She increased the pressure on his hand and pulled him into the bed with her.

  “What are you–”

  She cut him off. “I was shaken up but, look, not a scratch on me.” Kennedy glided her nails along his biceps. “I’m a-okay. In fact, I’m going to show you just how okay I am.”

  Luke’s eyebrows shoot upward. Kennedy used his surprise to her advantage. She straddled him and had her lips planted on his before he had a chance to get a word out.

  He stopped kissing her and stared. She felt an immediate sense of loss until she looked in his eyes. This wasn’t a casual observation. Luke looked awestruck. Like she was a goddess to be worshipped.

  His goddess.

  She pushed his blonde hair off his forehead. “You’re so damn pretty, Lu. A fucking heartbreaker.”

  A hand shot out to grip her throat. Not in a scary way, but in a dominant way. “There’s only one of us here that broke the other’s heart.”

  She brushed his comment off. Memory lane was not her intended destination. She course-corrected, squeezing her knees around his hips. His pants put up a good fight against his straining erection, but she secretly hoped they lost the war.

  She licked her lips, then licked his. “That mouth of yours…show me what else it can do.”

  His gaze raked over her to see if she was serious. “Your wish is my command.” His hands grabbed fistfuls of her ass and squeezed. That magnificent dimple of his was on full display now.

  His mouth settled into the slope of her neck as her hips rolled into him. He sucked the tender flesh connecting her neck to her shoulder. Every delicious second of suction sent electric shivers down her spine.

  She bit back a moan as he massaged her firm ass, pulling her cheeks apart then bringing them back together. The difference between nursemaid Luke and fuck-me Luke was night and day. Pure, unadulterated sex oozed from his pores. His hands crept in to her stretchy pants, allowing him unadulterated access as he palmed her ass.

  She wanted his body, naked and intertwined with hers. That much she knew and had finally accepted. Never in her wildest dreams had she seen this happening. From the moment he had reentered her life, she resisted and fought it. Now she was instigating it.

  “Shirt. Off,” she muttered against his lips. A grin slips onto his face. He pulled his sweater, then his undershirt. Kennedy’s fingertips took a pause from exploring his skin as she pulled off her own top. Not missing a beat, she caught his bottom lip like a dog with a chew toy.

  Luke’s skin had an addictive quality to it. Her mouth covered every inch of him it could. His lips. His cheeks. His neck. His shoulders. His chest. Every kiss she gave was a tender plea for forgiveness. Every bit of physical contact
increased the moisture pooling below.

  The clasps of her bra broke free as he released her breasts from their confinement. He slipped a chocolate bud in his mouth. Electricity rocketed through her body as he suckled.

  Strong fingers pushed the waistband of her pants off her hips, down past her ass. His mouth latched on to hers, overwhelming her senses with his primal intensity. She felt the first brush of his fingers against her sex, felt him stroke her through her silk panties, and shivered in anticipation.

  More of that please.

  A clearing of the throat was the only warning they had that Gretzky was outside the room. Her nipple popped free from Luke’s warm, wet mouth. Nothing like an unwanted voyeur to douse out heated arousal.

  Fuck.

  Annoyance etched her brow. She finally made up her mind to seduce Luke today and the world kept conspiring against her. First, Mother Nature and now an overconsiderate butler.

  “Ms. Notyce, Mr. Simon, I set up the theater room for you both to enjoy a movie before dinner,” the head steward said from the other side of Kennedy’s bedroom door.

  Luke’s head fell back against the pillow in defeat. Grinding her teeth, Kennedy regained her composure. “Good idea, Gretz. Thanks for setting that up for us. We’ll be down in just a few minutes.”

  “So much for keeping everything a secret,” she muttered.

  Slap! Luke brought a heavy hand down on her ass, “Giddy up, Kenn. Don’t want to keep the man waiting, now do we?”

  Damn him, she thought. She crawled off his body.

  “We’re going to finish this. I need–” she said, with a breathy voice she didn’t recognize.

  He kissed her shoulder. “I know exactly what you want, and I have exactly what you need. I’m not going anywhere, bombon,” he said reassuringly. He tossed her wink.

  Even at a time like this, Luke was an impossible charmer.

  She watched him, and his impressive erection, walk through the door, heading towards his room, and away from her. What was she supposed to do now? Her clit throbbed, her nipples ached to be touched. This was hell. She screamed her frustration into a pillow.

  Why was it that sex with Luke seemed so impossible now that she actually wanted it?

  Kennedy headed downstairs dressed in only a bra, underwear, and knee-length fluffy robe. Luke was hot on her tail in basketball shorts and a t-shirt.

  The home theater room was immaculate. An oversized screen made the room feel like an authentic movie theater. The room was pitch black save for the white Christmas lights that bordered the projection screen.

  And instead of movie style seating, there was a plush bed front and center, adorned with lavish pillows. The scent of melted butter and salt prickled her nose. Along the wall to the right of the bed, was a vintage popcorn machine.

  She grabbed a small bag of popcorn and climbed onto the bed. Luke lifted up the covers for her to slide in first, then slid in behind her, sealing them in a cocoon of blankets. He wrapped his big hands around her waist and pulled her into him. She swiveled her hips in a desperate attempt to get closer to

  Usually, spooning was a fantastic activity. It was considered an extremely enjoyable position in the afterglow of sex. Except right now, it felt like punishment. Spooning was a poor substitute for sex. Whoever said anything different was a damn liar.

  Minimal lighting, a bed, and salty snacks, spelled out disaster for her libido. She didn’t know what movie Gretzky picked. To be quite fucking honest, she didn’t care. Jumping Luke’s bones was quickly becoming her only objective.

  For ninety minutes they laughed and cringed at an early 2000s romcom. It was fun and innocent. Sweet and wholesome. But neither them fooled anyone. They both were literally counting down the minutes until they could resume their previous activities.

  When the credits rolled, she turned over and met his hungry gaze. A small smirk snaked onto his face. It didn’t take a rocket science to see that Luke seemed to sense the direction of her thoughts. She licked her lips.

  He leaned close, his buttery breath on her cheek. “Race you to my room?” he asked.

  An acute awareness fell over them as they stared into each other’s eyes. A tidal wave of arousal washed over her, clouding her judgment.

  What would it be like to let him fuck her again? What would it feel like if she let him take complete control like she used to? Would the sex be better now that they were older?

  Only one way to find out.

  Chapter 17

  The movie was a classic but ultimately forgettable.

  The popcorn, while delicious, did nothing to feed his insatiable appetite. Luke gave Gretzky credit; the bed was a nice touch. Then again, who puts a bed in a movie theater without the expectation of a fuck session? Insanity.

  Luke was proud of himself. He had limited his to innocent rubs and a few chaste pecks. But now that the movie was over… all bets were off.

  They strode through the hallway in silence. Well, Kennedy was speed walking ahead of him, taking his challenge seriously. To feel wanted, to be lusted over, by the woman of his dreams, flooded his heart with immense satisfaction.

  At the top of the stairs, he turned to face her. “Tell me you don’t want me, and I’ll walk you to your room and say goodnight.”

  Christ on a cracker, please say you want me.

  She could say no. Honestly, she should say no. They were playing with fire. But it was a risk he was willing to take. The probability of rejection was slim, but he wanted verbal confirmation that Kennedy what she was getting herself into.

  Sex between them would never be only physical. It was spiritual. Soulful. It was his duty to give her an out in case she wasn’t ready to go down that route again.

  “Luke.” Her whine was complimented by the sexiest pout.

  He silenced her. “That’s option number one. Option number two: you say yes, and I milk every ounce of pleasure from that tight little body of yours.” Luke pushed the hair off her shoulder and placed a kiss on her collar bone. “All night. All morning. Anytime. For the rest of the time we’re here.” He enunciated every single goddamn word.

  The choices were at opposite ends of extremes. Luke didn’t give a shit. Either she wanted him, like he wanted her, thoroughly and completely. Or she didn’t.

  Trying to play the middle was exhausting. And too much of a mindfuck.

  Besides, he only wanted to play with her middle.

  To her credit, she kept him waiting. Took her time weighing the options. Chewing on her lip and tapping her fingers against her leg were the telltale clues that she was nervous.

  And Luke knew exactly why.

  She was afraid. Just like he was. Sexual compatibility wasn’t an issue for them. Conversely, the feelings that came with sex–fear of rejection, figuring out the future, falling for someone who might not love you back–were debilitating.

  Her dark eyes assessed him, searching his eyes, probing his soul. He wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but whatever it was, she must’ve found it. Like a like switch, Luke knew the exact moment she surrendered to whatever magical chemistry drawing them together.

  “When I take you, you’re going to be all mine,” he whispered. “It won’t be a one night-stand. We won’t just be study buddies that fuck anymore,” he said, contemplating their situation at Yale. “Once I get a taste of you, I won’t go back. I’ve wanted you for too long, Kennedy.”

  Her lips parted. “You have?” she asked. As if she didn’t know already know the answer.

  He gripped her chin. “What we had before wasn’t enough. Could never be enough.”

  “I’m saying yes.” Almost shyly, she nodded her consent, sending a wave of curls tumbling in front of her face. “I’m tired of fighting. I just want you.”

  Luke bent down and fused his lips to hers. They both sighed and moaned as their mouths performed a sensual mating dance. She tasted so good, he wanted to swallow her whole.

  Goddamn peaches, he thought as he fisted her hair.


  When they arrived at the door to his bedroom, he gave Kennedy one last chance to back away. Instead she pushed the door open and led the way to the bed. He snaked a hand around her waist, as if he couldn’t bear to separate from her, not even for a few seconds.

  Luke felt giddy and anxious and slightly nervous. All of his disquiet evaporated when she wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed into him. She clung to him, wrapping her legs around his waist, and swirling her tongue in his mouth.

  In front of the roaring fire, Luke contemplated the golden red glow coating Kennedy’s smooth mocha skin. Each flicker of orange flame sparked off a light show in her ebony pupils. The crackling of firewood and heavy cedar fragrance only added to the thick tension of the room.

  He ran his fingers through her springy curls and tugged her head back. “Strip for me.”

  “Bossy much?” Her eyes glinted with a challenge.

  He nipped her chin. “You call it bossy, I call it assertive. Either way, I don’t want to see a piece of fabric covering even a centimeter of your body.”

  She unlocked her legs and stood at the foot of the bed. Luke pulled off his shirt and basketball shorts then laid down on the comforter, waiting for the show. He anticipated that it wouldn’t take long since she was wearing only a fluffy red robe with no pants or shorts.

  Kennedy didn’t disappoint.

  Her dark eyes were focused solely on him. She toed off her fuzzy socks then unfastened the belt of her robe. His mouth grew dry as she shucked it off, letting the material hit the floor.

  “Hot damn.” His jaw clenched so hard that it made it an audible sound.

  Lady in red came to mind when he took in her matching crimson bra and thong. He was definitely a fan of crimson on her. Luke soaked in the vision in front of him, committing each detail to memory, from her riotous curls down to her red toes. She was so small in stature but standing her almost naked in front him, her presence packed a punch.

  He studied her chest as he fisted his cock through his boxer-briefs. His eyes were feasting on her breasts. The twin pillows of soft flesh were barely contained in her bra.