A Cowboy’s Christmas List: Holidays in Heart Falls: Book 4

by Vivian Arend

  After her weird afternoon, it would be good to catch him up. “Sure. If you want supper, you have to give me time to pull something out.”

  “I’ll meet you there, and we can cook together. Deal?”

  “Perfect.”

  She pulled in front of the cabin the same moment he did. Alex followed hard on her heels into the living room, rubbing his hands together briskly, blowing on them. “Let me get them warmed up before I kiss you, or you’ll be crawling out of your skin.”

  Yvette didn’t try to hide her grin as she closed in on him. “Cold kisses. Would that be another first?”

  His eyes flashed. “We’ve had a few hot ones already,” he teased.

  His hands rested on her hips as she leaned in. Mouths connecting, the now familiar touch of lips a tease in the split second before Yvette slipped a hand under his T-shirt and planted her icy palm on his naked back.

  She squealed as he shouted, twisting to try to get away from her. “Christ, woman.”

  “I’m cold,” she complained with a laugh, moving with him to stay in contact. “Boyfriends are supposed to warm up cold hands. I’m sure that’s in the rule book.”

  He tugged her against him and, with one brisk yank, had her shirt separated from her jeans. “Turnabout is fair play.”

  Icicles pressed to her skin. Only, these had smooth palms and clever fingers, and the next thing Yvette knew, she was missing her shirt and Alex’s noticeably warmer hands were all over her.

  “Fuck, you feel good.” His mouth was back on hers, and she was caught between ripping off his shirt or standing there and enjoying the sensations he was sending through her body. Fingers teasing, circling her nipples over her bra, making her skin come alive.

  Dinner—forgotten. Tales of old men and mysterious behaviour—later.

  Yvette wanted Alex, and she wanted him now.

  She tore her lips back far enough to force out the words. “How starving are you?”

  A gasp escaped her hard on the heels of the words, because he’d swung her up in his arms and was carrying her to the bedroom. “Starving.”

  Flat on her back, body covered by his…

  Their booted feet still hanging off the bed.

  Yvette grinned at him. “Logistical problems?”

  “Fucking clothes. Fuck winter, fuck boots, and just fuck.” He kissed her again, leaving them both breathless.

  Yvette had to admit she’d been sort of expecting a condom to show up in one of the drawers. They were halfway through the month and closing in on the twenty-fifth, and at some point, Alex had to have hoped they would end up here.

  Here, sans boots, probably.

  Yet there’d been no sign of condoms.

  He’d said she got to set the pace, though, So when he kissed her nose and added, “One sec. I’ll get us straightened out,” Yvette had her own wrangling to do.

  The instant he pulled off her boots, she scrambled back on the bed. As he worked to rid himself of his boots, she quickly snatched a condom from the side table where she’d placed it earlier that day, hiding it in her palm.

  Innocently, she curled her legs under her then turned to watch as he stripped off his shirt and revealed miles of lean, powerful muscles.

  Alex fixed her with a gaze hot enough to melt off her panties. “I could use a taste of what I got the other day.”

  Yes, please. Plus more. “We could do that. I have another request, as well.”

  She lifted the condom in the air.

  Adrenaline shot through him even as the answer hit his lips. “Yes. Definitely, yes.”

  She laughed and opened her arms, and they rolled together on the mattress. “You’re easy.”

  “I’ve been dirty dreaming about being with you for over a year,” Alex confessed. He stroked the back of his knuckles along her cheek, loving the flush that rose under his touch. Farther down, he teased, tracing the edge of her bra. Slowly caressing his palm over the tight nub of her nipple. “And when I say dreaming, I mean both the deliberate kind, when my eyes are wide open and I’m using my hand on my cock and imagining it’s you surrounding me. Plus, the middle-of-the-night kind, where it’s my subconscious going to town with every luscious, body-shaking, spine-tingling kind of fucking possible.”

  He met her gaze—her eyes wide as she swallowed hard. “That was a touch on the filthy side,” she noticed with a breathless whisper.

  “You have no idea,” he murmured.

  He reached behind her and undid her bra, sliding the straps forward and peeling the cups from her breasts. Sweet fuck. His mouth watered, and as he slid his palms up her rib cage to capture the heavy mounds, he counted his blessings.

  Yvette’s eyes fluttered closed as he set his thumbs into a steady rhythm, a circle then gentle scrape with his nails over the peaks.

  Her voice was breathy as she demanded, “Use your mouth.”

  Hallelujah. A woman who asked for what she wanted in bed.

  A woman who wanted what he did, even better.

  Alex kissed the underside of one breast. Laved his tongue around the outside, slowly closing in on his target.

  Yvette took a shaky breath, pressing her hands over his, squeezing tightly. “You’re teasing.”

  “I’m appreciating,” he corrected.

  She all but growled. “We’ve been doing really well at not fighting. Don’t tell me we’re going to mess up our record because you’re willing to—oh, my God.”

  His timing was perfect. Lips wrapped around one rosy-red tip, Alex sucked. Hands tightening and relaxing, he appreciated every bit of the heavy swells he held. He flicked his tongue again and again before scraping his teeth over the tight nub, delighted as she gasped.

  “Appreciation takes time,” he murmured, licking a trail between one breast and the other. “Trust me.”

  The tension in her body drained away, and she stroked her fingers through his hair. “I want to touch you.”

  “I want that too.” He meant every word of it, but right now he was far too interested in the wonder before him. In the soft colour staining her chest as passion rose. “Goddamn, you’re beautiful. I could stay here, teasing and touching.” He closed his teeth again, and she jerked against his mouth. “Yeah. Like that. Only, I need even more.”

  He dragged his teeth off her breasts, leaving a line of moisture all the way down her belly. He stroked his fingers over her sex, moisture coating him instantly as her legs fell apart in welcome.

  Her eyes were still closed. At least they were until he slipped his fingertips into her core, brushing his thumb in a gentle rhythm over her sensitive clit.

  Her eyelids rose, languid pleasure written there.

  “Good?” he asked.

  “Oh, yeah.” She stretched out one long leg even as she cupped her breasts. Lifting them before taking hold of her nipples between thumb and forefingers.

  Alex cursed. “I’m not going to last,” he warned.

  “Quick on the gun, are you?” she teased.

  Minx. The teasing reminder of his last, far-too-rapid trigger made him grin. “Let me remind you about the I’ve wanted you for a damn long time bit.”

  He needed to up his game, but with how hot she was, the need to keep things rolling was top priority. He increased the pressure on her clit, sliding his fingers in far enough to connect with the front of her passage. Looking for the right spot.

  He teased a few times until her inhale turned shaky.

  Bingo.

  Fingers moving, he eased away far enough to meet her gaze. “Lift your breasts for me.”

  She offered them up, tight peaks straining toward the ceiling. Alex caught one between his lips, sucking as he speared his fingers deep into her sex.

  An easy rhythm landed. One with a dirty soundtrack punctuated with her gasps and moans, her hips pulsing against him, striving for that last little bit.

  “Alex.”

  Her hips rose off the bed, fucking herself against his fingers, and wasn’t that the filthiest, most fantastic
thing he’d ever seen? Her release exploded from her in a way that made it clear pleasure had started core deep.

  He had the condom on faster than proper, soon jerking her leg over his hip and pressing his cock against her sex.

  “Look at me,” he ordered. “Yes?”

  Satisfaction written on her face, a smile curling her lips. “Do it.”

  Alex flexed his hips, savouring the slow slide of his cock into her body. He paused, taking a deep breath and just feeling.

  Yvette’s lips quivered, a little moan slipping free. “Oh, that’s good.”

  He drew back slightly then slowly rocked forward. “And this?”

  Her chin dipped rapidly. “Wow.”

  A grin escaped. “Wow. I like that. I wonder if I can get a spectacular from you?”

  She tugged on his shoulders, pulling until his chest rested against her breasts. “You have the most amazing body.”

  “That’s my line.” Alex pulsed harder. Sliding her right leg higher over his hip so he could ease in even more. He was slowly but steadily losing his mind, and it felt so damn good.

  She kissed his neck, nipping playfully. “Harder.”

  Hell yes. He braced one arm beside her body and angled upward. Retreating slowly, driving in sharp and deep. Again. Another, chasing noises of pleasure from her lips until his control was thread thin.

  She lifted both legs, digging her heels into his buttocks. Leveraging his next thrust to spear herself on his length.

  No holds barred. Alex pumped harder as Yvette gasped his name. His spine was melting, and his balls were ready to explode.

  When she dragged her nails down his shoulders, he lost it. The pump of her sex squeezing around him dragged loose his release. Spilled pleasure from his body until his arms shook and his hips were all but convulsing.

  She tightened around him again, and he swore, their laughter mingling as he let the final pulses strip him dry.

  Somehow, he rolled off to land flat on his back beside her. Alex stared at the ceiling, stars swirling in front of his eyes.

  Beside him, Yvette panted. He glanced over to enjoy the sight of her breasts quivering with each rapid exhale. Blood was still pooled in far more important parts of his body than his brain, which was probably why it was so damn hard to think.

  Yet he was sure something was slightly off.

  “What day is it?” he asked.

  She laughed, curling up and sliding a hand over his chest. Stroking him as if he were a cat. “The sex was that good, you’ve lost track of time?”

  “Something like that.” His amusement grew as the missing piece registered. Sex, today, had been totally Yvette’s idea and not spurred on by anything he might have orchestrated.

  Which meant the treat he’d planted in her gift calendar was still to come. It should be entertaining when she finally opened that particular drawer to find he’d given her a bunch of condoms as well.

  She leaned over and mock glared. “What are you grinning about?”

  “Nothing,” he insisted innocently. “Want to do it again?”

  “Food first.” She waggled her brows. “I have leftovers in the freezer we can microwave. We could be back here in under fifteen minutes.”

  Alex pressed his palms to her cheeks and eased in, kissing her slowly. Thoroughly.

  There was no need to rush any of it. The food, the sex. The conversations. He wanted them to take as much time as necessary. To appreciate every minute as things between them grew better than he’d dreamed possible.

  He had to make sure they made it past the finish line and into a future that lasted forever.

  12

  It seemed opening up the door to a more physical relationship also unlocked a new stage outside the bedroom. Which was equal parts strange and wonderful, yet Yvette was feeling brave enough to simply let things continue to roll.

  Alex slipped over to join her at the cabin every time their schedules lined up. Heck, she was pretty sure he was doing some creative fudging when it came to his work hours, but back to that trust thing. He was an adult, and it was his job on the line. If he said he had the time to be with her, she would believe him and enjoy the outright spoiling that followed.

  Although it wasn’t only about more time together so they could fool around. They talked about things they enjoyed doing. Talked about Creighton and the mystery of his situation. Spent time sharing work stories, and favourite shows and movies. And they’d sang together, which made something inside Yvette warm every single time.

  Saturday night, Alex showed up at the cabin along with Brooke and Mack. The guys pulled a propane-powered firepit from the back of his truck and set it up in her yard. Brooke had brought huge wool blankets from the shop, and the four of them sat around the fire and simply enjoyed each other’s company.

  They also sang, which made Yvette laugh and cry, because while Alex had turned out to have a beautiful voice, and Mack was okay, Brooke was terrible.

  They’d tried “Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart,” but Brooke stalled out in the middle, laughing too hard to keep going. “I’ll just listen to the three of you, okay?”

  “That’s probably safer.” Mack made a face before smiling sheepishly. “I love you.”

  “I know you do. But you also love your eardrums, so I won’t even hurt you for telling me I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.” She gestured toward Yvette. “You. Be thankful you found a guy who sings nearly as well as you can.”

  A sweet moment, which turned delightful when Alex and Mack serenaded them both with a little Keith Urban and “I’ll Be Your Santa Tonight.”

  A warm glow surrounded her from more than the fire. Although that contributed to the sweet atmosphere as well.

  “This is a cheater fire,” Alex teased. “I can only turn it up so high.”

  “The flames don’t need to be three feet high for it to be cozy,” Mack drawled. “Besides, I don’t know that I’ve officially approved you for a burn pile. You seem a little irresponsible when it comes to flames and that sort of thing.”

  Alex stole a hand out from under the covers just long enough to scoop up snow from beside his chair, form it into a snowball, and beam it at Mack.

  “Hey,” Brooke complained.

  “Sorry,” Alex offered.

  “Not you. Mack.” She frowned at her husband. “That snowball broke on your hard head and totally got me wet.” Laughter bloomed, and Mack must’ve tickled her, because she squirmed, unable to escape.

  “Any big plans for the holidays?” Brooke asked when she could speak again.

  “Dropping in on my grandma and grandpa.” Yvette stalled out.

  Well, shoot. She hadn’t asked Alex if they had plans for an official Christmas Day celebration. Only, she wasn’t about to bring that up right now.

  He found her fingers under the blankets, squeezing them tight. “I’ll be working at Silver Stone for the morning. Ashton volunteered to be on duty at the fire hall.”

  “That’s nice of him,” Yvette said. She frowned. “I thought he spent the day with the Stone family.”

  “You’d think he’d want to spend the day with Sonora,” Mack grumbled softly before coughing into his fist as if he hadn’t said anything.

  The four of them grinned at each other before Alex spoke again, a little slower, as if considering his words. “Maybe he asked and she said no. She’ll have her grandchildren and kids to spend time with. Who knows what’s happening with them?”

  “As long as we’re not going to pretend that there’s nothing happening,” Mack said.

  Yvette was still figuring out where to go regarding Christmas Day and Alex. How had it so completely slipped her mind that she—no, that they hadn’t talked about this already?

  A message alert buzzed, and she pulled out her phone to peer at the screen. Making sure it wasn’t a vet emergency.

  Ugh. Her sister. Definitely not a call to bother with right now, especially since the message started with, I can’t believe you did that.

&n
bsp; She tucked the phone away.

  By the time Brooke and Mack packed up to leave and Alex was following Yvette into the house, her sister had messaged a half dozen times.

  When Yvette deliberately placed her phone facedown on the table, Alex raised a brow. “Do you want me to keep ignoring the fact that you’re ignoring someone else? Or do you want to talk?”

  “I’d prefer to take you to my room and have my wicked way with you,” Yvette confessed.

  Alex caught her by the fingers and led her to the couch, sitting and pulling her into his lap. “I like the sex, but I also like the rest of what we’re doing. Time with our friends, time together.”

  She sighed. “Time when I confess that my sister is a shit and I spend a lot of energy avoiding her?”

  The confusion on his face was wiped away quickly. “Oh. The phone? I’m sorry.”

  “Me too.” She laid her head on his shoulder, stroking her fingers over the rough stubble on his chin. “She’s not truly evil or anything. But she’s not very nice, either.”

  “I’ve had people in my life like that.” He pressed his lips to her temple, and a warm bubble of affection wrapped itself around her.

  “Some of the foster kids you spent time with?”

  “Yes.” He hummed for a moment then nodded, as if making a decision. “I told you Hans and Glenda were amazing parents. I can honestly say I never once felt as if they picked and chose favourites. They just wanted to be there for as many kids as possible. Some of those kids needed a little more attention, but I wasn’t neglected, even if I wasn’t the center of attention.”

  The words went straight to the heart of the matter, poking both her guilty conscience and her frustrated nerves.

  “You’re doing that mind-reading thing again,” Yvette warned. She wiggled to change position until she had her own section of the couch, pillows stuffed behind her back, feet resting in his lap. “My parents definitely picked favourites. I think that’s part of what Grandma and Grandpa didn’t approve of.”

  “Ah. Your sister?”

  “Her, rotating through my brothers at different times. Everything was about appearances in our family.” Thinking back to some of those childhood years was unpleasant. She met Alex’s eyes. “In some ways, I admire my siblings. They’re all fantastic businesspeople, they’re personable in public, and they get stuff done.”