by Krista Lakes
Nathan couldn’t help the immature chuckle that escaped him.
“She kept the penis. She added those decorative tree balls to the testicles. She didn’t change it until the neighbors complained.”
Nathan was starting to see where Holly’s love of Christmas came from. It would be easy to love the holiday if he had memories like these.
“She would always just laugh about stuff. She loved anything to do with Christmas. It’s how I got my name, even though I was born in July. She was the one who came up with the Christmas gifts at their bookstore. She felt it was really important to share the season of giving with the community. So she did.”
“The gifts at the bookstore?” Nathan remembered she had mentioned something about a bookstore before. Her father owned one.
“My parents own a bookstore. Or my dad does now. Every year on Christmas day we hand out presents to all the kids that come in. It’s become a town tradition. My dad dresses up like Santa and all the kids come and the parents hang out.”
“That sounds amazing,” Nathan said, feeling a twinge of jealousy at something he’d never had. Something that he’d never thought he even wanted.
“Yeah.” Her smile fell a little, but she shook her head. “Anyway, enough about me. What are your Christmas traditions? Do you make giant glowing dicks in your front yard too?”
Nathan laughed at the idea. “No. Christmas was never big in my house. I remember a couple of good Christmases with my mom, but then she died when I was little. My dad was never in the holiday spirit after that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Holly looked down at her empty plate. “I wouldn’t have asked if I had known.”
“Then how would you have found out? Anyway, my dad kicked me out when I was sixteen. I discovered that I could make a lot of money working on Christmas because no one else wanted to. It just kind of stuck.”
“So you don’t really do anything for the holidays?” Holly asked, tipping her head and looking at him like he might be from a different planet.
“I do this.” He motioned to the ski resort. “My company has a big party. Graham has an amazing party that I love going to every year.”
She nodded thoughtfully, then smiled at him. “I’m glad I got to be a part of your Christmas traditions this year.”
“Maybe I’ll become a part of yours next year.” He said it without thinking. The words just popped out.
Luckily, she just took it in stride. “That would wonderful. I promise not to make you waffles.”
Nathan chuckled.
“You want to go to the hot-springs now? I mean, I know we’re supposed to wait half-an-hour before swimming, but...” Holly shrugged and gave him a flirtatious grin.
“That sounds amazing.”
Nathan stood and Merryweather was there to take their plates. “You two have a marvelous day. Enjoy the magic of the snow.”
Holly thanked her and Nathan made sure to leave a generous tip on the table. Then, he showed Holly to his private pool.
Chapter 17
Holly
When Nathan said that he had a private pool, Holly had assumed it would be something like a hot tub near the main pool, maybe slightly enclosed or with some potted plants making it more private.
She was wrong.
It was a private pool that was very private.
The resort’s hot-spring river started at the base of the mountain and ended at the big swimming pool just outside the main building. A steaming creek meandered around the property with small ponds branching off at various locations as it snaked down toward the main pool. There were bigger public pools for up to ten people, and smaller quiet pools that fit three or four. Trees and bushes helped create the illusion that there was lots of space between the pools and gave some privacy. The best pools were gated off from the others, but the very best were hidden.
Nathan’s was one of the hidden pools. If she hadn’t seen him open the gate, she would have thought it was just another line of evergreen trees and not a separate area. Instead, she discovered they had their own private oasis.
The water pooled in a natural looking rock basin, but all the stones inside the pool were smooth and selected for comfort. She doubted nature made the pool quite this perfect, but who ever had designed it had kept to Mother Nature’s aesthetics. Big flat stones surrounded the pool edge, making it easy to walk around. A large heated bench with an awning was the perfect place to hang a robe and towel and be sure it would be snow-free and dry. There was a small table with a button on it off to the far side of the enclosure.
Trees and shrubs hid the metal fencing, but they were done in such a way that it felt like she was out in the middle of the woods rather than just off the side of a hotel. Snow floated down, melting in the rising steam of the hot water.
“This is amazing,” Holly whispered. She knew that Blue Aspen was fancy, but this took fancy to a whole new level. She pulled her hair up into a messy bun on the top of her head.
“Graham is mad that I rented it out before he did,” Nathan told her with a chuckle. “It’s an annual competition between us as to who can get to it first. He won last year, I got this year.”
Nathan walked confidently across the stones to the bench and began stripping. The cold didn’t seem to phase him as he pulled off his shirt, exposing bare skin to the snow.
Holly watched him for a second, enjoying the view. The man worked out. She remembered the way his broad shoulders felt on her hands when he was on top of her and a warm thrill went straight to the spot where her legs met.
Nathan looked good in his swim trunks. They were probably by some designer, but she liked the dark navy color on him and the way they hugged his hips. He sat on the edge of the pool, feet in the warm water, and looked over at her.
“You coming?”
She shook herself, making sure she wasn’t drooling as she headed to the bench. Once there, she realized that there was an infrared heat lamp, so even the three steps from the bench to the pool would be in comfort. She wiggled out of her leggings and sweater, knowing that Nathan was watching her just as she had just watched him.
She rather liked the idea, so she made sure to give him a show.
He lounged on the far end of the pool, his eyes glued to her as she seductively walked across the stones and slid in. The warmth of the water enveloped her and she sighed and relaxed. She could feel her muscles loosen.
“I can see why this is your Christmas tradition,” she said, staying low in the water so just her head peeked out. Snow flakes drifted down, catching in her hair and eyelashes before melting with the steam.
“Imagine skiing all day, and then coming to this,” Nathan said, his voice inviting and low. “If I call or message the kitchen, they’ll bring out food and drinks. They have these trays that hang over the water so you can eat without getting out.”
The idea of eating in this warm, relaxing water sounded heavenly. “You better be careful,” she teased him. “A girl could get used to this.”
That’s when she realized what she’d said. Again with wanting a future with him. She glanced over at him, but his eyes were closed and head back against a stone. He made a noncommittal noise and Holly hoped that it meant he hadn’t really heard what she’d said.
She looked at him, putting him in her memory. The brown hair, spiky now with the falling snow and steam, the strong jaw, the confident nose, and the easy smile. He peeked open one chocolate brown eye at her and smiled, knowing she was looking at him.
“The view’s better over here.” He patted the stones next to him.
Heat that had nothing to do with the hot-spring flared again. A desire to strip from her swimsuit filled her. To feel him inside of her again. She knew that no matter how many times she had him, it would never grow old. It would be like cooking. There would always be something new and wonderful to try with him.
She grinned, catching her lower lip in a sultry smile as she made her way to him. Now that the dirty thoughts had entered her mind, she w
as going to use them. She only had a day left with him and she wasn’t going to waste it.
Instead of sitting next to him, Holly moved to put her knees on either side of his hips. His eyes opened slowly as he found her straddling his waist. The reaction that she felt under the water said that he was as ready as she was.
“This is a private pool, right?” she asked him, the idea that someone might walk in on them making her slightly nervous. She didn’t move though.
“Very private,” he assured her, leaning forward and kissing the delicate spot where her jaw met her throat. She shivered with anticipation.
She reached behind her and unhooked her swim top. Slowly, she put it on the edge of the pool so it wouldn’t float away with the current. Nathan’s eyes dilated and his breath caught. He shifted his hips beneath her and she felt just how excited he was.
It was empowering to know that she had this kind of power over him. She inspired a physical reaction that he couldn’t hide. That he didn’t want to hide.
One that she would enjoy in just a few minutes.
Chapter 18
Nathan
Nathan had always loved this pool. It wasn't just that he beat Graham to it, although that did make it sweeter. There was a peacefulness to this pool. A quiet. He felt serene and comfortable here. He'd spent many hours in this particular place, watching the sky and the water.
Today, it became cemented as his favorite place in the whole world.
And it was all because of Holly.
He'd loved watching her strip down to her cute little bikini. She seemed shy and slightly unsure of her body, but he found her absolutely stunning. She had curves. She was human and there wasn't a piece of plastic in her. It was a nice change from the Barbie-doll like women he'd found in California.
And then she took off her top and he forgot everything.
“Wow,” he whispered, his eyes staring at the beauty in the water.
Holly grinned, looking sexy as hell.
“Do you have any idea what you do to me?” he asked her, moving his hands through the water to cup her breasts. She was so soft under his fingers that he nearly groaned.
She rocked her hips against him, her legs straddling his waist and this time he really did groan.
“Tell me,” she said, lifting her arms up and putting them on his shoulders. “Tell me what I do to you.”
“You turn me on.” His fingers played with the swell of her breast before palming her completely. “You excite me. You drive me crazy.”
He thrust his hips upward, wanting to be a part of her. If not for his swim trunks and her swim bottoms, he would have buried himself inside of her by now.
She grinned, pulling her lower lip between her teeth. “Then sit on the edge of the pool,” she told him. She slid off of him, floating just out of his reach.
He did as she asked, hopping out and sitting on the flat edge of the pool. He chose to sit on the side with the heat lamp, so even though it was snowing, he didn't feel the cold. If anything, his back felt almost too warm.
Holly hummed softly, her head floating over the water as she came to his knees. She tugged on the hem of his swim trunks and waggled her eyebrows. He got the hint and lifted his hips so she could tug them free. She set them to the side.
He loved the little gasp she made when she saw him ready to go. He loved that she licked her lips and her pupils dilated. She smiled up at him, all bold and sure of herself.
And then she rose out of the water and kissed the tip of his erection. All ability for rational thought fled his brain as the rest of the blood in his body rushed south. She took him into her hands, kissing up and down his length.
He groaned, his head falling back and eyes rolling deep into his head. Every touch was better than the one before. She took him into her mouth, giving him warmth and sucking as she did so. He was sure he was going to explode into her mouth if she kept that up.
“Holly,” he gasped, her tongue making him shiver and moan as she explored his length.
She looked up at him with big green eyes. To know that a woman as amazing as Holly would be willing to go down on him like this made him feel like a god. That a goddess like Holly would debase herself willingly for him was the biggest turn on he could imagine.
It took all his willpower to pull away. It felt so damn good, but he knew that if he let her continue, he would lose himself. He didn't want to do that yet. He wanted to enjoy this experience.
“Your turn,” he told her. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Hop on out.”
She pulled herself out of the water and onto the flat rock under the heat lamp. With a wiggle of her hips, she tugged at her wet swim bottoms until she stood gloriously naked before him.
Again, he was glad he had some self control, because he nearly blew at the sight of her. Somehow, she made him feel like a teenage boy. It was a testament to her sexiness.
“Where do you want me?” she asked, settling on the edge of the pool with her feet in the water.
“Right there,” he told her, coming between her knees.
She swallowed hard as he shouldered her knees apart and licked his lips. Before him was a gourmet meal. He wanted to bring her to the cusp of madness before bringing her over the edge.
Slowly, teasing her with his fingers and kisses, he worked his way from her hip bone to her center. She whimpered as he touched her and she leaned back on her elbows, giving him better access.
He brought his mouth to the center of her arousal and began to explore with his tongue. He watched her stomach muscles contract as she arched into him, her moans filling the small space. He used every trick he knew with his teeth and tongue.
He brought her nearly to climax and pulled back, making her whimper and cry for more. He knew that when he did let her come, it would be powerful and intense. He brought her to the cusp of climax not once, but three times before finally flicking his tongue against her instead of pulling away when she began to pant.
Her spine arched and she came hard. It took the last remaining bits of his self control not to explode at the sight of her losing herself to him. It was erotic and sexy as hell. Her toes curled and her breath came in needy gasps as she shuddered and shivered beneath him.
Her body went limp as he pulled back, surveying the results of his work. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes still rolled back in her head as she lay collapsed upon the stones. If not for her panting breath, he would have been afraid he killed her with pleasure.
Slowly, she leaned up on one elbow and looked at him. “I think it's your turn,” she whispered.
He pulled himself out of the water and hurried to his pants. He pulled out the condom and slipped it on, turning to see she was still laying on the ground and smiling at him. She spread her legs, inviting him in.
She was warmer than the hot-spring and felt better than water ever could. Her legs wrapped around him and she moaned, arching her back to take him further into her. Every thrust was better than the last.
She became animated beneath him, rocking her hips and writhing to meet him. The animal in him took over, his brain fading into primal need. He wanted to fill her. To claim her.
Their mouths crashed together and the sticky wet of their warm skin and the water only added to the sensations beginning to overpower him. He was aware of only his body and how well she fit to him. It was as if she were made for him and him alone.
“Nathan,” she gasped, her voice low and full of longing. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks flushed.
He lost it when she said his name. The last of his self control was gone. She undid him and he shattered into her, losing himself to her completely. His body dove deep, searching to complete himself and finding that he could. She in turn rose to meet him, her body responding to his in kind.
They lay breathless and panting, warmed by the heat lamp. He could feel wet raindrops from the melted snowflakes land on his back, but her heat beneath him kept him warm. Slowly, he rose, looking down at the most beautiful woman he
'd ever met.
She smiled up at him and he kissed her. It was sweet compared to the frantic urgency of just a few moments prior. They didn't have to say a word. He pulled her to sitting, wrapping her up in his arms for a moment before they slid back into the water.
Snow fell all around him as he became fairly sure he had died and gone to heaven.
Chapter 19
Holly
She floated in the warm water, turning slightly as the current moved through the pool. Hot water flowed from the base of the mountain into the various pools. It then collected and made its way to the main pool before disappearing into a mountain stream. The effect was that there was always a slight current through the pools, keeping the clean water flowing.
She felt ridiculously light and happy. Beside her, Nathan floated as well, their bodies touching, then floating apart, then touching again. They floated in comfortable silence. Holly remembered her parents having the same kind of easy silence as they read together.
Just being in the same space made them happy. They didn’t have to talk or be funny. They didn’t have to perform. Just the act of existing was enough to make the other content. She’d never understood just how wonderfully peaceful it could be until now.
A large snowflake melted directly on her forehead and the water ran into her eyes. That was the only thing that affected her comfort. She sighed, setting her feet on the pebbly bottom of the pond and maneuvered into an upright position. Her wet hair stuck to her head until her shoulders where it began floating on the top of the water.
She looked up. The snow was slowing down. Bits of blue sky were visible. The flakes didn’t fall as quickly now, and she was sure she could hear the hum of snowplows, even if they were only in her mind. Her time here was almost up.
She couldn’t stay here in this little piece of heaven, no matter how much she wanted to. Eventually she had to go back home to her life. There were things that she couldn’t abandon. Her father, her students, the bookstore, the town. Tomorrow, they would all have to come back.
