SYLER MCKNIGHT: A Holiday Tale

by Brent, Cora

  “You weren’t surprised,” I said when I was finished blubbering. “You weren’t surprised about me and Syler, were you?”

  “No.” Her smile was gentle, although a little smug. “I wasn’t surprised. I always thought you two were a match made in heaven.”

  “Even when we were ferociously fighting like demons from hell?”

  She nodded. “Especially then.”

  “Well,” I said, which was kind of a generic and useless word all by itself but for once chatty Aunty Katty had no other response.

  Gem draped her arm over my shoulder and steered me out of the kitchen.

  According to the unhelpful weather report, another two to twelve inches of snow was expected to begin falling in the late afternoon. Annika reminded Levi that they still needed to go over to her new house. She wanted him to see it and assist her in ‘christening’ the property for good luck. I wasn’t sure what she meant by that. I had no plans to ask.

  I was just getting comfortable with Syler on the sofa when the distinctive sound of jingling bells made everyone pause.

  “Where’s that coming from?” Gemma asked.

  Syler scratched his head. “I don’t know.”

  “I think it’s coming from outside,” Ryland guessed.

  “SANTA!” Gretel shrieked.

  “Can’t be, it’s still light out,” Chloe argued.

  Three knocks echoed from the front door.

  We all exchanged glances.

  The bells continues to jingle on the other side of the door. Gemma decided to be brave and open it, revealing the identity of the noisy visitor.

  “It’s not Santa,” Evan noted with disappointment.

  “Yarn Lady!” I blurted. Because I’d never learned her name.

  “Katrina!” she replied.

  The woman on the train, the one who sat next to me and manufactured a colossal red scarf en route to Albany, was standing at Gemma’s front door. An elderly man hovered at her side. She was a little embarrassed.

  “My goodness, I’m so sorry to barge in on you folks on Christmas Eve but our car is stuck at the end of your road.”

  Gemma ushered the couple inside the house and they told their story. Yarn Lady, whose name was Barbara, and her husband Mitch had decided to drive out to Maple Springs to get into the Christmas spirit. After encountering me on the train last week and remembering how beautiful the town was at Christmas, they’d impulsively decided to make the drive from Albany, planning to be back before the snow began falling once more.

  Their car got stuck and they were unable to free it themselves. Barbara was cheered when she saw the big green Victorian that the nice girl on the train had described as the home of her best friend. And so here they were. They were utterly star struck once they realized they were in the presence of ANNIKA.

  Syler was already zipping up his jacket. “I’ll go take a look at your car.” His hand was on the doorknob when he suddenly stopped and looked over at his brother. “Hey Ry, I might need some help if you’re up to it.”

  Ryland seemed pleased to be asked. “Sure. Let me just grab my coat.”

  Then for the second time Syler nearly exited but changed his mind again. He strolled over to where I stood, cupped my face in his hands and kissed me.

  “Be careful,” I said. “It’s colder than the Arctic Circle out there today.”

  He smirked. “Be ready to warm me up when I return.”

  “Gross,” Drew complained. “Are they going to act like this all the time now?”

  “Probably,” his mother said.

  I touched my fingers to my lips and I watched Syler’s departure with his brother right on his heels.

  Barbara, who’d been swiftly supplied with a cup of hot chocolate and a peppermint straw, approached me and grinned. “Your boyfriend is very handsome, Katrina.”

  My answering grin was crazy stupid happy. “Thanks. I think I’ll keep him.”

  20

  The Best Place To Be

  Syler

  I assessed the situation. We’d pushed the car out of the giant ice-lined pothole where it had been stuck. The engine sounded good to me but I popped the hood to take a closer look.

  “What do you think?” I asked Ryland. I didn’t really need his input. I would place bets that the car was fine to drive back to Albany as long as the couple didn’t detour into any more ice holes.

  Ry leaned over and inspected the humming engine. When we were kids he would always make this little clicking noise in the back of his throat when he was concentrating on something. He still did.

  “I think it’s fine to drive,” he decided and then ducked out so I could close the hood.

  He turned off the ignition and came around to where I leaned against the car. Katrina wasn’t kidding about that Arctic Circle chill but I didn’t want to go indoors quite yet.

  “Why didn’t you call me?” I asked him.

  Ryland crossed his arms. I was an inch taller than him, something that happened around the time I turned sixteen. I remembered feeling triumphant, sure that being outgrown by his kid brother had to take him down a step. What a dumb thought.

  “It was a last minute decision,” he said. “Almost every member of the crew had already departed for the holidays. I looked around and wondered why I was still there. I wasn’t sure I’d manage to get a flight but I snagged a stand by seat to JFK. By the time I landed I figured I was close enough that I may as well surprise everyone.”

  “You definitely succeeded on the surprise front.”

  His head swiveled. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you, Sy.” He sighed. “I don’t just mean now. I’m sorry we don’t talk much.”

  “Hardly ever.”

  “I know.”

  “You didn’t have to go stay at the Inn.”

  “I know that too. Katrina already scolded me.” He nudged my arm. “That’s good news, by the way. You and her.”

  “Thanks. I’ve decided to take advantage of the fact that she lost her mind and picked me. I’ll do my best not to screw it up.”

  He chuckled. “I have faith in you.”

  A car drove by and slowed. Mr. Delgado from down the street poked his head out and asked if we needed any help.

  “We’re good!” I shouted. “Thank you.”

  “Merry Christmas!” he shouted back and drove away.

  We watched his taillights recede and turn into the driveway of a three story blue and white home.

  “I’d like to talk to you more,” Ryland said. It was the first time I’d ever heard him sound unsure of himself.

  “We should talk more,” I agreed. “We’re still brothers.”

  He nodded. “The financing to continue the dig came through. I’ll be in the Badlands for at least the next eighteen months.” He drew his words out slowly. “Maybe you’d think about coming up to visit sometime. Can’t really promise a whole lot of nightlife but-“

  “I’d like that, Ryland. I would.”

  He exhaled like he was relieved not to be rejected. “And maybe I can make the time to come home more often.”

  “Someone should be teaching those kids about rocks. God knows it’s not going to be me.”

  He grinned.

  We hopped in Barbara and Mitch’s car and drove it closer to the house. In the process I nearly mowed down Florence the flannel-clad snow cat but braked before tragedy struck.

  Gemma had whipped up chicken salad sandwiches for lunch. Barbara and Mitch hung around for a little while, snapped some selfies with Annika and departed with a whole lot of gratitude and a good story to tell.

  The snow was already falling when Annika and Levi announced they had to get going. They were a pair of opposites if ever there was one but I was grateful they’d found each other. If they hadn’t there’d be no Katrina.

  Before she left, Annika stared soulfully into my eyes like she was assessing the quality of my brain. She asked me if I liked squirrels.

  I was confused. “To eat?” Did people eat squirrels? I was
n’t sure.

  Annika was horrified. I felt like I’d just failed a test. But Levi pumped my hand and declared that I was the least brain dead out of all of his daughter’s boyfriends. That was good news for everybody. Because if I had anything to say about it then there wouldn’t be any more boyfriends.

  The afternoon wore on and Katrina and Gemma decided to make salt dough ornaments with the kids. Ryland was persuaded to collect his belongings from the Maple Springs Inn. I offered him his old room back but Katrina said he ought to take hers instead.

  Gretel was distressed. “But where will you sleep, Aunt Katty?”

  I smeared green paint on a salt dough Christmas tree and kept my face neutral. “Yeah, where will you sleep, Aunt Katty?”

  She stuck her tongue out at me. She really shouldn’t tire out that tongue. I had big plans for it later on.

  “I think I’ll sleep on the parlor sofa,” Katrina said. “I’ll guard Santa’s cookies and milk.”

  The children were satisfied with that explanation.

  Outside the snow continued to fall at a steady pace. Darkness fell early and Ryland and I shoveled the walk just to keep on top of things. When we returned indoors I noticed a few yawns among the youngest family members and announced that I could have sworn I heard Santa’s sleigh bells nearby while I was outside.

  “Maybe Barbara came back,” Drew suggested.

  I threw him a look. “It’s not Barbara.”

  “Her car might have gotten stuck again,” Chloe guessed.

  “Or maybe it really was Santa.” Evan’s eyes were wide.

  “Okay.” Gemma clapped her hands together. “Everybody upstairs. Let’s get ready for bed.”

  As the children thundered overhead, Katrina stood by the window watching the snow. I wrapped my arms around her and she gladly sank into my chest.

  “This is the best place to be,” she said, snuggling closer.

  I checked out the snow, the beautifully decorated house, the roaring fire. “Has all the makings of one of those Christmas movies,” I agreed.

  “I meant in your arms. That’s the best place to be.”

  I tightened them around her. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”

  “Can I tell you something mushy?”

  “I wish you would.”

  “I’m crazy about you, Syler.”

  I kissed her, slow and deep. She sighed with happiness and we watched the snow fall outside the window.

  “You sure you want to move back here?” I asked. “I mean, if it’s us you’re thinking of, I have no problem driving back and forth to Manhattan all the time. It’s not that far.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not just moving back because of us. I’m moving back because of me. Remember the day you gave me a hard time for giving up my writing dreams?”

  “Yeah, I remember something about giving you a hard time that day.”

  “Wiseass.” She nuzzled my neck. “I’m going to give it a try. Better late than never.”

  “It’s not late at all.” I rubbed her back. “It’s just the beginning.”

  Gemma got all the kids packed off to bed, then asked for help hauling a huge collection of wrapped Christmas gifts downstairs to await their recipients under the tree.

  “I’m going to go soak in a bubble bath with a glass of wine.” She hugged each of us. “That’s my Christmas present to myself.”

  She paused before heading upstairs. “This could have been a terrible Christmas for us. But you guys all made it wonderful. I’m forever grateful. Love you.”

  “Love you too, Gem,” said Katrina.

  Ryland was the last one to go upstairs. He said he had some scientific journals to read through before bedtime but he shot me a playful look and I knew he was making himself scarce in order to give us some privacy.

  There was still some wrapping to be done because of the gifts we’d bought at the mall yesterday. Katrina pawed through the vast collection of options that Gemma had supplied.

  “You can’t just use gift bags,” I argued, trying to tape red paper on a stuffed unicorn. “That’s kind of cheating.”

  She wouldn’t be deterred. “I’m the gift bag queen. I’ll use all the gift bags I want.”

  I snorted. “The gift bag queen plus the king of heartfelt monologues. What kind of offspring would they unleash?”

  “Sensitive ones with superior time management skills.” Katrina’s lashes fluttered and she looked down. “Is that something you think about?”

  “What?”

  “Offspring.”

  “Maybe. Under the right circumstances. And you?”

  “Maybe. Under the right circumstances.”

  We stared at each other for a heated moment. Then Katrina finished stuffing objects into her gift bags and we strategically placed the remainder of the gifts under the tree.

  I checked the fireplace to make sure every burning scrap of wood had been extinguished and then joined Katrina in admiring the tree.

  She gazed up at the lights and brightly colored bulbs. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Exquisite,” I agreed, not looking at the tree.

  Katrina pressed into me and I slid my hand beneath her sweater, my fingertips touching the smooth skin of her back and drifting upward to inspect her bra strap. She drove me nuts the way she responded instantly every time I touched her, sighing out a happy noise and straining to get closer.

  Katrina’s hands did some exploring of their own, landing on my belt. “Good thing your room has a queen sized bed.”

  “Why, I thought you were sleeping in the parlor?”

  She unbuckled.

  I flicked her bra strap open.

  Her lips grazed my jaw. “On second thought, I probably shouldn’t sleep in the parlor.”

  “Probably not.” Our tongues touched, just for a tantalizing second. “Santa might see something Santa doesn’t want to see.”

  She pulled away and flashed a wicked grin. “I’m going to go get ready for bed. Meet me there.”

  Didn’t need to ask me twice. I was in the room, stripped down to my boxers and stretched out on the bed within twenty seconds.

  Katrina took longer. Minutes passed. I thought about going to look for her but didn’t want to ruin whatever surprise she had in mind. She was probably going to appear any second wearing something outrageous.

  I propped myself up on one elbow when I heard the shuffle of slippers approaching. The bedside lamp was on but I wished I’d left the main overhead light on as well. Whatever she’d changed into was bound to be good.

  Katrina edged into the doorway with her legs bare and her thick, sexy hair spilling over…

  My flannel shirt.

  The one I’d given her for her birthday.

  She laughed at the look at my face and shut the door behind her.

  “What do you think?” She spun, modeling it for me.

  “I think you look sexy as fuck.”

  She’d left the top three buttons undone and the shirt reached mid thigh. This girl didn’t need satin and lace to whip my dick up into a frenzy.

  Katrina twirled again and ended up at the foot of the bed. Then she did something magnificent. She reached under the shirt, hooked her thumbs into a pair of black panties and slowly eased them down.

  “Come here.” I climbed to a kneeling position and reached for her. All the dirty things in the world flashed through my mind. I wanted to do them all to her. We’d get to that. First I was going to try my hand at being romantic.

  She loved being kissed so I pulled her close and took possession of her lips. I gave her my tongue. I withdrew and sucked her neck until she moaned. I returned with more tongue and this time took her with me to lie back on the bed. She was on top, kissing me back with feverish urgency. I hiked that damn flannel up over her bare hips and enjoyed when she got aggressive, straddling and moving to grind on the feel of my cock. I’d give that to her shortly. First I needed to take a good long look at my fantasy.

  We’d be
en here before, she and I. In this exact same spot. With very different emotions churning between us.

  Katrina cooperated with the way I moved her upright, still straddling me. If I shoved my boxers down right now I would be inside of her in a heartbeat. I had no doubt she was ready, flushed and breathing hard as she awaited my next move.

  I unbuttoned her shirt. I did it as slowly as I could stand moving. Only when I’d unfastened the last one did I slide it off her shoulders. She wore nothing underneath.

  “You’re perfect,” I told her, briefly cupping her glorious breasts, running my thumbs over the hardened nipples, then gently massaging before sliding my hands down over the swell of her hips. “You’re a goddess, Katrina.”

  Her hands played on my chest, then crept up to touch my lips.

  “Make love to me, Syler,” she whispered.

  I was ready to go wild but I forced myself to be slow and deliberate. I rolled her to her back and discreetly slid on a waiting condom. She was eager, her legs wide as she tried to guide me between them. A frown of impatience crossed her face when I wouldn’t oblige right away. I kissed her neck, sucked her tits until her back arched and she moaned. I dropped a trail of soft kisses on her belly and then tasted her with the tip of my tongue. She was on the brink, already shaking with the power of the oncoming climax. I took my tongue away despite her whimper, slid my hands underneath her and nudged my way in.

  “I’m coming,” she gasped, as if I needed to be told what was happening when her hips convulsed while intense shudders wracked her body.

  I almost turned myself inside out trying to prolong the inevitable but I waited until she came again before following her lead. I was there, ready to pump everything into the condom when I changed my mind, pulled out, yanked it off and came on her belly the way I did the other day. That was not a usual thing with me but it was crazy hot when Katrina was the one underneath me. Maybe there was some biological instinct factor involved. Like I was marking my claim. I was claiming her.

  Whatever the case, Katrina was into it, sliding a finger across her belly and tasting the result before she smiled up me while I gasped from the sweaty aftershocks and tried not to crush her.