Santa's Secret

by Serenity Woods

  He slipped a hand behind her head and brought her lips to his. They were so soft, and her tongue as she brushed it into his mouth was warm. He slid his hands up her thighs, up her ribcage and around her back, pulling her close to him, wanting to feel her body next to his, and she tightened her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, giving a little murmur of delight that thrilled him.

  Behind them, the gas fire danced merrily, filling the room with warmth, and Eva leaned back, took the bottom of her sweater in both hands and drew it over her head, dropping it to the floor behind her. She wore a T-shirt underneath, and that quickly joined the sweater, leaving her sitting there in a beautiful red lacy bra that framed her even-more-beautiful breasts perfectly.

  She tugged his sweater impatiently, and he leaned forward a little to let her pull it over his head. She then unbuttoned his shirt, her fingers sliding behind the material to caress his skin, and she pushed the shirt off his shoulders and discarded that too.

  Now they were skin-on-skin, and he skimmed his hands around her waist, up her ribs and then let his fingers trail over the swell of her breasts. Her skin seemed to absorb the fire and glowed ivory rather than white, exotic again, as if she were a sub-tropical flower, blossoming and opening up to his touch. He brushed his thumbs over the lace covering her nipples, and she sighed and leaned forwards to kiss him again, her mouth hot and demanding.

  And suddenly he could wait no longer—he wanted her naked in his arms, with no barriers between them. He moved to the edge of the sofa and stood, lifting her with him. She squealed and wrapped her legs around his waist, and then laughed and kissed him again as he walked carefully across the room to the bathroom.

  He let her slide down him until her feet touched the floor, and they both undid their jeans and slid them off, along with their underwear, until they were standing naked. She’d taken a clip out of her pocket and now twisted up her hair, although long tendrils trailed down to curl around her neck, like dark shadows against white snow. Rudi pushed open the door to the sauna, causing steam to waft over them, thick and aromatic. Eva preceded him into the room, and he closed the door behind them.

  The sauna was small, the benches made of cedar wood, and he’d spread out a couple of linen towels across them to make sure they didn’t slip.

  “Your first time?” he guessed as she moved around the room, inspecting the small stove and the bucket with a ladle that sat beside it.

  “Yes. I’ve never quite understood the fascination with the things.”

  “It is said that Neolithic people began the tradition by bathing in geothermic hot springs,” he said. “It is a very Finnish tradition—even Finnish prisons offer sauna privileges to inmates.” He pointed to the stove. “We call this a kiuas. It heats up peridotite—it is a kind of unweathered, quarried rock that holds the heat.”

  “It’s very warm.” She had already started to perspire, her creamy skin glistening.

  “Oh, I think we should make it even warmer,” he teased. He picked up the ladle, dipped it into the bucket and poured the water across the rocks. It bubbled and turned immediately to steam, filling the room with white clouds. He did that a few times, feeling the sweat break out on his forehead, and looked down to see his torso glistening.

  Eva blew out a breath and sat on one of the benches, and Rudi sat opposite her. He used saunas frequently at the gym or in hotels as he travelled around the country on business, so the concept of being naked with others was nothing new to him, but the experience was entirely different with Eva. He’d learned from using saunas as a teenager to treat them as a non-sexual experience, keeping his eyes averted from the opposite sex and concentrating on the heat and the steam.

  But he couldn’t tear his gaze away from Eva. She with her eyes closed, her head tipped back, exposing the smooth, creamy skin of her neck in a pose that reminded him of an animal rolling over and showing its stomach, submissive and trusting. Her whole body shone in the dull light. She inhaled slowly, obviously enjoying the humid, scented air, and he watched her breasts rise and fall with each breath, the dusky pink nipples relaxed, begging to be teased to tight peaks. His gaze dropped to her slender legs, travelled up her pale thighs to the dark triangle of hair at the top. Her knees had opened a little, and moisture glimmered between her legs.

  She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, soft and moist and inviting.

  God, he wanted her.

  More than anything else in the world.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Eva inhaled slowly, feeling the warm, aromatic air fill her lungs before breathing it out again. It was like being in an incredibly steamy bathroom when she’d let the shower run for a long time, and the air felt thick and humid, closing around her like a blanket. She’d heard they could be quite stifling, and a friend had once told her she’d been in one where it felt like a man had his hand clamped over her mouth and she’d had to run out.

  But Eva didn’t feel like that. She felt sensual and sexy, aroused by the heat and the trickles of perspiration that slid down her back and between her breasts. She knew the Finns were accustomed to being naked in saunas and she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to enter a public one and sit there like this amongst strangers, but the thought of being there with only Rudi to see her was enticing and compelling, stirring her blood and making her heart rate begin to pick up in anticipation.

  She opened her eyes and lowered her head, not surprised to see him watching her. Still, she caught her breath at the sight of him. He sat opposite, his knees about a foot away from hers. He held the edge of the seat, leaning forwards slightly, his weight on his arms, the muscles taut and shining like highly polished wood. In fact his whole body glistened. He was a fine specimen of a male, from his wide neck and muscular shoulders, to his smooth defined pecs with just the right amount of hair, to his impressive, sturdy thighs. He sat like all men do, with knees wide apart, and made no attempt to hide his desire for her.

  Eva swallowed and moistened her lips, not missing the way his own curved in response. He was such a gentleman, so polite and considerate, always opened the door for her, pulled out her chair, offered to pay for her food and treated her with respect. But something happened when he got that look in his eye. It was as if his primitive urges suppressed his civilised self, and passion took over from manners and courtesy. She supposed it should have frightened her a little, or that his obvious desire should embarrass her, but it didn’t. The thought that he wanted her—that he couldn’t or wouldn’t hide it, turned her on too.

  Part of her wanted to move over to him and kiss him, take him in her arms, start the beautiful dance with the exquisite conclusion she knew awaited her, but something made her wait. Maybe it was a hope of drawing out this moment, of making it last as long as she could. At the back of her mind the imminent conclusion of their holiday hovered, along with the knowledge that she might never again find a man with whom she felt like this, and she had to make the most of it while she could. Or maybe she just wanted to admire him a little longer, to feast her gaze on his glistening flesh, the way his hair curled around his temples as it grew damp, on his large frame, so much more muscular and masculine than hers. On his obvious arousal, so long, thick and hard it made her mouth water.

  So she didn’t stand up, but instead leaned back and opened her knees the same way he had, exposing herself to his view, which felt unnatural but incredibly sensual as the warm, humid air stroked her skin. His gaze dropped and focussed on her, his chest rising and falling as his breathing sped up, but like her he didn’t move, clearly enjoying the view and wanting to make the most of it too.

  She put her hands on her knees and trailed them lightly up her thighs, enjoying the touch, her fingers sliding on her damp skin. Rudi didn’t move, his gaze glued to her hands, and she watched his eyes follow them as they slid up the outside of her hips, trailed up her body, circled her breasts and then continued to her neck.

  She closed her eyes again, tipped back her head and lifted her arms, brus
hing the back of her neck and feeling the warm air stroking her. She arched her back a little, stretching, pushing out her breasts, conscious of his heated gaze on them, feeling his stare almost like a physical heat burning through her. Growing aroused now, she slid her hands down her neck and shoulders to her breasts and traced her fingers around them.

  Did she dare play with herself in front of him? It wasn’t something she’d felt comfortable doing with Damon; he’d taken the initiative in their lovemaking and everything had involved the fastest route to climax with little time taken to explore each other in the way she’d wanted.

  But Rudi’s intense gaze, his obvious desire, encouraged her on. So she cupped her breasts and ran her thumbs experimentally over her nipples. Because she was warm, they were relaxed and full, swollen and engorged with the blood that raced around her body, and they felt like soft damp velvet beneath her touch. She brushed the sensitive tips, saw the slight answering curve of his lips, and then took her nipples between thumb and forefinger and squeezed, feeling them harden in her fingers. Rudi exhaled, his eyes meeting hers briefly for a moment and gleaming with wry amusement, and she gave a little laugh, thrilled at the power she apparently possessed over him. He likes it, she thought, touched and flattered. He liked to watch her arouse herself—it turned him on.

  Reassured by his dilated pupils and the way he grew—amazingly—even more aroused, she played with her nipples a little longer until they were like hard buds in her fingers, then slid her right hand down her body. His eyes widened a fraction. Keeping her gaze on his face, continuing to play with her left nipple, she slid her hand down to her knee, then traced her fingers very slowly up the inside of her thigh.

  Her skin seemed more sensitive in the heat, and by now was coated with a fine sheen of perspiration, which let her fingers glide easily up to her pubic hair. She stroked it, quivering as she brushed the sensitive skin beneath, then slid her fingers down.

  She was swollen—more than she’d anticipated—and slick, her fingers slipping easily through her folds as she moved them down inside herself. Then she brought them back up, coated with her own moisture, to begin caressing the swelling at the top, which sent a quiver all the way through her.

  All amusement had faded from Rudi’s face, and his expression had darkened as the primeval passion rose inside him. As turned on by him watching as she was by her own touch, she sucked on her bottom lip, closed her eyes and concentrated on her fingers, tugging on her nipple and stroking more firmly between her legs. Her breasts were wet, everything made ultra-sensitive by the heat and moisture, and as her climax hovered, a tiny moan escaped her.

  Rudi fell to his knees before her, making her gasp. He pushed her hands away, and then his mouth was on her breast. She tipped back her head and held her breath as he sucked hard and his tongue kneaded her nipple, and then he kissed down her stomach and buried his mouth in her.

  She clutched a hand in his hair, half-horrified at the thought that she was sweaty and slippery, but clearly that only turned him on, because he gave a muffled murmur of approval and then his tongue was inside her, darting and flicking and stroking. She fell back onto her elbows, leaned her head on the wall and gave herself over to him, and within seconds she came, swelling and pulsing, his mouth hot and gentle as he guided her to the finish line.

  When the waves finally ebbed away, he pushed himself to his feet, grabbed a condom she hadn’t seen him bring in and rolled it on, pulled her to the front of the seat and without further ado, pressed his erection between her thighs and slid into her.

  Eva gasped. She was so wet and aroused there was no friction at all, and the sensation of him filling her was amazing. Her eyes flew open and she gazed up into his blazing blue ones, her body still quivering from the strength of the orgasm.

  “Eva,” he muttered, holding her hips, keeping them both still, clearly just enjoying the sensation of being inside her. “Mina rakastan sinua.”

  Her lips curved. “You’re speaking in Finnish.”

  He stared at her, then chuckled and kissed her mouth. “Was I?”

  “Tell me in English.”

  He pulled back then stroked in again slowly. “I said, ‘You are beautiful.’”

  “No you didn’t. You said Mina which means I, not you.”

  He shook his head. “Stop talking.” He bent to kiss her.

  She pulled back, out of his reach, and gave him a remonstrative look. “Tell me.”

  He held her gaze. “I said, ‘I am going to fuck you now.’ Okay?”

  The words sent a thrill through her and she couldn’t stop a little gasp. “Goodness.”

  “You did ask.”

  “I did. I didn’t expect…”

  He widened her legs and pushed forwards a little more, causing her to exclaim as he filled her to the brim. “Yes,” he said hoarsely. “Gasp again, Eva.”

  “Rudi…”

  He began to move properly, his hair falling over his forehead as he bent to kiss her, his lips rough and his tongue delving into her mouth.

  So she arched her back and let him fuck her, enjoy the slide of him inside her, the gleam of his skin in the dull light, the smell of the cedar wood and herbs on the rocks, the way her body began to respond to him again, even though she wouldn’t have thought it possible.

  Just when she thought she might be able to come again, though, he stopped, and before she could say anything, pulled out of her, keeping careful hold of the condom.

  “What..?” She looked up, puzzled and disappointed.

  He went over to the stove, poured another couple of ladles of water onto the rocks and then, as the room filled with steam, he pulled her to her feet. He led her over to the wall, turned her around and pushed her gently forwards, pinning her there with his body.

  She placed her palms on the boards, conscious of him pressed against her from shoulder to hips, feeling him hard against her bottom, his hands hot and heavy on her hips.

  “You are so beautiful,” he murmured, kissing her shoulder, then up to her neck, his tongue darting out to taste her skin.

  She tipped her head to the side to let him, groaning as he fastened his mouth there and sucked. “Oh…”

  He brought his hands up to cup her breasts, played with her nipples, then stroked down her wet skin to her hips. Stepping back, he brought her with him until she leaned forwards a little at the waist.

  “Widen your legs,” he instructed, his deep voice sending a shiver through her.

  She did so, realising what he wanted, and sighed as he slid a hand down between the cheeks of her bottom and underneath her. She felt the tip of his erection press into her and she lifted her hips, and then he pushed forwards and slid into her again.

  She gave a long, heartfelt moan, dipping her head and closing her eyes. His hands squeezed her hips, and then he moved one around and slipped it down her front to stroke her, even as he started to move inside her.

  “Rudi,” she whispered, her senses spinning. It was so hot, and the steam writhed around them until she almost felt as if she were swimming, as if they were underwater. He stroked her firmly, and she widened her legs a little more, pushing back against him, enjoying the way she felt completely full at this angle.

  His fingers tightened on her hip, and he moved with more purpose, pulling almost out and then thrusting forwards harder, his skin meeting hers with a wet smack, which was almost as erotic as the thought of what they were doing.

  His hand left her hip to lean on the wall above hers, and the fingers of his other hand moved urgently through her soft flesh, taunting and teasing her to the edge once again. “Come for me, Eva,” he murmured, kissing her shoulder, sucking where it met her neck.

  “Oh…” She was losing it again. “Rudi…”

  “Come for me.”

  She couldn’t do otherwise. The sensations of her wet and slick and him hot and hard combined inside her, and the orgasm began deep, starting with a slow tightening and then blooming into wave after wave of pulsing contractions t
hat made her cry out with their intensity. Rudi murmured something else in Finnish, and then his body stiffened, and she felt him come too, his hips jerking as he gave the last, final thrusts, the two of them arched in pleasure, rigid in mutual gratification.

  Rudi rested his forehead on her shoulder, and she waited for his heartbeat to slow.

  “Vittu,” he mumbled.

  She giggled. “I’ll second that.”

  He kissed her shoulder and withdrew gently, disposed of the condom, turned her around and gave her a hug.

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and nestled into his slippery embrace. The air was so thick and humid she could almost see it swirl like water as she moved her hand. I’ll never forget this day, she thought, resting her head on his chest. Never, as long as I live.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Rudi took her into the shower, and they washed the sweat off each other’s bodies, enjoying the ritual beneath the cool water.

  “I thought you were supposed to go outside and roll in the snow after a sauna,” Eva said as he squeezed some more shower gel on the sponge and soaped her body.

  “Many do, but I thought it might be a bit of a shock to the system after what we have just done.” He kissed her nose. “Giving one’s partner a heart attack does not seem a very romantic way of ending such a beautiful moment.”

  “True.” She giggled.

  He turned off the water and they stepped out and dried each other off, then went into the main room of the cabin and crawled beneath the covers of the bed. They still had just under an hour to go before they had to collect the kids, so Eva curled up and Rudi pulled her against his chest again and, propped on the pillows, they lay and looked out at the snowy fields.