12 Christmas Romances To Melt Your Heart

by Anthology

  “I usually have a glass while I cook.” She reached picked up the wine bottle and poured some into both wineglasses. She handed him a glass. “But you’re the one cooking, so you definitely deserve it.”

  “Thank you.” He took the glass and lifted it to his lips and took a drink. “Hmmm. This is pretty good.”

  “You drink wine too?”

  “Yeah, I do. Did you think I just drink moonshine and poach animals?” He arched his brow.

  She laughed and shook her head. “No, it’s just you are quickly becoming an enigma to me.”

  “How’s that?” He frowned. “I think I’m pretty straightforward.”

  “Yeah, and that’s what I don’t get. Usually people have a motive behind their actions. Good or bad, there’s always a reason why people do the things they do.”

  “Sounds like you’ve been burned before.”

  She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “It’s just life. I think my perspective was solidified when I was in high school.”

  “What happened?” He narrowed his gaze as he gave her his full attention.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” She motioned toward the casserole. “I know you’re busy.”

  She took another sip of wine and let the liquid calm her nerves.

  “I want to hear.” He opened the oven and popped the dish inside. “Besides, we have an hour until it cooks.”

  “What was your favorite part of school?” She arched her brow.

  “I don’t know. Sports, history, math.” He creased his brow as he settled a hip against the stainless-steel countertop and took another sip of the red wine. “Why?”

  “Because growing up, it was always made clear to me where I do and don’t fit in.” She took a big drink and placed the glass on the counter. Bracing her hands on counter, she hopped up and sat on it. She swung her legs as she took a deep breath. “When I was in kindergarten, Susie Thurmond punched me in the stomach in the girl’s bathroom. Later I asked her why she did it, and she said she didn’t like my clothes. “

  “Susie Thurmond? The youth pastor at the Methodist Church?”

  She nodded. “And when I was in elementary school, the other girls would never let me play softball. They said I sucked and nobody wanted me on their team.” She tossed back the wine. “I learned very quickly what my station was in life. “

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “Jake, it means when you are born into a small town, you are born into a category. My category was book nerd who couldn’t get a date in high school.” The wine had warmed her and given her the liquid courage she needed. She pointed a finger in his direction and smirked. “Your category was popular hot guy who could have any girl he wants.” She waved her hand in the space between them. “That’s why we can’t happen. We are in different categories.”

  Chapter 8

  “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” He curled his hands into fists and stalked toward her.

  Her heart sped up in her chest as he stopped between her legs, inches in front of her. He looked pretty pissed, but for some odd reason, it was turning her on. His face radiated anger. Still, she didn’t care.

  “That’s just how things are here.” She shrugged and grabbed her wineglass. His fingers wrapped around her wrist. With his free hand, he tugged the glass out of her hand and set it on the counter out of her reach.

  “Hey.” She pouted. “I need that…”

  “No, you don’t. But I do have something you need.” He framed her face with his hands. Calloused fingertips brushed against her jaw, and she trembled at the intimate sensation of his touch.

  “I’m going to kiss you, Eliza. Not because we’re trapped here, but because I’ve wanted to kiss you ever since high school. I wanted to ask you to the prom, but I knew you would just turn me down because you thought I was just some dumb jock. You never saw how I looked at you because you never looked my way. If you had, I wouldn’t have waited this long to do this.” He bent his head and stopped. His gaze held hers with an intensity that made her heart ache.

  “This time when I kiss you, I don’t want you to think, I just want you to feel. Understood?”

  She nodded, too thrown for a loop to say a word. Her body heated as she waited for his mouth to cover hers. She’d kissed him before, only in her dreams, But right now, under the heady sensation of the wine, he was about to kiss her again. For real.

  She was tired of holding her breath and waiting, so she didn’t wait any longer.

  She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, wound her fingers through his silky dark hair, and pulled him closer. His mouth descended on hers, and she welcomed him with an open-mouthed kiss. She sighed in appreciation as his tongue dipped inside her mouth and tangled with her own. He tasted of sweet wine and spicy male.

  He stepped closer and let his hands fall to her shoulders. His hands trailed down her arms and rested at her hips. His fingers gripped her hips and he pulled her closer until their bodies were pressed together. Her nipples pressed against his muscled chest, hardened and peaked. She leaned into his warmth, needing more. His erection pressed into her stomach, and she wiggled against him, wanting to feel every inch of his body against hers.

  “Damn, Eliza,” he breathed out as his mouth trailed kisses to her neck. “You’re making it hard to walk away from you right now.”

  “I don’t want you to walk away.” She arched her neck as he sucked the sensitive skin into his hot mouth. Her skin pebbled with desire as pleasure shot through her entire body.

  “Good. Cause I don’t plan on going anywhere. Not even after we get out of here.”

  “Stop talking.” She guided his mouth back to her lips and kissed him deeply.

  He chucked against her lips at her eagerness. She dragged her fingertips down his chest, feeling each ridge of sinewy muscle through his shirt.

  She pulled his shirt out of his jeans and slid her fingertips underneath, touching bare flesh.

  He hissed and pulled away, searing her with a heated look.

  She held his gaze as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt. When she reached the last button, she shoved the material off his broad shoulders and down his arms, revealing a wall of defined muscle the likes of which she’d only dreamed about.

  She grinned as she ran her fingertips over his chest. He captured her hand in his and brought it to his mouth. He sucked the pad of her finger into his mouth and pulled, making her turn to liquid.

  His eyes darkened with desire, and she knew what he wanted. It was what she wanted too.

  “We can wait.” His voice was husky as it filled the void between them. “I’ve waited this long for you. I’m willing to wait however long it takes.”

  “No. I’m tired of waiting.” She pulled him close and kissed him, sucking his tongue into her mouth.

  He cupped her butt and lifted her off the counter.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Somewhere more comfortable,” he whispered against her neck.

  Chapter 9

  He grabbed two candles and a lighter before finding her mouth with his.

  She tightened her legs around his waist as he carried her toward the swinging doors that led into the restaurant. He turned and backed his way through the doors and into the restaurant without breaking the kiss.

  Sweet and hot, she was everything he’d imagined and more.

  His heart pounded in his chest as he made his way back to the booth where they’d sat earlier. He gently placed her on the table and pulled back slightly.

  “Hang on.” He placed the two candles in their little holders and held the flame of the lighter to each. A soft, gentle yellow light shone against the darkness. He placed the candles on the other end of the table near the window.

  He stepped in between her legs and cradled her face between his palms.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered.

  “You’re so damn beautiful.” He was certain she could hear his heart beating. There was no going back now.
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br />   She smiled, sending his breathing into overdrive. He slid his fingers through her silken hair as he continued to gaze into her caramel eyes. He didn’t just want to tell her how he felt. He wanted to show her.

  “Jake, what do you want?” She cocked her head and stared up at him with heavy eyes. Her lips were glossy and swollen from his kisses.

  “I want you.”

  “You can have me.” She ran her hand up his chest to his neck to pull him in for another amazing kiss.

  He stopped before their lips met.

  “What’s wrong?” Doubt flickered through her eyes.

  Damn. It was now or never.

  “I need you to know something, Eliza. I need you to understand that I don’t just want one amazing night with you. I want more. I want a million nights with you.”

  “What?”

  He cleared his throat. “I’ve cared about you for a very long time. And I’ve never had the balls to do anything about it. Until now. I want you with every cell in my body, but if you think this is just a one-night stand, then this isn’t going to happen.” He brushed his thumb against the side of her cheek as his heart filled with so much emotion it was overwhelming.

  “I don’t understand.” She licked her lips. “You don’t want to sleep with me?”

  He barked out a laugh and shook his head. “I want nothing more than to make love to you right here on this table. And I want to do it again tomorrow night and the next night and a thousand nights after that. I want something more than just sex. I want a chance at a relationship with you.”

  Her eyes glazed, and she blinked. Silence followed and he shifted his weight, feeling like a fool.

  “You like me?”

  “I more than just like you. I think I’m in love with you. In fact, I know I’m in love with you. I always have been.” His heart seemed to stop in his chest as he waited for her reply.

  “I’m not asking you to make a commitment forever. Not yet.” He sure as hell hoped for it. One day. “I’m asking you to take a chance on me. On us. And if you think that sex will complicate it, then I’m willing to wait.”

  “Eliza, please say something.” Fear of rejection rushed into his head.

  “Jake.” She held his hand to her cheek and closed her eyes. “This is not one-sided. I’ve been attracted to you for a long time.”

  “You have?” Hope rose in his chest.

  She dragged her hands up his arms and laced her fingers behind his neck. “Yes. And I would like to see where this goes.”

  “You would?”

  “You may be right about waiting to have sex.”

  His hope dropped.

  “But I have to say I’m very turned on right now.”

  “You are?” His heart leaped.

  “Why don’t we compromise?” Her lips quirked up in a sexy smirk that made his body rock-hard. Her hand slid down his chest and skirted under his shirt. He shivered under her touch as she trailed her fingertips across his bare chest.

  “What did you have in mind?” he managed to say.

  “Well, we should start off just kissing.” She pressed her lips to his and then pulled back. “See where that goes.” She kissed him again. “And push it right up to the boundary line.”

  He lifted her off the table and set her on her feet.

  With strength and speed he didn’t know he had, he pulled out the table between the two booths. The candles wobbled and tilted, but he caught them before they turned over. Picking up the candles, he set them on the window ledge and continued to move the table out of the way.

  He turned around.

  She stood there under the glimmer of candlelight looking more perfect than he’d ever imagined.

  He eased onto the booth and held out his hand. She placed her hand in his was pulled into his lap. Brushing his fingertips across her cheek, he pulled her mouth to his. He moved his lips across her, slow and unhurried. He wanted to take his time, letting the memory of how she felt, how she tasted, be burned into his mind.

  * * *

  Eliza leaned into the kiss as she parted her lips under Jake’s talented mouth. The feel of his body snuggled close to hers set her soul on fire.

  She let out a moan as his tongue snaked inside her mouth and tangled with hers. She threaded her fingers though his hair. Tilting her head, she returned the kiss with a blazing intensity that she’d never felt before.

  “Take your shirt off,” she panted as her fingers found the buttons on his shirt. She needed to feel him, now.

  “But…” He pulled back and met her gaze.

  “We’ll keep our pants on.” She bit her lip as her fingers danced across his buttons and flicked them open.

  He groaned as she parted the shirt and shoved it off his shoulders. Her fingers danced over a broad chest and rock-hard muscles. His fingers were curled into fists at his sides as he let her explore his body with her touch.

  By the set of his clenched jaw, she knew he had to restrain himself from pulling her into his arms. She’d never thought she could cause such a reaction in Jake.

  “I want to see you.” He rasped, looking up at her under heavy-lidded eyes.

  She laced her hands behind his head and pulled him to her mouth. She couldn’t get enough of his kisses. They were addictive, like chocolate.

  He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as he kissed her deep and hard. Her heart stuttered in her chest as she began to fall in love with him. The thought terrified her, and she pulled away.

  He must have read the fear in her eyes because what came out next shook her to her core.

  “Don’t, Eliza. Don’t overthink this.”

  “Jake…”

  “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “What are you? A mind reader?”

  “No.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. He pressed a gentle kiss on her knuckles as he kept his gaze on her. “I’m just a guy. A guy who has been in love with a girl since high school.” He pressed his lips to her wrist. “I’m just a guy who wants you so bad it hurts. I’m just a guy who wants you to trust me with your heart. And I’m a guy who wants a forever future with you.”

  Her throat tightened with emotion. It was the most perfect words a guy had ever spoken to her.

  “You’re not just a guy, Jake.”

  “If I thought you would say yes, I would ask you right here. Right now.” His breathing increased as he spoke.

  Her mouth dropped open at what he was implying.

  “I want to go slow,” she said.

  He nodded. “I understand. Whatever you need.”

  “I want you. All of you. Tonight.” She spoke with her heart, ignoring her head. Tonight she was going to live by her heart and damn the consequences.

  His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth. She pressed her fingers to his lips.

  “Don’t try to talk me out of it. I’m pretty convincing when I want to be.” She slid her hands down his chest. “Do you have anything?”

  He frowned as he felt for his wallet in his back jeans pocket. “I don’t know. I haven’t planned for this.” He dug out his brown wallet and pulled it open. A slow grin crossed his lips as he pulled out a silver square.

  Chapter 10

  She felt her face heat as he held up the condom. A shiver of excitement raced through her body as he pulled her close. His mouth trailed kisses down her neck. She threaded her fingers into his hair and pulled him close. He sucked on the sensitive spot in the crook of her neck.

  He found her mouth again and skirted his fingers under her sweater. She pulled back and lifted the hem and tugged the sweater over her head. His eyes widened with desire as his gaze dipped to her pink, lacy bra.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and sunk into his embrace as he kissed her.

  It was a flurry of shedding clothes and inhibitions. She tugged off her shoes and jeans as well as her bra. He took off his jeans, boots, and shirt. When it was done, they stood before each other in nothing but boxers and panties.


  She took a breath and stepped into his warmth. They were flesh against flesh, and she arched her hips into his, feeling his erection against her stomach.

  “Jake,” she whispered as his fingers slipped inside her damp panties. She clung to him as he teased the sensitive flesh between her legs. “Now.” She tugged his underwear down past his hips. His erection sprang free, and she wrapped her fingers around the length.

  “Jesus,” he moaned and thrust into her palm. “Easy, sweetheart.” He moved her hand and grabbed the condom. In one swift move, he sheathed himself. Tugging her into his arms, he kissed her. His hands slid to her bottom and lifted.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist. His mouth found hers as he teased her with his tongue. She reached between their bodies and guided his erection to her wet entrance. She looked into his eyes as he slid inside her body.

  Pleasure shook her body as he stretched and filled her. He clenched his jaw as he tried to go slow. She dug her fingernails into his shoulders as she moaned out his name.

  “Jesus, Eliza.” His breathing was labored as he gripped her hips. “You feel so damn good.” He slid out before thrusting back in.

  “Yes, don’t stop,” she whimpered as she found his mouth and sucked on his tongue.

  It was more than she’d imagined and better than she could dream. Pleasure tingled and sparked through her body like a live wire as he continued to thrust. His mouth licked and sucked her taut nipple into his mouth as he leaned her back against the seat of the booth. She held his head to her breast writhing underneath his hard body.

  In a blizzard of pleasure, her orgasm washed over her, cresting so hard she cried out as she dug her nails into his back. An explosion of sound seemed to echo in the room. He continued to thrust, harder and deeper, until she’d ridden her own climax out and she was nothing but a puddle in his arms.

  She looked into his eyes as he groaned out his own orgasm, thrusting deep inside her and gripping her hips.