Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: A Red Velvet Christmas Novel

by K E Osborn

  We arrive in Glasgow and I’m feeling better after Brax switched our conversation onto something lighter and changed the mood. We have a whole day to kill until our gig tonight, so Cooper said there was a place he wanted to visit. After we set up at the hotel and offloaded our luggage and parked the bus, we jumped into a taxi bus and are now on our way to the National Piping Centre. None of us has any idea what it actually is and Cooper isn’t telling us, deciding it’s great entertainment for him to keep it a secret.

  “So my guess is, that it’s a place where they make a shit load of pipes and bongs knowing Coops.” Jayce laughs at his own joke as I roll my eyes thinking I’m in a band with a bunch of immature brats.

  The taxi goes over a speed hump causing Brax’s leg to rub against mine and the gentle friction makes my breathing hitch. It’s amazing how a simple touch from him can set my heart into a flutter. The taxi pulls up and we all file out. Hunter hands the driver the money and he quickly takes off. I’m sure the noise on the drive over was enough to push him to drink. I know I could do with a vodka right now. These guys are getting on my nerves and I like them, imagine a stranger and what they would think of their loud, obnoxious behaviour.

  Brax places his hand at my lower back as Cooper jumps around like a bloody school kid in his excitement. I must admit even though he looks like a complete fool, it’s entertaining. Taking short steps up to the front door, I soon realise that this place is none other than a bagpipe museum. A rumble of laughter explodes from my chest as I point to the posters of bagpipes on the window. Hunter and Jayce look at it and groan as I continue to see the humour in this situation.

  “I’m so freaking excited,” Cooper says.

  The squeal of the metal sliding against the floor makes me wince as he pulls the door open forcefully.

  “A bagpipe museum, Cooper. Really? You’re a drummer, not a piper,” Mase says and Cooper scoffs waving his hands in the air as we walk inside.

  “Why do you think they call it pipes and drums? Because the two go together dipshit,” Cooper replies and disappears behind a display. I turn to look at Brax, who’s clearly as entertained by this as I am by the beaming smile on his face. The slight dimple in his left cheek makes me want to touch his face. But I restrain myself, as a man takes giant strides toward me wearing a kilt and a tartan jumper. I smile widely as he looks ridiculous, but somehow he fits into the décor around here. I glance at Clara and notice her eyeing the man sideways, her cheeks are flushed, and she’s trying to hide her smile. I can’t help but chuckle at her apparent lusting over the Scotsman wannabe.

  “Welcome to the Piping Centre. Would you lovely people like a tour or are you happy to walk around?” the Scotsman asks.

  “A tour please.” Cooper's voice is several octaves higher than it needs to be showing his excitement, his rushed and fast paced wording also makes it obvious he’s in his element.

  God knows why?

  We walk through the Museum and the Scotsman talks in a monotone drawn out voice that’s lulling me into sleep. I really want to get out of here and I can see the look on everyone else’s face is the same, except for, of course, Cooper, who can’t stop saying how ‘cool’ this is.

  “I’m so going to learn how to play the bagpipes, and I’m going to incorporate it into the band—”

  “No,” we all shout in unison as Cooper’s eyes open wide and he shakes his head folding his arms over his chest in shock. I can’t help the laugh that escapes me as Brax moves in next to me and presses his arm against mine, obviously needing something to liven up this dullness. Luckily pressing his arm against mine sends a shockwave right through me waking me up completely.

  The Scotsman has disappeared and since returned with a few bagpipes. A chill runs up my spine hoping he’s not going to do what I think he’s going to.

  “So who wants to have a go on these here bad boys then, eh?” he says in his Scottish brogue. I slump my body and shake my head as the faces of the other guys suddenly light up. Cooper literally jumps up and down on the spot, the thud of his heavy feet on the carpet is reverberating through me. Mase looks at me and his smirk is wide as he grabs a set of bagpipes from the man and Jayce grins taking a set too. I notice Hunter take one as well, and I purse my lips trying to stop the laugh escaping as I try to imagine how utterly terrible this is going to sound.

  The Scotsman turns to me holding out a bagpipe, and I shake my head adamantly.

  “No way, I think I’ll leave this to the boys,” I say and he looks at Brax and he sidesteps behind me making me giggle.

  “No way, I have no musical talent whatsoever,” Brax says and his front rubs against my back as he steps in behind me. A tingle shoots up my spine—the guys are too interested in their bagpipes to notice. He slides his hand along my side and I move my hand down and into his entwining our fingers. His breath is hot on my neck and every inch of my skin is pulsating with want. I bite my bottom lip as the Scotsman shows the guys how to play. They all start and the sound is like a swarm of dying cats locked in a solid enclosed room. Charli giggles in Clara’s arms as she claps along.

  Brax’s free hand runs up my side and finds its way to my hip grabbing me and pulling me back into him. I gasp as my back connects to him entirely, and I close my eyes relishing in the contact. My breathing hitches up a notch, and the urge to turn and kiss him is becoming unbearable.

  I turn, grabbing his hand. He looks down at me and I look over to the partitioned wall section. Turning back to face him, I drag him off behind the wall, away from prying eyes. I can’t help myself as I push his chest, forcing his toned and rigid body against the hard wall. He smirks at me as my body is filling with adrenalin and an insatiable surge of lust.

  “I’ve needed to do this all day,” I say and lean on my toes pressing my lips to his.

  I run my hands up into his hair and his hand snakes around my waist pulling my body flush with his. My tongue slides against his as I moan slightly into his mouth letting him know I’m enjoying this. His hands tighten around my waist and he pulls me around, moving us. My back hits the wall with a thud which only heightens my intoxication of him. He presses his hard chest into me and my hands wrap around his neck pulling him closer, so every inch of us is touching while we kiss passionately. His tongue delving inside my mouth tasting and devouring me like I’m the sweetest treat he’s ever had.

  He moves his hips against mine and his erection is painfully evident against my abdomen, the thought that I’m turning him on as much as he’s turning me on is only making this even more exciting. My hand fists in his hair, the low growl of his voice reverbs through my mouth sending a shiver down my spine. His hand moves down to my thigh, pulling my leg up to wrap around his waist. Moving his hips into mine further, causes me to moan into his mouth as the pressure against my pussy is making my clit throb.

  The air suctioning through our noses is so forceful it’s making me lightheaded as the air intake isn’t enough, but I don’t want to stop kissing him. The air loss isn’t significant enough to prevent this incredible feeling building inside me. He grinds his hips into me as his tongue dances with mine and the force of his movements makes me slide up the wall slightly. My head hits a photo frame and in the mad frenzy of our kissing the frame unhooks and collides with my shoulder pinching my skin and then crashing to the ground with a thud. The glass from the frame smashes all over the carpet causing Brax and me to part lips and look down at the destruction at our feet.

  I pant forcefully trying to catch my breath as I look at the photo frame while Brax lets my leg down. It falls to the floor feeling suddenly very heavy. As I look at the broken piece of memorabilia, the walls start to close in on me as the floor seems to appear like it’s swallowing me whole. I look up at Brax, who’s biting his bottom lip with a slight smirk, and I shake my head as panic starts to overwhelm me. He glances up at me and his smirk drops when the realisation sets in, and he reaches out his hand touching my shoulder, but it doesn’t soothe me at all.

  “Hey,
are you okay?” he asks.

  I shake my head in short, sharp bursts as my breath becomes shallow and tight. My heart is racing at the thought of how much trouble we’re going to get into, and I can’t help but feel a little faint. The sound of the bagpipes squealing from the guys trying to play them is grating and is only making my panic worse.

  “No. We’re going to get in so much trouble. What if that was priceless?” I murmur and Brax winces and rubs my shoulder then bends down and starts to pick up the pieces of shattered glass, and places them against the wall with the damaged frame. The clinking of the glass as the pieces slide together is making me wince, and even though Brax is trying to do the right thing I feel like we need to make a run for it.

  “We should probably tell the curator,” Brax says to me. I open my eyes wide and shake my head adamantly grabbing his shoulders and practically shaking him.

  “No way! What if they want to arrest us or something or charge us with damaging property Brax? I can’t go to jail. What about Charli?” I burst out loudly and even though the sound of the bagpipes is still grating on me, I’m glad they’re playing so no one can hear my meltdown.

  He leans out and wraps his arms around my shoulders pulling me to him and encasing me in him completely. His warmth wraps around me and suddenly my panic starts to ebb, as his gentle fingers rub along the tense muscles of my back while he nuzzles into my hair.

  “Amber, they won’t arrest us for breaking a picture. But it’s okay, we won’t tell them if you don’t want to,” he says running his fingers through my hair and combing out my stress. He knows exactly how to calm me down. I don’t know how, but it’s working. And as my heart rate declines and my breathing slows, I hold onto him bringing my head up from his broad chest and looking at him in his sparkling green eyes.

  “Thank you for calming me down. I know I panic over nothing, for some reason I just can’t stop it. So thanks for understanding.”

  He smiles and leans down placing a feather light kiss on the tip of my nose. It sends a shiver down my spine and instantly I feel like I’m back on earth in the land of sane people.

  “You’re welcome. But anyway, I would go through it all over if it meant I got to kiss you like that again.” His grin is wide and even his eyes look like they’re smiling.

  I lean on my toes and press my lips to his. He can be so sweet when I need him to be. Brax certainly is turning out to be just what I need. I hope I’m not setting myself up for a fall, though.

  “Everything’s going to be all right, you’ll see. We’ll get away with it,” he says with a mischievous wink and pulls back taking my hand in his. “We better get back before they notice we’ve gone.”

  The sound of the wailing bagpipes screeches back into my eardrums and I scrunch my face up at the racket. I turn and take cautious steps, my heart beating with each footstep from behind the wall hoping no one notices that we were gone. Brax is behind me, his cologne wafting into my senses making me feel skittish. Wanting to kiss him all over again and knowing that our time will come.

  Walking back out to the central area, the guys are all laughing and attempting to play the bagpipes. Clara looks over to me and smiles. Can’t fool her, but the guys don’t even bat an eyelash. They have no idea that Brax and I left for a while.

  “Okay, I think you guys should stick to the instruments you already play and never pick up a set of bagpipes again,” the Scotsman says making me and Brax laugh. “Well, that’s it for the tour guys. Thanks for coming to the National Piping Centre. Good luck with your tour.” He takes the bagpipes from the guys and stores them on the nearby counter as Cooper pouts like he wants to take one home with him.

  I smile as we all walk back through the museum and out to the taxi rank. The smell of petroleum and general car smog fills the air, I turn my nose up at the pungent smell. I can’t help but feel tense as I look back at the museum and wonder how long it will take for them to find the broken frame, and if they’ll rush out here to arrest us. Luckily, soon after that thought, a taxi bus arrives and I step inside looking back one last time to make sure they’re not rushing out after Brax and me. Nothing seems to be happening, so I exhale and sit down on the tattered and split leather seat of the taxi bus as Brax sits next to me and follows my line of sight.

  “You still worried about them coming to arrest you?” he whispers so no one else can hear.

  “Maybe?”

  He chuckles as the bus lurches forward jolting me in my seat. Brax reaches his hand out stopping me from sliding forward into the seat in front. I smile up at him as the bus clunks and hums while it takes off into the heavy traffic and away from any possible jail time.

  Geez, my mind overreacts, but for some stupid reason I just cannot stop it. I wish I could.

  Brax looks around the bus and Hunter is talking to Mase. Cooper and Jayce are lost in their phones and Clara is playing with Charli. He glances at me and subtly glides his hand along my thigh. I look down at his hand and bite my bottom lip as his warm hand sends tingles all over my body. Turning his hand over on top of my thigh, he places his palm upward and flexes his fingers like he’s waiting for something. I furrow my eyebrows as my heart races slightly wondering what he wants. He flexes his fingers again and then it clicks. I smile and place my hand in his. It surprises me how perfectly we fit together. Glancing up at him he looks down at me and his eyes are sparkling with affection. His lips turn up and he winks while tightening his hand in my grip. Swallowing hard, I smile back. As the bus drives through the city streets, the gentle hum of the engine vibration is making me feel a buzz, like energy surging, like a life force is surrounding me with positive vibes. Brax is a good thing for me right now, and I know I should try and see where this could go. Because if he can calm me down from a panic attack that easily and makes me feel like I deserve to be happy, then maybe that’s something worth fighting for?

  We get back to the hotel, and as the taxi pulls up to a stop, Brax and I slowly let our hands go. We don’t want anyone else to see, especially Hunter. I stand up behind Brax and we file off onto the quiet suburban street of Glasgow in front of our modern and upbeat hotel. My neck strains as I look upward at the architecture of the sleek and sophisticated building. I smile as the guys talk loudly while they too make their way from the taxi onto the city street. The pavement seeming hardly touched as I glance at the intricate design of the pavers. The council must have just repaved the sidewalk. Brax chuckles gaining my attention, I look up at him and he’s smirking at me.

  “What?”

  “Nothing, just you admiring your surroundings is cute,” he says and I roll my eyes and poke his ribs. He flinches and chuckles again.

  “Hey! Compared to the dive we stayed in, in Manchester, I think I’m allowed to think this place is awesome in comparison,” I defend. He nods and wraps his arm around my shoulders pulling me to him surprising me as he chuckles. I cuddle into his side as Clara walks past us with Charli, and Hunter steps up to us with his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flaring.

  “You two look cosy.” His words are laced with accusation and Brax tenses around me then drops his arm from around my shoulders instantly.

  “We’re allowed to be friends, Hunt. Ease up,” I berate.

  Hunter glares at Brax and then his eyes slide over to me. “Friends, yes,” he grunts and walks off. Each step thudding on the beautiful pavement solidly, making me cringe thinking he might crack the artwork. Brax exhales loudly and starts to walk off too. I reach out grabbing his hand. He turns to look at me and his eyes are drooping and his smile is long gone.

  “Brax, don’t let Hunter stop whatever this is,” I say and he half smiles and walks past me. His shoulder brushes mine and I can’t help but feel a staleness between us at the moment.

  Hunter is getting to Brax.

  I swallow hard feeling uneasy, and like maybe Brax will put the brakes on us before we’ve even had a chance to start anything.

  I ate dinner in my hotel room with Clara and Charli. I didn’t wa
nt to be around the guys, and I didn’t feel like I could be around Brax at the moment. I felt like he might need a bit of thinking time after Hunter called us out, and I don’t want to feel like I’m in Brax’s face all the time. So I chose to have some girl time. But now as my heart is beating faster at the thought of seeing him again, I know I have to face him because I have a gig to perform. A gentle rapping at my hotel door notifies me that someone’s there.

  “I’ll get it,” Clara calls out as I finish placing the last of my mascara on in the dimly lit bathroom.

  Charli giggles as muted voices echo through to the bedroom. Footsteps are getting louder as they approach and Hunter pops his head around the open doorway. I smile at him in the mirror as he looks at me applying my make-up.

  “You look as gorgeous as ever.”

  I scoff. “You have to say that or you know I’ll crotch kick you,” I tease and he chuckles and walks into the bathroom, his heavy boots clunking on the tiles.

  He wraps his arm around my shoulders and looks in the mirror at our reflections. “We really are a couple of gorgeous looking people, though, right?” he states and I laugh and poke him in the ribs. He shakes his head and slaps my back. “C’mon let’s go.”

  Placing my mascara back in the beauty bag, I turn around and walk out of the bathroom following Hunter. We make our way to the bedroom where Charli is on the floor playing with her toys while Clara is engrossed watching Lady Mary dealing with yet another suitor in the latest episode of Downton Abbey.

  I giggle to myself as I bend down and caress Charli’s face as Clara yells at the television, “You’re making a mistake Mary, you’re choosing the wrong man…again.”

  I laugh and lean in kissing Charli’s head. She looks up at me with her bright blue eyes and smiles brightly. My heart explodes with love for her as she looks away and continues to play with her toys.