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

by K E Osborn

  “You doing okay?” Mase asks as I march up to the microphone.

  Smiling at him so he doesn’t catch on about any of the drama that just happened backstage with Brax and Hunter, he grins at me.

  “I’m great. Brax’s family are here, so we have to perform really well,” I suggest. He looks down to the front of the stage where the Braxton’s are standing eagerly waiting to hear Red Velvet perform. Especially Evie, who’s now gazing up at Mase biting her bottom lip, her chest heaving slightly and her legs tightly pressed together. I giggle inwardly because I know he has that effect on most women, just not me.

  “Yeah, well his sister is cute.”

  I look up at him and smirk as he looks at me holding his breath, his eyes darting from me to Evie as he breathes heavily like he’s waiting for me to object. A pang of sadness washes over me that he’s resorting to trying to make me jealous. When will he understand?

  “She’s gorgeous, you should talk to her after the show,” I say trying to let him know his little plan didn’t work the way he so obviously wanted it to.

  He lowers his head pressing his lips tightly together. Slumping his shoulders, as his posture hunches, he lets out a heavy sigh. “What good would that do, she lives in Scotland and I live in England. It’s doomed from the start, just like every relationship of mine,” he murmurs the last part as his feet shuffle along the stage floor, his back turning to me as he walks away.

  Chewing on my lip my stomach knots—I’ve done this to him. I feel awful, but I can’t pretend to love him when I simply don’t. It’s not fair on him, or me.

  My skin prickles and it feels like the electricity in the room has just amplified and is leaching into the air. Looking back down at Brax’s family, I see Brax now with them and I can’t hold back my smile. He’s chatting with his brother, who’s just as handsome as he is, only slightly younger and not as well built. Their laughter fills the pub even with the noise of the other people who are gathering for the show, and it’s nice to see the interaction with Brax and his family. I miss that environment. It makes me wish I had a bigger family that I could rely on, but it’s just me, Charli and Hunter, and he’s annoyed with me now so I’m feeling a little deflated.

  My microphone cord is wrapped around the stand, so I bend down to untangle it and Evie walks up and smiles at me.

  “Hey, I hope I’m not interrupting. I can’t wait to hear you guys live,” she says. Her voice a high pitch as she raises up on her toes and her hands flick out to her sides and then slap against her legs in an excited gesture.

  I can’t contain my grin and my chest rumbles with a small laugh. “No, it’s okay we have a minute or so before we start. Thanks so much. I hope you like our stuff—”

  “Oh, I love your music. I heard you guys play at the concert you backed up for Staked and Peripheral. You were amazing and I’ve kind of been stalking you ever since. When Alex said he was working for you, I nearly died.” Her emphasis on the word died makes me giggle at her enthusiasm for my band. I love it when people connect with us and our music, it makes all the negatives worth it.

  “Well, thanks, Evie. I’ll make sure to send you some merchandise when we get home,” I say honestly. She squeals bouncing up and down and clapping her hands making me laugh again.

  “Oh my God, you’re literally the best.” Her smile is so full, I just want to lean down and hug her. She really is the cutest, and I can’t help but notice Brax watching us with his hands in his pockets and the most adorable smile on his face.

  “Amber, you ready?” Mase asks walking up behind me. I turn looking up at him as he glances down at me and then his eyes shift to Evie and his sour expression softens a little when he smiles at her.

  A slight giggle passes from Evie's lips and I nod at Mase. “Yep.” Looking back at Evie I smile at her. “I’ll talk to you after, okay?”

  Her eyes haven’t left Mason at all, she slowly nods her head and steps back away from the stage smiling like the Cheshire cat toward my guitarist. I stand up and chuckle to myself. Mason has a fan, and I hope it makes him feel good about himself.

  Taking my place at the mic, I look back at the guys and they all look ready to go. So I grab the cool metal and talk into it gaining everyone’s attention.

  “Hi Aberdeen, we’re Red Velvet. Tonight, I’d like to dedicate this show to someone very special.”

  Mase looks at me raising his eyebrows, as this wasn’t part of the plan, and he has no idea what I’m about to do. I watch Evie and Derek walk into the middle of the dancefloor. The crowd cheer, and I smile at them and wave my hands in the air for them to keep cheering.

  “So tonight this performance goes out to Evie, in the words of Stevie Wright, ‘Evie let your hair hang down’.” I glance at her and she lets out an excited scream. I chuckle as she’s smiling so wide I’m sure her cheeks must be hurting, as she jumps up and down on the spot and throws her hands in the air. “Have fun everyone, let’s rock this shit.” With those words, Mase grinds on his guitar at the same time Cooper starts the drum beats and Jayce enters in with the fat bass. The music blares through the speakers reverberating through the pub and vibrating within my soul.

  I glance down at Brax and he’s smiling as he stands by the stage with his father and mother who are moving to the melody. I open my mouth and the lyrics flow effortlessly to the song I’ve sung a million times.

  The crowd erupts into applause as I throw my hands in the air. Beads of sweat form and slide down my forehead as the heat from the lights blast down like harsh rays of sunlight from above. I take my final bow as Evie is screaming the loudest over everyone, which causes me to giggle while I turn around and walk off the stage. Brax doesn’t follow. I knew he wouldn’t, the crowd here is fine, no trouble at all. His family is here and I’m sure he’ll lead them back to the green room shortly. My steps into the back room are heavy, I feel dehydrated and exhausted after performing my heart out on stage. I put everything I had into that performance. I really wanted to impress Brax’s family, and I just hope I did a good job for them. After all, them liking me is high on my list. I’m not sure why it’s so important for me, but their approval means everything.

  Stepping up to the small white bar fridge, the door sticks slightly as I go to open it. I pull harder and the whole thing shudders as it lets go and opens. I cringe and shake my head as I pull out a bottle of water and the dampened hammer of the rubber seal marks the end of my act. The coolness of the refreshing liquid instantly quenches my insatiable thirst as I gulp it down hurriedly. Closing my eyes, I let myself drown in the refreshing beverage and relax my tense muscles listening to the powerful footsteps of heavy bodies coming into the room.

  “Geez Amber, it’s not vodka, don’t make love to it or anything,” Jayce’s voice echoes through the room. I take my final gulp and pull the bottle from my lips taking in a deep lungful of much-needed air. Turning to look, I see my band and Hunter all in the room and I smile at the men in my life all watching me with great big smirks on their faces.

  “It is vodka,” I reply and Cooper and Jayce burst out laughing and Mace and Hunter frown.

  Hunter furrows his brows and walks over to me taking the bottle so forcefully, water spills over the edge and cascades onto the floor in small rivulets. I roll my eyes as he puts it to his nose and sniffs.

  “Oh my God Hunt, calm the fuck down. I’m kidding,” I say and pat his shoulder as his lips form a tight line and he squints at me, his brows furrowed.

  “Well, I needed to check…you’re doing stupid things lately,” he says.

  I scoff and fold my arms over my chest. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “Hey guys, my family wanted to say goodbye before they left,” Brax’s voice interrupts before Hunter gets a chance to start an argument with me.

  “Oh great, come on in,” I call out pushing past Hunter with force, walking toward Brax and his family. Brax smiles and the heat in his stare makes me want to jump and wrap myself around him smothering myself i
n him in every way possible.

  I swallow hard and look away from him to his mother. Her bright eyes shining with excitement against the hues of the dimly lit room.

  “Oh, Amber darling, your voice is hypnotic, simply beautiful,” she says rushing her hands out. I smile as her soft, delicate hands take mine and her thumbs rub gently over the backs of my skin.

  “Thank you, you’re too kind,” I say and Evie laughs.

  “No way, Mum’s right Amber, you’re amazing.”

  I shake my head—I hate compliments I never know how to act when given them.

  “She really is,” Brax murmurs and I look up at him noticing everyone in the room is looking at Brax too.

  “Anyway, thanks for letting us come to the show guys, it was great to see and meet you all,” Oscar says and Sandra lets my hands go. Looking back at the rest of the band, they all nod and smile courteously.

  “No worries, any friend of Brax, is a friend of ours,” Cooper says and Jayce slaps him on the back of the head.

  “They’re family, not friends, dick,” Jayce berates and everyone chuckles.

  “Well then, I guess any family of Brax is a family of ours?” he says more like a question and we all laugh at him.

  Sandra nods and smiles. “I’m happy to have you all as adopted children. You should all come up and visit us at the house when you can,” she says and Brax laughs.

  “I think they have better things to do with their time than to come and visit, Mum,” he suggests and she pouts as the rest of the band smile at her.

  “Okay, well, we better go and leave you to it. Come and see us when you can,” Oscar says putting his hand out for Brax to shake. He smiles at his dad and leans in hugging him instead. I smile and look away letting them have their moment.

  I hear a sniff and look at Sandra to see her eyes glistening with tears. My chest tightens for her, she’s only just got her son back from his time in the Army and now he’s spending all his time away from home in England with me. I feel sorry for taking him away from them. He pulls back from his dad and steps up to his mum wrapping her up in his arms tightly and she can’t hold back her emotion and starts to cry.

  Evie and Derek both exhale as Oscar pats her back.

  “Mum, please don’t cry,” Brax murmurs.

  “I just don’t know when I’ll see you next,” she splutters.

  “I’ll be home for Christmas, I promise,” he says and she stops crying slightly and cuddles him tighter.

  “That would be lovely. You’re all welcome to come too if you want,” she says.

  I smile and inwardly cringe. I wish I could have a big Christmas. However, mine will be filled with remembering my mother and all the good times we shared. Remembering all the things I’m missing out on and watching Charli grow up without a grandmother.

  My Christmas will be hell on earth.

  As the bus takes off back toward the hotel, Brax’s fingers entwine with mine as we sit back in the plush seats. I lean into his side as the guys down the back start to sing the Manchester United football team song for some weird reason. I giggle as Brax looks at me and smiles.

  “Thanks for dedicating the show to Evie, she really got a kick out of that.”

  I smile and tighten my hand in his. “My pleasure. She seems sweet. I like her. I like all of your family actually. Derek is quiet, though,” I admit and he laughs.

  “Yeah, he’s shy around new people. But thank you so much for the effort you put in tonight. I know it mustn’t have been easy meeting my parents so early on, but you handled yourself really well.”

  Leaning up I chastely kiss his cheek. “Thank you, I was hoping I made a good impression on them. I want them to like me, especially if we’re dating,” I tease and he smirks and leans in kissing my forehead.

  “So we’re okay with all that then? The dating thing? If you think it’s too soon to be putting that label on us, I completely understand, though—”

  I bring my hand up to his cheek and caress it tenderly, his stubble tickling my palm sends a tingle down my spine. “I’d love to date you, Alex Braxton.”

  His face lights up in an intense, awe-inspiring, panty dropping, heart melting, type of smile that literally takes my breath away. “I’d love to date you too, Amber Montgomery,” he whispers inching closer to me resting his forehead on mine.

  “It’s a date then,” I whisper and he smiles brilliantly again.

  The bus pulls up forcing Brax and me apart. We definitely don’t need to put on a show for Hunter. Brax stands up and I follow as we walk off the bus with the rest of the band toward the hotel, while Hunter parks the bus. Brax is subtly touching me in any way he can while Mason comes over and smiles at us.

  “So your sister is really sweet, hey?” Mason says to Brax being cordial to him for once.

  Opening my eyes slightly at Mase’s confession, Brax looks at Mase and chuckles. “Yeah, she’s great. Really innocent and naïve, and my baby sister…You get where I’m going with this?” Brax asks puffing out his chest.

  I try to hide my smirk as Mason frowns at Brax’s refusal of Mason making any sort of move on Evie.

  “Right, I see where you’re going. I’ll lose her number,” Mase says and draw my brows together in surprise that he actually got her number after the show. I didn’t know that. Brax tenses next to me obviously not knowing that either and he nods as Mason turns and walks away with his shoulders slumped and his head hanging low.

  I turn looking at Brax and he exhales running his hand through his hair.

  “What would be so bad about Mase and Evie? I think they’d be cute together,” I admit and Brax huffs.

  “Sorry, just no. She’s too young to have a boyfriend.”

  I can’t stop the laugh from erupting out of my chest. “Brax, she’s twenty, not twelve.”

  His eyes squint as his lips squeeze into a tight thin line. I quickly stop laughing. “She’s my baby sister,” he says and I smile and nod thinking of Hunter, and how even though I’m nearly twenty-three he still doesn’t want me to have a boyfriend. Must be a brother thing.

  “Okay,” I say interlacing my hand with his and walking us toward the elevator.

  Inwardly, I giggle at the tough macho display that Brax is putting on, it’s kind of sweet in a weird way. I bet Evie wouldn’t think so, though. As we step into the open elevator, I nuzzle into Brax’s side. We’re in here alone, so when the doors shut I turn to him and place a kiss gently on his lips.

  “I’ve needed to do that for a while,” I whisper against his mouth.

  He chuckles and wraps his arm around my waist pulling me to him. “Well, I plan on kissing every inch of you in about five minutes. I hope you’re ready?” His deep, seductive voice sends a shockwave straight to my core making my panties instantly wet. Feeling his lips on my skin is a pleasure I’ve started to crave. I’m just so pleased I’m able to have him every night. The elevator dings and we break apart stepping out onto the hotel floor, we walk to my room and the door clicks as I swipe the card. Brax grabs my arse as we walk in and I giggle. Clara is, of course, on the lounge waiting for us as is our new normal.

  “How was your night?” she asks looking over as Brax wraps his arms around my waist. We feel comfortable being ourselves around Clara, she doesn’t judge, in fact, she welcomes it.

  “Great thanks, Clara. How was my ladybug?” I ask wishing I could hold her tight right now.

  “She was so good tonight, went down like a light. Anyway, I better go and leave you two alone. Have a good night, sweetheart,” Clara says walking past me and patting my arm tenderly as she moves toward the hotel door.

  “Thanks again Clara, I’d be lost without you,” I admit. She smiles and walks out of the room and before the door is even closed Brax turns and pins me to the wall. His hard body pressed against mine and his lips firmly push against me passionately. At first I’m shocked by his display, but quickly I’m sinking into his arms and folding my fingers through his unruly hair at the nape of his neck. Our t
ongues entwine and finally I get the feeling I’ve needed all day, just being wrapped up in Brax is an emotion that gives me a natural high. His hands slide down my body to the hem of my camisole and he lifts up. We part lips briefly, allowing enough time for him to pull it over my head. A low throaty growl erupts through his chest as he looks down at my breasts in my bra. His mouth connects with my neck as I breathe heavily, panting with the need I have for him. His slight stubble on his face grazing my skin sending a tingle all the way down my spine is only making me pant harder.

  My bra clip is unfastened with ease and as it falls to the floor Brax’s hand comes up to massage my breast so tenderly. My clit is throbbing needing him to touch me as my hands move into his shirt and pull it up over his head. I mourn the loss of his hand from my breast, but he quickly moves in so our bodies are flush with each other chest to chest, skin on skin, and I love the feeling of our closeness. Mouths connect, our tongues going rogue, dancing with each other as we kiss passionately. My red and black tartan mini skirt starts to slide down my legs as Brax pulls on it gently. I bring my legs together to help ease it down. I need to be naked with him as quickly as possible. Standing in just my black panties and Madden Girl embellished flats, my hands run up his muscular back feeling every toned section of his shoulders. He moves his hands down to his jeans and makes quick work of the button and zip and soon they’re on the floor. He steps out of his shoes and kicks off his jeans leaving him in his briefs. His hands move around to my arse and he pulls me to him, my legs wrapping around his waist. And as he lifts me, my shoes fall from my feet to the floor hitting the ground with a thud as he carries me from the small hall to the bed. Our lips tangled in one another’s kissing fervidly. His heavy footsteps take us to the waiting mattress where he gently eases me onto the bed and I grin against his lips knowing we’ll be together soon. I’ve come to enjoy this part of my daily routine. He pulls back and stands up taking off his briefs and I lean down pulling off my panties and throw them on the floor next to him. He smirks looking down at my naked body as I take in his. He really is a masterpiece of brawny brilliance. Leaning over me, my back hits the mattress and he smiles.