McKenzie's Turn to Fall: A Holiday Romance

by Harlow James

  I swallow, loving how his eyes are serious, but there’s a hint of amusement there too. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Good.” He stands up tall again, like he didn’t just have a borderline eccentric moment on me. “Now, let’s get these kids to as many houses as possible so we can score some Kit Kats and Reese’s when they have to pay the candy tax at the end of the night.”

  “The candy tax?” I ask as we continue to trail the kids down the sidewalk of the housing community that seems to be the place to trick or treat. All of the houses are close together making it perfect for optimum candy collection.

  “Yup. We take a percentage off the top for supervising. It’s one of the perks of this gig.”

  I laugh. “And what’s the other?”

  His face turns to mine, his free hand reaching up to stroke the side of my face. “Getting to spend time with you, of course. I missed you this week,” he whispers as he rests his forehead on mine.

  “I’m glad I came. Thank you for inviting me. I would have just been home alone tonight.”

  Dylan grins as he pulls away from me. “Don’t worry. You definitely won’t be going home alone tonight, Mac. You can count on it.”

  ***

  It’s after ten o’clock by the time we stumble into my house, my feet throbbing from the miles we walked in pursuit of free candy. But boy, did those kids score.

  I toss my bag of free loot on the kitchen counter, comprised primarily of Kit Kats, and then turn to see Dylan shut my front door behind him.

  Dylan left his mask in his truck, but the second we make it pass the doorway of my house, he’s stripping out of his Jack costume, which resembles that of an adult onesie.

  “God, this thing is hot,” he breathes out as he pulls his arms out of the sleeves and reveals his chiseled chest covered in a plain white tank top. As he slides the bottom half down, white matching briefs cover his tapered waist, thick thighs, and an impressive bulge that he couldn’t hide if he tried.

  I must have been staring because his next words catch me off guard.

  “Like what you see, Mac?”

  “Huh?” I say while blinking myself back to the present.

  He laughs and then steps out of his costume entirely, gliding towards me as I strip off my coat, toss my beanie to the side, and jump in his arms the minute he’s close enough to do so without me falling flat on my face.

  “God, I’ve been thinking about this all week,” he mutters against my lips as he walks us down the hallway to my bedroom.

  “Me too,” I reply between kisses.

  Suddenly, he’s placing me on my feet by the foot of my bed and stepping away, the ache in my chest and core building in earnest. “Get naked, baby. I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay…” Not sure of where he could possibly be going or what he would need, I follow his directions as the buzz of anticipation builds in my body. My skin feels like it’s on fire with the need coursing through me. I’m already wet and my nipples are hard and eager for his touch. Dylan has awakened my libido from its deep slumber and now I’m afraid it won’t ever be appeased.

  I hear his footsteps before I see him, the sound mimicking the thump of my heart. But when he appears in my room holding a jar of peanut butter and a spoon, I can’t help the shocked laugh that leaves my lips.

  “Did the craving strike and you couldn’t wait until after to fulfill it?”

  Dylan’s lips curl up into a playful grin with just a hint of danger. “A thought came to me while we were walking around tonight.”

  “Okay…”

  “I told you how I feel about peanut butter.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “It’s an addiction, my favorite thing in the world.”

  “Yes…”

  “Well, you are quickly making your way to the top of the list too, so I figured why not combine two of my favorite things together?”

  I eye him suspiciously. “How?”

  “Lie down on the bed, Mac,” he commands as a shiver runs down my spine. Dylan is sexy out in public—but when he orders me around in the bedroom, it’s downright sinful. He’s the type of man I write about. I just never thought I’d find one in real life.

  The back of my thighs hit my comforter before I lie back completely. Dylan watches me with a hunger in his eyes as he twists the cap off the jar of peanut butter and dips the spoon inside, extracting a dollop that is ridiculously large. He sets the jar down on my dresser and then makes his way over to me on the bed, eating me up with his gaze.

  “God, you are beautiful, McKenzie.” The way he says my name right now is such a contrast to the heat of the moment. It’s sweet like honey dripping off his tongue, warming up my heart again to the idea of this man and how surprised I still find myself at times that he wants me.

  He dips a finger into the spoonful of peanut butter and then presses it to my nipples, shocking me with the texture as he rubs it all over my hardened peak. He takes another blob and repeats the process on my other breast before resting the spoon beside the jar and then stands over me, proudly observing his work.

  I’m fighting the throbbing in between my legs as I watch him strip off his tank top now and push his briefs down, revealing his proud erection to me. God, the man is walking sex and I get to have actual sex with him. I’m a lucky, lucky girl.

  Dylan reaches for my right leg, holding it up to his face before he starts to pepper featherlight kisses from my ankle to my knee, and then slowly up the inside of my thigh, getting dangerously close to where I want him, but not close enough. He jumps from my inner thigh to my stomach, dragging his tongue around my belly button, kissing up between my breasts to my collarbone and then my jaw, leaving my breasts heaving and aching for his touch.

  “Dylan,” I moan just as he smiles down at me.

  “I can’t wait to devour you.”

  “Please…”

  And without saying another word, he drags the tip of his tongue so gently against my peanut butter covered nipples, I gasp at the touch as he moans in satisfaction.

  “Fuck, baby. You and peanut butter.” He dives in again, this time with more ferocity, sucking and licking the creamy substance off of my body, sure to get every last morsel of it. “God, I’m gonna come just from this alone, Mac.”

  I giggle as he moves to my other breast and repeats the process. But then I feel his fingers brush against my pussy and he gently pushes two inside as he continues to suck on my nipple.

  “Yes…” I cry out as I arch my back, pushing my chest higher, granting him better access. Dylan’s fingers work me up to a sweat as his mouth continues to devour my nipples, alternating between each to make sure I’m completely clean.

  “I need you, Dylan.”

  “I’m so fucking turned on right now, Mac. I’m afraid I won’t last. I want to slather your entire body in peanut butter and lick you clean.”

  “Next time. I want to feel you inside of me. Please,” I beg as he pops up and his eyes widen.

  “Fuck. I forgot a condom, Mac. Jesus, I left it in my wallet, which is in my truck. I was in such a rush to get inside…”

  “I have some in my nightstand,” I interrupt him as the information I just provided dawns on him.

  “You do?”

  I nod. “Yeah. I bought some this week just in case.”

  “Damn. If I already wasn’t crazy about you, this just sealed the deal.” He places a chaste kiss to my lips and then searches for a condom, covering himself in record time, and then making his way back over to me as I scoot up the bed to rest my head on my pillow and give him more room.

  And before I can prepare myself, Dylan is lining himself up to my entrance and pushing forward, sliding in so easily since I was more than ready for him hours ago.

  He dives forward, stretching me out and rubbing every nerve ending inside of me as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down, kissing him relentlessly as he fucks me hard.

  The slapping of skin, the harsh breaths, the moans, and grunts
of pleasure fill my room and build my orgasm in record time. I’ve been so hard up for this man for days, even my own hand couldn’t quell the ache he’s fulfilling right now.

  Sex has never been so passionate for me, so bold and easy at the same time. Even when I was younger, I felt it was rushed or awkward, and never gave me feelings like I get when I’m with Dylan.

  “Please tell me you’re close, Mac,” he growls in my ear as I feel the first signs of my orgasm coming to fruition.

  “Yes. Help me get there,” I declare as he sits back and finds my clit with his thumb, stroking the nub with precision, sparking the first wave in seconds. His thumb continues to work its magic as I feel my orgasm take shape and then ignite.

  “I’m coming!” I cry as he picks up the pace and races to join me.

  Throwing his head back, his voice booms into my room as he finds his release as well. “Fuck!”

  My eyes couldn’t move from the sight of this man coming undone alongside of me even if I tried to look elsewhere. His straining muscles, his sweat covered forehead, his tense arms—the vision of Dylan coming tonight is something I don’t ever think I’ll forget—a man immersed in carnal pleasure and desire, all because of our connection.

  When he finally stops moving and pulls out of me, he flops to the bed beside me, still trying to get his breathing under control.

  “That was the best sex I’ve ever had,” he declares in between shallow breaths. “You… the peanut butter…”

  I laugh, swatting his chest playfully as I rest my chin on my folded hands across his pecs. “Um, yeah. You weren’t kidding about the peanut butter thing, were you?”

  “I never kid about peanut butter, Mac.” He leans up just enough to kiss me and then settles back on the bed.

  “Well, I definitely need a shower after that.”

  “Mind if I join you?” he asks as his eyes find mine.

  I’ve never showered with a man before. I know, shocking given my age. But again, I’ve never felt comfortable enough to do that with a man. And even though a spark of anxiety is resting in my chest right now, Dylan has done nothing but assure me that he loves my body just the way it is. So, who better than to experience that with than him? Plus, I really want to know if shower sex is an incredible as I write and read that it is.

  “I guess I can make room for you.”

  We rise from the bed and Dylan smacks my ass playfully as we walk to my en suite bathroom. “You better make room for me in more ways than one, Mac. You’re not going to be able to get rid of me now that you let me eat peanut butter off of you.”

  My laugh fills the small bathroom as I start the water and pull Dylan inside, giddy with joy from finally seeing him, and hopeful that his words are true—I don’t think I’d survive now if he ever left.

  Chapter 15

  Dylan

  “Dad?”

  The clunk of metal and familiar scent of motor oil hits my nose the second I cross the threshold of my father’s shop.

  “Back here!” he calls out from the stock room. I start to head in that direction, but he turns the corner and meets me halfway.

  Patting my shoulder as he passes by, he arrives at the receptionist counter, waking up his computer by jostling the mouse. “How are you, son?”

  “Busy. Exhausted. Work is killing me right now with the extra shifts I’ve been picking up. Sorry I haven’t been around to help much.” I look around the automotive shop I grew up in, taking in the amount of work that needs to be done.

  My father has built a successful business in a small town with reliability and genuine customer service. Everyone knows of Porter’s Automotive Shop, and I’m proud to be associated with that, but sometimes I think he works too hard.

  “Hey, I’m managing. I actually hired a new mechanic this week that knows his stuff, so we’re doing well.”

  A breath of relief leaves my lungs. “Good. That makes me feel better.”

  “I heard work isn’t the only thing keeping you busy lately though,” he says with a sideways glance that speaks of well-earned knowledge.

  I swear I feel my cheeks blush, but it’s also really freaking hot in here. The cold air of November is hitting Castle hard right now, so I’m sure he has the heat cranked up in the shop.

  “I see Robyn’s been running her mouth again then?”

  My dad chuckles. “Well, she wouldn’t shut up about the fact that you’re dating a best-selling author. But you know how hard she is to impress, so if she’s excited, then I’d say you found a good woman.”

  “Great, actually. Incredible. Amazing.” My smile takes on a mind of its own as thoughts of McKenzie flood my brain.

  “Oh, shit. I know that look.” My dad nudges me playfully as I rest my forearms on the counter, watching him click away on the computer.

  “I’m in trouble, Dad.”

  “The bad kind of trouble? Or the good kind? I mean, I love you, son, but I’m not looking to bail anyone out of jail anytime soon,” he teases with a wink.

  “Nah. Definitely the good kind. I think I’m in love,” I say, even though there is no doubt in my mind any more. It’s been almost two months since McKenzie and I made contact at the store, over a month since we’ve been seeing each other, and each time only solidifies to me that the connection I felt for her was cosmic. When my eyes locked on her the first time, it was if a flashing neon sign above her head was pointing down at her, lit up with the message, “She’s the one!”

  My dad’s eyes search my face before he flashes me that knowing grin and then says, “So when do we get to meet her?”

  “Well, I kind of want to invite her to Thanksgiving next week, but wasn’t sure if it was too soon. I don’t want to scare her off, Dad. But at the same time, I don’t want to spend time away from her either, especially the holidays.”

  “All you can do is extend the invite. Is she spending the day with her family?”

  I think on his question and realize I don’t really know the answer. We’ve spent as much time as we could together since Halloween, but most of our conversations are light-hearted. Or we’re having sex. Don’t get me wrong, we talk about important things—how our days were, favorite movies and food, our thoughts on the world. Hell, we even discussed politics the other night and had a healthy debate over a few key topics in our world today without ripping each other’s heads off.

  McKenzie is intelligent, passionate, and level-headed. She can speak her mind, but respect my opinions as well. Not only have I fallen in love with her brain and love that she’s so up in there sometimes, but she’s always asking about Jaxon and Kylie, or my friend Kyle from the grocery store. She listens to me, gives me her attention when we speak, and genuinely cares about the important people in my life.

  She’s everything I could ask for in a woman.

  And as much as I didn’t want to be that guy, I can’t get enough of the woman in the bedroom. Her body was made for my hands and my cock. She makes me go insane and the rush I get knowing she lets go with me is insurmountable.

  So I know she needs to meet my family. I want to move forward with her, make her see that I’m serious about her and a future with her in it. But I also don’t want to scare her. I know it took a lot for her to even give me a chance in the first place.

  “I haven’t asked her, but I will.”

  With a turn of his body, my dad stops typing and looks me dead in the eye, forcing me to stand up and meet his gaze on level ground. “You know I love you, Dylan. And I’m proud of the man you’ve become. You’re a romantic at heart, just like your father, although if your mother says anything, I’ll deny it up and down,” he jokes. “But just remember not to rush into anything. Remember what happened the last time?”

  He doesn’t have to mention her name, but I know exactly who he’s referring to.

  Sasha. The last woman I thought I was in love with, who left me high and dry when I told her I loved her after only a month together.

  I was enamored, convinced I had found the one,
and so I didn’t hold anything back, put my heart on my sleeve and left it all on the line. Apparently it was too much for her though, and one morning I woke up after we spent the night together and she was gone.

  At first, I didn’t think anything of it, wondering if she maybe went out for breakfast or something. But when I tried to call her, I was sent straight to voicemail, which I found odd. After days of trying to reach her, I came to the conclusion that she was ghosting me, probably blocking my number, and I didn’t take it very well.

  I was heartbroken, or so I thought. But truth be told, I was just tired of being alone and latched on to the first woman I thought I felt a genuine connection to. It took me a long time to realize that, and almost a year before I was willing to try to put myself out there again. But I told myself I wouldn’t take that risk in love unless I felt a pull to that person, so I didn’t date much, needless to say. My sister tried setting me up with a few girls, encouraging me to at least get out for the night, reminding me that nothing had to come from it. But I didn’t want to lead anyone on, and after the second blind date, I knew I didn’t want to waste my time with just anyone. I wanted to invest my energy into the right person.

  So when I saw McKenzie in the store the first time, really saw her, my heart constricted in my chest. Yes, it was initially a physical attraction, but when I finally persuaded myself to talk to her, the first time I heard her voice was like a signal to flip the switch in my brain, alerting me that it was time to put myself out there again because of how she made me feel.

  “I appreciate the concern, Dad, I do. But this is different. I feel it in my bones.”

  He nods in understanding. “Just remember there’s no rush. Enjoy the journey, enjoy falling, son. That’s half the thrill.”

  “What’s the other half?” I ask, intrigued by his perception of love.

  He smiles wistfully. “Falling in love with the same person over and over again, day after day. Your mother and I have been together for over thirty-five years, and I still learn new things about her. Things that used to drive me insane make me turn into a pile of mush now. Love is a crazy emotion, son.”