by Melody Grace
But Austin is happy to let me explore his body, a glorious inch at a time. I kiss across his chest, teasing at one nipple with my tongue. I feel his body flinch, so I suck lightly, then graze my teeth.
I feel him grow harder against my thigh. His fist tightens in my hair, so I turn my attention to his other nipple, nipping at it lightly. Power spirals through me, the thrilling taste of discovery. Suddenly, Austin grabs my waist and rolls us, pressing me into the soft covers with a growl.
I catch my breath, my heart racing in my chest as he slides down my body, his breath hot on my breasts as he licks my nipples into tender peaks. His tongue trails lower, over my stomach, moving with determined power until he buries his face between my thighs.
This time, there’s no holding back. I cry out in pleasure as his tongue swoops, hot against me, gripping at the covers and lifting my hips off the bed to meet his greedy mouth.
“Yes,” I gasp, dizzy with pleasure. He laps against me, swirling and suckling at my clit, as I whimper for more. I’m coming apart under his expert tongue, desire clawing deep inside as I soar higher, higher—
He slides two fingers inside me and curls up. I come with a cry, a ripple of sweet pleasure convulsing through me in waves.
I collapse back, reeling. Austin lifts his head with a smirk. “That was just the opening act, sweetheart,” he drawls.
I laugh, giddy. “I’d make some crack about your ego right now, but I feel too damn good to try.”
“I could tell.” He crawls back up beside me and reaches to brush a damp strand of hair from my face. “I like it when you’re loud,” he murmurs, leaning in close with a lustful look blazing in his eyes.
I shiver. My climax was only a brief release; the need in me is still coiled tight, wanting him. Now. “I can work with that,” I whisper, already reaching for him. I only skimmed his body before; now I reach for the zipper on his jeans, impatient for more. I peel open his fly, then Austin takes over, swiftly stripping off his pants and underwear.
Wow.
Now I’m the one devouring him with my gaze, but I can’t help it. This man is chiseled from marble, a perfect physical form. He pauses to grab a foil square from the nightstand, then joins me again on the bed: pressing his body to my side, chest to chest, skin on skin.
My pulse kicks. This is it. With Matt, we would always just rush ahead, trying to get into the main event while he was still in the mood, but Austin is the opposite of rushed. He strokes my body, dropping kisses on my bare skin and breasts, taking his time.
But I don’t want to wait. The ache in me is demanding, wanting every inch of him filling me up. I lift his face and kiss his mouth hungrily, pouring my excitement and desire into every moment. There’s an urgency I’ve never felt before glittering in my veins; not anxious, or insecure, just a pure, primal need.
It’s liberating, to want someone like this. To lose myself in Austin’s touch, his mouth, the slide of his body against mine.
I reach between us, closing my hand around his hot, solid length. He groans against my neck as I slowly stroke harder, exploring every steely inch. The anticipation is incredible, I’m already wet and aching imagining him sliding into me.
“Now,” I whisper, shocked at my own insistence. “God, I need you inside me now.”
Austin pulls away long enough to slide on the condom, and then he’s back against me, bracing his body above mine. I gaze up at him, trying to imprint the sight of his face in my memory. The intensity in his stare, the way he’s looking at me like I’m all he wants in the world.
When he thrusts into me, I lose my mind.
Sweet friction stretching me open, a delicious fullness, deep inside. I arch up, needing him closer. More. Harder. Now.
Austin withdraws, then plunges back again, deeper than ever. I cry out, thrusting back to meet him. Our bodies find each other, a gasping rhythm, skin on skin. I’m already hurtling to the edge, too soon, but I want to savor every moment. I cling to him tightly, and as if sensing my need Austin rolls us, bringing me down against his lap so I’m straddling him, legs wrapped around his waist.
He thrusts up inside me, and God, he hits just right, a new angle, sliding and deep. I use his shoulders to lever myself, meeting every stroke as I lose myself in his ravenous gaze.
Who is this man?
The thought echoes through me with every pulse. I can’t believe a stranger has unleashed this wanton side to me, but he’s not a stranger, not really. One night together, and already I feel like I know him like nobody else. His humor, his kindness.
His incredible body.
Austin plunges into me, grinding his hips up against me so the pressure is exquisite, inside and out. I’m cresting now, so close to the edge, totally lost to the moment, and I can see it in his eyes, he’s feeling it too. We’re united in this: gasping for air, crashing into each other with wild abandon. And then his lips come down to cover mine; his kiss consumes me as his body claims my own. He’s everywhere. There’s no space left for thought, for consciousness, I’m just pure sensation, every atom in my body radiating pleasure, coming apart at the seams.
He presses my wrists into the mattress and surges inside me one last time. I shatter with a scream, spiraling into ecstasy as the release rips through me, over me, all around. And as I fall into the sweet oblivion, I realize, I don’t want to let him go.
Christmas Day
10.
Austin
I wake up to find a gorgeous woman naked in my bed. That’s nothing new. What’s a first for me is that I’m pretty damn happy to find her here.
Sophie is sleeping soundly, curled up beside me. The morning light glows on her pale skin, her auburn curls tangled on the pillow. Even in her sleep she has a curious little smile on her face, like that intriguing brain of hers is working out a new problem to solve.
I reach over and gently brush a strand out of her face, soft as silk. She makes a breathy noise, her eyelashes flutter, and then she rolls over, nestling her beautiful body in close to me, warm and soft under the covers.
I hold her against me for a moment, feeling an unfamiliar sensation burning in my chest. Possessiveness, raw and fierce. When she finally admitted what was going on in her head last night, I wanted to hop a red-eye flight and go beat her ex senseless. What kind of pathetic excuse for a man could make her feel that way? As if she wasn’t sexy, not desirable enough to keep him interested. I can’t believe it.
Sophie is fucking spectacular—and not just in bed. Everything about her is different and new to me: she’s thoughtful and flirty, innocent and self-assured. A tangle of contradictions, bound up in one sexy package. I want to know everything about her, unravel those secrets until I know her by heart.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand, snapping me out of my thoughts. I reach for it, careful not to wake her. I’ve got a bunch of texts waiting, from my family and friends all wishing me a merry Christmas. I quickly text back, and then slide out of bed.
Outside the hotel windows, New York City is silent and blanketed in white. It must have snowed all night—even if it was hot enough in here to burn the whole of Manhattan to the ground.
I grin at the memory. I may not be surrounded by festive cheer, but this is definitely a holiday I’ll never forget. And it’s only just getting started: if I have my way, we’ll still be naked in bed by the time New Years rolls around, too.
My gaze goes back to Sophie. I pause. The snow is just the kind of thing she’ll love. I remember talking about the holidays, and the wistful note in her voice as she described her perfect Christmas. It’s not my style to go for big romantic gestures, I’ve never needed to try. Being a rock star comes with a “get out of jail free” card when it comes to making an effort for a woman: a backstage pass is usually all it takes to make their day.
But Sophie is different. She doesn’t know about my fame—and something tells me she wouldn’t even care if she did. It’ll take something bigger to put a smile on her face, but suddenly, that’s all I want
to do today. Make her light up the way she did when I showed her the park last night, and give her the Christmas of her dreams.
Even if it isn’t the one either of us planned.
An idea takes hold, and doesn’t let go. I grab some sweatpants and pull on a T-shirt, then drop a kiss on her forehead and head out the door. I’ve got a Christmas miracle to plan.
11.
Sophie
I had the best dream of my life last night. It was like something out of a movie: snow and city streets, the glow of street-lamps and laughter…
Magic.
I yawn, stretching. I can feel myself waking up, but I fight to stay in the blissful haze: the memory of a strange man’s hands on my body, and his sultry Southern drawl whispering wicked things in my ear—
Suddenly, it all comes rushing back to me. Austin. Me. Here, in this bed.
Oh!
I sit up with a jolt, my heart racing. I look around, but I’m alone in the bed; the suite is silent, empty.
I’m all alone.
A shiver of insecurity ripples through me. I hug the blankets around my bare shoulders, wondering where he’s gone. I’ve never really had a one-night stand before, or hooked up with a stranger like this, so I don’t know what happens now. Am I supposed to clear out of here before he comes back? What if there’s a whole set of “morning after” rules I’m breaking right now?
I don’t want to leave.
The knowledge makes me pause, realizing the truth. Sure, Austin was a charming stranger back when we first met in the bar; I asked him out looking for distraction, a way to forget Matt’s cowardly betrayal. But somewhere between the deli and the bar; the late-night walk through New York, and all our conversation, we both opened up to each other. He stopped being that handsome playboy, and became someone real.
Someone good.
And then he went and showed me the best sex of my entire life.
I smile at the memory. Even when I freaked out and let all my old ghosts wreck the moment, he didn’t judge me. He was kind and understanding…and then hot as hell. Yes, what happened with Matt is behind me now, and Austin has proven without a doubt that my ex-boyfriend’s issues have nothing to do with me.
But he’s done this with a hundred women, I remind myself sternly. Don’t go getting sentimental over a guy who was only ever meant to be a fling.
I decide not to sit around waiting for him to get back from wherever he went. I gather my clothes from where they’re scattered on the floor, and go take a shower in the massive en-suite bathroom. As I rinse off under the steaming power jets, I try to practice my best nonchalant smile.
“Sure, I have a busy day planned, too. See you around, sometime. Maybe.”
I laugh. It sounds ridiculous out loud. In fact, this whole situation is ridiculous. If you’d told me twenty-four hours ago that instead of snuggling up for hot cocoa with my boyfriend, I’d be waking after a night of scorching hot sex with a total stranger, I would have referred you to one of my counseling hotline coworkers for therapy. But here I am.
And I feel good.
I use the luxurious shower gel to soap up my tired limbs. My body feels like I just ran a marathon, but in the best way: every ache reminds me of Austin’s body, pressing me into the mattress; his strong arms pinning me down, gripping me in place as he surged deep inside me…
“Want some company?”
I yelp, spinning around. Austin is holding the shower door open, his eyes roving over my naked body from head to toe. His lips curl in a wicked grin. “I could soap those hard to reach spots,” he adds.
I shut off the jets, my heart still pounding. “You startled me!” I protest, pretending it was the shock that’s made my pulse race, and not the nearness of him. He’s dressed in a plain black T-shirt and jeans, but he looks like a million dollars: his chocolate brown hair falling messily over his eyes, and stubble creeping along his chiseled jaw.
“Let me make it up to you.” Austin slides his hands around my naked waist and draws me closer. He kisses me slowly, exploring every inch of my mouth with his expert tongue, and despite my secret promises to stay detached now that the night is over, I can’t help but melt against him.
He kisses like a god. A hot, gorgeous, sexy god…
“Mmm.” Austin makes a low noise of satisfaction, pulling away from me. His eyes drift lower, over my body, and he grins. “It’s a good thing we’re on a schedule, otherwise I would be doing all kinds of things to this beautiful body right now.”
I blush, grabbing for a towel. I wrap it around myself, then my brain catches up to my body. “Wait, what schedule?”
“Get dressed and you’ll see.” He winks.
“My clothes are all in my room,” I point out. Not to mention all my makeup and beauty products…I sneak a look in the mirror, but it’s too steamed-up to tell what I look like right now. A mess, probably.
“Then borrow some of mine.” Austin goes out into the bedroom and pulls a clean shirt and pair of drawer-string sweatpants from his bag. He tosses them over. “These should work?”
“What?” I burst out laughing, holding up the pants. I could fit into them twice over. “I can’t go out in these, Austin, come on.”
“We’re not going out,” he says mysteriously. “Come on, Sophie. It’s Christmas. Live a little.”
He grins at me, full of boyish enthusiasm, and I can’t help but be charmed. He was such a grinch about the holidays when we talked yesterday, I wonder what’s changed his mind.
“OK,” I agree, wriggling into my underwear and tugging on his clothes. I barely have time to pull my hair back into a messy bun before he’s grabbing my hand and tugging me to the door. I’m still barefoot, and when we reach the hallway, I realize he is too. “Where are we going?” I ask, breathless, as he pulls me into the elevator and hits the ground floor button. “Austin, what’s going on?”
“The whole point of a surprise is that you don’t know,” he laughs, dropping a kiss on my lips. It’s the lightest touch, but it fills my body with heat. The elevator arrives, and he pulls me out. “This way!”
I follow him across the lobby, laughing now, my bare feet cool on the marble floors. It’s empty in the early-morning light, save the woman on reception who just smiles and waves as Austin and I race past. He pulls me down a hallway, and through a door marked “Staff Only.”
“Are we allowed?” I ask, following him deeper into the rabbit hole of hotel hallways.
“I called in a favor,” Austin grins. “I can be very persuasive.”
That’s an understatement. I laugh. Nobody else could get me racing through a hotel first thing on Christmas morning in baggy sweatpants and un-brushed hair. But Austin’s enthusiasm is infectious, and I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store.
“Close your eyes,” he orders me, coming to a stop outside a pair of swinging double doors. I do as he says, letting him lead me slowly into the next room. It’s warmer in here, and I can hear the clatter of activity and noise. My curiosity grows. I can’t imagine where he’s taken me, or what this big surprise is all about.
“OK.” Austin carefully guides me a few more steps ahead, his hands on my waist nudging me into direction. “You can open them…now!”
I blink, looking around. We’re in the hotel kitchens, full of light and activity. Chefs and busboys are busy working, assembling breakfast trays and prep work for the day ahead, but Austin has set up a corner away from the bustle. There’s a table set with ingredients and cookie cutters, and already, the smell of festive spices fills the air: ginger, cloves, nutmeg.
He brings out his phone, hits a button, and then music begins to play. Bing Crosby crooning “White Christmas.”
I blink, suddenly overwhelmed.
“It’s your perfect Christmas morning,” Austin prompts me, looking pleased. “You wanted to wake up to the smell of cookies and…”
“Classic Christmas songs,” I finish. I can’t believe it. I look around, swallowing back a sudden rush of emotion. “
Austin, I can’t believe you did this for me!”
“Hey, it’s like you said.” Austin looks bashful. “It’s time we made some holiday traditions of our own.”
We.
I try not to focus on the casual way he said it—or how my heart swells at the mention. Right now, this is enough: the music playing softly, butter and eggs waiting beside the industrial-sized mixer, and the dusting of powdered sugar already misting the air.
He arranged all this for me, for my perfect Christmas morning.
“What are you waiting for?” I swallow back the lump in my throat, and push up the sleeves on his oversized shirt. “Let’s get baking!”
**
The cookies are only the beginning. After we bake a batch and decorate them with frosting and tiny silver balls, we leave a plate by the front desk for the other guests to enjoy. Austin tells me to dress warmly, and when the cab drops us off outside the skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza, I let out a shriek of delight.
“Ice skating?” I feel like a little kid again, birthdays and Christmas all rolled into one.
Austin smiles. “It was next on the list, wasn’t it?”
I look at him anew as we head to the kiosk to get our passes. When I told him about my Serendipity holiday daydreams, I never imagined that he would bring them to life for me. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy to pay attention like that, let alone go to all this effort.
There’s so much more to him than meets the eye.
“What do you think, festive enough for you?” Austin teases as we lace up our skates.
I laugh. “Just about.” The rink is beautiful, the glossy ice lit up, with colored lights strung around the edges, and the biggest tree I’ve ever seen towering over us all. Families skate together, couples glide hand in hand, bundled up in coats and scarves against the cold.
“I’ve never skated before,” I warn him as we strap on our skates. “I had Barbie roller-skates in third grade, but I’m guessing this is kind of different.”
