A Killer Christmas

by Cherry Adair

  This playful side of him was charming and completely unexpected. And utterly frustrating. "And at the rate we're going we might not be capable of 'lengthy'."

  The movie, sound off, was already playing on the large TV. A quick glance showed it was a romance with pretty adults, happy children, licking puppies and Christmas trees. It didn't matter, she had no intention of watching it. "Aren't we a little beyond a necking session?" she asked, about to plop down on her knees on the nest of blankets he'd made in front of the fire.

  Joe stopped her with a hand on her upper arm, which he immediately dropped.

  With a puzzled frown at his strange behavior, she ate a nub of popcorn and pulled a face. "This popcorn is cold, you know."

  "It was popped over an hour ago. Don't eat it, it's merely symbolic." He removed the bowl from her hand.

  "Of what?"

  "Second date?" He dropped the bowl onto the sofa without looking. "Good Lord, woman, please try to keep up, I'm hanging by a thread here."

  Kendall folded her arms, and laughed. "You could just cut to the chase. Clearly I'm more than willing."

  "Three dates. Today. Then trust me, sweetheart, I'll cut to the chase so long and hard you'll have to stay in bed for a week. Look around. Like what you see for date two?"

  The fire. The candlelight. Joe. Naked. "Of course. It's lovel—"

  "You said three dates. You'll have three dates. If it kills me."

  "What if it kills me?" Ignore his impressive erection inches from where she wanted it? No way. She reached out to touch.

  Eyes glittering, he stepped back. "If you thought date one was too quick, don't touch me now. Date two will be over before it starts." He waved an expansive hand. "Take it all in. We need to progress to date three immediately."

  "Fine. What and where is date three? Because. I'm. Freaking ready. Right. Now."

  "Upstairs. A horizontal surface and a bottle of wine."

  "You're on. Race you upstairs." Kendall wasn't sure she could actually run – upstairs no less- when she was this aroused. Picking up the hem of her dress so she didn't fall flat on her face, she spun on her heel and made a mad dash for the stairs. "If you're not there when I get there," she shouted over her shoulder, "I'm starting without you!"

  Joe raced passed her, taking the stairs two at a time.

  FOURTEEN

  She was easy to catch. She wasn’t running very fast.

  "You always have on too many damned clothes." He caught her by the waist on the fifth step. Turning she wrapped her arms around his neck as he took her down.

  Her mouth curved, and her pretty eyes glittered up at him as she lay, back arched on the stairs as he pulled the dress over her head. "Just stay naked for the duration to save me time, would you?"

  She laughed. "You know this is physically impossible, don’t y—"

  His mouth silenced her. Nothing was impossible.

  He braced his hands on the riser on either side of her head as her knees came up to hug his hips. Her hips lifted to greet his first thrust.

  It was over in minutes, leaving them with ragged breath and sweat dampened skin.

  He sucked in deep, gulping breathes, somehow managing to position himself so that while he was still inside her, he wasn’t pressing her against the hard wood of the steps.

  "Okay?" he asked, opening his eyes a crack.

  Pushing hair off his sweat-damp forehead, she grinned. "Better than. But I think I have bruises on my butt." She screamed playfully as he turned her over to lavish kisses on said butt.

  Cradling her cheek on her folded hands Kendall let herself drift. She was limp as a noodle with a mixture of pleasure and exhaustion. Not that she’d noticed while they were in the throws- but now that she wasn’t otherwise occupied, she felt each individual plank of wood. Across her upper chest, midriff, hips, thighs and shin bones, just as she’d felt them all the way down her back earlier.

  She found just enough energy to turn over, then climbed over his long, rangy body. Let him take the brunt of hardwood for a while. He shifted beneath her, getting comfortable, as he talked. Kendall whiled away the time by kissing his throat, his jaw, his mouth and wherever else she could reach without expending any more energy than necessary.

  Joe had shifted them to a prone position, her head supported by his hand, his body sprawled half over hers. His body burned with a furnace heat. His arms were like steel bands surrounding her. Not a cage, but a haven.

  He rubbed his slightly stubbled jaw across her lower belly. There were scars there too. Thin white lines that she knew he could see in the dancing firelight.

  His skin gleamed and she couldn’t resist sinking her fingers into the crisp dark hair that V’d from his chest down to a narrow arrow pointing to his erect penis.

  The lights from the room below him limned the dark silhouette of his naked body in bronze as he stretched out beside her. It was a spectacular show.

  He was hot, silky and hard. She stroked her thumb over the head until he groaned.

  "I plan on exploring every glorious inch of you, Miss Metcalf, but that pleasure will have to—" he groaned as her fingers tightened around him, "wait."

  Like the rest of him, Joe was a big guy. He had big- hands. He slid two fingers inside her, circling, massaging and unnecessarily testing her readiness. She'd been wet for the past hour or more. Kendall shuddered, rolling her hips against his hand in jerky, involuntary motion. She was wet, swollen and desperate. Several stages beyond ‘ready’. "Talk about chatty."

  With a huff of laughter, Joe withdrew his hand to settle his hips between her spread knees. She had a moment's pause to feel the sheer size of him – there- before he pushed inside.

  He hissed out a shuddering breath as he buried himself to the hilt in one powerful thrust, then lay still. And Kendall was grateful. The sensation of Joe inside her was so piercingly sweet, so monumental, that she couldn’t move either. This time she wanted this to last.

  "Okay?" he asked, voice rough against her ear. His skin felt like a furnace the entire length of her body.

  She smiled against his throat. "Better than."

  "Wrap your legs around me."

  "I was getting there." She groused, her voice thick as he pushed himself impossibly deeper. She walked her heels up his back, feeling gloriously invaded, and kissed his jaw as he started to move.

  Pinned down by his not inconsiderable weight, her legs tightened as he moved his big, powerful body inside hers. She felt alive, supernaturally so, as she arched and burned and shuddered in his arms.

  Their love making transcended anything Kendall could ever have imagined even in her wildest dreams. Their bodies were perfectly matched. Yin and Yang. The waves of pleasure crashed and churned until she went blind and deaf, her entire being focused on where they were joined, as she was helplessly urged higher and higher, impossibly higher, on a tidal wave of sensation.

  Breathless and sweaty, they rested, their bodies glued together, their harsh breathing in sync.

  After several minutes or hours, Joe scooped her up and carried her upstairs.

  "Very manly," she murmured, looping her arms about his neck and laying her head on his chest as he carried her to her bedroom down the hall.

  He lay her on the bed, then followed her down, scooping her up and over so she lay on his chest like a curvy blanket. "We've fast-tracked from speed dating, to going steady, to will you marry me, to I think we just made a baby."

  Her pretty eyes widened. "Did you propose?"

  "It appears so."

  Kendall bit her lower lip. "We've barely known each other twelve hours, Joe."

  "I know all I need to know. We have the next sixty-two years to fill in the gaps. I've never wanted anything or anyone the way I want you. Say yes."

  She didn't hesitate. "Yes. Yes. Yes. This is going to be a hell of a story to tell our grandchildren."

  The End

  A Killer Christmas Personal Guide

  (Includes Spoiler’s)

  M
ain Characters: Joe Zorn and Kendall Metcalf

  Setting: Helena, Montana

  Time of Year: Winter

  Serial Killer: Dwight Gus Treadwell

  Dossier Joe Zorn

  Age: Early 30′s

  Height: A good 5 inches taller than Kendall Metcalf

  Hair: Thick, Dark, Silky

  Eyes: Steady, Long dark lashes, Cool blue eyes, Steely dangerous.

  Body: Pale scar beside his lower lip almost buried in the crease of his smile, Potent smile, Sexy mouth, Lean cheeks, Could use a shave , Craggy, unseasonably tanned face, Massive shoulders, Arms like steel bands, Broad tanned chest, Long legs, Well-endowed in the “male” department, Rugged, Impressive physique bands of taut muscles, A bear of a man, Marlboro man type, Good looking, Sexy looking, Woodsy cologne.

  Dress: Thick off-white turtleneck and jeans.

  Voice: Deep, Low, Husky, Soothing

  Marital Status: Divorced from Denise Cameron

  Children: None

  Employment: Bodyguard

  Education: University of Montana

  Skills: Is a pilot, Trained in the art of knife fighting.

  Personality & Attitude: Intimidating, Over achiever, Annoyingly bossy, Sex appeal in spades, Has a nomadic lifestyle, A man of action and few words.

  Likes & Dislikes: Hates to lose at anything, Loves a mellow brandy on a cold winters night.

  Weapons: HK Mark 23 Heckler & Koch double action pistol, Nasty looking black gun he carries in his waistband at the small of his back. Ka-Bar knife.

  Background: Played football at the University of Montana, Had been in the Marines with Adam Cameron years ago , His boss is a woman named Roz, Hadn’t had a vacation in 2 years, His cell phone plays/rings an old fashioned sound ring tone, Had a “hurry, the justice of the peace is waiting” wedding to Denise Cameron Marriage to Denise only lasted 5 months, Divorced Denise 10 years ago.

  Kendall Metcalf

  Height: 5′9″

  Hair: Red. Distinctive red/gold. Spills over her shoulders like liquid fire, Deep, rich orange-red of an excellent XO Cognac.

  Eyes: Large. Sparkling. Hazel.

  Body: An Amazon. Attractive. Pale, velvety skin with amber freckles. Nails painted Christmas red. Endearingly too large feet. Luscious. Curvy. Smells of pears. Ugly scar on her throat. Dozens more obscene scars, thin and silvery (defense wounds), all over her.

  Dress: Subtle make up. Red sweater and black leggings.

  Voice: Robust laugh

  Marital Status: Divorced

  Children: None

  Employment: A designer. A party planner. Owns her own very successful business. Her business partner is Rebecca Metzner.

  Personality & Attitude: Smart. Deliberate. Not much of a follower. Likes to think things through. Not that spontaneous of a person. Weighs the pros and cons before making decisions. Funny. Intelligent. Sex appeal off the charts.

  Quirks & Habits: Paces. Usually sleeps naked. Bites her lip as she ponders. Babbles when she is nervous. Makes busy work when scared. Scar on her throat always throbs when she thinks about the night of the attack.

  Weapons: Lady Smith handgun

  Background: Was kidnapped and assaulted 15 months ago by Dwight Treadwell. Tortured for 17 hours by Treadwell. She is his only living victim . Learned that if she kept her body and mind busy enough, she could keep horrific memories at bay. Went to therapy for several months after her attack. Took self-defense classes. Bought a gun and learned to use it. Felt invincible before the Treadwell attack. Had two fairly long term relationships over the last 10 years. Dated Andy for more than 6 months before sleeping with him. Dated Jerry for a year. Cell phone plays/rings Beethoven’s Fifth.

  Supporting Characters

  Adam Cameron: Ex-Marine, Married to Denise Cameron, three children and another on the way.

  Denise Cameron: Ex-husband is Joe Zorn, Married to Adam Cameron, doesn’t shop at discount stores, no expense spared wedding to Adam, three children and another on the way, married three months after her divorce from Joe, had a “hurry, the justice of the peace is waiting” wedding with Joe Zorn.

  Andy: Had dated Kendall for over 6 months before she would sleep with him.

  Donald Sanders: Married to Donna Sanders

  Donna Sanders: Close to 60, Married to Donald Sanders

  Jerry: Had dated Kendall for a year.

  McKenna: Montana cop. DECEASED

  Preston: From New York

  Rebecca Metzner: Aka Becky and/or Beck Kendall’s business partner

  Roz: Joe’s boss

  Sonny Goodwin: A cop, A younger brother of one of Joe’s old college buddies. DECEASED

  William “Buckeye” Wilder: Beefy, Red faced Chief of police, Wore a Stetson, His son had played football with Joe at the University of Montana. DECEASED

  The Christophs: Had a nice secluded little summer place over the ridge.

  Dwight Gus Treadwell: Fine hair, Light brown hair, Not a big man, Soft fleshy face, Pale narrow hands, Weedy looking, Medium height, Medium coloring, Medium features, Fingers like a piano player, Chillingly calm voice, Right and left handed, Crazy Serial killer, Determined, Didn’t look like a monster, looked like a teacher or a priest. Had kidnapped and abused Kendall, Sharp knives and a ka-bar were his weapons of choice, Knew how to inflict the most exquisitely painful kind of torture , Killed 23 before his arraignment and at least 7 more after his escape, Received 23 consecutive life sentences and one concurrent for attempted 1st degree on Kendall and another 75 years for her torture, Almost superhuman strength.

  DECEASED - shot and killed by Kendall and Joe

  T-FLAC Background

  Terrorist Force Logistic Assault Command

  Vitute et Armis Fide Mea Semper Frater

  By courage and by arms. On my word of honor. Always brothers.

  As the Cold War fell to bits of rubble, top level government officials and those in the private sector saw a new breed of organization gain momentum. The major threats no longer hinged on the posturing of super powers. An even more dangerous enemy emerged – small, well funded guerilla groups began to drive fear into the lives of people all over the world. They were rich, connected, quiet, determined and often preferred killing to make their point.

  Governments paralyzed by the rule of law and international treaties and conventions required months to react. Because of this, a new industry was born – private anti-terrorist organizations. Premier among them is T-FLAC.

  Geoffrey Wright, Lucas Sullivan, and Katrina DeGlaure founded T-FLAC utilizing their connections – political, military and scientific. Headquartered at a sprawling complex in Montana, they recruited and trained the first operatives in the 1980s. T-FLAC specialized in difficult, sticky situations, often hired quietly by officials whose hands were otherwise tied.

  Every candidate faced a grueling test of ability, courage, ethics and loyalty. For the safety and integrity of the organization field operatives work in small teams. The identities of operatives is closely held information, shared only on a need-to-know basis. Operatives often go years, even their entire careers - without knowing the identities of the other T-FLAC agents in the organization.

  T-FLAC agents know their code by rote. Vitute et armis, Fide mea. Semper Frater. Courage and by arms. On my word of honor. Always brothers.

  Agents can be male or female. Young or old. They are your neighbors. Your friends. Your guardians. Protecting the innocent is a calling. Destroying terror wherever it breeds is a mandate.

  They are the men and women of T-FLAC.

  T-FLAC Mission Statement

  Vision: To be the world’s leading provider of strategic, logistical and technological solutions while retaining anonymity as individuals.

  Mission: Terrorist Force Logistical Assault Command (T-FLAC) effectively and efficiently integrates resources, technology and experience to provide top-level solutions to the most difficult situations. We exceed expectations where others f
ail. Guided by courage, ingenuity, innovation and a desire for a safer world, T-FLAC professionals utilize state-of-the-art training, innovative technology and logistical solutions to deliver results world-wide. T-FLAC recognizes that in this post-Cold War era, terrorism is the primary threat to democratic principles across the world. Our combat missions are directed at the base of global terror operations. T-FLAC’s mission is to eliminate all such threats by all, and any means at our disposal.

  T-FLAC Core Values Ethics: For the ancient Greeks, the word meant “character.” For Aristotle, the study of ethics was the study of excellence or the virtues of character. It has come to mean the study and practice of the “good life,” the kind of life people ought to live.

  In our time, the concept of ethics has broadened to include not only the characteristics of the good person, but also the “best practices” in various professions, among them medicine, the law, the military. We are committed to serving, and expect the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior and adherence to a universally accepted core of values from all our employees

  Teamwork: There is no “I” in team, just as there is no “I” in T-FLAC. We function as a uniformly coordinated collection of experience and expertise, where all members of the company work to bring about innovation and solutions that serve our mission to the highest degree possible.

  Courage: Fear is only that which we have not overcome. In T-FLAC courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the determination that our mission is of more importance than the fear and the resulting strength and focus, which arises from that determination.

  Respect: Each member of the team is essential. We give, and expect in return, respect for others, their beliefs, and their unique perspectives and ideas. We realize that like technologically advanced piece of equipment, each element must work with precision, independently, but in unison, to produce precise results.