by Terra Kelly
“Missed me?” Now I was feeling confused. “We don’t know each other well enough to miss each other.”
“I had a really nice time the other night.” He grabbed my hand. “I realized we never exchanged phone numbers when you left. Somehow, I managed to give you my address and yet, we never shared our personal information.”
“What are you trying to say?”
He inched closer to me and rubbed his fingers lightly over my hand. “I’ve been thinking about you non-stop since you left my house.”
I could feel my heart rate increase. “You have?”
“Yeah.” He dropped his head until we were just a breath apart. “Plus, I had an extra tree.”
I burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, did you just say you had an extra tree?”
“Well, in my defense, I bought it for my sister.” He hopped up and grabbed the stand. “But she had already bought her tree two days prior.”
“Is this story for real?”
“Actually it is.” He walked into the kitchen to fill the container for the tree. “I tried to convince her she needed more than one.”
It was hard not laughing at this situation. “How long does it take you to decorate your many trees? You must start in September?”
“I start the moment there are real trees available to buy.” He carefully placed the tree in the stand and stood back. “Basically, I buy the trees and then slowly I decorate them.”
I watched him grab a strand of lights and I realized at that moment I didn’t feel annoyed. Something about this moment was making me happy. Noel was to blame for my mixed emotions.
The ornaments in the box were staring at me. I grabbed a tray of blue and gold bulbs and held them in my hands for several seconds. Less than two weeks ago I was still free of holiday cheer. Now my house was about to be filled with pretty lights and fresh pine smell. Next, the man would insist we make mulled wine and sit by a fire.
I sighed at the thought and glanced over at him. Sitting by a fire snuggled close to Noel sounded like a perfect way to spend the evening.
Seven
Noel
“There.” I stepped back to get a better look of the tree. “What do you think?”
Holly took a step back to stand beside me. “I see a few bare spots, but it looks beautiful.”
“Where?” I walked around the tree trying to find spaces that needed more ornaments. “Are you sure?”
She was giggling behind me. “Noel, I’m kidding.”
I watched her head into the kitchen and realized something. I wanted to see more of her. “Holly, what are you doing in ten days?”
She pulled two mugs out of the cupboard and placed tea bags in each mug. “Ten days? Um, hopefully working by then. I’m still looking for some freelance writing gigs.”
“I have the perfect way to land a few writing jobs.”
“I’m listening.”
“Will you be my assistant in the local holiday baking competition?”
She was standing at the sink filling a tea pot. I heard her gasp as she turned off the water and spun around to face me. “Baking competition. Are you talking about the one here in Charlotte?”
“Yeah, I got in. Then my best friends, who should be helping me, bailed.” I sat down at the kitchen table. “Then Alex, my cousin was called away on an emergency.”
“Am I your last resort?” She sat down at the table.
“Yes and no.” I sighed. “This sounds awful doesn’t it?”
“No.” Right then the tea pot squealed. She ran over and pulled it off the stove. “I’ve wanted to enter that competition for years.” She filled both mugs and brought them over to the table. “I could meet some of the judges and let them know what I do for a living.”
“Exactly.” I pulled the mug closer. “This year’s theme is yule log.”
Her eyes went wide. “Wait, is that why you were making the spice cake yule log?”
“Yup, and now we are both ready since you helped me.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off her mouth. Every time she brought the mug to her lips and blew lightly, I had visuals of her dragging her tongue up and down my cock. That was the first time I let myself have thoughts of Holly in that way. A part of me felt guilty. She seemed so sweet and innocent.
About an hour later, we were sitting in the living room enjoying the lights on the Christmas tree. Holly had her legs tucked up under her body on one end of the couch. I had let her sit down first and then made sure to keep my distance.
“Thank you, Noel.”
I turned to face her. “What are you thanking me for?”
“You’re right, I needed some color in my house.”
“It was looking pretty boring.”
“Hey now.” She smiled and I noticed how she was inching closer to me. “What should we do now?”
“I don’t know. Are you hungry?”
“Maybe.” We were close enough that her thigh was almost touching mine. “We could go somewhere.”
“Or grab takeout and stay right here.” I moved my hand up and down her thigh. “Holly.”
“Yeah?” She placed her hand over mine.
“Am I reading this wrong?” I could feel my cock push against the zipper of my jeans.
“It depends on what you mean by wrong?” She turned her body to face me. Then she surprised me by moving her hand up my thigh. “Is this wrong?”
I laced my fingers behind her neck and brought her mouth closer. “Definitely not wrong,” I whispered against her lips.
She didn’t say another word. Instead, she straddled my legs and captured my lips. The moment she brushed her lips back and forth lightly against my lips I knew this was exactly where I was supposed to be. The feeling that shot through my body shocked me and made me crave more. I dragged my tongue across her bottom lip and immediately she opened. Our tongues touched and it took every ounce of strength to not come. It had been way too long since a woman had made me feel this good. It was getting harder and harder every time she took control and yes, I was talking about my cock.
“Perfect,” she whispered and kissed me a few more times.
“Holly, I want you to know something.” I brushed my fingers down the side of her face. Then I kissed her nose and lips. “I didn’t come here expecting anything.”
“Noel, I know.” She placed her palm on my cheek. “It’s okay. I’ve been thinking about doing that since you arrived.”
“Oh.” I brought her lips closer. “Well, then by all means continue exploring.”
She giggled and dropped her head. “I hope you don’t have any place to be.”
“Right here in your arms.”
I couldn’t get her out of my mind for the last seven days. That’s why Peyton did a little recon and found out her address. The woman who owned the coffee shop, Nova was apparently quick to share Holly’s information. She also told my sister that Holly needed some color in her house. I didn’t hesitate when I received the information; I went and bought a tree. It was the perfect excuse to see her again. She needed some decorations and I needed to be in the same room with her for a few hours.
Eight
Holly
Five days later (five days before the competition)…
Noel was such a gentleman and left the other night before I had a chance to drag him down the hall to my bedroom. We kissed on the couch for about an hour. The kissing got pretty heated and then suddenly Noel stopped everything. I was left on the couch trying to regain my composure while he gathered up all his stuff. Before he left, he kissed me one last time. I could tell by the delicious bulge in his jeans he obviously wanted to stay.
Thankfully, one of us was able to be the stronger one. If I had my way, I would’ve fucked him right there on the couch. I wasn’t normally that aggressive, but the man did something to me. It was the very definition of an instant attraction with him.
I was still lying on the coach when he stopped at the door and glanced back at me. I realized at that moment I had
come back to Charlotte for a reason.
After that wonderful evening I didn’t get to see Noel for five whole days. He was busy working, but we talked via text message. When he finally came over, I opened the door and fisted my hand in his shirt. Then before he could protest, I tugged him toward the couch. I had been craving the man for almost one hundred and twenty hours. Basically, twenty hours too long.
“Are we going to practice making a yule log or kiss all night instead?” I plopped down on the couch and inched closer to Noel. “If you make me pick, I’m going with the latter.”
It was not my MO to take control of a situation. It was different with Noel though. I didn’t hesitate the other night when he brought the tree over and I kissed him…then I kissed him some more. There is something damn sexy about a man carrying a tree.
For the last five days I sat in my living room with a cup of tea and stared at my pretty tree. I thought about my emotions and how I let myself get wrapped up in the silliness of a name. It took coming back to Charlotte and running into a random person to finally see the positive.
Last night I called my mom. I wanted to hear the story for the millionth time how she won the bet and named me. Hearing it now all these years later, it was different, I felt different. When I took the time to really listen to my mom, I found myself laughing.
“You choose kissing, huh?” Noel wrapped his arms around my waist and brought me onto his lap. “I have a better idea.” He moved his eyebrows up and down.
“What are you doing?” I burst out laughing and let my forehead fall onto his chest.
He tickled my sides. “Holly, I need to ask you something.”
I noticed how his voice sounded serious. I lifted my head. “Are you okay?”
He leaned closer and kissed me. Then he stood up and reached out his hand. “I’m very okay. Let me show you.” I followed behind him as we made our way down the hall. I knew he was heading right toward my room. I lived in a two-bedroom house and the other room was occupied with boxes. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know this was my room. “If this is too soon, tell me?” He stopped in the doorway and wrapped his hands around my waist.
He was such a gentleman. I loved how he didn’t expect sex and he was honestly willing to wait. Now that we were standing inches away from my bed, there was no way I planned to say no.
I stepped back and grabbed his hand. Then I walked toward the bed and turned to face him. “I want this, too. Hell, I wanted it the other night. Thankfully you were stronger than me.”
“Trust me–” he pulled me close– “I wanted to stay the other night. Holly,” he whispered, “I wanted to fuck you so hard.”
“But you left instead.” I rubbed my nose back and forth against his.
“I knew we needed to get to know each other a little more.”
“Is that why you were playing twenty questions in our text messages?” I giggled and climbed onto the bed.
“Maybe.” He fisted his hands around the hem of my shirt.
I lifted my arms up so he could pull the shirt up over my head. “Do you feel like you know enough now?”
“All except one thing.” He dragged his finger over my shoulder and slid it under my bra strap.
“What?” I pulled his shirt off and ran my hands up and down his chest.
“Why did you really come back to Charlotte?”
My hands stilled on his chest and I took a moment to absorb that question. “Do you believe in fate?”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and flipped my body onto the bed. My back was flat on the mattress and he was looming over me. “Yes, but that doesn’t answer my question.”
I wrapped my legs around his waist. “I know, but I thought I came home to be closer to my family.”
“But you didn’t?”
“Yes, of course I did.” I swatted at his arm. “The first day back in town I ran into your sister. Now, I question why I came home.” I leaned up on my elbows and kissed him. “Somehow fate knew to step in and have me come back now. I wasn’t planning to leave Michigan for another six months.”
“What was the reason for the early move?”
“My mom gave a sob story about how I should be home for the holidays.”
He dropped down and rested his side on the mattress. “So is that fate or just a needy mom who missed her daughter?”
“I still believe it’s all fate,” I giggled and leaned in closer to kiss the side of his neck
And I did, too.
Peyton walked into that coffee shop at the perfect moment.
Nine
Noel
“Noel,” Holly said and continued to pepper light kisses down my neck and onto my chest. “Can we discuss more important things now?”
“What do you have in mind?” I rubbed my hands up and down her back.
“This.” Then she surprised the fuck out of me and started to leave a trail of kisses down my chest and abdomen. Then she stopped and looked up at me. “This is very, very important.” She slid her fingers back and forth over the edge of my jeans. Then she unbuttoned and unzipped them.
“Oh yeah, how important?”
“You’ll see.”
I lifted my body up slightly so she could pull my pants and boxers off. My cock was ready and waiting at attention for whatever she had planned. She didn’t say a word. Instead, she dropped her head and wrapped her gorgeous lips around me.
“Fuck,” I ground out and fisted my hands in her hair. She only moaned and moved her mouth up and down at a faster pace. I tried to hold on but she did this move where she sucked hard on the tip. The more she sucked, the more I knew I was losing control. “Holly, I can’t hold on much longer.”
She finally lifted her head and smiled. “Then let go, Noel.”
Fuck, she was stunning.
I closed my eyes and dropped my head back against the mattress. For the next thirty seconds or so, I attempted to keep my composure. Then she did it again. She sucked harder this time on the end of my cock and twirled her tongue around end. That was it. My orgasm shot though my body. I yelled her name and lifted my ass up off the bed a few inches. When the feelings started to subside I finally opened my eyes.
“You can do that anytime.” I leaned up on my elbows and watched her pepper light kisses on the inside of my thigh.
“Anytime, huh?” She started to inch up my body. “You may regret saying that someday.” She snuggled against me and swung her leg over my hip.
“You have a gift.” She burst out laughing and dropped her head to my chest. “You think I’m joking but I’m serious.”
“A gift. What do you mean?”
“That movement you do with your tongue. I could enjoy that all day long.” I slid my hand in between her thighs.
“All day. Really?”
“Really.” I kissed her nose and pushed her back against mattress. “We would have to take a few breaks maybe though.” Then I moved my fingers up and down her pussy. “You’re so wet, Holly.” Without hesitation, I moved down her body and positioned myself in between her thighs. “We would need to take a few breaks because I would want to clean up the mess you make every time you touch me.”
“What mess?” She smiled and placed a pillow under her head.
I dragged my finger down her pussy. “This mess.” I winked and stuck my finger in my mouth.
“Noel,” she whispered and tried to reach for me.
“I’m not done yet, baby.” Then I adjusted my body and inhaled her scent. “I need more of you…so much more.” I dropped my head and dragged my tongue up and down her heated flesh. “You taste so good.” I glanced up and found her fondling her breasts. “Question.”
“Now?” She lifted her head but continued pinching her nipples.
“Thoughts on the 69 position?”
She burst out laughing and sat up. Then she placed her hands on either side of my face and kissed me. “After you finish this round, we can talk.” She winked and dropped back down. “You’d have to
show me how it’s done though, but I’m game.”
I pushed her legs further apart and nudged my nose against her dark curls. “I fucking love how you smell.” Then I moved my tongue up and down. “You fucking taste amazing, too.” I decided to show her no mercy and sucked hard on her clit. She bucked off the bed and screamed my name. I didn’t stop though. When her body was vertical again, I placed two fingers inside her gorgeous pussy and continued to suck on her clit.
A few seconds later, Holly screamed my name. I pretended I didn’t hear a thing. “Noel, stop.” She slid her fingers under my chin and lifted my head up. “For the love of all things holy, please stop.”
“If you’re sure.” I pulled my fingers out and she moaned.
“For now, I am.” She inched down closer to me. “I’ll regret stopping you later.”
“Then I can resume when that moment arrives.”
“Exactly.” She pointed to her nightstand. “I would like to do some other things now.” Then she leaned over me and opened the drawer. “I may have stocked up on condoms for this event.” She flashed her heart stopping smile and held up an unopened box.
“Should we blame that purchase on the kissing marathon we had on the couch the other day?”
“Totally.” She giggled and ripped open the box.
“Well, then I definitely support this purchase.” I reached into the box and pulled out a condom.
Hopefully the box of fifty would be enough. The way Holly made me feel when she kissed me, I knew it would be hard to control myself.
Ten
Holly
I snatched the condom out of his hand and ripped off the edge. “Noel, all this delicious sex talk is making me hungry.” Then I pushed him back and leaned up onto my knees. “I’m not saying we should rush this, but I do want to make some cookies later.”
He combed his fingers though my hair. “Well, we do need to practice that yule log at some point. Unless you don’t care if we come in last with a messy log?”
