Back To You This Christmas

by Sterling, S. L.

  I let out a sigh and grabbed my cock, squeezing the base of it. The throbbing and ache it was producing was killing me. Maybe staying here really wasn't such a good idea. I mean, Zach hadn't expected Lexi to be here when he had asked me to join the family. I certainly didn't need another encounter with her like the one I had last night, or I was sure to have a raging case of blue balls this entire holiday season. Perhaps I should just call up one of the local hotels and go there instead. Sure, Barbara and Jim would be upset, but they would be more upset if they found me balls deep in their daughter.

  I heard the clinking of dishes downstairs and decided I should probably get up or I risked missing breakfast. I quickly took care of my raging hard-on then slipped out of my sleep pants and into a pair of my favorite jeans and a sweater and made my way across the hall to the bathroom. I was just about to enter the closed door when I heard Lexi shout out, "Be out in a minute."

  That would have been the last thing I'd need, to walk in on her while she was in the shower, especially with her parents right downstairs. I closed my eyes, bit my lip, and turned to walk back across the hall when the door to the bathroom opened and Lexi stepped out into the hallway.

  My heart started hammering in my chest as she was wrapped in a large green towel, her hair still wet from the shower. She looked sexy as hell as she stood there, her hair all tousled to the side.

  "Good morning," she sang, resting her hand on my chest and patting. "Hope you slept well. Mom has fresh waffles downstairs. You should head down before Zach eats them all. I'll be down as soon as I get dressed and I get my hair dried."

  I didn't say a word. She took her hand from my chest and walked off and slipped into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. I stood staring at her closed bedroom door, and the only thought on my mind was following her and devouring her on the other side of the door.

  I finally tore my gaze away from her bedroom door and went into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I started the shower and hopped in. There was no way I could go down to breakfast, not with a hard-on like I had, so I quickly snapped another one off in the shower.

  Twenty minutes later, I made my way downstairs. Barbara had just refilled the plate in the center of the table with fresh blueberry waffles. Lexi sat beside her brother with three waffles on her plate, loaded with syrup. Between Zach and me, we devoured the last five waffles on the plate.

  "Goodness, do you guys think you will want more waffles?" Barbara asked as she watched us devour the plate she had just made.

  "I'm good, Mom," Lexi and Zach said in unison.

  "Drew?"

  "Plenty for me," I answered, pouring a fresh cup of coffee and passing the pot to Lexi.

  "Did you want some syrup?" Lexi asked, holding up the bottle of syrup for me to take.

  "Thanks." I took the bottle and drizzled the sticky brown liquid on my waffles. I passed the jug to Zach, who sat at the head of the table reading the morning paper and drinking coffee.

  "How was your night with the lovely Ann Marie?" I asked.

  "Amazing as always. We went downtown and hung around the large fireplace in the square. Did a little Christmas shopping, had a coffee and some cake, and then returned to her parents’ for a movie. What about you? What did you do last night?"

  Lexi’s eyes flew to mine, a look of nervousness on her face, for fear I mentioned the cake incident. I winked at her and then answered Zach. "I did dishes with your sister and then hit the sack," I said, shoving a forkful of food into my mouth.

  "You went to bed at what, eight o'clock? What are you, ten?" He chuckled.

  "Shut up! I was tired okay." Lexi let out a little giggle. "Are you coming with us today to get a tree?" I asked, looking over at Lexi, watching as she licked syrup off her fingers and then quickly got up, excusing herself from the table, and went upstairs. I watched after her, praying that Zach would answer that he would be joining us. However, my prayers were soon crushed.

  "No, sorry, man, I can't. Going skiing with Ann Marie and her parents. I promised her I would be there, so I can't exactly back out. Which reminds me, I should probably head over to her place shortly. Do you need anything out of the car before I go?" he asked as he glanced at his watch.

  "No, I'm pretty sure I took everything out last night," I said, sipping on my coffee.

  "All right then, guess I'll see you tonight?"

  "I'll be here. Oh, could you pass me the paper before you go?"

  Zach turned and whipped the paper at me, laughing as he took his plate to the sink and went on his way, leaving me in peace to finish my breakfast.

  "Zach, don't forget we are decorating the tree tonight," Barbara said, turning to look over at us from where she was working away in the kitchen.

  "No worries, Mom, I'll be here. See you later."

  "Who got into my coconut cream cake?" Barbara cried when she opened the fridge door for something. “That was supposed to be for the charity gala!”

  "Sorry, that was Lexi and me." I cleared my throat as Zach looked over at me, a strange look on his face.

  "I should have known. You two always loved that cake. Have your fill. I'll make another one today." She laughed.

  Zach had been gone for over a half an hour, and I was just finishing up the business section, drinking the last bit of my now cold coffee, when Lexi came bounding down the stairs, calling my name.

  I turned to see her enter the kitchen. She had changed and now wore a long white sweater over black leggings. "You almost ready to go? Thought we could get into town and check out some shops before it gets too busy."

  "Ready whenever you are."

  "Dad said we could take his truck to get the tree."

  "That will help." I laughed. "I'll drive." I threw the paper on the table and began clearing my dishes, and then I went over to the door and put my boots on. Lexi followed behind, slipping her feet into her knee-high black boots that hugged her legs perfectly.

  "You don't mind if I take some photos along the way do you? I want to capture the snow and some decorations around town, maybe even some families down at the tree farm."

  "Not at all, Lex."

  Soon we were bundled into her father's truck and on our way down to the town center. We traveled in silence for a while, Lexi looking out the window almost as if she were afraid to look at me.

  "Okay, so what are we getting?"

  "Dad said he really wants a Fraser fir this year."

  "Okay. No problem. I think we can handle that. Don't you?"

  She nodded her head but still wouldn't look my way. I turned the radio up when Allan Jackson's “Let it Be Christmas” came onto the radio. I couldn't help but glance over at Lexi as she started humming along and then finally breaking into song. Her voice was pure heaven to listen to, always had been. I remembered when she had been the lead in the church choir one Christmas. She thought she sounded awful, but I could have listened to her sing forever, and I tried to assure her of that, but she didn't believe me.

  "Do you remember the year you were head of the choir at the church?" I asked.

  "Oh God, don't remind me! That was awful. I sounded horrid."

  "No, you didn't. Out of all the Christmas performances I have been to with your family, you were by far the best."

  "Ha-ha, then you, my friend, are completely deaf." She giggled, going back to looking out the window.

  I smiled to myself at her response. That was Lexi, always afraid to admit that she was good at something.

  "So tell me, where was your most interesting shoot done this year?" I asked as I continued driving down the snow-covered road.

  Lexi had always amazed me. When she said she was going to freelance for a year or two, we all figured that she would be home within three months; however, she had succeeded, getting constant contracts and being able to make ends meet without once having to call her parents or brother for help. She had what it took to succeed, along with the drive and passion to go out and look for it when things weren't coming her way. I admire
d that about her. Most people would take the easy road and get out.

  "Honestly, it won't be what you think. It would have to be the time I spent in Rome doing architecture photos for a travel magazine. Just getting to tour around the city, look at amazing and beautiful things, and admire them through my camera lens. It's indescribable."

  Soon I was lost in her words. She had always had a way of filling quiet time with amazing stories.

  I pulled the truck into the town square and parked near the tree lot, both of us climbing out of the truck. She met me around the front of the vehicle. "I figured maybe we could grab a hot chocolate and take a walk around before getting a tree."

  "Perfect. I'd love that," she grumbled. She was trying to get the strap of her camera over the hood of her jacket, which kept getting stuck.

  "Here, let me." I reached around behind her and pulled her soft, long hair out of the way and fixed the strap under her hood. Her eyes rose to meet mine. We stared at one another for a minute, neither saying anything, and then I cleared my throat and rested her hair on her shoulder. "We should go get that hot chocolate."

  Her lips parted slightly, and she nodded her head as she continued staring into my eyes. I had to look away. I could feel the pull of her stare and knew if I didn't turn away now, there would be no turning away.

  We walked over to the little diner on the corner. I opened the door and held it for her as she slipped inside. I walked over to the counter and ordered us each a hot chocolate, marshmallows loaded into hers, while she used the washroom.

  "Here you go!" I held out the cup of hot chocolate to Lex as she came out of the washroom.

  "Thank you." Taking a sip, her eyes lit up. "You remembered!"

  I winked. "How could I have forgotten! You'd steal those marshmallows from me every single time."

  "Well, that is only because I knew you didn't really like them," she said, nudging into my shoulder with hers.

  "Well, that is true. What do you say we get going?"

  * * *

  We had spent the afternoon wandering around town, in and out of stores, stopping to look up at the ski hills and watch as people made their way down. I watched as Lexi took pictures, her creative spark ignited when she was behind the lens of her camera. She had finally dropped the camera and looked over at me, smiling.

  "We should probably make our way back to the tree lot and pick a tree before they close," she put the lens cap on her camera and then placed the camera into her bag.

  "Yeah, you're probably right. Your mother won’t be very happy with us if we don't come home with a tree will she?" I said, gently bumping her shoulder. I really hadn't wanted today to end; I had enjoyed walking, taking in the sights of the town, and just being with Lexi. "Would you ever come back to the area? You really seem to love it here," I asked the question that had been burning in my mind all afternoon as I had watched her.

  She pulled her gloves from her pocket and slid her hands into them, tilting her head in a thoughtful way. She shrugged. "I guess it would depend."

  "On?"

  "If I had a good reason to or not."

  I couldn't help but stare at the look in her eyes as the words fell from her lips. There was something up with her, and I bit my tongue and struggled not to ask her. I was about to say something when she grabbed my arm.

  "Come on, let’s get in there before they close up for the night," She began pulling me across the street toward the tree lot. Their business hours posted on their sign indicated they would be closing in an hour.

  We began wandering the lot looking for the perfect tree—too short, too skimpy, too tall, too fat, not fat enough, needles falling off, the list went on and on. Thirty minutes later, she yelled over to me as I searched again through the Fraser section.

  "I think I found it, Drew. Come look."

  I walked through the mess of trees I had been sifting through when she came into sight, holding up a tree, a large grin on her face. "Isn't it perfect!" she exclaimed.

  I shook my head. It certainly was perfect. Not too big or too tall, perfectly shaped, and so was the girl who was holding it.

  "I think it’s perfect," I said smiling at her, only I wasn't really talking about the tree. When I saw her start to struggle with it, I grabbed the tree by the trunk, taking it from her. I paid for the tree and threw it into the back of the truck, then I walked around to Lexi's door and opened it for her, helping her get in. I pulled the buckle across her lap and adjusted the strap across her chest as she looked into my eyes, the click of the belt lock sounding loudly through the truck. This was going to be a perfect Christmas.

  Chapter 11

  Alexa

  We pulled into the driveway in time to see Zach walk out of the garage. He walked over to the car and pulled his skis from the trunk and carried them back into the garage. Drew put the car in park, and I hopped out.

  "I'll go in and get the decorations down from the storage room; you guys bring the tree inside!" I shouted as I ran up the front steps to the house.

  "Alexa don't slam the door," I heard Mom call from the kitchen.

  "Mom, wait until you see it. It's perfect!" I exclaimed, placing the stand on the floor in the living room—the same spot the tree had gone in since I had been a child, right in the front room window. I had always loved coming home from school and seeing the tree, its lights flashing to the world as I climbed up the front steps. As I would walk through the door, the warm scents of cinnamon and nutmeg greeted me just like they had today. It was as if I had been transported back through time.

  The first thing I did was flip on the radio to the all-day Christmas station and grab the step stool from the closet just as the front door opened. Drew came in carrying the trunk of the tree, with Zach trailing behind holding the top. They were both laughing as they tried to maneuver the tree up the stairs and into the sitting room.

  I climbed on the stool and pulled down the boxes from the top of the storage area, setting them one by one on the table. I couldn't help but giggle as I listened to Zach and Drew as they continued to struggle to get the tree set up.

  "Zach, since you were absolutely no help, as always, why don't you get down on the floor and help me guide this baby into the stand."

  "Why? Has it been so long you’re afraid you won't be able to find the hole?" Zach broke out in fits of laughter, dropping the top of the tree onto the floor as Dad smacked him across the back of the head.

  "That is enough of that wiseass," Dad scolded. "You may be an adult, but remember you’re not too old to get a smack."

  Drew started to laugh as he picked up the tree and stood it upright, being careful not to set the trunk down on the white carpet.

  I felt my cheeks redden at the comment Zach had made to Drew but did my best to pretend I hadn't heard a word he had said. Mom came in carrying a tray full of hot apple cider and set it down on the living room table. The hot apple cider was a tradition when we decorated the tree, and so was the cinnamon stick that sat in each of the mugs.

  Mom took one look at me and instantly her hand went to my forehead. "Lexi, honey, you are feeling all right. You look flushed."

  "I'm good, Mom."

  She dropped her hand and looked at me, but I just continued pulling open the box of decorations. I began sifting through them, trying to keep my eyes from wandering over to Drew, who now had his coat off and was adjusting the tree, while Zach lay on the floor shouting out instructions. I glanced up again and watched the muscles in his back flexing through his shirt.

  "Lexi why don't you come and help me in the kitchen with the cinnamon buns," Mom said, diverting my attention away from Drew.

  "All right, Mom." I closed the box I was sifting through and followed her into the kitchen.

  I stood at the counter while she pulled apart the buns from the pan and plated them up before drizzling the sticky sugar topping onto them.

  "I see you have grandma's angel necklace on. You normally only wear that when you are wishing for something."

&n
bsp; I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. "I guess I just felt like being close to her right now."

  "Lexi are you sure everything is okay?"

  I toyed with telling her about how I was feeling for Drew and was just about to say something when I heard someone behind me.

  "Finally got the tree up," Drew said, coming into the kitchen to wash his hands. "It is a great tree, Lexi. You really did pick the perfect one." He turned to face us, smiling at me while he dried his hands.

  "Thanks!" I noticed my mother watching me in the questioning way all mothers did. “These ready now, Mom?” I questioned and grabbed three of the plates and scurried into the living room, setting the plates beside the tray of drinks that Mom had brought in earlier.

  Mom had more apple cider heating on the stove by the time the cinnamon buns had been eaten. We were all in the living room starting to decorate the tree. The lights had already been put on the tree and were now twinkling away. I pulled the next ornament from the box and unwrapped it from its tissue. I inhaled when I saw the ornament I had in my hand and tears filled my eyes.

  I held the ornament in my hands, turning it over and over. Two red rubies formed the head and dress of the angel, secured together by a set of sterling silver wings. "This was grandma's angel. I remember she told me that grandpa gave it to her when he returned home from the war. I remember her always telling me it had such a special meaning behind it, but she never got the chance to tell me what it was."

  Mom sat down beside me and took the ornament in her hand. "I haven't seen this in years." She sniffled. "What box did you find it in?"

  "This one right here," I said, pointing to it.

  "Funny, I’m sure I had that box down last year. I don't remember seeing it," she said, looking it over, a soft smile coming to her lips.