A Very Grey Christmas (7 page)

“I’m in the mood for whatever you are.” My hand wrapped to the inside of his thigh. “If it’s Clark Griswold, then let’s watch it.” I stared straight ahead at the television, waiting for him to hit play, but hoping he’d accept my challenge and take me on the couch like he usually did at home.

Grey inhaled, and raked his teeth across his bottom lip. I could see the inner debate brewing.

“You don’t think I can watch this entire movie with you dressed like that, do you?” he taunted.

“I’m just more comfortable this way, that’s all. Think of these as my pajamas.” I let my palm trail over my breast and across my bare stomach. I was crossing boundaries I hadn’t tried. “Let’s watch it.” I ran my tongue along the outer edge of his ear.

Without reacting to a single advance, Grey pressed the play button and the movie started. Not what I was expecting. I sank back into the couch, realizing my seduction was going to have to wait until Cousin Eddie saved the day.

But before the opening credits had finished, Grey turned and blazed a fiery kiss on my lips, pulling me underneath him with sudden fierceness. His hands raced along my sides, pulling the straps over my hips and knees until I felt the satiny fabric slip off my ankles. I moaned as his fingers swirled then dipped inside me, building a frenzy within me with only a few strokes.

I reached for his belt, but he pushed my hands away. “Uh-uh,” he growled before his mouth descended between my legs, his tongue sending sparks of electricity through my body. My back arched, my pulse throbbed, and my hands reached overhead as I took everything he gave.

Maybe this wasn’t a usual Christmas movie tradition, and probably Clark Griswold wouldn’t approve, but my God, it was the most incredible Christmas movie I had ever sat through.

T
here was a note on the pillow.

Gone to the store with your dad.

Loved last night.

XO,

Grey

I sighed and folded the note in half. I loved last night too. I’d have to suggest another movie. I stretched and looked at the clock. Shit. I was supposed to go to the studio with my mom for one of her morning yoga classes.

I jumped in the shower and quickly dressed in a pair of yoga pants, sports bra, and tank top. I’d add plenty of layers to appease my mother, but I wasn’t about to try complicated poses with extra padding from clothes. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and ran out the door.

“I was just about to come get you. You ready?” My mother’s long hair was styled like mine and she was wearing a sweatshirt that hung off her shoulder.

“Ready.” I smiled. I’d have to grab a cup of coffee after class.

On the way to the studio, my mother turned up the Christmas music and hummed along. Normally, her attempt to keep up with the lyrics would annoy me, but right now, it only made me giggle.

“You’re in a good mood, aren’t you?” She turned.

“I am. I’m glad Grey’s here.” I couldn’t tell her about our amazing sexual escapades that were keeping me up all night but still leaving me begging for more. It was the best possible unquenched desire I had experienced. It was hard not to wonder what we’d do tonight.

“He and your dad are hitting it off. They’re going to work on Dad’s old motorcycle today.”

“The one that’s been in the shed forever?” I couldn’t imagine how my dad roped him into that project, or better yet, why he wanted to get it running after all these years. As far as I knew, that thing had never made it out of our driveway.

“That’s the one. The only thing I’m counting on is that he’s smart enough not to try it in the snow if they do get it running. I have a feeling your handyman will get it going though.”

“Probably.” I smirked. “He does have an engineering degree and he’s naturally gifted at fixing things.” I thought about all of the things he had taught himself to do. “Well, most things.”

“When he’s not fixing things and working at the motel, what do you do together?” My mother turned down the radio.

I thought about our routine at the beach cottage. I was learning as much as I could about condo management and sales, while Grey was working with construction engineers on strategies to maintain as much of the Palm’s original structure as possible. By the time we got home, we were exhausted.

“We like to cook together.” I chewed on my lip. “And we do this thing on the deck almost every night where we have a drink and watch the sunset. It’s become a daily ritual.”

“Ok.” She nodded her head, but I couldn’t tell what level of approval that meant.

“And sometimes we go over to Pete’s and have dinner and drinks. Most of our friends hang out there.”

“That’s the bar across the street, right?” She turned the car into an open slot in front of the studio.

“Yes.” I wasn’t sure if the line of questioning meant anything. “Mom, is there something else you’re trying to ask me?”

She reached in the backseat for her bag and mat. “No, honey. I just want to know what your life with Grey is like. That’s all.” She unclipped her seat belt and pushed open the car door. “Come on. Class is waiting.”

I followed her into the studio, not exactly sure I had given her the right answers.

The rest of the week flew by. I always forgot that part about the holidays. It seemed like if we didn’t have work and responsibilities at home that our vacation should linger on, but it was the opposite. Before I knew it, it was Thursday night and Grey and I were headed to Wonderland Lights.

Spending the evening with Mason wasn’t at the top of his priority list, but at least he was giving it a try.

“And why is it we are going on a double date? I’d be fine hanging out at the house with your parents if you wanted a girls’ night with Taylor.”

Ok, maybe he wasn’t completely open to the experience.

I pointed to our exit. “Turn there.” I could see a line of cars from the highway. “Because it’s Christmas and Christmas is about friends and family. Taylor’s my friend and Mason is your—”

“Don’t say it. Don’t even try that, Eden. Mason and I are business partners.” Grey slowed the car in the lane in front of us.

“Sorry. I just want you to have family. I’m not trying to put you two together. If it wasn’t my only chance to see Taylor while I’m home, I wouldn’t have suggested it.”

His hand clutched mine against my leg. “I know you’re trying to help.” He turned toward me. “But you’ve got to let Mason and I figure this out. Right now we are business partners.”

“That’s something.” I smiled. I pulled out my phone to text Taylor and let her know we were somewhere in this pack of cars.

“Have you ever been here before?” Grey asked.

“No, but I always wanted to go. They have hayrides that take you through the lights, and there’s hot chocolate. I love hot chocolate.”

“Then I will make sure you get all the hot chocolate you want.” He leaned across the console and brushed his lips against mine.

I sighed as I felt the tender kiss spread warmth throughout my limbs. I leaned into him, eager to taste more of his lips. A car honked behind us.

“I better watch the line.” Grey straightened his shoulders and focused on the steering wheel.

I giggled. I could tell the kiss had him breathing heavier too.

My phone buzzed. “It’s Taylor. She said they are waiting for us outside the ticket booth.”

“Great,” Grey muttered.

“We’re going to have fun.” I curled my fingers against the inside of his thigh. “And just think about all the fun we’ll have tonight when we’re alone.” I smiled when he cleared his throat.

I wasn’t sure what it was about Christmas sex, but we had officially taken things to an entirely new level. Maybe it was the romance of the tree and the lights, or the late night cocktails and being surrounded by a snowy wonderland. Maybe it was because there was no stress waiting for us when we woke up each morning. It was Grey, me, and Christmas. Whatever magic it was, it had taken our physical relationship to a place I didn’t even know existed.

One of the parking lot ushers, dressed like an elf, flagged us into an open spot at the end of one of the fields. We pulled on our gloves and started the short walk to the ticket office.

Taylor ran toward me before we were inside the gate.

“Merry Christmas!” she squealed then hugged me.

“Merry Christmas. This place is crazy. It’s bigger than on the commercials.” I looked at the tractors lined up for the hayrides.

“I know. Isn’t it amazing?” She beamed. “Hey, Grey. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Taylor.”

Mason sauntered toward us holding four tickets. “Hey y’all. I got all the tickets so we don’t have to wait in line anymore. Maybe get ahead of the crowd.”

Grey opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “Aww, that was sweet of you, Mason. Thanks.” I took our two tickets from him and handed one to Grey.

He grumbled under his breath, but took the ticket and handed it to the elf at the gate.

“Hayride first?” Taylor asked. “I want to see the lights.”

“Yes, let’s do it.” I followed her to the closest tractor and climbed up. Grey and I shuffled to the center bale of hay.

Taylor sat next to me and Mason planted himself on the other side of her, wrapping an arm over her shoulder. They looked happy. I wondered if the Christmas magic had gotten to them too.

The farmer, in his Santa hat, started the engine and it sputtered to life, throwing
putt putt
sounds into the air as we rambled into the woods. The only thing that would make this better was if it would start snowing right now. There was enough on the ground to cast everything in a white light, but there was something enchanting about falling snow.

Grey nuzzled against my neck.

“Are you even looking at the lights,” I whispered.

“Not really.” He hooked his hand around my hip and brought me against his side.

“Lights, Grey. We’re here to see lights,” I teased.

I don’t know how the farmer came up with this extravagant display, but it was amazing—everything the advertisements promised it would be. We were on the hayride for thirty minutes, passing under waterfalls of lights, traveling over streams outlined with sparkling lights, and through a maze of red and green twinkle lights.

When the tractor came to a stop, everyone moaned. We weren’t ready for it to be over.

“Didn’t you want some hot chocolate?” Grey asked.

I nodded. “Definitely. I’m frozen.”

He helped me from the back of the trailer and we walked into the village. Taylor and I waited at a barrel that had been converted into a table. A few minutes passed before Mason and Grey appeared with four steeping cups of hot chocolate.

“I had them add extra marshmallows.” Grey handed me mine and I watched as the steam swirled over the lid.

“Thank you.”

“So, Mason. How long are you staying in North Carolina?”

My eyes widened. What just happened? Grey started small talk with Mason? This had to be a Christmas apocalypse.

“I told Taylor I’d stay as long as she wants me to be here. She’s at her mom’s house now and I’ve got the guestroom.” He smiled at her over his cup.

Taylor piped in. “You know I want you to stay until New Year’s.” Her lips puckered in a pout.

“Sweetheart, I don’t know if that’s possible, but we’ll figure something out.” He reached for her hand. “What about you two? When are you headed back to Padre?”

“We’re going back the day after Christmas,” Grey answered.

That was only three days away. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve and the Christmas bubble we were living in would be over soon. I wished I could figure out a way to make this go on forever.

Taylor shrieked, and I turned around to see what she was excited about. There was a band on stage warming up their instruments.

“Do you know them?” I asked.

“They were one of my favorite bands in high school. Obviously, they never made it big, but they are awesome.”

Mason looked amused. “You want to dance?”

“Yes!” She jumped off her bar stool and followed him to the dance floor that had been set up in the middle of the Christmas village. I watched as they started to sway to a rendition of
Baby, Please Come Home for Christmas
.