All I Want For Christmas (7 page)

He realized he knew Annabeth better than he did any woman he’d ever dated just because he’d practically spent a lifetime with her underfoot. He knew she didn’t put milk on her cereal in the mornings and that she detested coffee. He knew she was all alone in the world, and that no matter how hard Darcy had tried over the years, Annabeth had refused their invitations to Christmas dinner. She always said Christmas was just another day. Nothing special. Nothing to be celebrated. That was something that would definitely have to be changed in the future. No one should ever spend Christmas alone, no matter how much they protested.

Annabeth had always been somewhat of a puzzle, but part of that was because she’d always seemed so shy around him. But she certainly hadn’t been shy when she’d decided to let that redhead’s temper loose. He needed to hold her again. To feel the softness of her skin against his. He’d only been able to guess at the beauty of her body before now, but now that he knew every lush curve, he knew he’d never see her the same way again. He had to have her. Had to claim her. All he had to do was make her want him as much as he wanted her.

Grant was willing to see that something miraculous had happened that day. He didn’t know if it was the spirit of Christmas, the fates, or some other celestial being, but his and Annabeth’s paths had aligned, and he wasn’t the kind of man who had to be struck by lightning twice to get the point. She was meant to be his. All he had to do now was find out if what she’d said was true. If she’d really loved him all this time, or if she was just grateful to him for saving her life.

“Grant,” she called out from behind the closed door. “Do you have those extra clothes?”

“Yeah, just a minute.”

He pulled on a pair of grey sweatpants and grabbed the thick terrycloth robe he had hanging from the peg on his door. His lower body tightened as she opened the door just far enough for him to get another tantalizing peak of soft flesh. He didn’t move away, but stood his ground as she slipped on the robe and tied it in a loose knot around her waist, keeping her head lowered in embarrassment.

“I need to go home, Grant,” she said, trying to push past him. “And you need to be with your family.”

“Annabeth—” He put his hand on her shoulder gently before she could move away. “Look at me.”

Her eyes were wary as she finally met his gaze, and he watched in amusement as they grew wider when he pushed the long fall of hair off her shoulder and bent his head closer, so their lips were just a whisper away from touching.

“Do you believe in miracles?” he asked, waiting to see if she’d back away. But she just stood there, stone still, her breath trembling in and out. He could see the pulse fluttering in the hollow of her throat and her hands dropped down to her side limply.

When they opened again what he saw almost stole his breath. Her pupils were dilated so only a thin rim of blue showed, and desire poured from her very soul. He touched her mouth softly, kissing her as if she were the most special woman ever created. And in truth she was. It was as if blinders had been taken off and he finally saw what stood before him. It was everything a first kiss should have been. Sweet and soft and pure.

Her mouth opened under his and he took advantage, slipping his tongue into the warmth of her mouth and tasting her for the first time. Her fingers bit into his biceps as he delved deeper, and he groaned as he felt her tongue slide in a dangerous dance against his.

Pulses pounded and desires roared as things quickly got out of hand. Her hand delved into his hair, and she arched back as he kissed down her neck to the swell of breast that peaked from the lapel of the robe. He pushed her back against the wall and hitched her legs around his waist, swallowing every moan and whimper for more. He could feel her wet heat through his sweats and he knew all he had to do was pull them down slightly and he’d be inside of her.

Grant pulled back and looked at the shock in her eyes that he was sure mirrored his own. They were both gasping for breath, and he rested his head on her brow, trying to get control over his rioting body.

“This can’t be real,” she panted, rocking against him, cradling his hardness between her thighs. “I woke up with the taste of you on my lips and the feel of you against my body. I’m still dreaming. I must be.”

“It’s not a dream, love. I’ve watched and wanted you for awhile now, but I didn’t think you’d want the same things I did. I know you, Annabeth. And we’ve been given a second chance to get this right. Christmas wishes do come true, because I wished for you. Spend Christmas with me. Make love with me.”

Her breath sobbed out at his words, but she didn’t let tears fall. “I’ve wanted you for so long, but I thought you never noticed me. I’ve dreamed of you for years, and I’ll gladly give you my body. I think it’s probably always been yours anyway. Maybe you’re right. Maybe Christmas wishes do come true, because I wished for you too. I know in my heart this is the right thing to do. I’ve never been with another man, Grant. That’s my gift to you.”

Grant closed his eyes against the onslaught of feelings that one tiny statement brought. A fierce need to conquer—to claim her as only his—overwhelmed him and he took her mouth again in a kiss that that left no doubt how much he wanted her. The heady desire built until he was almost blind with the need.

He pressed his lips to her throat, remembering that he was the only man who would ever have her this way, remembering her fragility and the gift she was giving. He had to slow down. Make this perfect.

“You’re trembling,” he said, nibbling at her lips as he slowly unknotted the robe. It gaped open, showing him teasing glimpses of the woman beneath. The soft curve of breasts and belly and the fiery curls between her thighs.

“So are you.”

“Because I need you more than I’ve ever needed anyone in my life. Are you scared?”

“Not scared.” She gasped as his tongue flicked across the pulse in her throat and his hands trailed over the flared curve of her waist. “A little nervous. Excited. Your kisses make me warm. They make me throb.”

Grant felt the primal urge to claim flare up once more with her innocent words, but he tamped the feeling down. “Come to bed with me, Annabeth. We shouldn’t waste our miracles.”

Grant took her hand and led her to the bed. The hardwood was cool beneath her feet and the moonlight gleamed across their skin. The bedside lamp glowed a soft yellow across the white sheets he’d straightened while she’d been in the bathroom. The night was black, but fat flakes of snow hit against the window pane and swirled in a chaotic dance. She watched as Grant turned down the covers and pulled her into his arms.

“You’ll have to tell me if I do something you don’t like. If I hurt you.”

“You couldn’t. I’ve waited for you so long, Grant. Take me to bed.”

He cupped her face in his hands and leaned toward her, touching his mouth softly to hers, testing, nibbling, lingering, as if he had hours to spend in just that one spot. He deepened the kiss, tasting the sweet honey of her mouth while his hands flitted over the softness of her skin. Her breasts were heavy and full against his palms, and when he stroked her nipples with the rough pads of his thumbs she shivered against him.

Annabeth sighed with every touch, her body a riot of sensations she’d only ever experienced in her dreams. The need to take him, to please him, rose up fiercely and she kissed him back with everything she had, rubbing her tongue against his and touching every hard plane of his body.

He lowered her to the bed slowly, taking his time and savoring every gasp and moan as he pressed his weight against her. Words he’d never spoken to another woman escaped his lips with promises of eternity. He kissed his way down the valley between her breasts and moved to take a nipple into his mouth, suckling at the rigid peak until she was writhing against him I pleasure.

“Grant!” she said, jerking against his mouth. “Please, I want to feel you on me again. I need you. I need you inside of me.”

The breath left Grant’s lungs in a rush as words had him straining for control. He gentled his touch as his fingers skimmed over the slight swell of her stomach to the damp curls below. She was wet and ready for him, her body pliant as his thumb circled the tight nub between her folds. His finger entered her—first one, and then another—stretching her for what was to come.

Her hips moved against him of their own volition and his thumb began to move faster until he heard the catch in her breath of her nearing climax. When she moaned beneath his touch and tightened around his fingers, he pressed his mouth against hers, feeling her cries of release.

Grant watched the wonder cross her face as her body slowly relaxed, the desire sated for the moment, and when her eyes opened and met his, there was such love in their depths that it made his throat tight with emotion.

“Please, Grant.”

“I want to give you more, sweetheart.”

He stood and stripped his sweatpants off quickly. He stood still and let her look her fill, appreciating the way her eyes drank him in and then widened with nervousness as her gaze dropped below his waist.

“Grant,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t think—”

“It’ll be all right, sweetheart. You’ll be ready for me.”

Grant lifted her foot and kissed the delicate arch of her foot, nibbling his way up her calf and skimming his fingers along the sensitive flesh behind her knee. She jumped when he nuzzled her inner thigh, and moaned as his mouth kissed and licked the slick folds of her pussy. He found the tight bud of her clitoris and circled it with slow strokes as she slowly went crazy in his arms. Her fingers entwined in his hair and she arched her hips against him. He looked up and pleasure filled him as he saw her body flushed and on the peak of fulfillment. His hands grabbed her bottom and he brought her to his mouth, flicking his tongue faster and faster as she thrust against his mouth.

“Ohmigod, Grant,” she screamed as he tasted the ambrosia of her release against his tongue.

He licked into her slowly as she came down from her orgasm and then kissed his way up her body, taking his place between her open thighs. He let her get used to the weight of his body and the feel of him hard against her folds, kissing her eyelids, cheeks and lips tenderly as he prodded against her.

Their kisses fueled the fire of desire once more, and before long she was straining against him, lifting her knees to take him inside of her.

“Please, Grant. I need—”

“Shh, sweetheart,” he said kissing her softly, pushing inside her until he came to the barrier of her innocence. He groaned at the feel of her tight and hot around him and shuddered as she wrapped her legs around him, preparing to take him all. He was only halfway inside her, but he had to grit his teeth to keep from coming too soon.

He leaned down, so his chest rested against the soft pillow of her breasts. “Look at me,” he whispered against her lips.

When her eyes cleared and she looked at him steadily, with love and trust in her gaze, he knew miracles really did exist. “You’re mine from now on. I love you, Annabeth.”

He buried himself inside her with one thrust, swallowing her cry with his kisses, and kissing the tears from her cheeks.

“Ssh, baby,” he crooned. “I’m sorry, but it’s only for a minute.”

He brought his hand between their bodies and stroked at the hidden nub between her folds until the pain was forgotten and she was writhing beneath him, hitching her legs higher and taking every slow, smooth stroke. No matter how much his body demanded release, he wouldn’t rush her. Her pleasure would come first.

“I love you, Annabeth. I need to hear you say it.”

But she was already too far gone to form coherent words. Her head thrashed back and forth as his thrusts became harder, more demanding. His hands skimmed up her body, touching and caressing. His mouth tasted and treasured, drinking in every sigh and moan of pleasure. And when she tightened around him like a velvet fist and her body began to shudder, he buried his face against her neck and let go.

Chapter Four

The first light of dawn peeked through the window with shyness, the sun not quite sure if it should make itself known on that particular Christmas morning or hide behind the clouds. Annabeth stretched lazily, her muscles wonderfully sore as she felt Grant beside her, his hand resting comfortably on her belly. When she looked over his eyes were open and watching her with a contentment she felt bone deep.

He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. “I promise I’ll feed you soon. But first things first.” He kissed her softly, lazily, rubbing his mouth across hers in such a way that flamed the embers of desire she thought had burned out the night before.

“Merry Christmas,” he said.

She leaned into him and rested her head against his chest. “Merry Christmas. I guess it’s been a while since I’ve said that to anyone.”

“You’d better get used to it. The MacKenzies are big on Christmas.” His fingers trailed up her spine. “I love you, Annabeth.”

She let out the pent up sigh she’d been holding and relaxed against him. She hadn’t been sure what would happen once they were both faced with the light of day. It seemed she’d loved him so long that it didn’t seem real for him to finally return the feeling.