One Night at Christmas Page 4

  She laughed. “You’re hilarious. Oh, crud, I’ve dropped a bit of sauce on my nipple.”

  “That was a fake voice if ever I heard one.”

  “So you’re not interested in helping me to clean it up?” She started to rise, and he jerked her back until she fell flat on the bed. He came down on her, pinning her beneath a powerful thigh. His tongue on her nipple sent shivers throughout her entire body. “Bryson.”

  “You tease me, you get punished.”

  “T-this is punishment? Sign me up.”

  “Mm, so good. Your nipples are huge.”

  “Is that bad?”

  “It’s heaven.” He sucked one into his mouth, and she squirmed and moaned. At the same time, he ran a hand down her belly to push between her legs. His fingers eased inside her pussy, and she pumped into it. He worked his fingers in and out of her with as much force as he’d done when it was his dick. She teetered on an orgasm far sooner than she expected.

  “Bryson, you’re going to make me come with your hand.”

  He let her nipple pop from between his lips and moved to the other breast. Sweet kisses made her shiver. “I’m going to make you come with my hand, my dick, and anything else I can do it with. Maybe later I’ll clean you up and use my mouth.”

  She gasped. “You…we’re doing that?”

  “You don’t have to do me. There’s no way I can get my dick in that tiny mouth.”

  “I could lick the head.”

  His dick jumped against her leg. The suggestion must have excited him. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

  She pulled his face up so he had to look at her. “I’m going to. Tonight is our Christmas celebration, together at last and finally. We’re going to enjoy ourselves in every way possible.”

  “Then come for me, baby.” He squeezed her mound, and shockwaves reverberated all over her system.

  When she was done and gasping for breath, Bryson sprang off the bed and whipped her into his arms. She shrieked in surprise.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We’re getting cleaned up.”

  “I can walk.”

  “You said we were going to enjoy ourselves. I’m having fun carrying you.”

  “I weigh more than I look.”

  “And I’m a big man.”

  “That you are.”

  They both laughed as he carried her into the bathroom. He settled her on her feet and turned on the shower. All her fantasies were coming true. She had dreamed so many nights of showering with him and making love in there.

  When the water was warm, they stepped under the stream. She didn’t worry about her hair getting wet because it held a fresh perm, and she would only have to wash it and blow it out for it to be fine in the morning.

  Beads of water ran down Bryson’s chest. She licked them, loving the feel of his hot skin. It was a wonder steam didn’t rise from the beautiful flesh. She couldn’t get enough of him.

  “Let me?” she asked when he grabbed the soap.

  He placed it in her hands, and she soaped her palms then ran them over his cock. Gently, she washed him and stroked the length of his cock at the same time. He threw his head back and moaned. She got down on her knees, bringing the head in line with her mouth. Yup, no way could she get it in. Her jaw structure was pretty narrow, and Bryson too thick. Still, she planned to pleasure him until he came.

  She ran her tongue along the underside of his dick and held his balls in one hand, gently massaging them. He settled against the wall of the shower and watched as she kissed and licked all around the head of his cock. Just the tiniest of sucks on the top brought grunts of pleasure. She kissed her way down to the base and worked her way up. His cock jumped so much she could hardly hold on. A tiny nip at the sensitive skin and he jerked.

  She sprang back. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No, I’m about to lose it, baby. Your mouth is incredible.”

  She sucked as much of the head as she could into her mouth and worked him, bringing down the pressure of the roof of her mouth on it. At the same time, she stroked his balls. They drew tighter, and Bryson seemed to struggle to keep still. She knew he didn’t want to hurt her by pumping, so she pumped her hand along his length.

  “Oh, God, I’m going to come, Charon. I can’t hold it. Wait, maybe I should—”

  Her mouth was suddenly flooded with come. It dribbled down her chin and rinsed away in the water. She didn’t let up until he slumped against the wall. Afterward, she gave him one last kiss and rose. He dragged her against his chest and crushed her in a strong embrace. She rested her head on his chest while he rubbed her back. The warm water sprayed on their heads and down their joined bodies.

  Chapter Six

  Bryson woke and checked the bedside table. He had just four hours until his flight home. The night had been fantastic with Charon, and he didn’t want it to end. He had hoped during this trip to convince her to continue to talk to him. Unfortunately, Charon had a huge conscious. Not that he was okay with cheating. He didn’t think talking to Charon was cheating on Gretchen. They had discussed it, but he didn’t admit as much to Charon. Gretchen expected to have lovers, and she’d told him he was free to do whatever he wanted.

  As he stretched, he wondered whether he would mind if Charon slept with another man. That is, if she were his wife. The thought almost made him laugh. Hell no! If he had his way, Charon would be his exclusively—forever.

  He rolled over and spooned her ass. Pleasure erupted throughout his entire body. Charon was everything he had hoped, and why wouldn’t she be? He loved her. God, how he adored everything about her, even her stubborn way of sticking to her guns and refusing to be his mistress.

  Well, I’d prefer if she gave in.

  He scootched closer to her, folding his body as much as he could around her soft form. His dick grew hard as he snaked a hand over her waist and flattened his palm on her belly. She made a small mewing sound that nearly moved him to wake her up. No, he wouldn’t, as much he might desire to. He’d been selfish enough, keeping her up all night long, making love to her over and over. She needed rest, and holding her had to satisfy him.

  Tiredness descended once again as he stilled. Another small nap, and then he would spend the last hours with her. Pain rocketed through his chest for a moment. The thought of losing her closed off his air supply. He fought the emotions. She told him months ago they would come to this point, and what else could they do? She wanted a simple life, and he wanted the power and position he had dreamed of for ages. And how could he possibly live in the country? The thought was cringe-worthy. Neither of them was willing to let go of their ambitions.

  He rose just a bit and rested his face against hers. Inhaling brought her sweet scent inside him. He had to remember what she smelled like forever. It would help on nights when he lay alone or he lay with some woman who didn’t mean anything. Charon, who made him laugh and challenged his way of thinking on practically every subject, wouldn’t be a part of his life anymore. He almost wished he could get her pregnant before she left.

  A phone rang, and Bryson struggled to come to consciousness. He’d been dreaming of making love to Charon in his bed. In the dream, they were together. Still groggy and with his eyes half closed, he reached out to answer the phone.

  “Yeah?”

  “What the fuck?”

  Bryson came fully awake and sat up. Oh, hell, he’d answered Charon’s phone, and there was no undoing it. For a moment, he couldn’t think. The sound of running water reached him, and his befuddled mind registered that Charon was in the shower.

  “Hello?” the voice on the other end of the phone demanded.

  Bryson pulled it away from his ear to check the screen. Sure enough, it was Charon’s ex-boyfriend. Bryson hadn’t meant to answer. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt her or stand in her way. He knew she was thinking about getting back with this guy and that she had put off returning his call so the two of them could have their Christmas date. Now, he’
d gone and screwed everything up. He had to fix it even if he didn’t like the thought of that bastard touching her.

  “Okay, look,” he said, “I didn’t mean to answer the phone. Let’s get that out of the way.”

  “Where’s Charon? Who the hell are you?”

  Bryson moved to the edge of the bed. “Who I am isn’t important.”

  “Like hell it’s not. Where the fuck are you? I’m coming there to kick your ass.”

  “Really? That’s what you think Charon will want?”

  “Don’t try to lecture me.”

  “She’s with me.” He wanted to add the word permanently but resisted. “For now. You don’t like it. I get that, but those are the facts. My understanding is that you two aren’t together.”

  “That’s temporary!”

  “Okay, then you’re going to overlook this call.”

  “Say what?”

  “If you plan to be with her, then you’ll forget this conversation ever happened. I’m not going to be with her.”

  “So you’re using her for her body?” His tone condemned Bryson.

  “What Charon and I are doing isn’t your business.”

  “That’s funny, asshole. You’re sitting there trying to tell me what I’m going to do, but you don’t want me getting into your business.”

  Bryson’s patience snapped. He needed to get this idiot to agree not to harass Charon for his mistake and to think about whether he cared about her enough to stay with her. Plus, Charon would be out of the bathroom soon, and he didn’t want her to find him talking to Morris. “I’m saying you need to think about how much you love her.”

  Both of them were silent for a few beats, and then Morris spoke softly. “So you’re not going to stay with her?”

  “I can’t.”

  “You’re an idiot.”

  Bryson agreed in silence.

  “Alright, I won’t say anything, but I better not ever hear about you sniffing around her again. I plan to marry her, and when I do, I’ll kill anybody that tries to touch her. Got it?”

  “Got it. You like playing the volatile hero bit. Just so long as you’re always gentle with her. We won’t have a problem.”

  Morris disconnected the call. Bryson placed the phone back where he found it and rose to turn on the light. A few minutes later, Charon walked out of the bathroom, and he had to school his face to keep from showing the emotion that overwhelmed him. His time was running out.

  “We’ll have to leave for the airport in an hour and a half. What do you want to do?”

  Her fingers clenched on the belt she knotted at her waist. A hotel bathrobe never looked so good on a person as it did on her.

  “Breakfast. I’m starving.”

  “Downstairs? Somewhere else? Anywhere you like. My treat.”

  “I’d like to eat here if you don’t mind.”

  “Perfect.”

  Bryson handed her the menu and moved to make the bed so they could stretch out on it again. He started to flip the TV on but changed his mind. He wanted to spend the last of their time with his attention focused on her.

  “Did I hear you talking on the phone?” she asked. “You’re not conducting business, are you? You said you would take off. I know what kind of workaholic you are.”

  He didn’t hesitate to lie because he knew it was better for her happiness if she could decide freely whether to get back with Morris or not. Of course he kept hoping she wouldn’t. “Not working at all. Why would I when I have a beautiful naked woman in front of me?”

  She smirked. “This naked woman has a sore cootchie.”

  Guilt struck him. “I’m sorry. I—”

  She held up a hand. “It’s not that you were too big. Don’t worry about it. We had some marathon sex, so it’s natural. I’ll go down on you again before we leave.”

  “No.”

  Confusion wrinkled her brow. “You don’t want it?”

  “No, I’ve had enough,” he lied again. “I’m okay with spending the last of our time the way we usually do.”

  “Talking about everything and nothing?”

  “Exactly.”

  They ordered room service. While Charon had only ordered the standard eggs and bacon, Bryson went all out. He included sausage, fruit, pancakes, oatmeal, coffee and orange juice. His appetite was big but not that big. He wanted Charon to have any and everything she wanted just in case she changed her mind by the time the food arrived.

  Soon he was inspecting the covered dishes to be sure they were prepared the way she liked. He knew her particular preferences. Just because it gave him pleasure to do so, he added cream and sugar substitute to her coffee in the amounts she liked and handed her the cup.

  “You’re wonderful,” she purred.

  He grinned.

  “Why do you look pleased with yourself?”

  “I’m not.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  They climbed onto the bed, and he watched as she folded her legs beneath her. In her movements, she flashed a bit of thigh, and his cock tightened behind the boxers he had pulled on earlier. Shifting positions, he hid it from her.

  “Hey, I bought you a present.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

  “Really? I didn’t get you anything.”

  Her face fell. “Oh, well, that’s fine. I’ll be excited to see you open it.” She jumped off the bed and dropped to her knees to open her suitcase. Behind her back, he calmly slipped the drawer open in the side table. While she was in the bathroom the night before, he placed his present for her there. By the time she climbed back on the bed, he had the gift-wrapped present lying in her spot.

  “You bum.” She laughed. “You said you didn’t have anything for me.”

  He shrugged, feigning innocence.

  “Open this, and you better like it or else.”

  “Wow, I get threats with my gift. Fun.”

  She smacked his arm.

  He slid the white bow off the small box and tore through the bright red wrapping. Inside the delicate tissue paper, he found a tie and a pair of socks. Beneath both was a small canvas with a snowy city scene. He knew she drew and painted it by hand.

  “Wow, this is amazing, Charon. Thanks.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips.

  Afterward, she ducked her head. “It’s not much, but my budget is super tight right now.”

  “It’s perfect. I’ve never gotten one of your pieces, so this means a lot.”

  “I should have sent you something big before now, but I never felt like I was good enough. In the last few months, my drawing has improved.”

  “I always thought it was good.”

  She scoffed. “You always say that.”

  “Open your gift.”

  She tore into the paper and opened the box. The blue topaz with diamonds surrounding it sparkled in the light. Jewelry was a little personal to purchase for a woman, and with the dynamics of their relationship changing—or dissolving—he wasn’t sure she would accept it. He’d hoped since it was a necklace she wouldn’t have a problem.

  “Bryson,” she breathed. “It’s beautiful. You shouldn’t have spent so much on me.”

  “I wanted to.”

  “But now I feel stupid for being cheap and getting you a tie and socks.”

  “Don’t. I complained that I needed to buy some new socks and kept putting it off. You remembered. They’re the one thing I don’t slow down for, and a man can’t have too many ties.”

  “Are you sure you’re not disappointed?”

  He held up the canvas. “Have you given one of your art pieces to anyone else as a gift?”

  “No. You’re the only one who has encouraged me all this time. Well, you and my girlfriend. She’s not into art though.”

  “Then I’m special.” He winked, and she leaned in to kiss him. When she was close enough he grabbed her and dragged her onto his lap. With her back to his chest, he embraced her and rested against the headboard. “Anything from you is great.”

  “You were always sweet to
me.”

  “I called you crazy for choosing to be poor.”

  She laughed. “I don’t choose to be poor, nut. You’re materialistic.”

  “Ouch.”

  They argued good-naturedly as the time sped by. All too soon, it was time to pack up and head to the airport. Everything inside Bryson would miss her for a long, long time.

  Chapter Seven

  Charon’s doorbell rang. She glanced down at the suitcase still sitting by it. Her first instinct was to grab the case and run into the bedroom. Instead, she stood there, feeling depressed when she had no right or reason to. She came on her period that morning, just a week after her Christmas date with Bryson. She had no business wishing she had gotten pregnant after their time together. That would have complicated things and caused her more pain in the long run. At the same time, it killed her to know she wouldn’t be having Bryson’s baby.

  The doorbell rang again, and she sighed. All week she put Morris off, but now it was time to face the decision she had to make. The night before, she decided. She wouldn’t be with him. After one night with Bryson, if she got with Morris, she would be using him. He was a good man, and he didn’t deserve that.

  Nervousness stirred in her belly, so she ran the suitcase into the bedroom. Afterward, with Morris banging on the door and calling out to her, she went to let him in. “Jeez, Morris, do you have to disturb the entire neighborhood?”

  “I wanted to talk to you, and I couldn’t wait any longer.” He barged into the apartment, and she frowned after him. Affection stirred in her heart as she recalled what it was like dating him. He wasn’t a bad guy, a little impatient and sometimes self-centered, but weren’t they all?

  He whirled to face her, but she moved past him, headed for the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink?” Her offer was a delaying tactic. She didn’t want to face the battle of telling him she wouldn’t see him again.

  He grabbed her hand before she could get far and tugged her around. She stumbled but caught herself. A week passed, and she wasn’t ready to let her body touch another man’s, even if it was Morris.