A Modern Love Christmas Read online

  “I’m baking Christmas cookies,” I say, letting the mixer do the work so I can turn and kiss my fiancé.

  “Did you forget this is supposed to be a vacation?”

  “I figure why you’re hard at work training the dog, I’ll bake. We’re making memories here.”

  His lips move up my neck until his entire mouth sucks my earlobe between his hot and wet lips.

  “You going to help me?” I ask, continuing to roll out the dough.

  “I’ll help you get dirty,” he whispers and shivers run up my spine.

  “Lucas,” I half pant because his hard dick is pressing against my ass.

  “Come on baby, everyone else is outside building a snowman. We can sneak upstairs.” His two hands slide up under my apron, each grabbing a breast.

  “You do make a good argument.”

  “That’s what you said at the board meeting last month.”

  The memories of us role playing boss and employee after we had to attend the monthly Santora-Tavern board meeting runs through my mind. Him finding a vacant office, propping me on the edge of the desk and falling to his knees.

  “I think my tongue,” he moves the neck of my sweater down, his tongue licking along its path, “convinced you how good of an argument it can make.”

  I clench my thighs together, wetness pooling between my legs.

  “Okay.” I turn off the mixer and he swoops me up before I can change my mind.

  We’re headed toward the stairs, our lips locked, but at some point, Lucas stumbles, falling forward until I land hard on the floor and his face is in my crotch.

  “You could at least make it to the bedroom.” Lennon stands outside their bedroom door. “Just a tip, Lucas, it helps if the pants come off.” She heads down the stairs leaving us alone.

  “Ouch.” I rub my tailbone. Lucas gets to his feet, looking around for what caused him to trip.

  I can tell him what it was. His wonderful surprise Christmas present. That’s what it was.

  “The dog,” I point to the brown haired Bordoodle running in circles around us, practically humping Lucas’s leg.

  Lucas ignores the dog and focuses his attention on me. “Are you okay?”

  I nod. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Good, let me kiss it and make it better.”

  He scoops me up again, this time more careful to watch where he’s stepping. He hasn’t stepped more than a few feet when the dog starts yelping and barking.

  “What’s his problem?” I ask when Lucas lays me out on the bed.

  He climbs on top of me, the weight of his body just what I needed.

  “Lucas,” I say while his hands are trying to untie my apron. “why do you keep shaking your leg?”

  “Because the damn dog won’t stop humping me.” He sits up and the dog stops.

  “Come here,” I slide a hand behind his neck and pull him toward me for a kiss. The dog starts barking, jumps on the bed and wedges in between us. “Oh, my God!” I lay my head back on the mattress in frustration.

  “I don’t know what his problem is.”

  “I do. You bought a cock block dog.” I hop off the bed, leaving the two of them behind.

  Cole

  Our two cars pull into the family tree farm parking lot and we pile out, each of us bundled up with hats, gloves and boots. Whit holds Sparky’s leash and thankfully in his older age he isn’t quite as rambunctious, already bored with his new playmate.

  “I don’t get why we can’t just go out to woods and cut it ourselves,” Tahlia says. “Aren’t the woods, the woods?”

  Lucas swings his arm around her, their new dog walking on the leash in front of him. Tahlia doesn’t seem to share Lucas’ excitement about their new addition.

  “For one, we’d probably pick one out that was endangered or something.” Lennon sips from her cup that she says is coffee, although I saw her boiling the kettle earlier. Last night she acted like she was having a vodka tonic when I know, it was just the tonic. But who am I? Just a male who doesn’t notice anything apparently. Pfft. I’m a bartender—I notice these things.

  “Are there such things as endangered trees?” Whitney asks, sipping her own coffee and from the aroma steaming out of her travel mug, it’s definitely coffee.

  “No.” I answer.

  “Well, we’re not lumberjacks Whit. This is about as outdoorsy as this crew gets.” Lennon walks forward, catching up to Jasper and Brady.

  “Jeez, what is wrong with her?” Whitney shakes her head watching her friend’s back.

  “She’s pregnant,” I say.

  Her head spins in my direction, her mouth open so wide I could pack a snowball in it. “Shut up! She is not.”

  “Wanna bet?”

  “I’d bet a blowjob every day for the next month.”

  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to me!

  “You got knee pads?” I ask and she swats at my stomach.

  “There are different ways to suck you off. Like my head hanging off the bed. You on your knees and me laying down, that’s not even mentioning sixty-nine.”

  I shift my stance since I’m becoming harder than the tree stumps surrounding us. “Sixty-nine would benefit you. That’s not part of the deal.”

  Her lips dip down. “You said you like the way I taste.”

  I cradle her cheeks with my palms. “I love the way you taste, the way you smell, but if I win the bet, you can’t benefit from it.”

  “Fine.” She holds out her mitten covered hand. “If she’s pregnant you get blowjobs everyday for a month. If I win you do the laundry for a month and that includes folding and putting everything away.”

  “Should I be offended that you don’t want your own sexual favors for a month?”

  We hurry ahead since everyone is hoping on the wagon to take us further out into the woods. Funny, I thought we were in the forest already.

  “Nah,” she stops us right before we get on, picking up Sparky. “You can’t keep your hands off me. You’ll go down on me whether I win the bet or not.”

  I shake my head as she walks up the steps into the wagon taking a seat next to Lennon.

  Jasper leans in close and whispers, “What were you guys talking about? It looked heated.”

  “The fact that your wife is pregnant.”

  His eyebrows crinkle and he gives a firm shake of his head. “Huh, why would you think that?” Before I can even answer, he grabs Brady from falling head first into the side of the wagon when the horses start up. After that he centers his attention to Brady, Lucas and anyone else besides me.

  I rub my hands together, looking like I’m cold when in reality, I’m gearing up for a month worth of my girl’s lips wrapped around my cock.

  Lennon

  The three dimwits stand around the tree like they’re sizing it up for a fight. What, is Lucas going to pull out his boxing gloves and knock it out?

  “You could use the saw,” I suggest.

  Brady runs around with a tree limb acting like it’s a sword.

  “One of us has to push it while one saws,” Lucas says.

  “What does the third one do?” Tahlia asks, lightly knocking her elbow to my arm.

  “Would the three of you rather do this?” Jasper asks, testing me with his eyes. He knows I won’t put my babies in jeopardy, but damn if I don’t want to grab the saw, get down on the ground, and show them some serious girl power.

  “I would, yeah.”

  Cole holds the saw out to me. “Be our guest.”

  He’s part woman I swear. Last night I caught him smelling my drink when I got back from the bathroom. He’s been watching my every step. Purposely asking me about my coffee when Jasper got into the truck with everybody’s drink. The fucker is as observant as Tahlia. Hell, I’m surprised with Tahlia. She’s usually the one I call when I think my period might be late. The girl knows all of our Aunt Flo’s schedules. Luckily, she’s been too distracted by the dog on this trip.

  I laugh watching the dog tangle the leash aro
und her ankles.

  Whit grabs the saw, passes Sparky to Cole. “Let’s do this girls.” She stomps past the three guys.

  Jasper’s gaze remains focused on me. Surely, I can at least push the tree so it falls in the right direction.

  “Here.” Tahlia exaggerates her movements, stepping out of the dog leash confining her ankles. “Take your dog.”

  Lucas grabs the end of the leash. “Our.”

  “Nope. You wanted him.”

  Brady falls into the snow at Lucas’ feet, playing with the new dog. Sparky jumps out of Cole’s arms jealous and seeking attention for himself.

  Whit lays on the blanket, while Tahl squats down to help her see through the branches.

  “Len, a little help?” Tahl asks, her eyes wide.

  “I can push it.”

  Jasper takes my hand. “Nope. You’re on your own girls.”

  My eyes shoot invisible lasers at him and he lets me go.

  “Why can’t she help?” Whitney sits up, her gaze finding Cole.

  He’s already told her his suspicions?

  “She’s already sick, the last thing she needs is sap all over her.”

  Tahl and Whitney share a look. Yeah, lame excuse, hubby.

  “Maybe the pine will clear her sinuses,” Cole adds, a smug smile on his lips.

  “Sparky!” Lucas yells.

  We all look down to find Sparky over top of the new dog’s back, going to town.

  Lucas is swinging the dog around and it’s flying through the air on the leash while Sparky keeps jumping, trying to get at it.

  We all burst out laughing, except for Brady who looks confused and scared.

  I get a hold of his arm and pull him into me before the new dog hits him.

  Somehow in all the commotion, Jasper stole the saw and he’s telling the girls to get out of the way.

  “We said we could do it.” Whit whines, brushing off her ass.

  “It was my idea, I’ll cut the damn thing down.” Jasper eyes me, silently asking why we’re not telling our friends yet.

  I don’t even have a logical reason. They’d be ecstatic, but then it’s real and I don’t want any of that pampering shit that Jasper’s already giving me. I could have helped push that tree down.

  Tahlia grabs the dog and Whitney catches Sparky. It’s the first time I’ve seen Tahlia voluntarily touch the dog. Baby steps I suppose.

  Lucas

  Everyone’s jaws are hanging open, including mine.

  Tahlia pulls the dog to her chest, her hand running down its back.

  “Some help!” Jasper hollers from under the tree.

  I rush over as does Cole. We push the tree while Jasper saws it, my eyes staying on Tahlia.

  “You need to get Sparky some help,” she tells Whitney.

  Whitney’s head cocks. “Um, no, Sparky is fine. We all know he’s a horndog.”

  Lennon brings her travel mug to her mouth. “Whit’s got a point.” She bows her head. “May Tickled Pink rest in peace.”

  The girls laugh and it’s good to see them huddled together. It’s as though they’ve all been on different wavelengths so far.

  “So,” Whit elbows Tahlia with a sly smile. “You gonna keep him?” She eyes the dog.

  I stayed zeroed in on the conversation. There’s no way I’m this far off base with giving her a dog for Christmas. I didn’t get her a German Shepherd or a Boxer like I’d prefer. I got her one of those dogs women dress up and pack in bags to go shopping with.

  Tahlia looks down and surprisingly the dog seems content in her arms, burying his head in the small space between her arm and torso.

  “I’m not a monster. We’re keeping it, I’ve just never had a dog before.”

  Lennon laughs. “Uncharted territory for sure. I gotcha.”

  Cole stares over at me, raising his eyebrows.

  I mouth, “what?”

  He has to turn around to see the girls and he glances over his shoulder, finding them not paying attention to us. “Pregnant,” he mouths.

  I shake my head. I know my girl’s not pregnant since I had to make a run to the drug store for her last week.

  “Lennon,” he mouths.

  I shake my head. “No way,” I whisper.

  His head falls back to his shoulder blades, then pops back up. “Am I the only one in this group who’s observant?”

  “Did you say something Cole?” Whitney asks and I laugh because I can’t remember the last time they were in a conversation and heard anything we were talking about.

  He clears his throat. “No.”

  Whit turns back to the girls.

  “You need to name the little monster,” Lennon says.

  Tahlia looks down at the small dog and her eyes find mine a few feet away. She’s questioning me, but I want her to name the dog so she feels the bond I’ve already formed.

  “Cinnamon?” she asks.

  I nod with approval.

  “That’s cute,” Whitney says.

  “Cinnamon? Why?” Brady appears in front of Tahlia, one hand on Cinnamon and one on Sparky. The kid needs a dog.

  “Remember when we took you to that diner by Lucas’ boxing gym?” Tahlia says.

  Brady nods.

  “Well, Lucas took me there on our first date to have a cinnamon roll.”

  “Not actually your first date,” Lennon adds.

  “Yes, it was,” Tahlia’s defensive tone stops anyone else from arguing.

  “Can I hold him?” Brady asks.

  Tahlia places him in his arms. “Just stay nearby, we can’t have him running off.”

  “God forbid we lose the dog,” Lennon deadpans.

  The tree starts falling over without the help of Cole or I. Jasper stands, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Next year, one of you are doing it.”

  Lennon cuddles up to Jasper, rising on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I knew you were the manliest out of them all.”

  Cole and I mock offense, each of our girls coming over to us. “I’m a boxer. I think I hold the title of manliest around here.”

  “Then you should have cut down the tree,” Lennon says.

  “Let her believe what she wants, we know the truth.” Tahlia whispers in my ear. “Thank you for Cinnamon.”

  I place my lips to hers, pulling our bodies flush even though there are too many layers of down between us.

  Cole

  With a busy household, I haven’t had much time alone with Whitney over the past two days. Lennon’s been moody to say the least, Tahlia and Lucas are struggling to find even ground with his early Christmas present, and Brady is bouncing off the walls all hours of the day.

  She’s bundled under a blanket, drinking hot chocolate, talking with her friends.

  “Come with me,” I say, holding my hand out to her.

  “I’m cozy.” She smiles bringing the cup to her lips.

  “Please,” I ask with a tone that suggests it’s really important to me.

  “Okay.” She places her cup down, and stands. Tahlia grabs the blanket and scurries under it. “Tahl!” Whit screeches.

  “From that look you aren’t coming back for awhile.” Tahlia points to me and then concentrates back on Lennon. “I was thinking hot toddies tonight. I’ll text Lucas to pick some cinnamon and honey while him and Jasper are in town.”

  Lennon nods, but says nothing. The girl hasn’t had a drop of alcohol since we arrived. She thinks she’s fooling everyone with some bullshit about coming down with a cold. I’ve seen the girl blow her nose, cough and say whiskey would make her better. But Whit swears she’d know.

  “We’ll be back before the tree ceremony,” I announce and pull on my boots and heavy jacket. Checking my pocket, I open the door for her.

  “I’m not really into the whole sex under a wintery sky, babe,” she says and puts on her hat and gloves.

  “If I was going to seduce you, I’d take you to the hot tub.”

  “Oh, I like that idea.” She wraps her arms around my waist. “I�
��d even go naked.”

  “Brady, babe.”

  Her eyes roll back in her head. “Oh yeah, after he goes to bed tonight then.” She kisses my chin.

  “Take a walk with me now?” I take her hand in mine, and we head down the steps toward the path I carved out with the guys this afternoon. We’ll go a little out of our way so the boys can finish up the arrangements. If it all goes as planned when the trees break at the edge of the hill, the lights will lead us to the perfect spot.

  “Why a walk? I’m not really into snow sports. Who wants to be wet and cold all the time? Would you rather be too hot or too cold?”

  I chuckle at her rambling and the fact there’s still questions we’ve yet to know the answers to about one another.

  “I do like you wet.” I bump her shoulder and her head falls against my shoulder on her way back.

  “Seems to be my norm when you’re around.”

  I wrap my arm around her shoulders and her arms link around my waist. We walk further into the woods and all the nerves from earlier disappear. She’s my one, the one for me, and this will only adhere her into the spot she carved out years ago.

  The trees open up into a clearing and there sits a picnic table with blankets, faux candlelight and a string of white lights around the trees powered by a generator the cabin guy loaned us. Bottles of my whiskey, one I made especially for today sit on the table along with some Christmas cookies.

  The cracking of tree limbs echo through the dusk sky, giving away the guys presence as they head back to the cabin. She squeezes me, her eyes darting to the area of the forest the sounds came from.

  “Probably just an animal,” I say to soothe her fears.

  “A bear from the sound of it.”

  “Come.” I lead her to the table and away from the distraction.

  “It’s beautiful.” She sits down on the picnic bench, checking out the cookies on the table. Grabbing a blanket, I place it over her shoulders and pull out the mugs.

  “I made a new batch. Want to try?” I ask.

  A soft smile creases her lips. “Always.”