Christmas Kisses (8 page)

CHAPTER

12

HOLLY

The mall sucks. It’s overflowing with crazy people. I lean into Ryan as he steers us through the crowds. After a few fast turns, he pulls us into a restaurant. We get a tiny booth toward the back. Ryan takes my packages and keeps them on his side. He’s practically falling on the floor.

We order and I feel his foot brush against mine. I smile, rather
evilly, and say, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Why’s that?” he smirks and does it again. His foot brushes the inside of my ankle, tracing over the leather boots half way up my calf. God, I want his hands on me. It feels good to not fight how I feel anymore, to be around
him and let him know how much I want him
.

“Because if you make it so I can’t control myself, I’ll sure as hel
l make sure you’re
a
molten lusty mess, too
.” I laugh and lean toward him. I pull his shirt front and lift off the seat enough to kiss him.

He grins at me and sits back down. “I’m not sure you could make me want you more than I do right now.” His blue eyes glitter as he says it.

I lean closer to him and whisper, “I’m wearing a red lacy bra and gar
ter
s—
“ my
eyes flick up to his and then drift back to that delicious mouth, “and that’s it.” I smile slowly, letting it sink in.

Ryan’s eyes widen as he catches my meaning. “You’re evil.” He takes my hand and rubs circles on the back of my palm. His eyes lock with mine. It makes my stomach flip and I can’t look away. My heart pounds harder and I wish we weren’t in the mall.

“Well, look where the road led you. I’ll be damned.” Mandy is grinning like an idiot, standing with her hands on her hips, looking down at us. “And you wanted me to keep him away from you.”

I smirk at her. For a second I want to beat her over the head. What
she did last night made me so mad, but Ryan’s here now. Things got past that horrible spot where we were stuck, and I ha
ve
her to thank for it. Ryan watches me and I feel self-
conscious
. “Maybe it was a stupid plan.”

“Maybe?”
She lifts a brow and folds her arms.

“What happened with you and Matt?” I ask, looking around to see who she’s here with.

She smiles at me, “
Enough. I’m following my path, Holly. I’m glad you finally get to do the same. You two look great together.” She smiles at us and shakes her head. She turns to walk away, saying over her shoulder, “I’ll call you later. I want ever
y
detail.”

Ryan’s face flushes as he looks at me. “You guys don’t really do that, do you?”

“Do what?”

“Tell each other ever
ything. I mean, not
everything
,
right?” Ryan squirms in his seat for a moment.

I lean forward on my elbows. “Why would it matter? I only have good things to say about you. Good, big things.
Huge things.”
I start laughing.

The rest of the day passes and it’
s perfect. At night when Ryan
has to leave, I don’t want him to. We sit at my parent’s house watching TV.
The Christmas tree is the only light in the room.
It’s
soft lights twinkle like little stars.

I snuggle into Ryan’s
chest, listening to his heartbeat. His arms are
warm as they wrap around me. I lift my chin slightly and press a kiss to his neck. I feel his smooth skin slide beneath my mouth and
we
kiss again. Ryan stills and then his arms wrap around me tighter. I trail hot kisses across his neck and down to his collarbone. I want to do the other side, so I shift and swing my leg over his lap. His hands fall to my waist as I press my mouth to his neck again and again. He melts back into the couch and I melt with him. My parents are asleep, but I don’t want to get caught.

I continue to kiss his neck and then his face, teasing his jaw with my lips, nipping him as I kiss my way across his face. My body responds to
straddling
him and all the hot kisses. I feel Ryan become hard beneath me. My bare skin is on top of his jeans.
I’m not wearing panties. I tilt my hips and rub against him, driving us both crazy. I lean in and kiss his lips and his arms close around me. His hand moves under my sweater and palms my breast. They ache for his touch,
straining
against the
satin
. H
is thumb strokes my nipple and
it’s all I can do to stay quiet.
We kiss like that, his hand on my
soft flesh
and me moving my hips against his lap, until his other hand slips beneath my skirt. I want him so much. I let him do what he wants. His fingers pet me gently and then harder. I bite my lip to keep from calling his name, even though I want to scream and pound into him until I’m seeing spots.

I reach down
between us
and unzip his pants
, freeing his e
rection from his jeans
.
Ryan shakes his head,
but I say yes. He barely manages to say, “Get the condom from my pocket.” I pull it out and tear the wrapper open, putting it on him. I move quickly. The more I touch him, the more I want him.

I lift my bottom above his hard length and rock slowly, moving in small circles until he pushes into me. His hands go back to my breasts, his fingers teasing me as I ride him. We tease and kiss and touch, until I can’t stand it anymore. I buck my hips faster and faster, as he pulls me down, holding me in place as I ride him. I arch my back wanting to scream as I shatter, but I hold it back.

Exhausted, I lean into his chest. Ryan kisses my head and I feel his arms wrap around me. Although we were quiet, I hear his heart pounding
in his chest and his ragged breath. Reluctantly, I slip off his lap. I mean to stop, to go back to watching the movie, but we can’t. Soon his hands are on me and it happens again, but this time Ryan is on top of me. He wears his jeans as he
lays
on top of me on the couch, pushing into me over and over again. He breathes my name as he comes and my body reacts, climaxing with him.

Ryan leaves a few hours later. I’m sore, but I can’t stop smiling. I’ve never been so happy in my life.

_
___
_

Day and night, Ryan’s with me, inside of me, pleasuring me in every way possible. I feel like a slut, constantly wanting him, but I leave so soon that it seems right. Wearing
skirts and garters becom
es a habit. I can have him when
ever we can steal a second, and we steal several. On my birthday, he
takes me out to eat and treats me to gifts, candies, and sex all day long. Christmas Day arrives and I want him again. I lay in his arms, in his dorm room that night. I sleep in his bed, inhaling his scent, wishing this didn’t have to end.

A week passes like this, and with each passing day I grow more frantic. I feel more for him than I thought I did. When it comes time to get on the plane, I don’t want to leave, but I have to. No one changes their college plans for a guy. Like it or not, Ryan is temporary. Our
relationship
isn’t meant it last, it
’s like a falling star
streaking across the sky. It flames bright because it’s burning out. But I
don’t feel that way when I’m at the airport. I throw my arms around my parents and take my bags. Daddy helps me inside, where Ryan stands with me on line
until I board. My parents leave us
and it’s just me and Ryan. There’s a lump in my throat that won’t go away. We talk about nothing, both of us dreading each step I take closer to the check-in counter.

After they take my
new
bags, I head toward security, where Ryan can’t follow. Before I get in line he says, “I never dreamed
that
this would happen, and I can’t tell you how happy I am that it did.” He throws his arms around me and holds on tight.

I feel myself falling apart. I nod. “Things felt right with you. I’m glad it happened to. I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present. I’m just,”
my voice cracks. I swallow and pull away, wiping the corner of my eye so the tear won’t fall. “I’ll miss you.”

He nods.
“Same here.”

I stare at him. I feel the words in my mouth, but I’m not brave enough to say them.
I love you.
I know I do, but I’m silent. Ryan kisses me again and I turn to walk through security alone.

I manage to hold myself together until we board the plane. After that, I’m a mess of snot and tears. The person next to me asks if I’m all right. I say yes.
That I just miss someone.
She talks about long distance relationships and says it’ll work out, but I feel like something inside of me died. I can’t breathe. I lean my face against the
Plexiglas
window and stare, letting the tears fall as they wish. Eventually, they stop and the plane
lands in Dallas/ Ft. Worth. I gather my things and rub my eyes with the back of my hand, thankful that no one is picking me up. I’m sure my eyes are bright red and whatever makeup I was wearing this morning is
now
glued to the window.

Looking down, I exit the plane and walk into the concourse. I throw my backpack over my shoulder
s and walk toward the baggage claim.
I sit down on a chair in front
of the silver
carousel
and breathe.

I should have told him that I love him. I should have said it and now I can’t. Part of me thinks that it makes no difference, I still would have left. It still would have sucked. My heart feels like it’s been
impaled
on the jet wing. I can’t speak.
I stare blankly, ignoring the bustling of people around me.

The
carousel
buzzes and the orange light starts to flash. I look up and
a pair of blue eyes meets
mine. I stare, thinking that I’m
hallucinating
when I see him. Ryan is sitting across from me, his eyes
locked
on my face. He stands and walks to me.

He doesn’t smile. There’s
a backpack over his shoulder.
“Hey
,
Connelly.”

“Hey,” I say, standing because he is. “What are you doing here?” I can’t piece it together. I still can’t believe he’s real. I reach out and pinch his wrist.

“Ouch,” he says and grins at me, shaking his head. “
Why do you always think you’re dreaming?
This is real. I’m
really
here. I followed you. I grabbed another flight and hoped to God that we’d land before you did. I
forgot to tell you something. It was kind of important.” He looks up at me from under his lashes.

My stomach falls into my sh
oes as I stare at him. “What’d
you forget?”
I whisper, still shocked to see him.

Ryan
takes my face in his hands and says, “I wanted to tell you that I love you. I love you Holly Connelly. I love everything about you an
d I’m not ready to let you go.”
His eyes are liquid blue. They search mine for a moment.

I find my voice, “I love you
,
too.” A smile slowly breaks across my face and tears stream from my eyes. “You followed me to Texas?” He nods. “You’re really staying?”

“As long as you’ll have me.
I transferred. It was the fastest transfer they ever did. The admissions guy,
well, I owe him a fruit basket or something because I totally messed up his holiday. After we were together, and then your birthday, and Christmas, I just knew—I couldn’t leave you.
He got me transferred in a few days. I have to sign some papers when I arrive, other than that, it’s a done deal.
I wanted to follow the path and see where it leads. So far it leads to Texas.”

“You transferred?” He nods
, I think
. I can’t see a damn thing. My eyes
are a
shower tears
. They stream
down my cheeks. It’s like a little river. I laugh-sob and pull him in
to
my arms. He hugs me back and spins me around the way he did that day in the snow. I find his lips and
pour my heart and soul into that kiss.

When Ryan
pulls away, he breathes, “You really love me.”

“I love you.
Now and always.”

SNEAK PEAK

Enjoy
a free sample of the bestselling
new adult romance
series:

SECRETS

PROLOGUE

Everyone has a secret
.

Some people will do an
ything to protect it
.

~

I’m practically giddy with excitement as that dream is within grasp. I’m sitting across from Sophia
Sottero
. She’s an amazing wedding photographer for the affluent families of New York. In a nutshell, she is
everything I want to be, and meeting her in the flesh is so overwhelming I can barely contain myself. I try not to squirm in my seat as her gaze slides over my resume.

Sophia is in her early forties with jet-black hair that is smoothed into a neat chignon at the base of her neck. A slender, black suit showcases her figure perfectly and makes her look regal at the same time. I hold my hands in my lap, trying hard not to fidget. The smile that lines my lips is making my face hurt, but I can’t stop. A tiny voice inside my mind squeals with excitement.

Sophia glances up at me, “Tell me, Miss
Lamore
, why do you want to work at
Sottero
?”

Beaming, I reply, “
Sottero
is the most prestigious photography studio in New York City. The style your shooters attain is breathtaking.” My hand clutches my racing heart. It’s true. And with every fiber of my being I want to learn what she knows. “Everything about your studio makes me want to be a part of it. It’s not only the soaring reputation, but also what you do for each and every bride who comes here.”

“And what is that?”

“You make them feel like the most beautiful woman alive. For that entire day, each bride knows she’s flawless. You don’t just give them photographs, Ms.
Sottero
,
you capture their dreams and freeze them in time. It takes heart and skill to do
something like that, which is why I would love to have my internship here.”

Sophia’s gaze lowers to my resume as I’m speaking. When I’m done talking, her dark eyes lift to meet mine, “May I ask where else you applied?”

Normally I would figure out a way to dodge that question, but I want this job so much. I smile calmly and tell the truth, “Couture and Le Femme.”

A dark brow lifts when I say Le Femme. She places my papers on her desk and leans forward, “Le Femme?
Really?
What on earth made you apply there?”

“The University requires a minimum of three interviews, and we are supposed to diversify the positions
we are looking at. They think it gives us a better footing post-graduation.” I practiced this response before I came. Anyone who finds out that I have an interview at Le Femme won’t take me seriously. It’s
a blight
on a pristine resume and an excellent grade point average.

Sophia tilts her head, like that is the most ridiculous thing she’s ever heard. She points a perfectly manicured nail on the shiny desktop. “Listen, Anna. Let me do you a favor. I realize the kind of hoops you have to jump through to get your diploma, and the interview at Le Femme is just a waste of time. Cole Stevens is blight on the industry. His work is trash, and any aspiring young photographer should steer clear of him. I know it’s a
necessary evil, so I’ll tell you how to end the interview quick and easy. Go in there and act confident to the point of cocky. Wear something that you should never wear to an interview and they’ll show you the door before you even sit down…
Unless?”
She lets the question hang in the air.

“Unless what?”

“Unless you want to work for Cole Stevens,” Sophia says with distaste, as she leans back in her chair. Although she’s trying to hide it, Sophia’s become tense since we started talking about Le Femme. I can’t tell if she just hates what the studio does, or if it’s more personal than that. She watches me for a moment, taking in my reaction.

I visibly shudder when she suggests such a thing. “I have no intention of working for Cole Stevens, Ms.
Sottero
. That interview is a means to an end. I want the internship here with
Sottero
. I’ll be the best intern you’ve ever had because I want to be here.”

“It’s a dream?”

“It’s more than a dream,” I say leaning forward in my chair. “
Sottero
is the place where dreams and reality collide. And somehow you figured out how to capture those moments in photographs that are too stunning for words. Forgive me for being blunt, Ms.
Sottero
, but I admire your work, your studio, and everything you stand for. If I was given the opportunity to learn from you I know it would give
me a secure footing in a difficult industry.”

We speak for a little longer. I don’t fumble anything. Sophia appears to genuinely like me. As she walks me out, the older woman shakes my hand and says, “I think you’ll do well here, Miss
Lamore
. Contact me after your interview with Le Femme and we’ll see what we can work out.”

A grin spreads across my face. I shake her hand too long and too hard, but I don’t care. My dream job is sitting in the palm of my hand.
The only thing left to do is finish up with Le Femme to satisfy the University’s requirements and then I’ll have an internship at
Sottero
!