The Santa Accident Read online

  Cole groaned as he tucked his arms around her and pulled her beneath him. Settling his hips between her thighs, his body fit perfectly with hers. The fiery touch of his fingers excited her as he slipped them under her sweatshirt, finding her naked flesh. A thrill of desire swept from his fingertips to her center. She worked his shirt up over his head, exposing his lightly furred chest. While he balanced on his elbows and rained kisses on her face, she traced the thin trail of hair from the center of his chest down his ridged abs until it disappeared into the waistband of his loose jeans.

  “God, I’ve wanted you since the day Chris ran into to you.” Cole punctuated his words with kisses and nibbled along her throat. He took her earlobe between his teeth and nipped, then soothed the sting with his tongue.

  Ivy sighed, the exhalation a soft benediction, a blessing of their closeness. “I knew when you met Rudy the snake for the first time you were the man of my dreams.”

  He lifted his chest away from her and stared down. “I screamed like a little girl. That’s the kind of man you dreamed of?” His lips trembled with the effort to keep from smiling, but nothing could stop the grin from reaching his eyes.

  “It wasn’t that you were afraid of the snake. It was that you jumped in and helped me without being asked.” She traced his lips, felling the quiver in her fingertips. “You saw I needed help and came to my rescue.”

  “You could have done it alone. You’d have been fine.” He opened his mouth and drew her pointer finger between his lips, laving circles around the tip.

  A steady thrum beat between her legs, and she arched her hips to cradle him more closely against the throbbing nub of her clit. “I could have, but teamwork makes the dream work.”

  She pulled his head down and thrust her tongue into his mouth. With his elbows surrounding her head, he swept the hair from her forehead and kissed her back. The touch of his lips drove her mad with need. Her entire body strained toward him, wanting him inside her.

  Squirming her hands between their bodies, she reached for the hem of her shirt and then tugged it over her head. Cole’s fingers pinched her spine as he released the clasp of her lacy purple bra.

  Heat sizzled along her nerve endings, and lights flashed behind her eyes when he dropped his head and claimed her nipple, sucking and drawing the nub deeper into the wet, warm cavern of his mouth. She arched her back, offering more to his hot mouth. He molded the flesh of her breast, plumping it up and licking circles on the sensitive flesh.

  “Cole, please,” she begged. She reached for the button on his jeans, her fingers trailing along the hard ridge behind his zipper. God, she needed him. Needed his body buried in her, moving within her sheath.

  He grabbed her wrist and stilled her questing fingers. “Hang on.” He groaned as he struggled up off her, but in the blink of an eye, he’d stripped off his jeans and briefs.

  Ivy licked her lips as he stood before her, his arousal jutting away from his sleek abs, a nest of dark hair framing the large cock.

  He didn’t let her look long. And he jerked away when she tried to touch. Instead, he found the elastic waist of her yoga pants and skimmed them down her legs. He trailed his fingers back up her thighs, skating them over the scrap of pink and purple lace around her hips, dipping his thumbs down to caress her clit through the silky fabric. Erotic shivers claimed her body. Cole tucked his fingers under the lacy edge and dragged the panties down. He worked them over her ankles then cast them aside.

  Ivy bent her knees and spread her legs wantonly, inviting him back to the comfortable cradle.

  Cole stared and drew a deep breath as he threaded his fingers through her springy curls, past the highly alert nub and tested her readiness. “Condom,” he grunted, pulling his hand back.

  She immediately missed the warmth, the carnal touch of his fingers, but reveled in the sight of him rolling the latex shield down his shaft.

  She scooted farther down on the cushions and widened her legs. She welcomed his weight when Cole settled once again between her thighs. His cock prodded her entrance and she lifted her hips, welcoming him in.

  A sense of fullness so complete enveloped her as he slid home. Stretching to accommodate his girth, she sighed out a breath. He pulled back, and started over, the slow, easy thrusts sparking the nerve endings in her channel. Tingles flew up her spine, cresting over her head in a spectacularly charged manner and her breath shortened along with Cole’s. Each thrust heightened in pace and power until erotic electricity consumed her.

  A perfect wave crashed over her, and a kaleidoscope of colors flared in her head as she tumbled headlong into a sea of sensory overload. Cole stilled between her legs, waiting until the undulating threads of her orgasm calmed, then pushed her again, igniting more sparks until they came together a final time. A keening cry of desire erupted from her throat and he captured the sound with his lips, then rode the wave of their mutual orgasm, panting softly into her ear.

  As she floated on the cloud of satisfaction, Ivy traced each indent of his spine down to the dip at his hips. She flexed her fingers into his sleek butt cheeks, causing him to flex his hips into hers, seating himself deeper inside her.

  She closed her eyes and enjoyed the weight of him on her body, the fullness of him inside her, the dampness between their skin, the residual tingles still coursing through her.

  “That was perfect,” she whispered. “A gift like no other.”

  Cole lifted onto his elbows and grinned at her as he tucked a strand of her mussed hair behind her ear. He kissed her cheek and his breath tickled as he laughed. “Tis the season.”

  Ivy found the edge of the quilt and dragged it up around their bodies. She yawned as Cole shifted off her. He left for a minute and she heard water running in the bathroom, but didn’t open her eyes, enjoying the floating feelings. A cool hint of air kissed her body when he returned to the couch, lifted the quilt, and slid back onto the cushions next to her.

  He settled on his back, pulled her languid form over his chest, and wrapped his arms around her. “I could stay here forever,” he murmured against her hair.

  “Forever sounds like a great idea.” She snuggled closer and gave in to sleep.

  Sixteen

  The insistent ringing of Ivy’s phone woke Cole from his sound slumber. Her soft body had pressed to his all night, and though the sofa was cramped with the two of them nestled together on it, he hadn’t minded a bit.

  “Ivy,” he whispered as the phone continued to ring. He lifted his head to look around, hoping to locate the phone.

  “Mm,” she muttered, shifting against him, throwing a leg over his thigh.

  The ringing stopped and he settled his head back on the scratchy pillow and tightened an arm around her body, while he skimmed his other hand down her bicep, dipping under the covers to tweak her breast.

  “Mmm,” she cooed sleepily, lifting her hand to the stubble on his jaw. The phone rang again, and this time, Ivy groaned. “Nooo, this is too good to interrupt.”

  Cole lifted his head again and spied the phone resting on the coffee table. He groped for it, snagged the offensive device, and handed it to Ivy.

  She peered at the screen, then sat up quickly. Cole half-slid off the couch with her sharp movement.

  “Good morning, Chris,” she said as she answered. She arched a brow toward Cole. “Yes, he’s right here.”

  Without a word, she handed him the phone. He sat up and allowed Ivy to tuck the quilt around them. “Chris? What’s up? Are you okay?”

  “We’re fine. Lavinia worried when you didn’t come out for breakfast this morning. So I checked your room. Old habits die hard, I guess.” Despite the rebuke, there was a chuckle in Chris’s voice.

  “I’m just grateful you never cut down that tree outside my window.” Cole scrubbed his hand over his jaw, wincing at the coarse growth darkening his cheeks. “I suppose this puts me back on the naughty list.”

  Ivy snorted and reached for the sweatshirt he’d stripped off her last night. Her laug
h was muted in the fabric as she pulled it over her head.

  “Lavinia said you can get off the list by bringing that nice Ivy over for breakfast.”

  Cole rolled his eyes and mouthed breakfast with my family at Ivy.

  She nodded. “I’ll need at least an hour.”

  “We’ll be there in ninety minutes, if that works.” In the background he heard Lavinia’s delighted shriek. He thought he could make out her words, claiming she’d told them all.

  Cole disconnected and handed the phone back to Ivy. He looked at her with concern. “You’ll have to meet my mother.” A shiver speared down his spine.

  “I look forward to it,” She touched his hand, wrapping her fingers around his and giving a squeeze.

  His laugh was harsh. “I hope you won’t eat those words.”

  Ivy found her panties and struggled to pull them on under the quilt. Finally, she gave up. “I’m going to shower. There’s coffee in the cabinet next to the sink. Will you put on a pot? We could probably both use some.”

  He nodded and gave a tight smile. “Extra strong.”

  Ivy stood, dragging the quilt with her, but plopped back onto his lap, wrapping her arms around him. “It will be okay,” she said, kissing his lips between each word.

  He hugged her tight, finding her positive spirit infectious. He smoothed her hair and then tucked a finger under her chin. “You want company in the shower? I can make coffee later.”

  A brilliant smile lit her face. “Last one in is a lump of coal.” She scampered off his lap and raced toward the bath, wearing just her sweatshirt. Her bare bottom bounced enticingly. Cole’s body was already responding, his dick lengthening and growing hard as he chased after her.

  After their lovemaking in the shower, he’d turned quiet while Ivy soaped his back. The texture of his sleek, wet muscles was a delight to her fingertips. And while he massaged shampoo into her scalp, she pressed her front against his chest, relishing the heat from his muscles and from the spray of steamy water.

  Cole remained quiet while they got ready. Ivy dressed carefully, knowing this breakfast was important to Cole. To her surprise, she started playing a holiday music station on Pandora while she picked out her outfit: skinny black jeans, and emerald colored sweater and thigh-high black boots. With her bright cobalt peacoat, she was a study in color, some of it Christmas-like.

  To-go mugs in hand, they left the apartment an hour later. Cole fiddled with the radio as she backed out of her parking spot. Once she was in gear, she brushed his hand away and tuned the dial to a station dedicated to Christmas music. And okay, it was country Christmas, but she didn’t mind.

  “You don’t have to listen to this,” Cole said as he took her hand in his.

  “Suddenly, I don’t mind. I think you and Chris and Lavinia, and your fixation on Christmas might be rubbing off on me.”

  She felt his speculative gaze on her and spared him a look before refocusing on traffic. “What?” she asked.

  “I liked you before, but now? It’s so much more. That said, I’m sorry if you feel like you’re drinking the Christmas punch.”

  She laughed. “Is that like drinking the Kool-Aid? Because if it is, you should know I like sugary drinks.”

  He squeezed her fingers. “Chris is going to be delighted that he has a new convert to his ‘fantasy’.”

  “It’s weird,” she commented as she navigated around a corner. “I never loved this holiday, even before I started working at the mall. But now, I find I’m enjoying the magic. Hell, I might even have to go buy a Christmas sweater. Do you suppose that’s because I’m quitting, which means I can embrace the holiday like a normal person?”

  Cole rested his palm on her shoulder. “Nope. I think your change in attitude is because of the influence of my family.”

  “Anything is possible.”

  She pulled up to the sidewalk behind Cole’s truck, and shoved the gearshift into Park. But she didn’t kill the ignition. Instead, with Rascal Flatts crooning about being home for Christmas, she stared at the house, surprised to feel warm and toasty at the sight of the tree that blazed with tiny white lights in the front window. She was even more surprised to find herself humming along to the carol playing on the radio.

  She grinned at Cole, who responded by leaning over the console and planting his mouth on hers, taking her into a searing, loving embrace. And she returned the kiss with all the emotion growing within her.

  Cole drew away, kissed her again, and then sat back, staring at the house where he’d grown up. “Ready?’

  The curtains twitched in the window. Whether she was ready or not, the time had come. She’d already met the people who’d shaped this magnetic, wonderful man sitting in her car, with the rumpled bumper.

  Now it was time to meet the woman who’d given him life.

  Nerves twinged under her skin and her belly knotted. She took a deep breath. None of that mattered, because Cole was who he was. And the blooming heat in her chest was proof that she was his. The warmth expanded, enveloping her entire being as she gazed at him. She was his, and she believed that come what may, he, and the entire fantasy of Christmas, were hers.

  “Ready!” She switched off the car, with emotion buoying through her, and opened the door.

  She met Cole on the walk and hand-in-hand, they strolled up the front steps and into her future.

  Seventeen

  “You’re Ivy.” Cole’s mother, Holly, stuck her hand out as soon as Ivy had removed her coat.

  With an inborn graciousness, Ivy took his mother’s hand and greeted her with warmth and compassion. “Welcome home.”

  Not greeting his mother, Cole turned aside and hung their coats in the tiny closet by the front door. The smell of bacon and pancakes made his mouth water. The hominess of the moment was ruined by his mom’s nervous laughter.

  Lavinia stood to the side of the tree, a tiny smile on her face as she watched the interaction between Holly and Ivy. The smile vanished as Cole approached her.

  “Sorry if I worried you,” Cole said.

  Lavinia hugged him fiercely. “You’re too old to be sneaking out your second story window in the dead of night.”

  “I’m also too old to be grounded, but that didn’t stop Chris.”

  “He had your best interests at heart. You and your mother need to heal.”

  As he watched Ivy chatting and smiling with his mom and Chris, it occurred to Cole that perhaps Ivy was necessary to his healing as well. Since the day he’d met her, his spirits had been lighter, his laughter quicker, and his annoyance with his mother, outside of her initial surprise appearance, had all but vanished.

  It was as though Ivy was the part of the puzzle his life had been missing, that final piece that completed the picture of his world. A world made brighter by this attractive, funny, giving woman. A woman who’d followed her own path. A woman he was in love with.

  He’d have fallen to his knees if Lavinia hadn’t chosen that exact instant to lead him to the kitchen.

  She was nattering on about setting the table. “I’ve made the cranberry-orange pancakes you love. Do you think Ivy will like them? I know Holly does. It was her special request. Apparently, the cooks at the prison didn’t have a clue about the right amount of orange extract to use.”

  Cole glanced over his shoulder to find Ivy smiling at him. “Ivy will love them.”

  They passed through the doorway and Lavinia turned into a whirling dervish of activity, her fast movements all but blurring before his eyes. “Will you finish setting the table? Use the snowmen napkins and the good silver. Your mom already put out the china.”

  Cole’s good mood couldn’t be spoiled even though Lavinia had called Holly his mom. Although he would always look at his great-aunt as a mother figure, maybe he and the woman who’d given him life could heal.

  He moved around the dark mahogany table, laying napkins and cutlery at each place. A lot of memories had been made at this table. Every holiday had been celebrated here since he’d m
oved in with his aunt and uncle. There’d always been warmth, welcome, and friends. He paused behind Chris’s chair, and laid his hand on the wooden back as a long-forgotten event assailed him. One year, he must have been about fifteen, it had just been Chris, Lavinia and Cole. Lavinia insisted on eating in the formal dining room, as a part of the tradition.

  Conversation that day had revolved around the true meaning of Christmas, and the role Chris played. Cole’s friends had long believed that Chris was the real Santa come to life, because whenever they came over, Chris had the perfect gift for them. Kind of like when they’d first met the Board of the Alpine Club at the new building. Chris hadn’t shown up empty handed. And though Ivy wasn’t meant to be there, he’d even had a present for her, one she’d declared wonderful.

  The snow globes on display in the china hutch drew his attention, and he moved across the room. The latch creaked as he opened the glass-fronted door and stroked his fingers over the mish-mash collection. One for every year he’d lived with Chris and Lavinia. Some small, some large, but every single one of them a perfect depiction of his life at the point it was given to him.

  But wait! There was a new one he hadn’t seen before. One of a boy standing with a woman, a distinct distance between them. He plucked the globe from the hutch to study it closer.

  The lad resembled him, as the one in the globes always had. But the woman looked like his mother. The figure was gazing at the young boy with hope etched into her face, and the boy was smiling at her.

  His mother moved quietly in next to him. “Chris always had the perfect snow globe for all occasions, didn’t he?” She reached out and took the globe from him. The smile she turned on him echoed the one on the boy trapped inside the liquid, with fake snow drifting around him. “This is meant to be us. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for being such a terrible mother. I’m not sure I can forgive myself. I’ve missed so much of your life.”