Christmas on Main Collection

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

ALLEGRA

I’m buzzing with excitement when I hang up the phone.

I turn from the register and wave at Aurora, who is recording more B-roll footage for one of her social media videos. Whereas once upon a time, I might have rolled my eyes at her antics, now I could kiss her. Hell, maybe I will later.

Said antics have paid off.

Once I have her attention, I proudly say, “We have a new buyer interested in the place.”

“Oh. That’s cool.”

She goes back to work and my eyebrows shoot up. “Don’t you want to know more about them?”

“Sure. Fine.” She lowers her phone and gives me her attention. “Tell me about the buyer.”

“He’s overseas but headed to the U.S. for the holidays.” I all but bounce on the heels of my feet as I race to tell her every detail. I’ve gathered. “I guess he works with those really elaborate Christmas Markets they have in Germany. I’m not totally sure. The line wasn’t very clear. But he’s interested in our store and willing to pay twenty percent above the best offer we’ve had. And in cash.”

I can’t believe it. We’re only halfway through our holiday season, and we’ve already landed a prospect bigger than we could have imagined.

“Oh. Nice.” Aurora raises her phone again.

“Oh, nice?” I frown. “Is that all you have to say?”

“Sorry. I must be in shock. That’s just a lot to wrap my head around. Especially with this season still in progress and whatnot.”

“Oh, sure. That makes sense.” My annoyance disappears almost as quickly as it formed. “You’re probably thinking about your next promo video right?”

“Something like that.”

“I totally understand. I get that way sometimes about my spreadsheets.” I tap my fingers on the counters, waiting to see if she’ll have anything to add. When she doesn’t, I say, “Well, we don’t have to decide anything today. But it’s exciting.”

“Yeah. Exciting.”

I sigh, wishing she was less distracted by work and more eager to celebrate with me. Because I feel like celebrating.

In the six-ish weeks we’ve owned Christmas on Main, Aurora’s marketing skills and my business savvy have helped us increase profits and garner the buyer interest we wanted. We should celebrate our achievements.

But when she shows no more signs of wanting to discuss the buyer, let alone celebrate, I glance at the door to the storeroom. Which leads to the door to the alley.

And a certain Christmas tree farmer who is always quick to offer me a piece of warm Kringle or a cocktail after we all wrap up our work days. Who needs a bar when I have Van and his well-stocked camper around the corner?

Van and his firm yet gentle lips that know just how to tempt mine the handful of times we’ve kissed since the day after Thanksgiving. And that’s to say nothing for those rough, work-hardened hands of his that know exactly what they’re doing.

Need pools in my core, and I clench my thighs together. I may have been limiting our interactions to kisses, but there’s no denying it. He wants more. And, well, so do I.

And maybe what Van has to offer is exactly what I need right now. Just to release some of this pent-up energy and excitement.

Is there any better way to celebrate an upcoming business deal than with an orgasm or two?

“So, it’s almost eight.” I moisten my lips. “How about we close a little early?”

Aurora glances up in surprise. “You want to close early?”

“Yeah, it’s dead. We both have things to do, right?” Or, in my case, a person to do. I nearly burst out laughing. I am such a nerd.

“Yeah.” Aurora nods. “Things to do.”

I flip over the OPEN sign and lock the door. I remove the cash from the register and stash it in the safe. I still need to count it, but that can wait till the morning. It’s not like the bank in this small town is open right now for me to make our deposit.

Taking a deep breath, I give my hair a quick fluff and march out the back door, through the alley, and across the lot. Van has already turned off the strings of Christmas lights, signaling he’s closed for business.

And open for me.

My body already tingling with anticipation, I knock firmly on the door. He opens it with a waiting grin and cocktail. Another Nuts and Berries tall and on ice, the way I like it. The sound of his customary Christmas music is in the air.

“Someone finished up work early,” he says.

“Put that down.”

His expression sobers and he does as requested, stepping back as I climb up into the camper. “Is everything okay? Can I do something to help?”

“Yes.” I square my shoulders. “I want you to kiss me.”

His grin is back and he moves closer. “I can do that.”

Van pulls me into his arms and rests a hand low on my back. So low, his fingers brush over my derrière. A fresh ripple of desire runs through me and I eagerly greet his mouth. He groans low in his throat in that sexy way of his, further stoking the need that has been steadily growing for him from the moment he pulled his flatbed of trees into our parking lot.

Tearing his mouth from mine, he traces smoldering kisses down my throat as one hand molds to the side of my breasts and the other pulls me closer. So close I can feel the evidence of his desire pressed squarely against mine.

He wants me.

He’s made that perfectly clear.

I want him.

And I’m tired of fighting the desire I know he can give.

I slide a hand over his chest and press my hips even harder against him. Leaving no question as to my growing need for him.

He groans again and reluctantly lifts his head, clutching both of my hips in his firm hands to hold still. “That’ll be enough of that.”

I lean forward to kiss his neck. “It doesn’t have to be.”

He freezes. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I want to do more than share a drink or food tonight.” I scrape my teeth along his jaw and he shivers. “I want you. In bed.”

After he stands frozen for a moment, I start to pull back. Did I possibly misread the signals he’s been sending me? Did I misunderstand his invitation?

Before I can ask, his mouth is back on mine and his hands are sliding under the hem of my knit shirt.

“Finally,” he murmurs against my chest after he pulls my top off and presses his lips on the swell of my breasts. “I thought I might burst if we didn’t do this soon.”

Not wanting to miss out on my own explorations, I unbutton his flannel shirt and push it over his shoulders. Letting it fall to the floor, I run my hands over his shoulders, tracing the well-defined muscles.

If there was ever any doubt that he makes his living tending hillsides of trees, here’s the evidence to the contrary. I press my tongue to the dip at the bottom of his neck and he hisses in approval.

Still feasting on the side of my neck and palming my breasts in his hands, Van walks me through the short length of the camper and into the only part I haven’t seen. The small bedroom. I’m too distracted by my efforts and his to notice anything except that the bed is surprisingly comfortable as he eases me back onto it.

I pull him down with me, savoring his weight as it presses me into the mattress. Allowing me to fully appreciate the strength in his form.

He lifts himself up onto his arms and I start to protest. Then I catch the affection on his face as he grins down at me.

Brushing the hair away from my face, his lips curve up. “You, Allegra St. Clair, are really something.”

Before I can answer he drops his head to my chest and takes one of my nipples into his mouth. I cry out at the sudden wave of pleasure that rushes over me. My body buckles up, once again pressing my hips up against his.

Lowering his body back to mine he pushes back. Our hips rock back and forth against each other, imitating the act we both so clearly want to do.

His denim-covered cock presses my core, making me even wetter and wilder for him.

While I’d love nothing more than to have him taste every inch of my body and to return the favor, I don’t think I can wait that long. Not when my dripping pussy is already screaming to have his cock inside of me.

Sliding my fingers into his dark hair, I tug until he lifts his head, a question in his eye.

“We can take things more slowly later.” I rub my lips together. “But I need you inside of me. Now.”

His eyebrows lift, but his grin is back. “Fortunately for you, I’m in the mood to take orders tonight. At least where you’re concerned.”

We kick off our jeans and after a quick search for the condom in his wallet, I roll the latex down his impressive length and sigh with satisfaction. I’m going to enjoy exploring that particular part of his body more later.

But now I need him to fuck me.

Bending my knees and lifting my hips, I greet Van as he thrusts into me. I cry out and he freezes.

“Are you okay?”

I nod even as I take a couple of gasps of breath. I’m not sure I’ve ever been filled so completely. I don’t want him to stop.

I dig my fingers into his back and raise my hips again, urging him on. Lowering his forehead to mine, Van moves inside of me. Angling his hips and lifting one of my knees until he finds that sweet spot inside of me.

“Right there.” I clench my eyes shut and bite my lip. “Van. Right there.”

He hits my G-Spot with his cock again and again, until I have no choice but to surrender to the ecstasy taking over my body. I clench around Van’s cock, pulling him over the edge along with me.

After, still thrumming with pulsating pleasure, I curl up next to Van. He pulls me close so my head is resting on his chest. His racing heart pounds against my ear. It’s nowhere close to keeping beat with the Christmas music still playing in the air.

“You really do love your Christmas music.” I stroke the hair on his chest. “Don’t you?”

“If you’re still thinking about the music, then I haven’t done my job.” When I jab his chest, he chuckles and turns his head to look at me. “My mom made the playlist for me a few years ago.”

“So your mother shares your affinity for all things Christmas?”

“She did.” I catch the past tense and my hand stills. “It’s not surprising, considering she grew up on a Christmas tree farm.”

I hold my breath, allowing him the time and space he needs to continue his story. He makes roving circles on my back as he seems to consider his next words.

“She was sick for a while. It gave her time to get her affairs in order.” He swallows hard. “The farm. The playlist. Other things.”

“It sounds like she loved you a lot.”

“She did. And she never wasted a chance to let the people she loved know it.” He clears his throat and presses his lips to my forehead. “Of course, I’m sure she never planned for her playlist to be used as a seduction tool.”

Sensing his desire to change the subject, and understanding the need, I play along. I arch an eyebrow even as an ache of sympathy for him lingers in my chest. “You think you’re the one who seduced me?”

“Didn’t I?”

“Aren’t you forgetting I’m the one who showed up at your door demanding sex?”

“How could I forget?” He trails kisses down my cheek and across the line of my jaw. Down my neck and lower. His lips curve into a grin on my chest. “You came to my door demanding sex. Just like I planned.”