Christmas With Kris Kringle

Chapter 16

“If you were me, would you get my wife a vacuum or jewelry for Christmas?” Tyler asked between forkfuls of fried rice.

“It depends on the woman. I know some women go up for household appliances. They don’t want a cashmere sweater or diamonds, they’re looking for the fridge with a touch screen tablet in the door.”

“I’m just trying to get her something that has her acting like a ho, ho, ho, on Christmas.”

“You’re looking for the gift that keeps on giving.”

“Hopefully she’s giving me some head,” he whispered, and we both erupted into laughter. “You know you’re always welcome at our house for Christmas dinner.”

“I appreciate it, but I’m heading home.”

“Good, more turkey for me. After the holidays we’ll for sure have to link up.”

I sucked in air through my teeth. “I may have to get a raincheck on that.”

“Why?”

I pushed my half empty tray aside. “I’m heading to Los Angeles in January for work.”

“I’m jealous. You won’t have to deal with all this snow. I swear I shovel my drive and the next morning it’s all back like I’d didn’t do shit. How long are you gone for?”

“A couple months, maybe more.”

Sharing this information with Tyler was probably a mistake when I hadn’t discussed my impending business trip with Belen yet. I planned to tell her it just never felt like the right time. Hey chill, chill. I can sense you calling me everything but a child of God right now. Do you think I planned this? Falling for Belen was a total surprise … a pleasant surprise. What was I supposed to do, ignore the obvious attraction?

There was never really a right time to bring up LA and I never expected we’d get along this well. This was the twenty-first century, long-distance relationships were not as difficult with video chat, text messages, and frequent flier miles. My stint in California would be a blip in our relationship, something we’d look back at and laugh about in the near future.

The few times I’d tried to tell her, she’d do something to distract me like touch me or breathe and then my whole train of thought got derailed. First, I needed to get her to agree to Canada, then we could discuss California. I was tempted to encourage her to quit her job and just move with me, but I knew she would never agree to it. Maybe if we’d known each other for longer than twenty-three days, she’d be down. But Belen Goodwin was not going to uproot her life for anyone, especially a man.

This California trip was bad timing, but I made a commitment to build a youth center focused on STEM. My yearlong sabbatical was coming to an end, and I’d thought long and hard about what I wanted to do next. I landed on giving back and building a STEM center in Inglewood. I hoped it would be the first of many. But that meant securing a property we could renovate and gathering support from residents with money to invest in the community. A project of this magnitude would require in-person meetings with neighboring schools and educators.

My project manager projected a possible grand opening in a year’s time, but to accomplish that I needed to be hands on. That meant boots on the ground to ensure we didn’t get slowed down by red tape. The first few months of this project would be some of the most critical, I couldn’t back out. But it was only a few months and the way Belen had me feeling, I was willing to find ways to make this work. I just hope she wanted that too.

“Hey can you do me a favor and promise me you will not mention California to Belen?”

“What do I look like, a rookie? I am well versed in the code of brotherhood. Anything you tell me gets locked away in a steel vault.”

“Appreciate it.” We bumped fist.

“Why is it such a big secret?” Tyler asked as we collected our trash.

“It’s not. I just want to tell her in my own time.”

“When I have to break bad news to my old lady, I buy her something nice first. A little sugar to make the medicine go down. Belen, here’s a new designer handbag. Oh by the way I’m abandoning you to go to the City of Angels for the next few months. But the bag tho.” Tyler performed a poor imitation of my voice.

“I’m not abandoning her.”

“You practically begged her to be your girlfriend and now you’re jumping ship for an ocean view?”

“I’m not jumping ship. I enjoy the ship I’m on. It’s like a luxury yacht with all the amenities. And the view is spectacular. I never expected to meet the woman of my dreams at the local mall. Commitments were made prior to Belen being in my life and I have to see them through.”

“So when are you going to tell her?”

“Soon. I’m kind of running out of runway with the new year fast approaching. I just don’t want to spoil Christmas for her. She already hates the holiday season.”

Tyler’s eyebrows climbed his forehead. “Miss Deck the Halls hates Christmas?”

“Yep, she’s had some bad luck around the season of greetings and the last thing I want to do is give her another reason to cancel Christmas forever.”

“Word of advice, the longer you wait the worse it will be. You have to give her time to process the idea of a long distance relationship.”

“It’s not even long distance. I’d come home every Friday and some weekends she and her sister could take a flight to see me. This doesn’t have to be a relationship killer. It could actually be the start of a new adventure.” That last part was mostly for my benefit. I was a salesman and just needed to come at this temporary move from the right angle.

I sent Belen a text asking her and Celeste to come outside. A few moments later, Belen came bounding down the stairs of her third-floor apartment. Her face brightened when she caught sight of me.

“Where’s Celeste?” I asked.

“She went to the movies with a group from the center.”

“Why’d I have to come down? I thought we were going to watch Die Hard .”

“ Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie.” I scrunched my face in disdain.

“Yes, it is and the director confirmed it. It takes place during Christmas therefore it’s a holiday classic.”

“I guess I can’t contradict that logic.”

“Before Die Hard, I have a mini surprise for you.”

Belen narrowed her eyes. “I don’t like surprises.”

Kissing her on the top of her head, I reassured her, “You’ll like this one, trust me.” I took in a breath of air and then whistled loudly through my teeth. Belen looked at me like my nose was redder than Rudolph. “Wait for it.”

“For what exactly? It’s cold and I planned on giving you a mid-movie blow job.”

“I love intermission tongue play.” I bit my lip.

“I know you do. And I like it when you explo?—”

“Shh.” I held up a finger, silencing our conversation.

Belen leaned forward and listened to the faint chime of bells and the clop of heavy hoofs on the asphalt of her apartment parking lot. The bells and clops grew louder and were joined by carriage wheels. When the white horse came into view, Belen’s eyes took up half her face.

“Are you shitting me right now?”

“Nope, I thought we could take a carriage ride through the neighborhood.”

“Kris Kringle you are full of surprises.”

“Told you it was a good one.” The coachman tipped his page boy hat, signaling for us to join him in the backseat. I followed Belen up into the carriage and covered our legs with the plush blanket that was provided.

“All set?” the coachman asked.

“Yes, thank you.” The carriage lurched and then propelled forward. The coachman turned left, exiting the apartments. I’d given him a map of a nearby housing development in which we could ride with little to no traffic. Belen’s head was on a swivel as she took in her neighborhood with new eyes. Cars honked and pedestrians stopped and stared as we made our way down the street.

“How did you think of this?”

“It’s Christmas, horse-drawn carriages are kind of on theme.”

“I guess.” Her face sparked with excitement. “Maybe Pavilions could offer carriage rides next year. Of course, executive will make us charge but that could be a fun attraction to draw people to the mall.”

“You’re always working.”

“That’s because I never know when I’ll be inspired. Plus, we have to outdo ourselves each year. People want new ideas, and they crave nostalgia with a twist.”

“I like the way you think, Goodwin.”

“So you just woke up and decided to rent a carriage for the evening?”

“I woke up and thought how can I make Belen smile. And then I landed on this.”

“You did this all for me?”

“For you and Celeste.”

The corners of her mouth ticked upward and without notice I was rewarded with a kiss. The kind of kiss two people shared when they were alone or, at the very least drunk. A kiss that caused the world to wash away and made you feel like the main character. Belen’s lips were hungry, her tongue circling mine, her soft moans punctuating the bells attached to the horse’s reins.

When she released her claim on me, I was tipsy with lust. “I think it’s safe to say I’m in the running for boyfriend of the year.”

“There is no other competition. So I think you’re a shoe in.” She planted one last peck to my lips.

Cupping the side of her face, I caressed her soft cheek with my thumb. I pretended to give an acceptance speech. “First, I’d like to thank Belen Goodwin for believing in me and letting me love her …”

Belen turned her head, her eyes dropping to the floor of the carriage.

Undeterred, I continued. “I’ve never met a woman quite like you. You have an undeniable energy that surrounds you. You are a source of light that makes every moment brighter and far more intense. And you are the embodiment of goodness. Which probably explains your last name. These past few weeks have been the most joy filled and exciting weeks of my life because during that time I was falling in love with you.”

“Kris—”

“I know what you’re going to say. It’s too soon. How could I possibly know I’m in love with you? But I can assure you I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. Most people want to act nonchalant when it comes to their feelings, but I am the total opposite. Consider me King Chalant because I feel everything. And I’m obsessed with you.” Clearing my throat I clarified, “When I say obsessed, I mean in the I would drink your bath water type of way, not a boiling bunny’s type of way.”

“I wasn’t going to say any of that.”

“You weren’t?”

“No. I was going to say I know it’s real because I feel it too. And yes, normally I don’t toss around the word love this early on, but with you I’m willing to let go of the negative speak and just accept that love doesn’t have an appropriate waiting period. I love you Kristoff Kringle.” Belen released a stuttered breath. “And every day with you makes the multitude of reasons why clearer.”

Pulling her closer, I latched on to her lips. My heart rate spiked and the goose pimples pebbling the back of my neck were not from the cold gust of wind or steadily increasing snowfall. This was the Belen effect. She wreaked havoc on my nervous system with just one touch. Part of me wanted to tell the coachman to turn the buggy around. Pulling back, all we could do was smile. Belen leaned her head on my shoulder, and we enjoyed the suburban neighborhood all decked out for the holidays.

Back at Belen’s apartment, I made myself as comfortable as possible in her queen-sized bed, which was at least a foot too short for my frame. While Belen performed her ten-step nighttime skin routine, I practiced my “I’m going back to Cali” speech. It was less of a speech and more bullet points of the topics I wanted to cover. Only a few months. We could video chat every day. I’d be home each Friday. We could make this work. Please don’t leave me. I love you.

“Hey baby,” I called.

“Yeah,” Belen’s voice rang out from behind the bathroom door.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Hmm.”

The sound of water kicked on so I had to shout. “I planned to tell you sooner, but I wasn’t certain where we were headed. At the start of the year, I have to go to California on a business trip.”

Aside from the running water, there was silence on the other side of the door.

“Los Angeles to be more precise.”

The bathroom door opened, and Belen appeared in the doorway in just her lace bra and panties. “I thought I’d return the surprise.”

“Whoa.” Belen was like a perpetual Christmas gift I couldn’t wait to unwrap.

Climbing onto the bed, she straddled me and planted kisses along my chest.

“Belen, did you hear what I said?”

“All I want to hear is you telling me to fuck you or suck you.”

This woman was filthy, and I was so lucky to call her all mine.

I reached for her shoulders. “Baby, can we just talk for a minute?”

She lifted her head, which was now just inches away from my hard dick. “Sure, yeah.” Belen smoothed back the hair that had fallen into her face. “Actually there is something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about as well.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, but you go first,” she said while teasing my nipples.

“No, ladies first, I insist.” Anything to delay my news. I hope what she had to share was long and complex and required visual aids.

Belen moved to her designated side of the bed. “These last few weeks have been some of the best weeks of my life. Usually, this time of year is difficult for me, and you’ve helped to make it less so. I’ve been thinking about Christmas in Canada. I’ve played it safe my entire life. But I’m ready to take a chance … with you. So if the invitation is still good for me and Celeste, I wanted to formally accept.”

My heart swelled in my chest. “Seriously?”

“Yes.” Belen offered a timid smile

In one motion, I scooped her into my arms, rolling until she was underneath me. “I think that’s the best news I’ve received all week.” Diving into her breast, I used my tongue to toy with her nipples through her bra. I loved the way her body contorted against mine. Unhooking her bra, I latched on to her bare nipple and indulged in the sounds of her heated moans.

“Wait … Kris. What did you want to talk about?”

“Huh?”

“You said you had something to tell me.”

“It can wait. Right now I’m far too distracted by the work of art that is your body. Plus, girls who come to Canada get to ride my face.”

“Whoa, if I’d known that I’d have packed my bags weeks ago.”

Hooking my thumbs onto the sides of her panties, I pulled them over her thick thighs. Bringing the undies to my nose, I took a long drag intoxicated by the scent of her.

“I’m ready for my tongue lashing. You know how I like it, wet and sloppy,” she said.

Slowly I inserted my index finger followed by a second digit. Belen was dripping wet from my thrust. Removing my sticky fingers, I fed them to her. And she licked each digit clean without hesitation.

“God, I love it when you’re nasty for me,” I groaned before sinking my tongue inside her. Belen’s whole body tensed before melting into the mattress. Her pussy slid over my tongue as she rocked her hips, pushing me over the top.

“Kristoff, yes just like that.” Belen usually only called me Kristoff when we had sex and hearing her voice filled with lust calling for me turned me all the way on. She said my name like I was in trouble and she was going to teach me a lesson. Her hand clutched hold of my curls, directing my head so she could achieve ultimate pleasure.

I kissed her lower lips while feeding her with affirmations. “You are so sexy.” Kiss. “I adore your breast.” Long lick and nipple squeeze. “I can’t get enough of your pussy, I think I’m addicted.” Tongue swirls.

When Belen reached for a pillow to muffle her screams, I wasted no time pulling myself up and entering her from the side. Pressing her back against my chest, I cradled her breast in my hand. Our bodies worked together, grinding and thrusting. Belen turned her head toward me in search of kisses and when our lips connected, she released a low moan that vibrated my chest.

“I love how you make me lose all my cool when you’re inside of me. Take this pussy, Kristoff. Take all of it.”

And that’s what I did, flipping her on to her stomach, I fucked her like I was performing a Christmas miracle. Belen fisted the sheets and muted a scream that threatened to spill from her mouth. When she declared she loved me mid thrust, I could no longer hold back whispering, “Come with me baby.” With my deep strokes and an assist from Belen fingering her clit, we rode the wave into bliss together. Our bodies tensing and writhing in unison. We sunk into the bed, our limbs still entwined. Brushing the hair from Belen’s face I smiled against her lips.

“God you are a wonder.” I breathed out.

Belen whispered in my ear, “I love you.” Like it was our special secret.

I love you, too. I mouthed back.

“I can’t believe in a week I’ll be in Canada meeting your family. I should start packing now.” Before I could stop her, Belen disappeared into her closet.

I collapsed face down into my pillow. I’d tell her about California tomorrow, I promised myself.