His Heart for Christmas (Love is Back in Mistwood Hollow #1)

Chapter 11 - Emma

“Mom, I really don’t-” I start.

“We’re going. It’s tradition. And, since you won’t tell me what has you down, I have to assume all the rumors are true,” she says. “Which means you need to see him. It’s the only way you two can either talk this out or move on.”

“He doesn’t want me,” I whisper.

“Nonsense,” my dad pipes up. “You’re wonderful, beautiful, so sweet.”

“Well, he doesn’t like sweet,” I grumble. “He takes his coffee black.”

I’m remembering the drawbacks of living in a small town. Even though I thought no one would notice since we never did anything around anyone else, the whole town seems to know that something has happened between Josh and me. No one has a problem with the age gap, apparently, but they keep saying that I’m na?ve to think he’d want me.

And I’m starting to think they’re right.

When I fell asleep in his arms, I thought he could love me, that maybe he was already in love with me, but then he dismissed me like we’d finished a business meeting and it felt like everything I was sure of was gone.

I’ve been questioning my own perspective, my sanity, plenty of things all while still wanting him. I want him to tell me he was wrong, that he just needed time to accept he has feelings for me. I get that it might not be easy, but ... but nothing.

Mom and dad throw snowballs at each other, then team up against me. They try to get me to join in on the town snowman building contest, but I hang back, not wanting to commit to anything since now I’m not sure what else might be a mistake.

Avoiding the contests also mean avoiding Josh. I’m already at his tree farm again and no matter how many friends I talk to, he’s what I think about.

The countdown to the annual tree lighting begins. Josh always saves the biggest tree on the farm for this event, along with the ones that were cut but never sold. As the countdown reaches one, the trees light up all at once. The largest one glows with blue and white lights, making the tinsel and fake icicles sparkle. I’m completely in awe.

The smaller trees are lit up like they belong around a gingerbread house. I’m spell bound. I love them, want to take them home, want to focus entirely on this moment to reset myself.

“This is my favorite tradition of the year,” Josh says over a microphone. “A tradition that came out of a love for Christmas that I didn’t understand for a long time. Every year, I make a speech about Christmas, how thankful I am to everyone in this town, but that’s a tradition I’m going to break.”

I blink a few times and realize I’ve stepped away from the crowd and closer to the lit trees. Looking to the stage, I find Josh’s eyes on me. He takes a slow breath, his throat tightening. He takes off his hat.

“Emma,” he breathes softly.

The crowd starts whispering, but my gaze is focused entirely on Josh.

“Emma, I am the stupidest man alive for letting you go, even for a few days. You jumped all the walls I used to keep people out. You melted every bit of ice around my heart and reminded me it’s there. You are fun, inspirational, so damn thoughtful and ... and I can’t stand seeing your fake smile with that perfect dimple missing. I will spend every day making sure you smile the right way, the real way if you let me, if you can forgive me,” he says.

I swallow.

“I was scared of what I was feeling, because if I say I like you it’s a lie. What I feel is so much more than that and ... and I’d like to show you exactly how I feel by making you feel the same way. Can you forgive me?”

It’s direct, as he always is. There’s no fluff, barely any romance, but the fact he’s outing his feelings publicly, openly, without prompting, is huge. I swallow and nod once. “Yes. Of course.”

Josh puts the mic in the stand, then hops off the stage like it’s nothing. He walks right to me and cups the nape of my neck, pulling me close. He lowers his voice, so it’s just for me. “I’m not going to let you go again, Emma. When I say you’re mine this time, I mean it. Mine .”

“Prove it,” I whisper. “Prove you want me, that you’re not going to make me leave after another night together.”

“Sweetness, the only thing I can make you do is want me more,” he says before sealing it with a kiss.

I hear a few awes around us, but I don’t care. I wrap my arms around Josh and pull him closer to me as he changes the angle and kisses me again ... and again ... and again. I hear Tony start talking about snacks and drink and games, but I’m lost in Josh.

He draws back and rests his forehead against mine. “You’re coming back to my place tonight and we’re doing it right.”

“I think we did it right last time,” I whisper.

“Nope. I’m really keeping you awake this time. We’re going to do everything. Have dinner, have sex, talk, more sex, more kissing, and we’re not sleeping until the sun rises.”

“Sounds like the best possible Christmas Eve,” I pant before pulling him down and kissing him again.

***

Josh drives us the short distance to his place after talking to my parents for a bit. He keeps his hand on my thigh, keeps glancing at me, then picks me up to carry me inside the house, kissing me constantly.

He doesn’t stop in the living room, just adjusts my legs around his waist as he carries me upstairs. He tosses my jacket, my sweater, my shirt, and my bra all before we get to his bedroom. I giggle as he tosses me down.

“You’re eager.”

“I’ve been a fucking idiot,” he says while stripping himself.

I lay across his bed while kicking off my shoes and socks.

“Every reason I tried to say no is so stupid. You were right. There’s no reason for me to stop living. There’s no reason for me to deny what I want or who I want. And I want you,” he says, crawling on top of me, completely naked, already hard, so perfect.

I stroke his arms gently. “As more than a fling?”

“You’re mine. My girl, my sweetness, the woman I want to wake up to. The woman I want to fall asleep with. Tonight,” he kisses me softly, “tomorrow”, another kiss, this one to my neck as he jerks on my leggings. “Through new years and until next Christmas .. at minimum.”

I laugh and he grins at me. “I’ll work on the sweet talk.”

“Your dirty talk is definitely better.”

“Then I’ll make you come until you agree,” he decides.

And he follows through. Josh strips me while kissing every inch of me that he can. He eats me out and fingers me at the same time and compared to the last two times he did it, he was holding out on me. I come twice for his tongue and fingers, unable to shut up, unable to stop telling him how good he feels, how much I want him.

“I’m going to exhaust you, sweetness. You’re only going to remember my name by the time the sun rises,” he warns as he kisses back up my body.

I taste myself on his lips when he kisses me and rub the back of his neck, massaging his nape, then tugging his hair.

He groans and I shove him back. “You’re not the only one who knows how to use their mouth.”

“After,” he whispers gently as he pulls me on top of him. “Show me what you like, Emma. Show me how to please you.”

I blink at him until he has me straddle him. His eyes burn with an intensity I can’t ignore. He nods as I slowly slide down his cock, gasping at how good he feels. My nails bite into his shoulders.

“Wait…ride me, let me enjoy the view and how fucking good you feel. I won’t forget a thing when it comes to you, so show me how to please you,” he orders.

I can’t deny him. I ride him slowly, then guide his hand to my clit. He groans and rubs my clit in fast circles until I’m bouncing on him, taking him as deep as I possibly can over and over again. I press his head closer, urging him on as he kisses and licks my breasts, focusing on my nipples until I come again.

He kisses me through the next orgasm, praising me when I can’t kiss him, telling me how gorgeous I am, how much he loves my smile, loves my moans, will please me until I forget our rocky start.

When he jerks out of me, he pants. “Finish me with your mouth, Emma. Just like you want.”

I obey, licking my wetness off his shaft until I reach the tip. I swirl my tongue while holding his gaze, then spread my lips around his cock, taking him deeper and deeper until he hisses. He cups my cheek as I blow him slowly, adjusting to his size.

Josh never looks away from me and his gaze burns across every nerve in my body. I know he’s not letting me go tonight or tomorrow. I’m his. He’s mine, and the future is ours. He groans, grips my hair, then lifts his hips as he fills my mouth.

I swallow, then lay on his chest, already exhausted. He lifts my chin and gives me a warm smile. “I’m following through this time. You’re mine until morning. I’ll let you go home for Christmas, but I’m not letting you go for long.”

“Sounds like you mean ever,” I murmur.

He kisses me softly. “You’re right again.”