One Wish: A Christmas Romance Read online

  “This is…” my words trailed off. I didn’t want to say it out loud without seeming like some immature kid who believed in stupid things like Christmas wishes and magic.

  “Magical,” breathed Hunter, who I hadn’t realized come closer to me.

  His hand rested on my face, the pad of his thumb running over my cheek. My breathing hitched and rapid. My eyes searched his and I saw something I’d never seen in the eyes of anyone else, not even my husband. I saw a warmth that mirrored my own.

  There was no thinking as thinking would only dilute the magic that filled the air. His sweltering lips took mine in such a rapid fervency that washed over me like the waves of the sea. Everything I could ever want or need was caught up in his kiss.

  Chapter 8

  Hunter

  Her lips instantly tasted like the whiskey she and I had both drank. There was also a hint of strawberry, and her scent was like citrus. I snaked my arm around her waist, securing her delicate body to mine.

  A single moan escaped her lips, vibrating against my own and sending shockwaves of intensity through my limbs. I’d never had any woman this close since losing Katheryn, and somehow I was secured in knowing that she was looking down at me, smiling. She was smiling because I’d finally let go of my guilt and my sorrow and I was finding the optimism in living and finding anew.

  My tongue slid across her whiskey stained lips, hoping for entrance. Only seconds later, she granted it, and my tongue instantly found hers. I’d never wanted anything more than to have Melanie as my own, feeling her body and worshiping it in the way it deserved to be worshiped.

  The hand that I’d used to hold her face, I allowed it to move into her long locks. Her hair felt like silk under my fingers as I twirled my hand in it for a better grip on her. I was afraid to let go, it was as if this was a dream and if I let go, she would disintegrate into nothingness.

  I broke away and peered down at the goddess of a woman who was illuminated by the still roaring flames. Her chest heaved up and down as she worked to catch her breath. My eyes scanned her full breasts that peeked through the v-neck of her red sweater. My dick, straining against the thick material of my jeans, aching for freedom.

  “Why’d you stop?” Melanie asked, breathing our silence.

  “Are you sure about this?” I asked her. I knew she was vulnerable not just inebriated from the alcohol we’d consumed, but in a place of vulnerability after breaking free of a treacherous relationship. My mom and taught me well and I knew it was never okay to take advantage of any woman no matter the circumstances.

  “I’m absolutely sure,” she breathed as she ran her delicate hand along my bare chest, stopping at a scar near the bottom of my ribcage. Her eyes glanced into mine. “Did you get this in the accident?” I nodded in response.

  “I had internal bleeding, they had to go in and stop it,” I explained as she pressed her hands on my chest and moved me back into a sitting position.

  I sat and watched as she bent and pressed her lips to my scar, I shivered at her actions. She was gentle and delicate as her kisses traveled from my scar and up my chest. As she reached my neck, she moved her body, placing her knees on either side of my legs, straddling my waist.

  The warmth radiating from between her thighs egged on my already swollen and eager dick. I took my hands and cupped her round backside, pulling her in closer as her lips traveled to my neck, sucking and biting as she went. Melanie was a fierce lioness that was finally allowed to roam free.

  Her lips found mine, her kisses were intense and passionate. As we explored each other with our mouths, I slid one of my hands under her sweater, taking in every bit of her smooth chocolate skin. My hand roamed up her side before reaching the swell of her breast, and to my surprise, she wasn’t wearing a bra.

  Melanie’s hips began to grind into me. She wasn’t holding back, she wanted me as much as I wanted her. A nervousness struck me, I’d never been with anyone since Katheryn. My everything had been wrapped in Katheryn and here was Melanie, a dream of a woman whose fate was somehow tangled in mine. Our pain had entwined itself and was binding us together in a way I’d never experienced with another person, not even with Katheryn.

  Eager for more, I cupped her breast with my hand, holding it firm, feeling its warmth and fullness. Melanie moaned into my mouth.

  I kissed her one final time, before taking a nibble at her swollen lip, she groaned in response. My mouth traveled down to her neck, the neck I’d been eager to kiss since the moment I laid eyes on her. I’d been placed under her spell, and there was no going back.

  I’d become an explorer, eager to explore every square inch of her delicious body. I burned to taste the riches found deep inside her and elicit the screams of desire that were buried deep within. Who the fuck was I? I wasn’t the Hunter Ripley that walked into this home hours before, but a new man, a different man. I’d found my freedom with Melanie, and we were discovering our freedom in one another.

  The tips of my fingers teased her hard peaks, her moans filled the air as her head went back, relishing in the moments of tender pleasure I was presenting her with.

  I wouldn’t be able to take it much longer, I needed to be inside her, filling her with my needs while satisfying hers. We were joined by this magical connection, and it was time to take it further as we only could.

  “Melanie, Baby,” I whispered against the heated skin of her neck.

  “Yes,” she moaned sweetly, it was like sweet music to my ears. Who was this angel sent to me? How was I lucky enough to have her? My mind was flooded with questions, but there was no time to answer all of them. I needed her. I craved her. She was the ultimate Christmas gift.

  “Fuck, I need you so bad,” I hissed before placing a final and delicate kiss on her smooth neck.

  Yanking her sweater up and over her head, I took in her naked torso. Her deep mocha skin glistening in the light of the fire, aching to be touched and kissed. Her deep hot cocoa eyes as sultry as ever, yet glancing away in a moment of embarrassment.

  I took her face in my hands and brought her lips back to mine. I needed to taste her again and bring her back into our shared reality.

  Bearing her weight and mine, I stood, keeping her firmly pressed against me with my hands on her backside and her legs wrapped around me. I walked her a few feet, right in front of the fireplace where a fur rug lay. I leaned her down and gently laid her on top of the it. I allowed my grip on her to loosen and I peered down at the beautiful creature who lay in waiting.

  Dropping down and straddling her delicate frame. My fingers slipped under the band of the little cotton shorts that had teased me through the evening. I began to slide them as well as her panties down her legs. One by one, I slipped her legs free.

  I hadn’t seen this coming when I walked into the house, yet here we found ourselves. I couldn’t wait for the moment when her legs were wrapped around me, when her breathing was controlled by the passion I presented, and her screams were filling the air as I claimed her as mine.

  Dainty fingers had worked at the last few buttons of my shirt before I pulled it free from my shoulders and tossed it to the side. Melanie worked to make a quick job of loosening my belt and unbuttoning my jeans. Already a small bit of freedom was found as she slipped the zipper down. I pushed her hands away and stood, working my jeans and boxers off. My erection finally set free and hard for her.

  I brought myself back over her, spreading her legs. My eyes piercing hers, her breath hitched as I inched into her slowly, taking my sweet time with the goddess under me. I grasped at her hip as I began to keep pace. Her moans filling the room as I’d imagined them to. It was beautiful and erotic, it was absolutely perfect.

  Chapter 9

  Melanie

  Words couldn’t describe the absolute pleasure that filled me from the moment Hunter, and I connected. It was raw and passionate, something I’d never felt before. Something within me snapped and burst through the seams of my sanity, pulling me in deep with him.

&
nbsp; My legs involuntarily wrapped around his waist, yanking him in as close as I could get him. Burning for all the bliss he gave me. His lips on my neck, kissing and biting, urging me closer to the edge.

  “Oh Hunter, I want to remember every moment,” I said as I slipped my fingers through his dark hair.

  “I promise you, you’ll never forget it,” he growled against my neck as he slipped a hand between us. His fingers found and began to rub against my knot of pleasure, pulling me in deeper.

  This wasn’t me, yet it was. I’d never had the desire to be with a man in this way. I was obviously attracted to my husband, and I loved him, but I never burned for him this way in all our years together. I’d never met anyone that I ached for from the first moment. Somehow here I was having sex with a man I’d known for maybe five or six hours. I didn’t quite know who I was, but I liked her.

  Hunter hit the right spot, over and over again. I wanted it to last, but it was painfully apparent I wouldn’t be able to deny myself much longer. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and my nails scratched at his skin, hanging onto the final thread.

  “Please, Baby, Please,” I begged of him. As much as I wanted it to last, I wanted to fall and fall hard with him.

  “Damn,” Hunter grunted before he picked up his movements, slamming into me eager to take me over until I came.

  My climax shot through me like a flash of light. I screamed out for him, gripping onto him tightly with my hands and my legs. Hunter grunted out things I couldn’t make out over my screams that filled the halls of the house.

  He collapsed onto me as my legs lost their strength and become spaghetti. My body was weak and buzzing with effervescence as Hunter moved off me. I shivered at our moment of disconnect, but he returned as quickly as he left me. He’s gotten the throw blanket from the couch and pulled it over us. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me to his chest.

  I worked to calm my rapid breathing as my body continued to hum with excitement. We were silent as we lay together. I knew from the energy coursing between us that this was more than one night, this was more than a holiday, this was something that was going to last and continue. I smiled to myself as I allowed sleep to take me away.

  My eyes opened, and they were struck with brightness. I allowed them to adjust to the light. Moving slightly, I realized arms were around me, holding me tight. I turned my body to arrive face to face with Hunter, peacefully snoozing. I smiled to myself, he was just as handsome as he slept.

  All of the windows were covered in white, but the brightness indicated it was day. There was a slight golden glow left from the fire.

  I wiggled my body free of Hunter. I hated losing our contact as my body shivered at the cold that filled the room. Reaching around, I found my panties first and slipped them up my legs. I spotted Hunter’s plaid shirt discarded on the floor and grabbed it to me. I pressed it to my nose and inhaled his woody scent. I grinned to myself before I slipped his shirt onto my body, buttoning a few of the middle buttons.

  I padded softly across the floor towards the kitchen. I’d brought food to make for breakfast, but without the use of the stove, cooking was impossible. I let out a humph before leaning against the counter. We could always have bread and jam.

  Opening the fridge, I was grateful that the cool weather kept the food cold as I bent to find the jam I’d brought up with me when I heard a whistle. I jumped up to find Hunter leaning against the arch entrance to the kitchen watching me. He stood shirtless in only his jeans. I smiled as I pulled out the jar of jam.

  Placing the jam on the counter, I made my way to Hunter. His hands were on me instantly, pulling me close to him, planting kisses on my neck.

  “Merry Christmas,” he whispered between kisses.

  “Merry Christmas,” I breathed as my body ached for him once more.

  I wasn’t going to question us. There were no questions, I knew from the first kiss that we were brought together because of our pain. Happiness spread through my limbs. I’d spent so much time in sorrow that feeling cared for was foreign to me.

  “I wanted to make you breakfast, but I can’t quite manage that with our situation,” I said as I glanced up into his piercing eyes.

  “What kind of stove is it? Gas or Electric?” Hunter asked as he moved further into the kitchen, his hands on my hips, keeping me close as if he was afraid I’d float away the moment he let go.

  “Gas, I think,” I said, clearly unsure. Hunter chuckled as we approached the stove area.

  “It’s gas. Do you have a lighter?”

  “Yeah, let me get it,” I told him as I slid out of his warm arms and towards a drawer I knew held utility items. I’d used the very lighter I was looking for when I initially lit the fire in the sitting room. I found it instantly and handed it to Hunter.

  He turned the knob on the stove and clicked the lighter on and poof, we had fire on the stove. Proudly, he gave me a grin as he handed me the lighter and pulled me near. I stood on the tips of my toes and pressed my lips to his.

  “I’m going to make you breakfast,” I whispered against his lips before I wiggled from his grasp.

  Padding back across to the refrigerator, I pulled out the bacon and eggs I’d brought up with me and placed them on the counter before retrieving a skillet from the cabinet under the stove.

  “Mmm, this is going to be good,” Hunter mentioned as I got to work. I stuck my tongue out at him before I began to cook.

  I hummed a song to myself as the bacon cooked. I’d glance up at Hunter every few moments to find his eyes watching me. He’d lit another eye for me to boil a little milk for hot cocoa.

  “This is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. You cooking, swinging those hips around, and wearing my shirt.” I began to laugh out loud at his words as I continued my cooking and gave him a wink humming my song.

  “I feel like it’s been forever since I cooked,” I told him as I began to plate our food. “Raymond has a chef on hire, and we order out a lot. I always loved cooking.”

  “You’re good at it. That soup and those sandwiches last night were great. I haven’t been that full on anything homemade in some time, except for when I go to my parent’s place in Reno,” Hunter told me.

  “They don’t live up here?” I asked as he’d told me he was born and raised here.

  “A few years ago they moved to Reno into some retirement community, they like it a lot.” He told me as he stole a piece of bacon from the plate I was making.

  “One less piece for you,” I commented slyly as I stuck my tongue out at him and he smirked in return biting away at the bacon.

  Chapter 10

  Hunter

  I’d only met her yesterday, and here we were as if we’d known one another for years. Melanie was easy to talk to about everything. She wasn’t afraid to laugh and joke all while being the sexiest woman I’d ever laid eyes on.

  Watching her sip at her hot chocolate, she looked beautiful, the light reflecting off her smooth skin. My eyes traveling down her kissable neck and full chest. My entire world changed in one night with her, and there was no way I was going back.

  “That was delicious,” I proclaimed as I placed my fork on the plate. Melanie gave me a light smile of thanks.

  There was an elephant in the room, and both of us knew it. I’d gone from the grieving widow to a man highly infatuated with this unattainable beauty. While she’d gone from a painful relationship to falling into my arms. Overnight the magic that struck us had changed us. We were bound by something much stronger than the two of us and last night proved, there was no fighting it, yet we needed to acknowledge it.

  Feelings had stuck and drawn us in. Every moment with Melanie, I was having feelings I hadn’t had since my Katheryn. I wouldn’t say it out loud, afraid it could dissipate and be gone forever just as quickly as Katheryn was taken.

  “Umm,” Melanie said, her fight with her emotions clear as day on her slender face.

  “I know,” I answered, not needing her words. I needed her clos
e, and with no words, I stood from my seat and made my way to her. I pulled her up and into my arms, her face pressed to my chest.

  I wanted to laugh, nobody was going to believe me when I told them this story. When I told them that Melanie was brought to me by some sort of Christmas magic and that it only took hours to fall for her. They’d think I’d gone crazy, that I should be locked away and sedated for the mess I was spewing, yet it was all true.

  “I’m thinking we clean up and I need a shower,” she whispered up to me. I gave her a grin and a nod in response, I ached to see her naked again, her curvy body on display for me. “Come on,” she said as she slipped away from me.

  Melanie began picking up our empty plates from the table and taking them to the sink. I watched her begin to wash dishes. She leaned over the sink to grab a sponge, her breasts nearly spilling out of my shirt. My dick twitched with the excitement of her unintentional tease. Fuck, I needed more of her.

  In no time at all, I was across the room and behind her, pulling her body to mine as she whined about dishes. I didn’t give a fuck about the dishes, I needed her. I turned her to me and picked her up before I sat her on the counter.

  “Hunter, the water is still running, and I want to save the hot water,” she protested, making a point. I quickly turned the knob on the faucet, turning the water off before returning my sights to her, my Melanie.

  “I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I need you so bad it fucking hurts,” I growled before placing my lips on her soft neck.

  “I know the feeling,” she whispered honestly.

  I took that as my invitation, attacking her mouth with my own. Tasting her, my hands feeling her. I slipped my hands up her thighs and spread her legs open. I ached for more. Damn, I had to have it.