12 Christmas Romances To Melt Your Heart Read online

  She lowered her mouth to the head of his cock and slowly drew him into her mouth.

  He groaned again, loudly. “I love how your mouth feels on my cock.”

  She slid down his length, savoring the taste and feel of him in her mouth. To her, there was nothing sexier than seeing his desire for her…and enhancing it.

  She slid her wet tongue up and down his length as she sucked.

  He began thrusting lightly into her mouth, breathing heavily. “Oh, baby, so good.”

  She continued to slide her mouth up and down his length until his legs twitched and bucked. His cock swelled inside her mouth, and she could tell he was close to ejaculating.

  “Don’t make me come, baby,” he whispered hoarsely. “I need to be inside you. I need to feel you.”

  He pulled her up, and then flipped her over so she was lying on her back. He leaned down and kissed her bare belly button, then began working his way down, inching her jeans off in the process.

  He pulled aside her lacy panties and gently flicked a tongue around her opening.

  She arched her back and reared up, her body begging for his tongue to lick her, pleasure her, suck her.

  He flicked it gently into her opening, and she let out a loud gasp at the feeling of exquisite pleasure racing through her nerve endings.

  “Do you like that?” he murmured, looking up at her with those striking green eyes.

  “Yes,” she gasped. “More.”

  He pulled off her panties and threw them to the side. Then he spread her legs so she was wide open to him. Usually this filled her with shyness and a feeling of vulnerability to be so exposed, but at this moment, she was filled with so much overwhelming desire and love for him that it overrode everything else. She felt close to him…not afraid to be vulnerable to him anymore. She was fully open to his love.

  He held her legs and slowly flicked his tongue inside her opening. Her legs quivered, and she moaned. He began delving deeply, probing her with his wet tongue until she gasped and bucked. The pressure built, and still he continued to work her relentlessly.

  Then a climax crashed over her, nearly blinding her with its intensity. She cried out and succumbed to the tremors of pleasure that coursed through her body. She gripped his head until every last quiver subsided.

  When she came to her senses, she looked down to see him gazing up at her with a smile.

  “Good?”

  “Oh yes…”

  He crawled up her body until he was hovering over her. She reached down to grasp his erection. He was so hard, practically pulsing with need.

  He bent and kissed her deeply. His hands cupped the back of her head, pulling her face to his. They kissed like that for a long moment, their bodies barely touching as he hovered over her.

  Then he lowered himself onto her. She savored the warmth of his strong body covering hers. Every cell in her body craved his touch, wanted him inside her. She wanted him so badly that her legs were practically shaking with need. She wrapped them around his backside to pull him closer.

  She felt the swollen head of his cock nudge her entrance, which was so slick with desire, need. She closed her eyes and gripped his back, anticipating the moment when he first drove into her.

  Still he hovered there, not pushing himself fully into her yet. She opened her eyes to see him staring down at her.

  “I love you, Selma,” he said, looking deeply into her eyes. The way he said the words was so heartfelt, so true, that she felt the meaning in them beyond the actual words. In that moment, with their bodies so close to being merged and their hearts synced completely, she knew she had finally found true happiness with this man.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered as tears filled her eyes.

  He slowly pushed inside her, completing her in a way that she not only craved, but needed.

  Then they were moving together in unison, their bodies merged as one. Their sighs turned to moans, and the words they whispered to each other were filled with promises of the future.

  The pleasure built with each long, slow stroke, and every moment of their togetherness was one build of an ecstasy that Selma didn’t know what possible.

  They’d had good lovemaking before, but never like this.

  Never at this level…or depth.

  The climax that rose up and overcame her was like an offering, a giving of herself. It broke her open, shattered her in the best sense. Her body quivered and shook in raw ecstasy. And when he climaxed, too, at the same time, it was a meeting, a matching, a complete unifying of two people.

  There was only way to explain the feeling of what they were experiencing together in this moment: true, passionate love…a joining of two human beings, body, heart, and spirit.

  When the waves finally subsided, Selma was left gasping and crying from the experience.

  Shaun looked down at her and stroked her cheek with such tenderness and devotion in his eyes that she was left breathless.

  “I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than this…with you,” he said.

  “Me too.”

  “I know I have baggage, but I promise you I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world if you let me.”

  “I want that. And I want to make you the happiest man in the world.”

  “You already do.”

  “We’ll make it work…all of it. I’m not scared. I want this with you, Shaun. I know I’ll love your kids. I know it’ll all work out.”

  “Yes. It’s going to work out. And when it does, we can be always be together. And be happy.”

  “We're so good together, baby.”

  “We are.”

  He leaned in and kissed her. The same familiar tingles rushed down her spine at the first touch of his lips to hers.

  “Merry Christmas,” he whispered. “I love you, Selma.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “I want you in my life always.”

  “Always?”

  “Always. Forever.”

  “Done.” He kissed her long and passionately.

  And then the whole world melted away.

  About the Author

  Get a free book from Riley J. Ford by signing up for her new release list , or go to www.RileyJFord.com to find out more about the author and her books.

  Connect With Riley J. Ford

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  Read the earthshaking story of how Selma and Shaun first met in ROMANCE. EARTHQUAKE. LOVE.

  Other Books By Riley

  INTO YOU

  JUST US (Book One)

  JUST YOU (Book Two)

  Carpe DiEmily

  Get Part 1 Free

  Carpe DiEmily (Parts 1 and 2)

  Simone: Adventures in Dating

  Get Part 1 Free

  Book 1 (The Billionaire)

  Book 2 (The Billionaire Revealed)

  Book 3 (The Cowboy)

  Book 4 (The Cop)

  Book 5 (The Attorney)

  Fifty Shades of Fifty Shades of Grey

  Circus of Lost Souls

  The Runaway Sleigh

  by Emma Roman

  The Runaway Sleigh

  Copyright © 2015 by KS Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Chapter 1

  The scent of cinnamon and spicy cider was one of Peter Gibson’s favorites. It was the scent of Christmas. It always brought back the fondest memories of laughter and love he’d shared with his late wife.

  Diane had been gone for nearly a decade, but they’d started the tradition of dressing up as Mr. And Mrs. Claus for the Somewhere Holiday Stroll fifteen years ago.

  He hadn’t stopped. Diane wouldn’t have wanted him to.

  Every citizen’s smile and every child’s laugh
reminded him of how much she’d loved Christmas. How much she’d loved this town. Somewhere had given him the best years of his life.

  Sixteen amazing years with a woman that never gave up.

  Brain cancer stole her away from him, but even to that last breath, he couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t smiling, laughing, or singing. Or telling him everything would be okay.

  She had been his world, and this Christmas parade was his way of honoring her memory. He’d made her a promise at her hospital bedside to keep their tradition going. “Remember the past, but always look forward, my love.” Those had been her last words. “You never know when life might surprise you.” She’d been giving him permission to move on, but he hadn’t found a reason to change his routine yet.

  He hadn’t moved on. Hadn’t even tried.

  It was going to take a helluva surprise to knock him off the comfortable path he’d followed since losing her.

  Peter patted Lady’s rump, one of the quarter horses from the VonBrandt stables. The family had been kind enough to lend horses this year, along with the funds to buy all the gifts and food for the party at the end of the parade. Every year, he worked with the theatre in town to organize the parade. Every year, he was surprised by the generosity of the families who lived in Somewhere.

  Aaron himself had shown up with the horses and was helping hitch them to the wagon Peter had re-built to look like a sleigh. It still had wheels, but you couldn’t see the back ones through all the painted plywood, garland, and plaster forms that transformed a plain old-timey wagon into Santa’s festive ride.

  “You know this sleigh is getting old, Peter,” Aaron VonBrandt said, buckling the harness onto the mare opposite Lady.

  Peter glanced over Lady’s back and grinned. “Old but sturdy.”

  “Just like you.”

  “I’m not old.” Peter chuckled. “Just well-seasoned.”

  “I’ll have to remember that the next time Luke or Noah calls me old.”

  “Those boys of yours are growing up fast. Both of them have girlfriends now, right? I saw them at Joe’s the other day.”

  Aaron nodded. “Yes. They surprised us this year. But the boys tend to do everything together, so it shouldn’t have caught us off guard that they both found someone within six months of each other.”

  A green Celtic tattoo peeked out from beneath the wristband of Aaron’s sweatshirt.

  Peter raised an eyebrow, remembering tattoos very similar on both of Aaron’s sons and their girlfriends. “What’s up with the tattoos?”

  Aaron’s eyes narrowed, and Peter could’ve sworn he heard the man growl.

  “It’s a family tradition,” Aaron answered, pasting on a hopeful smile.

  Peter shrugged. That answer was good enough for him. Who was he to judge what other people did to commemorate love. He dressed as Santa and kept his wife’s old Mrs. Claus robe on the seat next to him. Nostalgia could be found in anything big or small. A robe or a tattoo.

  Still, that meant both boys planned to marry the girls they were now dating, right? Surely a family tradition dictated more than just girlfriend status before tattoos were in order.

  He smiled at Aaron. “That’s a really great way to honor commitment.”

  The broad shoulders of the large man fell just slightly and the look on his face could only be read as relief.

  “You don’t show them very often, do you?” Peter asked, prodding the uncomfortable benefactor. It wasn’t often anyone saw a VonBrandt unprepared. They tended to take charge wherever they were, and no matter the situation.

  “The boys have less inhibitions about showing off their ink,” Aaron answered, shrugging off the last of his tension. “My wife and I like our privacy.”

  Peter nodded. “Nothing wrong with that. Thank you again for the support this year. I know the theatre board has probably already gushed their appreciation, but I wanted to be sure you heard it from me as well.”

  “The Holiday Stroll is a wonderful tradition. It always makes the town feel smaller and more connected. Everyone comes together for the holidays. As they should.” Aaron took a step back from the harnessed mare and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll see you back at the theatre, Santa.”

  Grabbing the big red coat from the back of the sleigh, Peter yanked it on and fastened it around the pillow he’d strapped to his otherwise flat stomach. He pulled out the wig and beard and put those on too.

  “Ho ho ho.” Peter patted his padded stomach and grinned at Aaron. “Would you go tell the girls in the car over there to put their phones away and come on over. I need my elves.” He pointed to the red four-door vehicle parked a few spaced away from Aaron’s horse trailer.

  Aaron nodded and headed for the car. Before he got there, the driver’s and passenger doors flew open and the two teenage girls inside emerged, giggling and laughing.

  They were dressed in bright red and green elf costumes, complete with striped tights and pointy velvet shoes. One of them pulled a giant red velvet bag from the back seat of the car. It was very full and very lumpy, already stuffed with the candy and treats that would be tossed to the audience as they made their trek down Main Street and back up Third, to the Piper Theatre for the party.

  He’d have another bag at the theatre with gifts to pass out to the children.

  “Ladies, thank you for volunteering to be my helpers this year.”

  “No problem, Mr. Gibson,” the high-schoolers answered in unison before clambering up into the back of the sleigh.

  “It’s actually a sought after spot,” one of the girls said, winking at him.

  He shook his head and climbed to the front seat. Teenagers baffled him, especially girls. Plus, he had a feeling whatever she was alluding to, he didn’t want to know. Better to just nod, grin, and move on.

  Aaron picked up the leads and handed them to him from the ground.

  “Thanks.”

  Aaron stepped back and Peter clucked his tongue, guiding the mares out of the parking lot on the east side of the theatre. It was already starting to fill with cars.

  Families arriving for the party were rushing every which way, trying to find a good place to stand for the parade. The roads directly around Town Square had been closed off to traffic and were being closely monitored by deputies. He could see Allan VonBrandt, Aaron’s brother, standing in uniform on the corner of Main and Burlington, right in front of the Tribal Council Office.

  He waved as he turned the sleigh onto Burlington and headed for Main Street, where the parade would officially start.

  Groups of carolers, the high school cheer squad, football players, and the marching band from the McA all had floats decorated, lined up and ready for the stroll. They were all waiting on him.

  Santa’s sleigh was at the end of the parade.

  Always save the best for last.

  Chapter 2

  Peter rubbed his wife’s bright red robe, lying across the bench seat next to him. “Another year, Diane. Another year of smiles and laughs without you. But, I know you’re up there somewhere watching over me.”

  “Mr. Gibson, you okay?” one of the girls in the back of the wagon asked.

  “Yep. Just perfect,” he answered, turning to glance at them over his shoulder.

  Both girls grinned and situated themselves on the bench he’d built in the back.

  “You girls ready to pass out the treats?”

  “Absolutely, Santa.”

  The music for the stroll alternated between the marching band and the group of carolers up at the front. The festive lyrics of Jingle Bells danced through the air and Peter smiled, still able to hear Diane’s voice singing in his memory. It was layered over by the children lining the sidewalks of the streets. He waved and laughed, alternating his focus from one side of the street to the other.

  “Merry Christmas, Somewhere!” he shouted every so often.

  The girls in the back threw mini candy canes and wrapped bits of chocolate at the groups of people, and Peter’s che
st ached at the sound of children squealing in delight.

  He and his wife hadn’t been able to have children. It was one of the only things he truly regretted about not remarrying. He was past having kids now. At fifty-five, his life was starting to slow down. Not speed up.

  They turned the corner at Boundary and headed west toward Third. The houses along the south side of Boundary were beautifully decorated. All the residential areas around Town Square always went above and beyond, whether they had a small house or one of the historical mansions. Everyone worked together to make the neighborhoods into a winter wonderland.

  A car in the distance backfired and one of the mares nearly jumped out of her shoes.

  “Whoa, girl,” he cooed, settling her with soft whispers and assurances. Hopefully that car didn’t come any closer.

  The mare yanked the reins, but finally settled back into a slow walk. Between all the squealing children, the carolers, and the marching band, she was doing fantastic. The mares that usually pulled the sleigh annually were some old farm horses from the Harris farm, north of town. But the Harris’ had retired to Florida and sold the place, along with all the animals. Now some guy who ran a security firm owned it. He couldn’t remember his name, but he’d seen him a few times. Definitely ex-military.

  “Everything okay, Mr. Gibson?” One of the girls asked, her voice shaking just a tad.

  “It’s fine, hon. Don’t worry.”

  He clucked his tongue and turned north onto Third Street, following a few yards behind the cheerleaders from the high school.

  A backfire popped again, this time closer. The muscles in his arms tensed. This time both mares pranced nervously under the reins.

  “Girls, I want you to climb down and walk. Just in case. These girls are not handling that noise well.” Peter pulled tight, trying to keep the mares from getting any lead. They were much younger than the old gals he was used to as well as the docile stock he worked with at Saddles for Hope. The last thing he needed was for them to bolt and the teens in the back to get thrown. “Whoa, girls. Shhhh. It’s okay. It’s just somebody’s old car.”