Shayla's Story (The Mathews/Clemmins Family Series) (18 page)

They rolled over the
fluffy down comforter, entwined in each other’s arms. John slipped his palm
inside her black lace bra, covering the erect tip of her breast with his mouth.
Her fingers ran through his dark locks of hair, gripping tightly as the low
ache in her core contracted. He straddled her hips, working over her mouth in
long indecent licks of his tongue. A delicious heat surged through her limbs.

John broke the kiss,
biting her shoulder gently before easing her onto her stomach. He unclasped her
bra and hooked his fingers through her black panties, nearly tearing the lace.
“If I remember correctly, you rather liked this.”

His voice slipped
over her shoulders like crushed velvet.
 

A simpering camber
held to her mouth, twisting to see his face beside hers. “Oh, yes, I did.”

Leaning back on his
haunches, he wedged a knee between her legs and then another, caressing the
back of her leg all the way down to her toes.

“God, I love you.”

Feeling the heat of
his moist breath on her ass, she trembled and arched.

“You’re skin smells
so delicious. I’ve thought about tasting you since I walked off that damn plane.”

Each place his body
touched hers created a spark of energy. Her hips arched upward in a primal
craving, as if they had a mind of their own. Every timid insecurity she’d known
dissolved in his presence. He rubbed up the back of her thighs as his mouth
wondered over the ticklish spot at the small of her back. Her hips rose higher
and she bucked a little, needing more. “John, please,” she panted in a raspy
voice.

A small knowing
grumble came from his throat and he took a tender bite of her ass. His thumbs
put pressure on the inside of her thighs, lifting her a few inches higher. “You
missed me.”

“Yes.” Her voice
strained taut in unbearable desire.

Her heart slammed
erratically in eagerness. A long swipe of his tongue pierced through her soft flesh.
She shivered at the sensation of his mouth languidly feeding off her. Her
heartbeat rocked through her veins and she balled her fists in the bedding.
Waves of pleasure rolled, building and climbing. She reached her hand between
her thighs to rub her aching flesh, but he grabbed her, lacing his fingers
through hers, pinning it to the bed.

“Wait,” came a
guttural sound of command. She writhed beneath his masterful mouth, her pulse
brutal in its force. He teased her, deliberately avoiding the one spot she so
badly needed him to flick.

Her head thrashed
back and forth. “Can’t.”

He marauded deeper,
getting closer, bringing her to a height of fervor she’d never known. Her heart
slammed and she clenched in anticipation.

“John!”

He delivered, plunging
deep inside, drawing her cleft into the searing heat of his mouth. Shudders
wracked her body, pushing her into rapture.

 
His hot, wet mouth laid down a torturous
trail of nibbles and bites along her back. “That is how much I missed you,
baby.”

She collected her
breath and stretched out her cramped fingers that were clenched tightly to the
sheets.

He lowered on top of
her back, the warmth of his body blanketing her damp skin. He rubbed his hands
over each of hers, interlacing his thick fingers between hers, holding his
crushing weight on his elbows. Her inner muscles contracted in acceptance as
she felt the gentle nudge of his erection gliding over her silken folds.

His breath came in
hungry pants beside her cheek.

Shayla twisted,
opening her mouth, rooting for his kisses.

“Easy,” he whispered,
taking in her tongue.

Her rising moan
filled their mouths and she shivered, tasting her own essence on his breath.

He gave a low,
guttural groan of pleasure, holding her gaze until he entered her.

Shayla gripped tighter
to his fingers, slippery from sweat, accepting the thick fullness of him. She
clenched around him, marveling at the feel of his erection as he pushed deeper
into her wet heat.

His face was right
beside hers. She loved the way his eyes turned cloudy in a passion-filled daze.
He rocked into her again and again, taking in every nuance of her reaction,
learning from each whimper. Her teeth nipped at his skin and her parted lips dragged
over the flexing muscles of his arm and shoulder.

Nuzzling into her
neck, John released her fingers and gripped her hips, lifting them higher.

Shayla’s head
lowered, allowing her to scrunch deeper into the folds of the bedding. Her hips
shifted backward, greeting his thrusts. She began to peak and sounds of
excitement rose from her throat in pleasure.

John tangled one
hand into her mane of hair and the other gripped her shoulder, impaling her in a
tireless rhythm until they both came in hard shudders. He crumpled on top of
her, falling off to one side, pulling her body close to his. Swamped with
emotions, she snuggled into his chest.

Swathed in sheets
holding the salty essence of sex and skin, both were too exhausted to speak.

Shayla lay in the crook
of his arm, lazily fingering the dark curls on his chest.

His hands lingered
over her bare hip in idle circles.

She was happier than
she had been in her entire life. There was no place else she would ever want to
be.

“I know you can’t
leave your job, but I can do my job from any computer. I’ll need to get some of
my things before we go to Vegas. We’ll work out the rest later. I just want to
be wherever you are.” Her quiet words were tucked between a few yawns as she
began to drift off.

John pulled the
blanket higher and pressed his lips to her hair. “Thank you.”

A large, luminous
star on the side of the mountain marked the coming of Christmas. Shayla wondered
if Old Saint Nick himself was going to emerge from the fireplace on Christmas
morning, covered in soot in search of chocolate chip cookies and milk. She’d seen
the jolly man dressed in his red suit and white beard on the ski slopes, on a
snow mobile, and shoveling snow along a drive.

Everyone came and
went on their own schedules, skiing, sledding, tubing, and shopping. The list
of fun was never ending. The Levi’s arrived, bringing a whole new dynamic to
the festivities, especially with their seven-year-old daughter, Kim. If she
wasn’t at ski school, she was stuck to JC’s side like duct tape, sporting
footed reindeer pajamas and an antler hat.

Shayla felt like she
had stepped into an old fashioned Christmas postcard. The week that followed
was like living in a dream. Neither Shayla nor John came prepared with presents
in tow, so they spent a few mornings snowboarding and a few afternoons shopping
for the perfect gifts. The small Colorado ski town redefined the term
decked out for the holidays
.

Shayla and John
strolled arm-in-arm through the streets the day before Christmas Eve. The sound
of sleigh bells mixed with the sweet songs of carolers, as horse-drawn sleighs
paraded passengers down the quaint streets.

Snowflakes began to
fall and the icy crystals collected on their lashes and lips. “Please tell me
we’re coming back here next year?”
 

A sexy smile tugged
at his mouth. He pulled his hand from his jacket and wiped a flake from her lip
with the ball of his warm thumb. “We’re definitely coming back here next year.”

“Seriously, is this
not just the best?” Shayla stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, holding her
arms out wide. Big snowflakes gathered on her shoulders and knitted hat. She
motioned to the street ahead, lined with never-ending rows of twinkle lights,
and light poles adorned in wreaths. “I mean look! I feel like I’m in a
life-size gingerbread village.”

He shot her a
stealthy grin. “Wait till you see what I have in store for you tomorrow.”

John and Shayla
spent Christmas Eve morning on the slopes. Both of them were avid snowboarders.
However, neither could keep up with JC or the Levi’s. Shayla gave up trying
after two runs and the double black diamond.

JC promised it would
be a piece of cake, but after a few falls, Shayla felt more like a smushed
flap-jack, and at one point thought she might have to walk down.

Everyone met back at
the cabin for an early afternoon dinner. The unmistakable aroma of homemade
pies filled the cabin when they walked in after snowboarding. The kitchen
counter was buried beneath all of the homemade goodness.

Tess hovered over
the oven, removing perfectly toasted apple pies, and Tracy sat on a barstool
snacking on moosemunch.
 

“Can I help?”

“Awe, thanks,
sweetie, but I’ve got it,” Tess said.

“Are you sure?”

Tracy patted the
seat next to her. “She cooks, we do clean up. It’s tradition.”

“Oh. Okay.” Shayla climbed
onto the stool, grabbing a slice of cheese and topping it on a cracker.

“Damn, it smells
good in here.” Tommy’s praise and wide smile brought a blush to Tess’s cheeks.
His arms encircled her from behind and he placed a kiss of affection on her
cheek.

Tracy and Shayla
smiled at each other, witnessing the simple intimate act.

“How was boarding?”

“Me?” Shayla pointed
to her chest. “It was great.”

“Between them and
you and John, I feel like I need a boyfriend,” Tracy grumbled, taking dishes to
the table. She hollered down the stairway to the basement as she headed for the
dining room, “Time to eat!”

Everyone gathered at
the long rustic table cut from a six-inch slab of wood. Delectable dishes lined
the table, nestled between a gorgeous candelabra made of iron.

John pulled out Shayla’s
chair, tucking it beneath her.

She glanced around
the table, and for the first time in her life, Shayla felt like she belonged to
a real family. Her heart brimmed full and her chest felt heavy. Sentiments of
love mixed with a deep seeded feeling of peace. Every book she read as a little
girl filled with Christmas magic could not have prepared her for the real, true
feeling welling in her heart.

She sniffled,
capturing John’s attention. His eyes slipped over her in his peripheral view
and he casually placed his hand on her leg, handing her his napkin. She stared
at her plate, not wanting to draw attention to herself, blotting her nose with
the napkin. When she thought she had a handle on it, Shayla looked up to see
Tommy watching her.

He looked a bit
weepy too, and she broke. Silent tears flowed down her cheeks.

She sniffed again, giving
a small chuckle of embarrassment, shaking her finger at Tommy as a playful
warning not to make her cry.

JC wrenched her head
forward, peering down the table. “Are you crying?”

Shayla shook her
head in innocent denial and then nodded, laughing at her own silliness.
“Sorry.”

 
Before she had time to excuse herself, JC
leaned over her, wrapping her in the sweetest hug. “It’s okay, don’t cry.”

Shayla’s shoulders
shook from laughing and crying. “I’m okay. I’m happy. It’s just that this has
been such a wonderful holiday.”

John smiled at her
over JC’s arm.

JC smooched her
cheek, whispering in her ear, “I knew this was going to happen.”

Shayla snickered a
little between sniffles, watching JC tug her phone from her back pocket. She
flipped though pictures, pulling up the picture of photo of John and Shayla asleep
on the flight to Greece. The picture had a heart and the word
Christmas
written across it, drawn by
the tip of her finger with a phone app. “See? I knew it!”

A grateful smile
lingered with doubt. “Manifesting again?”

“Umm hmm.”

After dinner, the
girls pitched in to clear the table and do dishes.

John stole Shayla
away in the midst, assuring her they’d make breakfast for everyone the next
morning. He held out her snowboarding suit. “Don’t ask, just put it on.”

Shayla did as he
asked and slipped into her gear without uttering a single word.

Stepping out into
the frigid night air, they strapped into their snowboards. Falling snow covered
the well-beaten path between the towering pines. They cut their way through the
powder, taking the trail toward the slopes. Frigid night air pinched her cheeks
and the scraping sound of their boards filled the still night.

When they made it out
the chute and past the tree-line, John stopped, pulling a blanket from his
backpack. Careful not to disturb the dense branches loaded with heavy snow, he
tucked the thick blanket beneath the pine, sheltering them from the falling
snow.

“What are we doing?”

“We’re waiting.”

John stretched out
long on his side on top of the blanket. Shayla dug the edge of her board into
the powder and dropped to her bottom, leaning against his abs for support. He took
off one glove and retrieved a silver flask of whiskey from his inside pocket.

“Have a told you how
much I love you?” she said, taking a swig, letting the burn of the whiskey warm
her from the inside. She cocked her head, listening. Voices carried through the
treetops and light falling snow. “Is that…singing?”

He snuggled closer.
“Umm hmm.”

Within minutes,
torch-bearing skiers began making their way down the mountain. Hoots and
hollers rang out between lyrics of jingle bells and ho-ho-ho’s as the parade of
lights made it’s way down the mountainside. Colorful illuminations took the traditional
form of a Christmas tree as the skiers and snowboarder crossed side to side
across, cruising down the slope.

A loud crack
thundered in the darkness and fireworks shot through the night sky. Barely
visible through the winter wonderland, an exploding star burst over the top of the
Christmas tree with each boom. “Merry Christmas Eve, Shay.”

She slouched,
kissing him through three rounds of star burst. “Merry Christmas Eve. Thank
you.”

“You’re welcome.”

****

Cool morning air
whispered across the heated flush of her body. Shayla and John lay tangled in
bed while the sun pushed through the shuttered window. Sex mingled with the
morning scent of their warm bodies.
 
“Merry Christmas, baby,” John purred into the folds of her hair.

“Merry Christmas.” Shayla
rolled over, settling into the now familiar moldings of his torso, feeling
safe, happy and loved. Her fingers keyed rhythmically across his collarbone. “What’s
your favorite Christmas memory?”

“This is my
favorite, right now.” He stroked down her back, the tip of his finger barely
connecting with her skin, making her giggle and squirm.

Shayla knew John’s
life was filled with fond family memories, but she noticed he kept quiet while
his sisters told story after story, reminiscing Christmases past. She crawled
on top of him, stretching out flat on the length of his body. He closed his
eyes as he tucked his hands behind his head. She shimmied up his chest so she
could kiss his chin.

“John, I want to
hear you talk about your life, your family, and all of the wonderful memories
you have. I grew up thinking those bonds weren’t possible. I love you, and I
love your sisters and your mom, too. Hearing those stories and being around
your family, makes me feel good inside. Not jealous. Okay, maybe a tiny bit
envious, but it makes me have faith in that kind of love, knowing it’s
possible.”

“Honestly, I think
I’ve died and gone to heaven right now, Shay. At this moment, with you lying all
naked and warm across my body, staring up at me with your big beautiful eyes.” He
fingered through her tussles of hair. “The Christmas sun is shining through the
shutters, casting pieces of light over your bare shoulders. Baby, I’ve never
had a better moment in my life than the one I’m having right now.”

Her chest grew tight
and her nose tickled

The heat between
them turned blistering.

“My family isn’t perfect,
Shay, but you’re right, I have been holding back. I didn’t want to hurt your
feelings.” He rolled, pinning her beneath him, his firm thighs anchoring her to
the mattress. “And
we
have a lifetime
of wonderful memories ahead of us.”

A smile lit up
Shayla’s face. “John, this is my first best-Christmas memory.”

“I’ve got a better
one for you.” John kissed her, hungrily and open-mouthed. Caught in a ray of
morning sun, they stared keenly into each other’s faces, indulging in the joy
of pure pleasure, making love and savoring, in that precise moment, the making of
a memory that would last a lifetime.

****

Christmas day was
spent gathered around the beautiful tree and massive rock fireplace. Everyone
relished in a day of relaxation, appreciating the down time with family and good
friends.

John and Shayla
lounged in their pajamas all day shooting pool, playing cards, eating, sleeping
and making love. Christmas took on a whole new meaning for Shayla. It was no
longer be a day she dreaded that stirred up ugly memories from her past, it was
a day filled with love and family. A day that she would look forward to every
year.

Tommy and Tess snuck
out early the morning after Christmas for their official honeymoon in Bora Bora
and the Levi’s left that afternoon for Germany to finish filming a movie.

The week that
followed was undoubtedly the best time of her life. According to his sisters,
John’s acquired most of his looks, habits and mannerism from their father,
Richard, including the life motto
work
hard, play hard
. And he showed it. He talked passionately about his work
and gave thorough inspections to each and every structure they entered. One
evening as they enjoyed dinner at a slope-side resort, John stared up at the
thirty-foot ceiling, pointing out enormous rafters and huge saddles made from
black iron, screwed together with twelve-inch lag bolts.

Shayla took
interest, listening intently, but the terminology sent her thoughts straight to
the gutter. The man had the uncanny ability to make her break out in a misty
layer of heat that spread crimson over her cheeks with the mere curl of his
smile.

“Stop. You’re
seriously turning me on,” she snickered and he smothered a laugh into the curve
of her neck.

As vacation came to
an end, they spent their last day on the slopes. A large snowstorm kept them
inside for two days after Christmas, and they wanted to make the most of their
last day boarding. They started the day with Tracy and JC, catching the hopper
Gondola and zig-zagging their way to the top of peak seven. After hitting a black
diamond called The Abominable Snowman, the foursome turned into a twosome,
losing the girls—or at least JC—to some hot snowboarders.