Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

T wenty-four hours until Christmas Eve. It promised to be another day of endless snow. Ivy had not slept a wink all night. After everyone left and the entire household went to bed she used the time to do the last few jobs on her gran’s list.

She flicked a quick look at the clock on the coffee machine. Green numbers blinked the early morning hour. Fourteen hours until she was back in Anchorage and on a plane. With the plans already set in motion, it would be hard to stay. Even if what Aspen said made sense. A stir or anticipation sent a flush of goosebumps over her skin at remembering what he’d said. He’d find a way to convince her to stay.

But she had to keep her feet on the ground and right now she still had a few things to take care of. Like finding someone to take her place as hostess so she could leave.

Her heart raced even now as the sun burst across the morning sky to chase away the shadows. But she didn’t feel any of the brightness that came with the morning light.

Leaving hurt.

A small pang of guilt burst through the shadows of her thoughts. Grabbing her phone, Ivy read over her sister’s text that came in the previous night and she’d missed.

Hope you and Aspen are making out, having dirty raunchy under the Christmas tree sex.

Two strings of emojis followed.

“Love is for saps,” she said to Max as he rolled over to his back and whined for some attention. She slid from the stool, unable to refuse the big lug a belly rub. “I’ll miss you, buddy, but it’s for the best. You agree, don’t you?” She sighed, not really sure what kind of answer she intended to find. “What does a dog know?”

Max turned his head up. “You’re probably smarter than all of us dumb humans, aren’t you, boy.” She patted his head and stood when the house phone rang.

A strange number popped up. “Hello, Merry Christmas.” Though there was not a damn thing merry about it, she gave the spiel all the same.

“Ivy! Thank God I caught you!”

“Julie? Morning. Is everything okay?”

“Of course, I’m sorry. Did I wake you? I keep forgetting that not everybody keeps my crazy hours.”

“You’re fine. I was up packing anyway.” Which wasn’t a lie. She just hadn’t started yet but had it in her planner, which made it practically true.

“OH! You can’t leave. Not today. It’s the Dixcemberfest and you’ve missed so many. Come on, you’ll kick yourself if you miss it.”

Crap. She forgot. “I know, but when work calls…” Her poor excuse sounded lame even to her.

“Listen, what time is your flight?”

“Nine tonight. New York bound.” She would be a day early but she could use the time to collect her thoughts and do some needed research on the new job and get her gears changed from small town to big city. And cleanse her brain of Aspen, which would probably take a forklift for all the memories he drudged up, and a case of wine, some time with her battery boyfriend and probably a few crying sessions.

“Perfect.”

“It is?”

“Yep, I’ll be there at five. We can spend a little time together at the festivities and then if you still want to leave I’ll personally drive you to the airport in Anchorage myself.”

“There’s no if, Julie.”

“Pleeeease, Ivy. Will you do this for me?”

She nibbled at her lip and Max looked up at her with his big brown eyes.

“Okay. Fine, but?—”

“Yes!” Julie cut in.

“But a couple of hours and that’s it.”

“You bet. See you at five. Oh, and Ivy. Wear something warm, okay?”

They disconnected and Ivy flipped her planner open and penned in the girl time and then closed the pages with a sigh.

She still needed to find someone to take her place. Maybe Julie would fill in for her. She could ask. Make it a dual-purpose kind of meeting. If not, she needed to put her epic last-minute backup planning skills into practice and pronto.

Ivy climbed the stairs to her room as she dialed Juniper. It could go either way since she would be busy with wedding details for clients. But she no doubt helped get Ivy into this mess. Now her sister could help get Ivy out of it.

By early evening, as all the guests prepared for the festivities, Ivy had a full plan worked out as she stared into the Christmas tree lights. The Wilbers and the Howards had opted to leave early for the festivities in town while she waited for Julie.

They would go to town, on the trip she would coax her into helping her until Juniper arrived in two days and in time for the additional guests to arrive. Her gran, well, she wasn’t here to protest so she didn’t get a say in the matter.

They would avoid Aspen at all cost while out and she would return to Anchorage the same way she came. By cab. No talking needed. Goodbye Dixen. And Aspen. She had to focus on herself now. Keep her mind where it needed to be instead of fantasy land.

A knock came at the door and she turned from the Christmas tree in the living room. Odd. There hadn’t been any motor. Night had fallen and all the twinkle of lights shone out across the snow like a thousand angel halos.

Were more guests arriving?

She swung the door open.

“Aspen!”

She froze to the spot.

“Milady, your carriage awaits.”

Her heart melted into a puddle despite the cold.

Aspen, dressed in black jeans, an equally black sweater and polished black boots looked the perfect part of a hero. The scarf she’d knitted him in high school knotted around his neck.

A fireman hero and just for her with how his eyes hadn’t left hers since she opened the door.

Her ridiculously good-looking fireman bowed at the waist with a flourish of his gloved hand and pointed to something behind him. Long strands of hair slipped over his forehead with his grand gesturing.

She stepped outside and into his arms as he turned them to face the driveway.

Aspen beamed at her before bending and placing a tender kiss on her with a fierceness she couldn’t ever get enough of.

She moaned as his lips crashed into hers and he growled a heated response. His large hands drew her closer and when they both finally came up for air she took his hands in hers, pulling him inside. They were alone again and if this was her last few hours in Dixen, she wanted to spend it with him. Ok, so she changed her mind. So someone sue her.

He strangled a laugh, not moving. “Baby, I have a better idea.”

He moved to the side and guided her down the front stairs that led off the porch.

The snow had stopped at some point in the evening and moonbeams broke through the clouds to lend a dreamy glow to the night.

“Aspen, I’m speechless! It’s beautiful.”

She felt the second her brain shut off and her heart took over. It was beyond beautiful. Stunning and done all for her?

But the pesky question of why crept in.

She knew why. He wanted her to stay and was pulling out all the stops.

She stepped from Aspen’s side, drinking everything in as fast as they could. Silver chrome decorated the sides of a white horse-drawn sleigh tethered to the most beautiful and majestic Clydesdale she’d ever seen. Not even the ones on those old beer commercials came close to what stood in front of her this very second. Hadn’t she dreamed of a fairytale romance? Then why did she feel so unworthy of Aspen’s wonderful gesture? Why was she so scared of what it meant? Shouldn’t she want this happiness?

It boiled down to trust. Eight years was a long time to lose contact with someone. Wasn’t it? She didn’t know anymore. Not with how fast her heart beat just standing next to Aspen.

Lewis had really fucked with her mind and heart.

She turned, tears glittering in her eyes. She probably looked like a sap but she didn’t care. Scared or not she loved it. Loved him. Whether she wanted to admit it aloud or not.

Take that, Lewis. The hurt and the pain of her broken trust faded the longer she stared into Aspen’s warm eyes.

“Aspen. I thought Julie was coming, but I think I know what happened.” Yes, she saw it now. Siblings had each other’s backs.

She understood that and wasn’t mad at Julie for pulling a fast one on her. She’d do the same for any of her brothers and sisters.

“Shall we?” Aspen walked up behind her and held out his hand. “The town festivities await, milady, and we must not be late.”

“No, we must not.” She giggled at how they sounded, loving every second of the play.

He pulled her back against his front and wound an arm around her waist. Pulling her into him she could feel the massive bulge against her ass.

She sucked in a lungful of air. “Aspen.”

Aspen moved aside a swath of hair and pressed warm lips to her now exposed neck. “Let’s get you into the slay and then you can ask all the questions you want. If you can.”

She peered over her shoulder at him with a smirk. “If, huh? And what’s that supposed to mean?”

He only offered that cock-sure grin of his in answer.

She stepped up into the sleigh and Aspen quickly rounded the back before slipping in beside her. He reached over the back of the plush, red velvet seat and before she knew what he was doing had her wrapped in a massive blanket that covered them both and then some and snuggled her close to his side.

“I never thought a man would think of everything, but you haven’t missed a beat.” She found his hand under the blanket and wound their fingers together. “Where did you get a sleigh at this hour?”

He tapped the reins slightly and off they went. Only a slight swoosh and the crunch of hooves in snow cut into the peaceful silence. No cars, no horns...they were alone and she loved it.

“Kade has a friend that offers sleigh rides so he set me up.”

Aspen’s expression melded into one of contemplation as he guided the horse and sleigh toward town and she knew where his thoughts had turned.

“Ivy Sunday. Last night I meant what I said. Please stay.”

“We have so much history together.”

One tug and he had her on his lap, legs spread wide. He growled low in his throat feeling her body glide over his, no doubt. The heat in his eyes was a good indicator. He sensually slid his hands under the long winter skirt she opted for tonight and stroked warm hands from her knees all the way up to the band of her panties.

At some point, he’d lost the gloves and the callused skin of his palms and fingers sent a shiver to rush up her spine.

“Aspen, I?—”

“What, Ivy Sunday? You what? Love me? But don’t know how to say it? Don’t let pride get in the way. I told you, you’re not leaving Dixen and if you do manage to slip away, this time I‘ll chase you and move heaven and the fucking earth to convince you to come back with me.”

“Fuck, Aspen.”

“I’m telling you the truth.”

Between them, his shaft was hard as stone and she couldn’t help grinding her hips against the length held back by a strong zipper.

The truth was, the more she thought about it, the easier it was getting to see she belonged in Dixen with Aspen, but

He tugged the blanket around them and cocooned them in warmth.

His eyes burned into hers and she got the strong impressions he did mean every last word he muttered between them.

“Believe me, Ivy Sunday, this time you’re not getting away from me. I want to see you round with my baby but before that, I want to spend days and nights relearning how to pleasure your body. Take you to heights you’ve never reached and cum so deep inside you my mark will never be erased from your body.”

“Fuck, Aspen!” Did she already say that? Who cared!

She passed her tongue over her bottom lip and his cock became impossibly harder nestled between her pussy lips with only a scrap of cloth between them.

“I want you, Aspen. Fuck me. Right now.”

His lips crashed into her and she moaned into his mouth. Her legs tightened around his waist like she belonged locked around him. The hiss of a zipper and the heat of the fat head of his arousal were the only two things she could focus on while tucked under the heavy blanket with her fireman.

Ivy cried out as he slid into her slicked-up pussy that was dripping wet from the second he kissed her back on the porch. Funny how easy and fast her body responded to him.

Suddenly it’s like they couldn’t get enough of one another. She slid her hands beneath his sweater and raked her nails over all his taut muscles causing him to thrust into her. She brought her weight down and oh fuck that was pure bliss. He grunted in her ear. Holding her in place with strong arms around her she felt safe leaning back to drive down harder and faster.

“tilt your hips baby, just a little. That’s right. Fuck yeah.” His words became rough and commanding as he thrusted up into her and she rocked. The sticky sweet sound of her juices coating him brought a moan from her lips. So sexy and God, so hot. The smell of her arousal filled the air.

“Look at me,” he commanded gruffly

She did.

“You’re perfect for me and all mine. I looked for you every time I opened my door for eight fucking years, woman.”

She moved her hands lower, teasing the tips over ribs and feeling his ragged breaths tear through him.

He, on the other hand, popped the buttons of her blouse and pulled the sides away to reveal her bra. One second and he had her nipples bare to the cold. Warm lips descended over the hard tips as he hollowed his cheeks and suckled.

She cooed softly, fucking his thick cock in slow, steady strokes as he feasted on her breasts. Molten hot liquid coated them both and the sound of his growls filled her ears.

He was hungry for her and damn if that wasn’t sexy as hell and made her walls clench around him.

“God, how I’d missed him.” He drove up into her harder, faster.”

They both breathed heavily. “Fuck, Ivy Sunday, I’ve missed you. Missed the way your pussy milks me. Tell me what you want.”

She gasped when he reached between them and dragged a finger over her throbbing clit.

“Fuck, baby, that’s it, tighten around my dick, naughty girl. Tell me what you want from me. I want to hear it from those beautiful lips,” he grunted, his fingers tightening in her hair.

“Make me, ohh h....”

“You know I will and you know I’m going to feed your juicy pussy all my hot seed.”

“Yes!”

Aspen thrusted harder, his hands coming around my hips possessively. She no longer had any control over the rhythm. It was all him as he drove every thick, throbbing inch of his cock into her. He didn’t just fuck her, he made love and the way he commanded her body had every muscle in her body waiting on his orders.

They gazes locked.

Holding onto him she could see the love, the passion in his eyes and she felt it deep inside her as well. Every muscle in her body clenched and she could feel the start of her orgasm building. Inside her, Aspen grew impossibly thicker, stretching her velvety walls around him and she knew he was close too.

He thrust harder, grinding into her clit.

She threw her head back and he was right there to hold her, keep her safe as she lost herself to the power of her climax. It rolled through her with the force of a raging storm. On the cusp of her release, Aspen found his. Hot ropes of cum spilled into her pussy, coating her walls and she milked him greedily with slow rocking motions of her hips until they had nothing left to give each other.

Panting and shaking she didn’t want to move much less feel the loss of him. Tipping her head up, he claimed her mouth with a possessive kiss, stealing her breath away. His tongue swept across her lips and she opened for him.

For several moments they lost themselves to each other’s taste and heat. Wrapped in one another she loved the idea of her thighs growing sticky with their shared release.

“You’ve made a mess of me,” she teased, resting her forehead against his.

He cupped her face. “I’m going to love seeing you walk the town square among all those men knowing you’re marked with my seed.” His husky admission made her pulse spike as if it wasn’t already hitting warp speed.

She slid from his lap, his spent cock pulling from her.

There’s one thing she learned tonight. You couldn’t fight fire with fire. It burned everybody. Someone had to give. Every damn part of her knew what to do next but change was hard. But maybe not that hard. Not when she had Aspen.

They made quick work of straightening their clothes as they reached city limits. Not a soul was on the road. Soft pools of light from the spaced out street lamps caught the gold flicker in his eyes as he considered her.

“You look good freshly fucked with a glow of happiness. When I get you home, I’m going to make you cum again.” He leaned over. “And again.”

He hugged her to him and she slid her arm around his chest. She wasted so many days, months and years thinking being tied down to a small-town man and a small town was a bad thing. When in reality she’d never felt better than she did at that very moment.

“Are you still leaving?”

His question was quiet but held the power of a nuclear bomb.

Since they were baring their souls, she opted to put her thoughts into words. “I don’t know, Aspen. There’s still so much in the air. I have a life back in Seattle, and now New York with the job. Or at least I thought I did. Being here and not getting one call from a friend to check in on me or see if I need anything has kind of made me rethink things. Our time together has also shed a lot of light on my mistakes. Taking care of Gran’s B&B, the guests. I forgot how much I love this place. And on the flip side, I have a business to take care of even if I’ve lost a little of the passion I once had for it.” Voicing that last thought was a revelation even for her. “I didn’t realize all that until just now. What does the future hold for me? My plan didn’t exactly work out, you know.”

“So make a new one. Change isn’t so bad, Ivy Sunday.”

“Not when I have you,” she offered with a smile.

Before he could deliver on the kiss he leaned in for, a flock of children ran their way. She’d been so engrossed in their conversation she forgot to take in the beautiful decorations the town had strung up for the special occasion.

Giggle boxes bounded across the now empty streets and ran straight for them.

In the last moment alone, he placed his lips close to her ear and whispered, “I love you.”

Her heart stopped. Would she ever get used to hearing those words from him again? Would they ever stop making her lose her breath?

As they came to a slow stop, their horse received copious amounts of pets and hugs from the girls while the boys all wanted Aspen’s attention. “It looks like we’ve arrived and none too early.” She laughed as the youngest of the Howard kids took Aspen’s hand and pulled him from the sleigh.

“I think duty calls for our town’s fire chief.”

“I’ll meet you back here, one hour? This time in my truck for a warm ride?”

“Sounds like a date.”

Aspen smiled, the devilish twinkle in his eye. She blew him a kiss that earned squeals and gagging sounds from the kids.

She laughed and slipped from the sleigh. She grabbed the blanket and tossed it over the horse.

“Kade will be by in about five to take him home. Girls, if you call your moms over, maybe he can give you all a sleigh ride, too.”

They loved Aspen’s idea and she was tempted to cross over to where he stood and throw her arms around his neck and kiss him silly right here in front of the whole damn town.

“Come on, boys, I know you guys like the manlier stuff. Right? Let’s go check out that fire engine.” Aspen winked at her and she watched as he walked away with a little one on his shoulder and the others hot on his feet. Mrs. Howard looked on with a mother’s love in her eyes.

Change. Was it a good thing? After tonight, it held promises. Lots of promises.