2. Yultide Greetings

Chapter 2

Yultide Greetings

As Mr. and Mrs. Wardle left to close the apothecary shop that evening, Nova settled on the sofa. Ash added another log to the fire before joining her.

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. She sighed and nestled into him. Together, they watched the log burn in the fireplace in a truly magical moment.

He could see them, ten years from now, hosting a yule meal in their own home. They would’ve been married for several years and if they didn’t have kids running around yet, she would settle on the couch with him after dinner with her very pregnant belly and place her feet in his lap as they listened to the fire crackling in the hearth.

There was no doubt in his mind that Nova was his future. They would continue to grow and nurture their relationship as they were still young, but the glimpse he caught warmed not just his heart, but his soul.

“This is nice,” he said as he stroked her arm.

“Merry Christmas,” she said.

“Happy Yule,” he said with a smile showing his brilliant white teeth.

“You remembered?”

“Of course, snow. I’m grateful we’re celebrating our first holiday. Christmas or Yule doesn’t matter to me, as long as we’re together.”

“You’re so amazing, Ramsey.”

He made a face as she enjoyed teasing him. Ramsey was a family name, but he desired to be his own man. He preferred to be called Ash, which she was well aware of. She’d once told him she’d like to pass the name down to their son one day.

“And you’re fucking adorable.”

He booped her nose with his finger, and she swatted him with the back of her hand.

“Watch your mouth,” she cautioned.

“You’re going to love my mouth soon.” He grinned wickedly.

She squirmed next to him as crass words had their intended effect. His grip on her tightened as he dropped his lips to her throat. She squealed as he sucked hard and then soothed the spot with his tongue.

“I want to relish in your sweet taste, snow.”

“Ash—” she said with a blush.

“I want to give you your present first,” Ash said as he jumped off the couch.

He plucked the small, squared box from underneath the tree. It was wrapped in white tinsel paper that glittered in the soft glow of the firelight. She gasped softly as he placed it in her hands. He watched her face in anticipation as she pulled the iridescent ribbon off the package. She put it aside and carefully unwrapped the paper, trying not to rip it.

“You know, most people tear into the paper to get to the present immediately.”

She paused and glanced at him thoughtfully.

“This paper is so beautiful, it would be a shame to tear into it. In the commune, lavish spending isn’t common. Instead of wrapping paper, we use gift bags because they can be saved and reused the following year.”

Even from the beginning, Nova had a way of humbling him.

His mother visited the apothecary monthly for a tincture to calm her anxiety. She was overwrought when she accidentally spilled it and sent him to pick up more for her.

Wardle Apothecary was one of the shops on the main road that separated the town ’ s limits from the commune. The shop welcomed everyone, whether townsfolk or community members.

A tinkling bell overhead alerted those within to his presence as he walked through the door. A sense of peacefulness greeted him, along with a powerful herbal scent. He inhaled deeply, allowing his senses to become invigorated.

When he opened his eyes, which he hadn ’ t realized he had closed, a pixie goddess stood before him with a wide, full-lipped smile. Her hazel eyes were slightly upturned beneath dark lashes. She had a small gathering of freckles on her nose and left cheek.

“ Welcome to Wardle Apothecary. Can I help you find something?”

She giggled and tilted her head thoughtfully as he swallowed and shook his head. Though she was a head shorter than him, he shrunk in embarrassment. He cleared his throat and willed his racing heart to return to a normal pace. If love at first sight was real, he fell immediately.

“ I ’ m Ramsey Ashford Hayes,” he introduced himself with an outstretched hand, hoping she would take it.

His etiquette became his excuse to touch the nymph. But she surprised him by throwing her arms out and hugging him.

“ Why didn ’ t you say Mrs. Nancy was your mom? I began mixing her tincture as soon as she called. It’s almost ready if you don’t mind waiting about ten minutes.”

Ten minutes wouldn’t be long enough, he’d thought. She had a natural allure, and if she attempted to lure her into the woods with her song, he wasn’t sure he could resist.

Once his mother’s tincture was prepared, he left. Nova’s smile haunted his dreams that night and he returned the next day in hopes of seeing her. A sense of calm came over him as he walked through the door.

He made every excuse to stop by for a week while he gathered the courage to ask her on a date. When she agreed, it was music to his ears.

Ash loved how Nova approached everything with childlike wonder. He joked and called her S now because she was as pure of heart as a storybook princess.

“Oh!” she exclaimed as she opened the box.

She pulled out a beautiful snow globe featuring an intricate winter scene. The dark-stained oak base was adorned with a silver engraved plate containing their names and the year. The clear glass dome covered a majestic wonderland. Several trees lined a portion representing a forest. A bird sat in the boughs of a decorated tree in front of a tiny, cozy cabin. And a mighty buck stood guard while his doe grazed in the yard.

“My family owns a cabin at the base of a mountain. Some of my happiest holidays were spent there. That’s where we’re going tomorrow.” Ash pointed to different details in the snow globe.

The tree in the front yard was decorated with twinkling lights and icicle crystals that shimmered in the light instead of tinsel. The Northern Cardinal sat atop the tree, allowing the bird a sentient view over the dome. Their initials were carved in the bark encircled by a heart.

Nova wound the tiny key on the bottom. A tinkling piano melody sounded with such beauty it brought tears to her eyes. Snow swirled around the glass, bringing the interior to life.

“Oh, Ash. This is amazing!” she exclaimed.

“I had this specially designed for you and composed the song myself for you. I heard it every time I sat at the piano in the months after we met, until one day my fingers danced across the keys, bringing movement to my feelings for you.”

“What is the melody called?” she asked.

“Snow’s Wonderland.”

Tears rolled down Nova’s cheeks, and she quickly brushed them away. She placed the snow globe on the hearth and flew into Ash’s arms. She cupped his smooth cheek in her palm.

“When I set my intentions and asked the goddess to bless me with love. How did I get so lucky to find my own fairytale prince?”

“I’d do anything to make you happy, Nova. You know that, don’t you?”

How hard and how fast he fell should’ve alarmed him. His mother didn’t approve of him being with a Wardle woman, but he would gladly give up his silver spoon to be with her.

“She bewitched you, Ramsey,” his mother had said. “This isn’t love. You’re merely under a spell.”

Their lips were a hairbreadth apart.

“It’s time for your gift now,” Nova said.

Her breath tickled his lips as she spoke, and he wasn’t about to let her go so quickly. Ash closed the gap in an instant, claiming her mouth and offering her what they both craved. He gently scraped her lower lip with his teeth. She opened to him with a moan, and he penetrated her mouth. Their tongues danced as their hands explored each other’s bodies.

“You are heartbreakingly beautiful, snow,” he said as he ran his hand through her dark hair.

Ash scooped her up and brought her back to the couch. He sat with her astride his lap. She pressed her lips against his once more and he tugged her hair lightly, breaking the kiss.

“I love you, Nova,” he said.

Her hazel eyes glistened as she replied, “I love you too, Ash.”

It was the first time they professed their love for each other. He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers, wanting to freeze the moment and make it last forever. He wanted to remember how he felt, basking in the glow of her love and the firelight.

As if drawn together by magnets, their lips found their way together once more. Ash wrapped his arms around Nova and pulled her ever closer, relishing in the feeling of her soft curves against him. The sweet herbal scent that was unique to her ensnared his senses.

He slid his hand down Nova’s back and cupped her ass, encouraging her to rock back and forth in his lap. She grabbed onto his flannel shirt to balance herself. Her breath hitched as he hardened beneath her.

“I’ve got you, Nova. You’re safe with me. I’ll never hurt you.”

“I know,” she whispered.

Everything he said was true. Ash let Nova’s tiny sighs and moans guide him as he kissed her with renewed passion.

His hands moved to grip her hips as he buried his face in her neck, gently sucking on her skin before soothing her fevered skin with open mouth kisses

“That feels amazing,” she moaned.

Their love sparked an ardent fire within that couldn’t be ignored as they continued to grind against each other. The soft sounds spilling from Nova’s mouth drove him wild. He was ready to take their relationship to the next level, but he would not push if she wasn’t ready.

Pulling himself free from the frenzy between them was the hardest thing he’d ever done. He cooled them off with some light kisses to her cheeks and forehead. He took some deep breaths, greedy for oxygen.

“We should stop, little bunny.”

Nova groaned in frustration, seeking friction for herself as she continued to rock hard and slow in his lap. It was torturous to stop her when it was everything he wanted. Getting caught up in the magic of the moment was one thing. Regret in the morning light was another. They would only ever have a single first time.

“That’s enough, Nova,” he said firmly.

She slipped from his lap with a pout. Ash leaned in and took her lower lip between his teeth with a growl, but she gently pushed him back.

His eyes widened as she sank to her knees before him. She brushed her fingers up and down his thighs.

“It’s time for your gift now.”

He placed his hands on hers, stilling her movements.

“Stop, snow. You don’t need to do this.”

The weight of his arousal strained painfully against his zipper as she nuzzled his leg. He saw his adoration reflected in her hazel eyes as she blinked up at him.

“I’m ready to bind myself to you. I love you, Ramsey. There won’t be anyone else but you.”

Her hand slid up his inner thigh and grazed the line of his clothed cock. He groaned and felt as though he would melt at her simple touch. Let alone how her mouth or virginal pussy would feel.

He stilled her hand once more. “Are you sure?”

She nodded and moved her hands to his zipper. He sucked in a deep breath and felt lightheaded as all his blood rushed into his dick, which begged to be released. His hands fumbled over hers as his penis couldn’t break free from the metal-toothed prison fast enough.

He almost came the moment Nova’s soft hand touched his burning flesh. There were no words to describe the feeling of being in love and seeing her pink lips wrapped around his cock. She was made for loving him.

Murmurs spilled from his lips as she swirled her tongue around his head. He wrapped her hair around his fist, for nothing more than the need to ground himself as he felt a tingle at the base of his spine.

“If you don’t stop, I’m going to come.”

But she didn’t stop. If anything, she took it as a challenge and took him deeper. It was long before he erupted in her mouth, and she swallowed him down.

She looked up at him with a grin and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. He reached out to caress her cheek.

“I love you, Nova,” he said sincerely. “I want you to know I will cherish tonight forever.”