Snow Globe Kiss

SNOW GLOBE KISS

Jade

Christmas Eve, Eve

I have a love-hate relationship with driving in the mountains.

I was enthralled by the beauty of the mountains when I first moved to the Aspen area. With snow caps you can spot miles away and gorgeous trees and plants at every turn, what's not to love?

Turns out, almost sliding off the side of an icy mountain road a year ago would do it. My ancient car was totaled, which was a huge blow for someone barely making it financially.

But then again, it's kind of what brought Eli and I together, finally . In the last year, we got married, and I finally finished my first book. It releases New Year's Day, and my anxiety about it is through the roof.

On top of that, it's our first Christmas hosting friends, and the perfectionist in me wants everything to be, well, perfect. That's why I drove into town two hours before my best friend Katie and her new boyfriend, Josh, arrive to spend the next five days at our house.

I was determined to pick up the custom tree ornament I ordered weeks ago from an artist I found on social media as my gift to Eli. The delivery was delayed with the holidays, which is why it's only just now arrived. We have all that we need and are exchanging just one small gift each. Every time he asks what I want, I tell him to just surprise me.

Did I tell Eli I was leaving? No, I waited until he was on a call with his team at the foundation he runs, before shooting him a text and sneaking out. I feel a wee bit bad about it—I know he doesn't want me driving on roads that are already starting to get slick. A snowstorm is on its way, and we're supposed to get three feet, but it's not supposed to start until the middle of the night—or at least that's what my weather app said yesterday.

Clearly, I should've checked it again, because the giant snowflakes hitting the ground and my windshield have been sticking since I left town, and the higher I climb, the thicker it gets. This vehicle can make it through anything, though. Eli made sure I had a top of the line, all-wheel drive SUV after last year's debacle.

Besides, I'm close to home. I crank the heat up a bit and turn down my Christmas music before I accelerate to get through a dip in the road that's already iced over. My front tires slip a bit, but I hold the wheel steady, and the all-wheel drive kicks in. I'm mentally congratulating myself when I see Eli's number flash across the screen on my dashboard.

"Hi," I answer a little too brightly.

"Sneaking out of the house? Seriously?" His voice is teasing, but there's a hint of stress he's trying to hide. "Also, Katie and Josh arrived 20 minutes ago."

"It's adorable how you worry about me. Wait — shoot, they're early!"

"Katie wanted to surprise you. Plus, with the storm, they wanted to avoid the roads."

"Yeah, uh, that's pretty smart." I really should've checked the weather updates before leaving the house.

"I see a few flurries." Lies . "But it's adorable how you worry about me."

"Some? You know I have eyes, right? It's already blanketing the driveway and trees here. Please tell me you're almost home, or I'm coming to get you."

"So dramatic."

"Brat." There's no anger in the growl, just a promise of punishment to come. The fun kind, of course.

"KLoveYouBye." I say quickly before ending the call as I realize I can't see more than a foot in front of the car now.

"Steady. Just go slow," I whisper to myself. I turn the wheel to the left and gently press the gas to slowly climb this hill, one of the worst on this road, but if I can get past this, it'll be smooth sailing.

Just don't hit the brakes — not like last time. Trust this fancy ass car.

I'm practically levitating off the seat with nerves, my hands at 10 and 2 as I climb slowly, the incline not too terrible, but it's the sharp switchback curve that could be a problem. The heavy snow and setting sun are making it difficult.

"You've got this," I mumble to myself. The only sounds are the howling wind and my nervous panting.

Is my heart racing? It's definitely racing.

What feels like five hours later, I come out of the curve like a pro.

"Yes!" I celebrate with a little bang on my wheel and settle back a bit, relieved the worst part is over.

Eli was worried for nothing, obviously. In fact, I can't wait to rub it in his —

CRUNCH

An unholy rattling, scraping noise screams up at me from the bottom of the vehicle, and I hit the brakes out of instinct.

What the fuck was that?

I carefully press my foot on the gas, and the whole car lurches forward to the sound of a hundred tin cans being crushed at once. The driver side elevates, and I swear, the tires on my side of the car aren't even touching the ground.

Double fuck.

And then, nothing. I press the gas, and the tires on my side of the car try to propel us forward while the others just spin, some sort of grinding sound assaulting my ears.

I made it worse. Cool, cool, cool.

I don't want to get out, but I know I need to. I quickly hop out, thankful to have plenty of layers of clothes on, and get down on my knees. With one hand on the side of the car and the other holding my phone to shine a light under the car, I spot… a boulder.

Oh my God, I drove over a not so insignificant boulder.

The smell of motor oil assails my nose as a trail of the inky liquid cuts a line through fresh snow leading out from under my car.

I blow out a big breath and call Eli back. He's never gonna let me hear the end of this.

Eli

I'm never going to let her hear the end of this .

Our friends, Katie and Josh, did nothing but grin at me while I tore around the kitchen trying to find my keys, muttering about Jade's recklessness after finding out that she's stuck.

I recklessly back out of the roundabout driveway, fully lit by every tree and shingle covered in the Christmas lights Jade insisted on putting it together a few weeks ago. I grumbled about it, but even I can admit it looks festive.

And fuck, my heart is still beating out of my chest with fear, and it's not going to settle until I have my eyes on her.

I know she's fine. I just talked to her, and she calmly explained what happened. Instead of worrying for her own safety, she's more upset about the car and how much it'll cost. I couldn't give a fuck about the car or the money.

But Jade? I'd give up everything for her, and I think she needs a little reminder of that.

Jade

I could've just walked home, but I know how much Eli would love that. Besides, I'm very into the way he gets all growly and protective over me.

So, I'm going to sit my cute ass here and let him rescue me.

Besides, I have Christmas music playing on my phone, and the snow is fluffy and reminds me of a snow globe. I'm belting out my favorite pop Christmas classic when Eli's massive black jeep quickly pulls up alongside my SUV, and I hop out to greet him.

Eli unfolds all 6'2'' of himself out of the vehicle easily, despite how high off the ground it is.

If someone looked Eli up online, all they'd see is his public persona: dressed in designer suits, appearing at the odd gala, but always with a stoic face—not a single emotion given away. It makes the wicked grin that he reserves for me all the more thrilling.

His piercing green eyes crinkle a tiny bit at the sides, lasering in on me as he cuts the short distance between us, one hand sinking into my hair as he claims my lips in a searing kiss, sending tingles up my spine. Grabbing the back of both my thighs, he hoists me up so I can circle my legs around his narrow waist.

"You OK?" He asks, breaking our kiss.

"Goodness, Eli. I just saw you a few hours ago." My voice is muffled as I bury my face in his neck, inhaling the scents of cinnamon and pine.

He turns his head, placing his lips at the shell of my ear. "You're lucky I'm not bending you over my knee right now for putting yourself in danger."

I dig my heels deeper into his glutes. "I'd be pretty happy if you did just that," I say as I sink my teeth gently into the strong column of his neck, his hitched breath telling me how much he likes it.

"Is it bad that, as excited as I am to celebrate our first Christmas with friends, I wish we had the house to ourselves instead?" I try to disengage my legs, figuring it's time we head home.

Instead, he sinks both hands into the cheeks of ass, pulling me back up as he turns us and leans me against the passenger side of his jeep.

"Eli, I was kidding. We've gotta go —"

He presses his hips into me; despite our height difference, he knows just how to line his length up with the heat of my core.

"Hold onto my shoulders." His voice is gruff with desire.

"Someone will see us, and we don't have time."

"Hands. Now."

I do as he instructs, and the muscles of his broad shoulders ripple under my hands.

"Good girl," he rasps, looping one arm under my butt to hold me up. With his other hand, he tugs at the buttons of my jeans, swiftly undoing them and lightly brushing his knuckles back and forth outside my underwear.

"God, you're so fucking wet. We won't be late, but we're not going anywhere until you come for me," he says as he trails feather light kisses along my jaw.

I'm on the edge of an orgasm already as those words send another rush of wetness to my core, Eli's fingers working their way under the fabric, his touch teasing.

Kisses trail down my throat. "Ohmygod." My words are rushed and low. "Just right—right there —" Eli's responding chuckle vibrates through me.

So arrogant.

I pull my head back out of reach. "Pretty sure I can outlast you." Pure bravado on my part.

I can't help but feel a thrill as his green eyes, already darkened with desire, narrow at the challenge in my words.

Eli

Jade tugs her plump lower lip between her teeth as she fights a little smirk at her challenge to me.

I love her and these little games we play.

"It's cute you think you're in control here," I say as I slip one finger into her pussy, then two, then three, stroking her slick flesh in time with her pants as my thumb rolls her clit gently.

"Come on, baby. Get to the edge for me," I command, whispering as though the trees might hear us. My fingers hook forward, tugging as I hit the spot guaranteed to make her explode.

"Oh, fuck, Eli. I…" Jade's words turn to indistinguishable mewls as she drips down my hand, and I know she's fighting her orgasm. I gently remove my fingers before letting her slide down the car until her feet are resting on the ground again.

The momentary dazed look in her eyes is adorable as she tries to glare up at me.

"What the hell, Eli?"

Jade

"Leaving me hanging is so not cool," I stammer while Eli grins down at me, his hands swiftly flicking open the fly of his jeans.

"I need to be inside you when you come." He shoves his pants and briefs down far enough to take his cock in hand, stroking it slowly with the fingers that were just inside me, spreading my wetness all around it as he walks me back against the car again.

"Pants off," he demands, and I eagerly push them and my undies down my legs, kicking off my boots as well. The bite of the frigid air cutting into my sensitive thighs barely registers.

I'm naked from the waist down, out in the open on a mountain road where neighbors could, in theory, see us, about to be fucked against the car by my gorgeous husband. My hands automatically go to cover myself, eyes darting around in paranoia.

"Seriously, what if someone sees us?"

Eli

"As though I'd let anyone else see you this way," I say before bending down and hoisting Jade back up by her thighs, planting her against the car as she lets out a startled squeak.

I line my dick up with her soft flesh, gently stroking the head back and forth against her clit. "You good?" I ask, making sure she's onboard with a bit of exhibitionism.

Jade grips my shoulders, roughly squeezing them and tugging me towards her, desperate for it. "Yes. God, yes."

No other words are needed as I thrust my hips up and forward, sinking my entire length into her. She's so wet, I slide in and out easily while her cunt grips me.

"Hold on tight, baby," I say as I put one arm around her waist to support her and grip the rack on top of the car for leverage, pumping my hips faster. "I love the way you feel, how your greedy pussy doesn't want to let me go."

I love Jade's little moans at my words. Our eyes connect, and I know what she wants in that moment. "Lift your sweater." She does as I ask immediately, pulling her bra cups down as I immediately take one pink nipple into my mouth, lathing the tightened bud with my tongue.

"Still think you can outlast me?" I can't help but taunt her, knowing I'm a hairsbreadth away from it as well.

"Yes, Harder. Please." Jade's pussy begins to flutter around my dick as the tingling starts in the base of my spine, and I increase the speed of my thrusts.

"Come for me, baby."

Jade

"Come for me, baby."

Eli's gruff voice telling me to come sends me over the edge. To hell with trying to outlast him. The bright hot flood of release courses through my body and I shatter around his length as he picks up speed, his thrusts pounding into me.

"Fuck, Jade," he rasps as he buries his head in my neck, and I feel him flood me with his orgasm as I squeeze my walls around his cock, milking every last drop.

I don't feel the cold or the wet snow landing on my face, just the glorious heat of Eli, his unique, wintery smell enveloping me in a little cocoon of contentment and safety.

My racing heart calms a bit as we both come down from the high, and he helps me get dressed. "My legs feel like noodles," I giggle, and Eli leans down, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Hey," I say as I throw my arms up to loop them around his neck as he buttons his pants. He looks down at me expectantly. "I had a good reason for going out today."

He looks at me skeptically as I open the door to my car to retrieve the package and hand it to him. "Open it."

His large hands make quick work of the box, and he pulls out a large, clear glass ball ornament. Lifting it closer to peer inside, he sees the tiny replica of our house surrounded by the trees and lights, just like a picture. The slow smile that spreads across his face tells me this gift was the right decision.

Eli tilts the ornament back and forth so the snowflakes inside wake up and flutter around like a snow globe before looking at me again. "This is perfect. I love it, and I love you. You know that, right?"

I'll never get tired of hearing those words or stop blushing every time he says them.

"I do, and I love you too. Now, let's get home to our friends and celebrate our first Christmas together."

He helps me into his car before driving us the 10 minutes back home; I know my car will be safe until someone can tow it. We pull into the circular driveway, the trees and house looking like a winter wonderland with the snow and all the lights we put up.

We walk up to the house, hand in hand. I open the door and glance up at Eli before stepping in, "OK, so I've figured out what I want for my gift. I think we should get a dog and a cat," I announce as I flounce into the warmth of our home, greeted by our friends to have the best Christmas ever.