Holiday Trap Read online

  “This all seems so fast; I can barely process it.” I can’t blame her. This is a lot coming at her at once, yet I shift closer, wanting to erase the distance between us. I take the glass from her and set it down, needing her to be sober for this, and what I’m hoping comes next.

  “But you feel it, too, right? This connection between us is undeniable.”

  “I do, but it terrifies me,” she admits.

  Cupping her face, I say, “Don’t be. Let it take over, believe in it.” And then I kiss her, not giving her another chance to think, something I know she’s been doing a lot of since I invited her. Her mouth tastes like the wine, with an added flavor that’s uniquely her, and I’m instantly addicted. I gently push her backward, the many pillows I’d placed on the floor surrounding her, then prop myself above her before placing a light kiss on her neck, then her cheek, the skin warm from the fire, and hopefully what I’m doing to her. My tongue begins a path downward, stopping at the top of her breasts. She shivers, then frowns, as if disappointed when I rise to my knees. Taking my shirt off, I throw it to the side, loving that her eyes are glued to my chest. Joy lifts her hands, but hesitates, so I place them on me, letting her explore. Her touch drives me insane, and my cock throbs, stealing my patience. Grasping the hem of her nightgown, I slowly start to slide it upward, revealing her to my gaze, and suck in a deep breath at her silky blue panties. She helps me complete the task, and my mouth water at the sight of her bare breasts. “You’re fucking perfect.”

  She blushes, and I can’t take it anymore. Our kiss isn’t gentle nor sweet, but hungry. Settling in between her legs, I shove my sweatpants off and hear her gasp as I press my tip to her core. Caressing her, she instinctively arches as I swipe a thumb over her nipple while my other hand tugs her panties down to expose her sex, removing them with her assistance. I suck, causing her to moan loudly, which only makes me harder. Moving to lower, she jerks as I lick her slit, lightly pinching her nipple and kneading the other. Slipping my tongue inside her sex, she becomes wild with need and, after waiting five month, I’m ready to blow after five minutes.

  “Gabriel!” She shouts as my fingers begin teasing her clit, shuddering under my as I work her to a climax. It hits hard and I lap up her juices, then grip her hips as I place the head of my cock at her pussy.

  “Tell me I can have all of you,” I urge her, not ashamed I’m close to begging.

  “Yes. Take me.” I don’t hesitate as she grants me permission, and slowly enter her, gritting my teeth at how damn good she feels surrounding me. When I bump into her barrier, I can’t help but be happy, knowing we’ll be each other’s only. Not wanting to prolong it, I push through her virginity, I kiss her, swallowing the whimper of pain that escapes, then ask if she’s okay. “It’s not nearly as bad as I imagined.”

  When she indicates that she’s ready, I begin moving, the pleasure overwhelming. Picking up my pace, I groan as her walls clamp around me, growling, “You're going to kill me.” As if she’s afraid I’ll stop, like I could, she clutches me, telling me not to, her voice almost one of panic. “Never.”

  Her hands grip my hair as her body finally adjusts to my size, and I hammer into her, knowing I can’t last much longer.

  “Oh god, Gabriel. I’m going to come,” she whimpers.

  “Fuck, yes,” I urge as her teeth sink into my chest when her orgasm hits, a scream ripping out of her throat as I plunge harder, shouting as my own tears through me. I collapse, resting my head above her heart, the sting of the bite she gave me making me smile. After catching my breath, I hold myself above her on my elbows, taking in her flushed cheeks, tears still gathered at the corners of her eyes, her body coated with a fine sheen of sweat.

  “That was…incredible. Thank you.” With a laugh, I tell her that’s my line. She gives me a sleepy smile, admitting, “I’m so tired.”

  “Fresh air can do that to you,” I inform her, before saying, “Let’s get some sleep.”

  “I don’t think I can move.”

  “We don’t have to,” I say, then pull out of her, both of us sounding disappointed as I do so. I grab a blanket and cover us, then gather her in my arms, enjoying the moment.

  “Goodnight, Gabriel.”

  “Goodnight, Joy.”

  It’s all coming together just as I’d hoped. Time for phase two.

  Chapter 6

  Joy

  I’m warm, cozy, and relaxed, until I open my eyes, and come face to face with a sleeping Gabriel. That’s when panic sets in, my cheeks burning at the realization I slept with my boss. What have I done? Maybe I’m not really awake, this is just a bad dream and I didn’t potentially risk my job, and the ridicule that’ll come if this gets out. Or it’s the best because I have to admit, I want to do it again. I try to wiggle out of his arms, but his grip instantly tightens.

  “Don’t run away from me,” he says. How can a sleepy voice be so sexy?

  “I’m not,” I reply defensively since I was trying to do that very thing.

  “Liar,” he admonishes with a grin before kissing me. When the blanket slips, revealing my naked breasts, I hurriedly pull it back up, only to have him rip it off. Gabriel rolls on top of me, he once more issues an order, “Don’t hide from me,” then takes a nipple, still sensitive from last night, in his mouth. My shyness fades as he begins playing with me, making me wet within seconds. This round is quick, rough, and passionate, and I eagerly lose myself in him. When I feel the warmth of his release, I remember we haven't used protection either time, and add it to the list of things to worry about. “You’re so beautiful, Joy, inside and out.” His eyes are full of satisfaction, erasing my insecurities just like that, though I have a feeling they might reappear. “I want to show you something.” And the next thing I know, we’re standing and he’s wrapping the blanket around me, then putting his sweatpants on. “This way.” He grabs my hand and leads me through the kitchen to the patio door. The cold air as we step outside makes me shiver, but it’s forgotten as I stare at all the untouched snow.

  “It’s even more beautiful than before. I can’t believe there’s so much of it.”

  “What do you want to do today? It seems like we are snowed in.” I knew he said a storm was coming, but I didn’t expect this much. We truly are stuck here. His hands run up my arms, to my shoulders, massaging the tightness in them. “I feel like this cabin isn’t nearly festive enough, don’t you agree?” Knowing what he’s doing, and thankful for it, I tell him I’d love to fix that. And I would. Apparently, I’m about to put up Christmas decorations for the first time. His smile is victorious, then he gives me a quick kiss and declares, “Breakfast first.”

  He makes us a delicious meal, then we proceed to decorate the cabin from head to toe, as well as making love, this time in an actual bed. As evening approaches, Gabriel convinces me to join him in the hot tub, naked, of course. I still can’t believe this is happening with a man, who for the most part was a stranger prior to this trip, though my feelings for him were more than that.

  Once we’re settled, he passes me a glass of champagne and we gaze at the stars. This all seems like a fairy tale, but I know they aren’t real. My parents’ relationship is proof of that. I swear they were happy once, or at least not as volatile, but perhaps that’s simply a child’s hope that things weren’t always bad.

  “You all right?” Gabriel asks, obviously noticing how tense, and pulls me closer.

  I shove the memories down, as well as the unease they caused, and plaster on a smile, assuring him it is. I look from the sky to him, his emotions written all over his face. He likes me. A lot. Hell, I think he even said he loves me, but I’m not quite ready to open that pandora's box.

  “I’m so lucky to have you here with me.”

  “What do you want?” The question pops out of my mouth after he pulls back from our kiss. I want to take the words back, hesitant to burst the bubble we’ve been living in these past two days, but I can’t. His answer is immediate.

  “You.”r />
  “What does that mean?”

  “I want to start a life with you, to do everything together for the rest of our days.” The damage my parents caused returns full force, anxiety hitting because I have this fear I’m not suited for marriage due to being exposed to their marriage. This is all too overwhelming, I need to distance, but I can’t get it with all this snow around us.

  He grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. “Stop thinking. Feel,” he urges seconds before his lips crash down on mine. He’s being aggressive, addicting, and I’m helpless against the connection between us. And he knows it. I’m at his mercy, just as he planned. I can only hope when reality comes, I’ll be able to let him go, so he can have the life he deserves, with someone that can give it to him, even if that thought makes me want to curl into a ball and cry.

  Chapter 7

  Gabriel

  I can feel her pulling away and I fucking hate it. I’m doing everything I can to show her I’m the man for her, and I thought she was accepting that, but she gets in her head, and it messes with what I know her heart is telling her. She needs more time, but I don’t have it to give.

  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and while the roads are still covered, I’ve already scheduled people to start clearing them later today. My mom has been texting all morning asking for an update, but I haven’t responded yet, hating that I have to admit it’s not going as I’d hoped. Not that I have any intention of giving up. Instead, I’ll just kick things into higher gear.

  Whipping up some breakfast, I fill a mug with coffee, and put both on a tray before heading upstairs. Joy hasn’t gotten up as of yet, our activities last night exhausting her. When I walk in, she’s already waking up, her hair mussed, and I smile at the knowledge my fingers did that as I set my offerings down, and tell her good morning.

  “Morning,” she replies after a yawn.

  “I thought we could eat, then get a start on our day,” I inform her as she takes a sip.

  “God, that’s good,” she says with a moan. “And what did you have in mind?”

  I’m thankful her shyness seems to have disappeared, and loving how easy this conversation is going so far. “There’s one thing that’s missing?”

  She looks at me, her eyes lighting up when she figures it out. “A tree.”

  “Exactly. I thought we could get one.”

  “How? We’re snowed in.”

  “True, but there is a forest.”

  Her mouth drops open in shock. “You're just going to walk out there and chop down a tree?”

  “We are,” I correct her. She laughs, but I can tell she’s excited. I urge her to hurry, and we both finished our food quickly, then get dressed and head outside, putting the sleds I’d had sent here last week to good use. It takes us an hour to find the perfect tree, Joy checking each one before making her decision.

  “This one,” she declares, pointing at her choice. I agree, then hand her the axe. “What the hell am I supposed to do with this?”

  “It’s our new tradition, you get the first swing.” She looks so happy as she rears back and aims for her target, and I enjoy the sight as she takes two more. When she’s done, she gives it back to me and I take over. Once it’s down, I hook it to the sled and we return to the cabin where we proceed to arrange everything, Christmas songs playing in the background, and hot apple cider to help warm us up as we work. I want Joy to see how wonderful the holiday can be, especially when you’re with the one. She tears up with each ornament she removes from the storage box, then carefully chooses where to place it. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

  “It’s…the handmade ornaments, your traditions, your family. It’s all so wholesome, I can’t help but feel sad,” she admits, her tone almost that of shame as she stares at the floor.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m jealous, and bitter,” she confesses as a tear rolls down her cheek. “I used to dream about having this, but now, getting to experience it, it hurts because it reminds me that I never had it, and never will. I can’t risk having a relationship.”

  “Is that why you're pulling away from me?”

  Her eyes rise to meet mine, fear and vulnerability in them. “Joy, I promise that we won’t be like them. Ever.”

  “How can you be sure? I’m a product of them.”

  “You are not your mother, and I’m not your father,” I remind her, gripping her hands, needing her to understand this. “I love you with everything I have in me, and will gladly do whatever I can to make you happy. All I need is you beside me.”

  “I’m scared,” she whispers.

  Knowing my words are the truth, I tell her, “I’m not because we are meant to be.” Then I give her a hard kiss, not stopping until she returns it. “Say yes, baby. Say you’ll be mine.”

  She’s quiet, and I start to worry, but my heart soars when she responds, “I think I love you.”

  “I know you do,” I confidently inform her, then begin stripping her, not wanting to give her time to doubt us again. As we once more make love in front of the fireplace, I’m determined to make this another tradition, and when we finish our tasks later, we fall asleep in each other’s arm.

  Now for the final phase.

  Chapter 8

  Joy- Christmas Eve…

  I turn, expecting to find Gabriel lying next to me, and am disappointed when I find his side empty. The realization that I wanted to wake up with him is when the truth of my feelings for him hit. I do love him. My doubt isn’t because of anything he’s said or done, but my parents. And while I worry about being like them, I have to remind myself he was raised by a couple that’ve been happily married for almost forty years.

  Leaving the warm bed, I tug my nightgown on, a sound catches my attention. Moving to look outside, I see Gabriel shoveling the driveway and notice the road leading to the cabin is already cleared. The ice and snow make the window hard to open, but I finally manage to get it loose and push it up. The cold instantly makes me shiver, and I holler, asking what he’s doing, which is a stupid question, I admit.

  He pauses, a wide smile as he stares at me, and my heart skips a beat. “What does it look like?”

  “But why? Are we leaving?” I don’t want to, especially not today. I want to spend it and tomorrow here, with him.

  “Don’t freak out, okay?”

  Yeah, that doesn’t work, and instead has the opposite effect. “What?”

  “My parents are coming for dinner.”

  I tense at that news, panic hitting that I’m about to officially meet them for the first time, though I’ve seen her around the office, it’s always been from afar. “And you're just telling me this now?” Breathe, breathe.

  “I didn’t want you stressed. Besides, they’ll love you” Is that supposed to make me calm?

  “Oh my god, I have so much to do. The place is a mess!” I start to freak out. “Food! What are we going to make?” I know there’s plenty in the fridge, but is there a turkey or a ham?

  “Relax, Joy. I took the turkey out last night. Don’t worry about anything, I’ll make dinner.”

  “And have your mother think I can’t cook?” I snap, mad he didn’t give me time to prepare for this. “Just shovel your snow,” I yell, slamming the window closed as he laughs. I’m suddenly a new person. Gone is the doubt and worry about having a relationship with him, my mind now focused on meeting his dad and mom. I rush through a shower and get dressed in a hurry, then quickly clean up and begin prepping dinner. Gabriel comes inside hours later, removing his outdoor gear, then makes a beeline for me and slides his hands under my shirt. I gasp at the cold, then reprimand him. “Gabriel! I need to get this turkey in.”

  He pushes my hair to the side and kisses my neck, saying, “Relax, everything looks great.”

  “How can you say that so casually?”

  “Because I love you, and so will they.”

  This time, his words don’t make me freeze up. Turning to face him, I smile up and tell him, without any doubt in my h
eart, “I love you, too.”

  He growls a second before capturing my mouth and wrapping his arms around me. As it gets heated, I reluctantly push him away. “They’ll be here soon, so you have to stop mauling me.” Stealing another kiss, he offers to help, and we get everything done together.

  Within two minutes of meeting Robert and Sheila, I feel foolish for being worried. They are the nicest people, and clearly adore each other. Dinner passes with laughter and stories, then we move into the living room with drinks in our hands.

  “Joy, dinner was delicious. Thank you for letting us crash your holiday,” Sheila says.

  “We’re happy to have you,” I assure her. “I’m sorry Gabriel wasn’t home to spend it with his family.” She shares a look with her husband, then pats my hand, telling me not to give it a second thought. I get the feeling I’m missing something, and glance Gabriel. He checks his watch, then gives a nod to his father, so subtle I almost miss it.

  Robert stands, then helps Sheila to her feet. “Well, it's getting late and we’re not as young as we used to be.”

  Sheila, appearing reluctant to leave, states, “Honey, you go ahead. I’m going to stay…” she doesn’t even get to finish her sentence before he tugs her away, her grumbling barely audible as they head for the guest room.

  “What was that all about?” He brushes it off, then sets his drink down and rises, holding his hand out for me to join him, and has me look around. The fire is bathing the room with a soft glow, the tree lights are on, and garland and red bows are fastened here and there. There are also nutcrackers, Santas, snowmen, and other things throughout. It’s festive and warm, which would’ve made me frown a few days ago. Now it brings a big smile to my face. “It’s beautiful,” I inform him, sincerely. “I love it here.”