Chapter 5
LUCAS
We end our time at the markets after another cup of hot chocolate. It’s almost eight and Poppy is already yawning. We make our way to the house and Poppy starts to slow down. I pick her up for a piggy back ride and let her wrap her small arms around my neck.
Lillian whispers, “you’re sure it’s okay for us to stay the night?”
“Of course,” I open the front door for us. “Please don’t be overwhelmed by the decorations.” She looks puzzled as her eyes squint together and I usher her through the door.
The inside of my parents’ house looks like a Christmas bomb went off.
The entryway is decked out with garland and lights.
The main living room has a ten-foot fir tree wrapped with lights, draped in ornaments, with a splattering of candy canes hanging from the branches.
It’s topped with a gold star and has a working train set underneath the tree.
Stockings are hung up on the fireplace. Because our family is huge now, we have a garland hanging above the fireplace as well so there are two rows of stockings.
“Wow,” Lillian gasps, “this is magical. Where should we go?”
“Poppy can stay with my nieces. Follow me,” I lead her through the house.
Poppy stirs and wakes up as we get to the bedroom.
My two nieces are six and eight, so perfect ages for Poppy to join them.
They welcome her with eager hugs. The trio seem to become fast friends with my nieces offering pjs and a choice of teddy bear.
I tell Lillian that I’ll be right back and I leave her to help Poppy get ready for bed. I check in with my mom in the kitchen. She hands me a set of Christmas pajamas for Lillian to borrow.
“Do we have extra pillows?” I ask as I take the pjs from her arms.
“Maybe, but I think Tim took the last one. Don’t you have extra on your bed?”
“I figured I’d crash on the couch,” I look around at all the Christmas décor that covers every inch of the home. I really don’t want to be out here. I want the comfort and darkness of my own bedroom. Maybe Lillian will let me sleep on the floor.
“Okay, see you in the morning, dear,” she pats my shoulder and leaves.
I walk back to the girls’ room. Lillian stands when she sees me and says goodnight to all the girls. She gives Poppy a big squeeze and tells her to be sure to get some sleep.
I give my nieces big hugs and tell them we’ll have pancakes in the morning if they’re all asleep by nine. They’re all smiles as they usher us out and close their door. Lots of whispers, but the light clicks off.
Lillian chuckles as she follows me to my room.
I open it and do a super quick scan that everything is in order.
I keep my room tidy and plain. Everything is in navy blue and grey with touches of white.
I have minimal decorations. It is the opposite of the rest of the house.
I tend to stick to drab colors and minimalist style, but it’s calming to me.
Hopefully, she doesn’t find me boring.
I hand her the pajamas. I show her the bathroom and tell her there is probably a spare unopened toothbrush in one of the drawers.
Once she closes the door, I change into sweatpants and a long-sleeve henley.
Normally, I sleep in just my boxer briefs, but I don’t think that’s super appropriate for sleeping on the couch in the living room.
Or to be walking around in front of Lillian.
Not to mention the scars. I much prefer to hide them. Eventually, I’ll show her, but that’s months and months away. Not really a second date topic.
I start to pull off the extra blanket and grab a pillow. I sit down on the floor and wait for Lillian to come out.
“Lucas, you can’t sleep on the floor.” I open my eyes to see Lillian with her hands on her hips.
She’s wearing a large red and green flannel top.
No bottoms. I feel my cock swell at the sight of her long, bare legs.
All day I’ve been thinking about how much I wanted to kiss her like the other night.
And what would’ve happened if I hadn’t been interrupted.
“It’s fine,” I stretch the word out as she tugs the hem of the shirt down.
“The pants were too big,” she mumbles as her cheeks start to turn a cute shade of tomato red. “Also, this bed is huge. We can share. We’re both adults.” She makes her way to the edge of the bed and gets under the covers.
“Are you sure that it’s okay?” I stand and hold my pillow in front of my erection. She replies yes, so I turn the light off before sliding into the bed next to Lillian.
“So why the floor and not the couch?” Lillian questions me in the darkness.
I sigh deeply, “It’s too stimulating out there. Too many lights. Too many decorations.” I let out a long exhale, “It’s a lot.”
“Oh,” she murmurs. I feel her shift her weight. I tilt my head to face her and see her laying on her side facing me. “You really don’t like Christmas, do you?”
We’re only inches away, despite the king-size bed. I turn to lie on my side as well. The soft light from the moon outside highlights just enough that I can see her from this distance. I tug the sleeve hems on my shirt.
“It’s not magical if it’s this way year-round.” Lillian gasps and before she can say anything I continue, “most of these decorations stay up all year. Some get swapped out for other holidays. The name of the farm is Mistletoe Tree Farm. Hence the décor choices.”
I wait for her to say something, anything. I feel like my heart is going to leap out of my chest and smack her in a silly cartoonish way.
“That might be too much Christmas magic,” she laughs, breaking the silence between us.
“How about you? What’s your family like, are they as holiday loving as you?” She closes her eyes and doesn’t reply right away. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“No, it’s okay. My family disowned me when I had Poppy.
I was a senior in college and ready to take on the world.
They didn’t like that I was unwed. I was already the black sheep in the family, this sort of pushed me further away.
Anyway, my twenties were spent alone and caring for a child.
I worked nights and took extra classes until I had all the right certifications and could comfortably work as a freelancer.
All of that to say, I’m not close with my family and Christmas is rough.
Hence the need for magic.” Her eyes are glassy.
I’m not sure what to say.
I find myself moving without thinking. I wrap her in my arms and pull her against me.
She sinks into my embrace and nestles her head against the crook of my neck. She smells like lavender and citrus. I don’t want to let her go. I kiss her forehead and stroke her back. Despite her being the one in my arms, I feel as if I’m the one being comforted.
After a few moments she wiggles in my embrace and pulls away. Lillian puts her hands on my cheeks and stares at me with those rich caramel eyes of hers, her lips slightly parted.
“Lucas,” she murmurs my name, and it sounds like honey being drizzled over fresh, hot biscuits. Delicious. “Do you think you could kiss me again?” she questions, never letting go.
“I think I can do that,” I stroke my thumb along her jaw and place my lips over hers.
She lets out a soft moan as I slip my tongue between her lips and let my other hand slide under her flannel. I run my fingers over her hip and grip her ass as I pull her closer. I want to devour her entirely.
My cock hardens as she presses herself against me. With an eagerness and fire that I’ve never possessed, I continue to savor her. Lillian’s hands slide under my shirt and roam across my chest. Like she’s starting a wildfire through my body. Every bit of my body feels hot.
I want more.
I pull away slightly, enough to kiss her jaw and neck. She tilts her head back, and I shift my weight on the bed so that I’m above her.
I pull my shirt up and over my head. I toss it aside without giving it a second thought. I normally try to hide my scars, but I don’t feel ashamed or nervous. Right now, with Lillian, I feel only comfort and passion. There is an eagerness lingering between us. Both of us clinging to the other.
Maybe a dash of love blooming in my chest.
Or maybe heartburn.