TANNEN
Chapter Two
Christmas. Again.
I’m standing in line at The Peppermint while everyone in front of me is placing orders for the most OTT coffees they can dream up - extra caramel, tiny gingerbread men, sprinkles galore.
Mine’s an extra hot black Americano. No frills.
This is not my favourite time of the year.
And I know that’s ironic since my family business, We Tree Kings, relies on people buying Christmas trees over the holidays.
But for me it’s always been growing the trees, finding the land and the thrill of the outdoors that gets my blood pumping.
Outside the holiday season, I work as a landscaper and arborist.
When I was a kid I loved Christmas. Couldn’t wait to open my presents, couldn’t sleep on Christmas Eve, all that stuff.
My parents are still wild for it. But three years ago my girlfriend left me on Christmas Eve to shack up with some guy from her work and ever since then I’ve had two rules: no long-term relationships and get through the festive season unscathed.
I fake the happy-at-Christmas uncle act with my family; my sister Eira has two kids who expect presents, but luckily my older brother Elden is staunchly single like me. When I’m on my own, in my own house there aren’t any decorations and sure as hell no Christmas tree.
The next thing I know, there’s a heady smell of honeysuckle in the air, offsetting the sweet coffee scent wafting out of the shop. There’s an “Oops, shit…” and my new next-door neighbour has her head buried in my crotch.
She’s gorgeous.
When I helped her with the box she almost dropped earlier her face was covered by her long, wavy hair, but I managed to check out her thick thighs and juicy ass. A ripped blond guy was staring at me from her car, so I didn’t stick around after she said thanks.
“I’m…so...” she’s stumbling over her words, “... so sorry.” She’s left a wide-open lipstick print on the front of my faded denims, which is a huge turn-on.
Her cheeks are flaming red, as she pushes her hair back behind her ears, making me imagine if her nipples would go the same colour if I sucked on them. The thought makes me instantly hard, which considering her eyes are staring directly at my crotch, must be intimidating, or distracting, or both.
“You need a little help there?” I reach down and help her to her feet.
She’s wearing ridiculous boots with a reindeer pattern on them but somehow it makes her even cuter.
I inhale her honeysuckle scent again, a light summery smell that is out of place with all the festive cinnamon and sugar wafting out of the coffee shop.
I notice her full breasts straining against the thin material of her red T-shirt under her open jacket.
The top of her head just reaches my shoulder.
I’m 6’4 - that’s a big advantage when it comes to lugging Christmas trees around.
Some people, girls especially, find it daunting when I’m towering over them.
I always make direct eye contact. At least that’s easier now she’s not kneeling at my crotch any more.
She smiles and holds out her hand to shake.
“Wow, I’m so embarrassed! You’re my helpful next-door neighbour, right?
I’m Hollee.” There’s a jolt of electricity with her hand in mine, and instantly I need to be close to her again to decipher if this is pure lust or something else.
She’s so cute - along with being smoking hot - that I could spend a lot of time figuring it out.
“I’m Tannen. Delighted to run into you again.”
I’m trying not to stare down into her face, but she’s so pretty with those bright eyes, pink cheeks and full red lips. Instantly I’m imagining them wrapped around my cock. Damn, I need to concentrate otherwise I’ll forget what I’m saying and order her to do something obscene.
It’s like she’s been made just for me. She’s certainly taking my mind off Christmas and that’s a bonus.