24. Carter #2
She kissed him, hard and full of passion, sucking his breath right from his lungs before drawing back. “I love you too. Always have and always will.”
Love exploded in his chest, seeping into all the parts that had suffered all these years, infusing light into the dark crevices.
He scooped her into his arms and lowered her onto the bed. He lowered over her, propped up on his forearm. For a moment he just stared at her: gray eyes heavy with desire, lips swollen from his kisses, cheeks red from passion, and he fell further in love with her.
There was no question about it. He would always love her.
Whether she returned to the city without him, whether it was another decade before they saw each other again, it didn’t matter.
She had stolen his heart when he was just a boy, and it had been hers ever since.
He was never getting it back, and he didn’t want it back.
He captured her lips in one swift motion, tongues sliding, lips moving. Her fingers wrapped around his hard length and guided him to her. She swiped the tip against her moist center, holding him from entering.
“Tease,” he managed to say.
She laughed and released her grasp. He pushed forward and sank into her, sighing as he was gripped by her slick walls.
He kissed her neck, then her lips, as he moved inside her. Her head tilted, soft moans rumbling up her throat. He dragged his hand down the soft column, stopping at her breast. He cupped her, pinching her nipple between his thumb and pointer. Her body arched, allowing him to go deeper still.
Her bangs fell to the side, her cheeks blooming red, as her teeth slid over her bottom lip. She arched into his hand, and he dipped his head, taking her nipple into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around the hardened bead.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close, as her walls tightened, squeezing his cock and shooting pleasure through his entire body.
He looked at her swollen lips and flushed skin. Her lips parted, eyes slipped closed, and he pumped into her harder and harder. Her body tightened, her inner muscles contracted, and he crashed his mouth to hers, devouring her cries as her body bucked.
He kissed her until she went slack in his arms. He thrust into her, pressure building in his balls. White spots flashed behind his eyes like snow, and pure pleasure exploded inside him. His body jerked at his release, and he collapsed beside Ashley, gathering her in his arms.
They lay there for a while, no words, just the sound of their breathing evening out. He traced his fingers along her arm, relishing the moment. She had given him something he had missed for so long, and he had nothing to give her.
“I had Tiny working on a special project for you, your grandfather, and the family, really. Even the staff, but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen.”
“Really? For me. And what’s that?” She turned over, resting her elbow on his chest, her chin on her upturned hand.
“I wanted to make this Christmas just like the one you remember, so I asked Tiny to make your grandmother’s spice cake, but no matter how many variations she has made, it’s just not right. If only your grandmother had written down the recipe.”
If Lily had written down the recipe, this would have been a done deal. But of course, it had turned into a game of mystery ingredients and never-ending taste testing.
“She did,” Ashley said so softly he thought he didn’t hear her right.
“What?” He sat up so quickly she had to draw her arm in to keep from falling. “Sorry,” he said, helping her sit up. “But what do you mean she wrote it down? Your grandfather said he’s never seen the recipe. Ms. Porter searched through all the recipe books. Tiny has been experimenting all December.”
Ashley inhaled, her chest rising and falling as she looked out his window at the soft snow falling. “I have it,” she said, turning back to him. “I never made it. I was always afraid I’d never be able to get it right, but she wrote it down for me. It’s in my wallet.”
Unable to help himself, he laughed. Loud. Too loud. “You have it here with you?”
“Yes.”
He grabbed her hand and yanked her up off the bed. A laugh broke from her lips, and joy flooded through his body.
“What are you doing?”
He grabbed her face and kissed her. “We have to tell Tiny!”
“Can I put some clothes on, or do you want to give her a show as well?”
“Get dressed. If we’re lucky, she’ll still be in the kitchen.”
They both hurried into their clothes and headed to the kitchen. When Carter spotted the hint of light glowing from the kitchen, his heart sped up. Tiny was going to get her Christmas miracle.
“Tiny!” he exclaimed as he ran into the kitchen with Ashley on his heels.
Tiny looked up, defeat sagging her shoulders.
“I give up,” she said.
“We have the recipe!” Carter said, trying not to yell with excitement.
“What?” Tiny shot up from her stool.
Ashley stepped forward and held out an old worn piece of paper. “I believe you’ve been looking for this.”
Tiny laughed as a tear fell down her cheek. Tiny grabbed the recipe, scanning over the crumpled piece of paper.
“Cardamom!” Her hand fell to her thigh, the paper rustling with the movement. “Of course it’s cardamom. Cardamom isn’t a floral ingredient per se, but it’s a spice with floral, citrusy, eucalyptus-like notes. Lavender, rose water, orange blossom, elderflower. I was looking in the wrong category.”
Ashley smiled. “Grandma Lily always insisted the cake needed Grandpa’s favorite dark rum, but she’d smile and remind everyone the rum wasn’t her secret. ‘Anyone can taste rum,’ she’d say. ‘The magic is in what they can’t quite name.’”
“Your grandma wasn’t hiding an ingredient; she simply understood spices. I respect her even more now.” Tiny grabbed a bowl and got to work.
Ashley stepped forward. “Is it okay if I help?”
Carter smiled, knowing how hard it was for Ashley to try the recipe she’d held so dear to her heart.
Tiny threw an apron at her and smiled. “It only seems right.”
Carter stood aside and watched as Tiny and Ashley worked in tandem until the kitchen filled with the delicious scents of ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg… and cardamom.
Ashley took it out of the oven, and she and Tiny stepped back as if they were sending up a silent prayer.
“Do you want to do the honors?” Tiny asked, holding out a knife to Ashley.
Ashley shook her head. “You deserve this moment. You’ve worked so hard to get this right.”
Tiny hugged her, then turned to the cake. She cut three slices and handed out forks. On the count of three, they all dove in.
Tiny never having tasted the original, stared at Carter and Ashley after a moan of delight.
“So?” she asked, impatience filling her words.
Carter looked at Ashley and nodded.
“It’s perfect.”