A cool breeze flew past the back of Nate’s neck making the hairs there stand on end.He turned toward the front door and the ache in his chest vanished instantly at the sight of Lottie coming inside with four large tote bags slung over her shoulders.“Sorry I’m late everyone.”
Nate rushed over to help her carry her load, smiling when she was finally in front of him.“May I help you with those?”Lottie beamed up at him and nodded, handing over the heavy bags with ease.Nate chuckled as he hoisted one up.“What do you have in this?You giving someone a set of kettlebells?”
Lottie laughed and shook her head.“Absolutely not.Gym equipment is not a good gift and I will die on that hill.”
She removed her blue pea coat, revealing a stunning blouse and skirt combination that Nate would dream about every holiday season from then on.The red shirt hugged Lottie’s large chest so tightly the buttons strained at the center.The dark green plaid skirt was larger, but it still gave the indication of a soft waist and wide hips that Nate couldn’t wait to get his hands on again.The night on the roof was over a week ago and he’d been going mad with need ever since.No amount of self-pleasure had taken away the ache low in his belly and he knew that he’d only feel relief once he was buried inside her again.
Nate tried to swallow but his throat was bone dry.“You do seem more the sentimental type,” he rasped.Coughing, he lifted the bag once again.“Where do you want this?”
Lottie smiled and grabbed another of her bags.“Oh, all of this goes under the tree except for the stuff for the other families.I’ll give those out now.”
Nate watched Lottie as she weaved through the small crowd of partygoers, greeting people with hugs before passing them a present.As he walked slowly over to the Douglas fir in the corner, Nate smiled as he saw people open what she’d gotten them.After each gift was revealed to be something thoughtful and completely personal to each person, they gazed at Lottie with wonder and shiny eyes.It was incredible to him that she was able to find or create so many wonderful presents for that many people.Nate had ordered something for her, but now that he saw just how much care she put into the gifts she gave, he felt his own paled in comparison.
Needing a distraction, Nate unpacked the bags she’d handed him, smiling at the names of each of his family members on the gift tags of the most perfectly wrapped presents he’d ever seen.There was even a present for Boots, the old barn cat Kit had adopted as her pet.He chuckled at Lottie’s getting a present for the mangy tabby and continued with his work.After unloading a generous amount of gifts, Nate pulled up the last package, seeing his name on the tag.Smiling, he went to place it along with the others, but was too tempted by what was inside to let it go.
Turning, he ran into Lottie who stood over him with a sly look on her face.“I knew you wouldn’t be able to wait until Christmas.”
Nate’s shoulder bobbed as he moved closer to her.“What can I say?I’m impatient when it comes to things I want.”The distance and time he’d forced between them was gone now and he couldn’t wait much longer to be with her again.
Lottie narrowed her gaze at him, one hand propped on her hip.“Well, I guess I can’t fault you.It is a really awesome present.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.”Nate raised the package in question, nodding over toward the hallway opposite from where the revelry was taking place.“So can I open it?”When Lottie made no indication either way, he leaned over to her ear.“I’ll beg if you want me to.”
Lottie’s body shuddered slightly, making Nate’s chest puff with a small measure of pride at having gotten to her in the same way she’d always gotten to him.“Save that kind of talk for when we’re not surrounded by your family,” she ordered.After grabbing his hand, she marched him into the hallway and spun to face him.“I suppose I can make an exception to my no presents before the big day rule, but just this once.”
Nate smiled, knowing full well that she had and would make more exceptions for him if he asked.“Thank you, Charlotte.”Tearing into the paper, Nate lifted the lid of the box and tossed it to the side.Parting the tissue paper, he inhaled sharply at what sat in the box he held in his hands.“Where did you—”
The words dried up in his throat as his eyes started to water.Staring up at him was an essay he’d written in fifth grade about wanting to be the Mayor of Applewood.Nate assumed that it had been lost or that after he’d read it aloud and turned it in to his teacher, it was bound for the recycle bin.Somehow, Lottie had found it and had it fixed to a plaque, protected behind glass.The paper was crinkled and a little weathered from time, but his crude handwriting in black pen stood out enough that it was still easy to read.
Nate looked up at Lottie, quite possibly the most amazing woman he had ever met while having no idea of how to thank her for something so touching, so deeply personal and dear to him that he almost felt like crying because of his lack of words.Lottie seemed to sense this and cupped his cheek.“A while back I remembered that fifth grade essay about what we want to be when we grow up, and after talking with Mrs.Matheson and spending a good amount of time going through boxes in her attic, I found what I was looking for.”Lottie smiled at him with so much love and affection that his heart swelled.“You’re lucky she’s a bit of a packrat.”
Shaking his head slowly, Nate placed the most amazing gift he’d ever been given on a nearby table and pulled Lottie into his arms.“No, I’m lucky to know you.”He leaned down and rested his forehead against hers.“I wish I had your present already, but it’s still in the mail.”He laughed humorlessly as he looked at the plaque from the corners of his eyes.“Even then it seems pretty silly in comparison to what you’ve given me.”
Lottie reached up and cupped his cheek.“I will love whatever you give me because it’s from you.”She licked her lips and tilted her head up to the ceiling above them.“If you really want to give me something now, you can always kiss me.”
Nate followed her gaze up to the sprig of mistletoe that hung above them.“Seems even more inadequate than my actual present.”Lottie had given him a piece of his past he thought lost forever and her only wanting a simple kiss in return illustrated just how amazing and selfless she was.That she saw something in him worth spending time with was astounding.
Her hand slipped to the back of his neck and she drew him closer.“Let me be the judge of that.”
As soon as the last word blew past her lips, Lottie’s were on his, rekindling the flame that always existed between them and would burn everything around them to ash.Nate groaned, wanting to deepen the kiss but suddenly very aware that they were in his parent’s house surrounded by people.Laughter and merriment filled the air around them, and as he broke the kiss that he wanted to turn into so much more, Nate had an idea.
“Come with me,” he said.Lottie took his hand and followed him out the back door.
The icy wind whipped in his face, but Nate felt nothing but heat and warmth coming off of him and the woman he was dragging along behind him.Lottie giggled slightly.“I’m getting a strange sense of déjà vu, only last time we did this I wasn’t freezing my ass off.”
Nate turned back to her as they arrived at the entrance to the same outbuilding they’d been in years ago.“I promise to warm you up.”
Lottie nodded and he pulled her up the stairs to the loft, unable to stop himself from smiling at history repeating itself in the best possible way.The difference this time was that Nate wasn’t going to run away from her, but instead hold on with both hands and pray that she never got sick of him.Looking around the small area, Nate looked over toward a storage box in the corner and nearly whooped with excitement at finding a heavy flannel blanket.
Lottie snickered from next to him.“Of course you and your brothers would have that stashed up here for midnight booty calls.”Nate smiled and stalked toward her, pushing her up against the wall.When her back hit the wood, her eyes widened and a gasp erupted from her lungs.“What are you doing?”
Nate dropped the rolled blanket to the floor before kneeling down on it.Running his hands up the stockings on her legs, Nate moved his thumbs along her inner thighs before bringing them back down.He repeated the action as he stared up at Lottie.“Giving you another early present.”He started to lift her skirt, waiting for her to stop him if she wished, but instead of doing that, she gathered the material in her hands to help him out.Nate smirked and brought one of her legs over his shoulder.“Oh, and for the record, you’re the only woman I have ever or will ever have up here.”
Lottie nodded, her head hitting the wall when Nate dragged her lace panties to the side and inhaled deeply.She smelled as sweet and spicy at her center as she did everywhere else, and he couldn’t wait to get a taste of her.“I believe you,” she whispered.The words were music to his ears and the last ones she spoke before the only thing coming out of her mouth were moans.
Nate dragged his finger through her folds before dipping it into her wet heat, twisting his finger as he bent his head down and licked her.The tangy flavor on his tongue was one he wanted to taste every day for the rest of his life.Burying his face as deeply as possible, Nate continued to lick and suck at every part of Lottie he had access to.Adding another finger, he continued to drive them inside her as he gorged on her mound, sucking on her perfect lips before moving up to her clit and giving it all his attention before backing away again.
Lottie hands had flown into his hair, her fingers brushing his locks lovingly as she whimpered above him.“Please.Please, don’t stop.”
