A Gift of Snow

It’s Christmas Eve and Jennifer Donovan is alone. A sudden, strong blizzard has left the mountain submerged in snow and closed the roads up or down, ruining her mother and sister’s plans to come up to Jennifer’s cabin. Resigned to keeping warm and entertaining herself for the night, she’s startled by someone pounding on her front door—a handsome stranger needing shelter from the storm. Will is the opposite of Jennifer’s late husband and awakens a passion within her that she welcomes, even though it takes her by surprise.

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The right of Missy Maxim to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First printed 2010

First Edition

All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons--living or dead--is purely coincidental.

By Missy Maxim

Published by Missy Maxim at Smashwords.

Copyright 2010 Missy Maxim

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A Gift of Snow

Of all the days for a friggin’ blizzard. The plan was to play the gig at the lodge and go home, but in trying to leave, I came out to see my car already coated with snow. The road wasn’t closed, yet, so I scraped the ice off the windows and started the car.

“Come on, baby, just get me down the mountain.”

I drove slowly, my tires crunching the snow. Leaning over the steering wheel, I tried peering through the white blur, the wind gusts sending the flakes sideways. The headlights gave me maybe five feet ahead to see.

“Not good, mate. Not bloody good.”

Turned the corner.

There was a streak of something crossing the road.

My car slid on a patch of ice into a drift. Not hard enough to cause any damage, I thought, but I was probably stuck without help.

“Shit.” I pressed my foot down on the gas pedal, but the tires just spun in the snow. “Wonderful.”

The snow was falling fast and furious. I could be buried in my car, or risk finding shelter outside. My heater died two years ago, so that was no help. No blanket in the car and only a leather jacket to keep me warm.

“Here goes nothing.”

I grabbed my guitar case off the passenger seat, turned off the engine, and shoved my door open. Pulling the hood on my sweater up didn’t give me much protection, but it’d keep my hair dry for a little while. Carrying my beloved guitar, I crossed the road toward flat ground and hoped I’d find a house before I froze to death.

****

Of all the days for a freakin’ blizzard. Mom and my sister, Shelley, were supposed to come up for Christmas and all the roads were closed.

“I’m so sorry, Jenny, but with this storm, they aren’t letting anyone up the mountain. Shelley and I will try to come up as soon as we can.” Mom’s regret was clear over the phone.

“I know, Mom. It’s just that it’s Christmas Eve. We’ve always had our tradition, you know?” I tried not to sound too disappointed, but I don’t think she bought it. It was my first Christmas without Lee.

“Are you going to be okay up there alone tonight, honey?”

“Yeah. I’ve got plenty of firewood and stuff. I’ll probably just pop in a movie and make some cocoa. See you soon, ‘kay?”

“We’ll try to head out first thing in the morning. Merry Christmas, Jenny. We love you.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

All alone on Christmas Eve. Bah humbug.

The snow was already piled six feet high beyond the shelter of the trees. The flakes fell sideways with every wind gust. I flicked the radio on to try picking up a status report, but all that came out was static.

Everybody up here just had to huddle in and wait for the plows to dig us out.

“This monumentally sucks.”

I walked into the kitchen to ladle some stew into a bowl, then turned the crock pot off. The teakettle whistled for my hot chocolate. I’d just settled on a showing of White Christmas on TV when something pounded on my front door.

“What the hell?”

A dark, person-sized, shape stood at the door to the snow room. I unlocked the door, the man darting into the snow room as soon as I opened it.

“What are you doing out in this?”

“C-c-car broke d-down. Stuck,” the man said, pointing off into the white. “S-saw your lights.”

Stupid townies. Always thought they’d be the one person to drive through a blizzard. “I’m about a quarter mile in from the road. You’re lucky you didn’t wander in the wrong direction.” I opened the house door. “Stamp the snow off your boots. I don’t want you getting my floor wet.”

“B-b-bless you, l-love. Thanks.”

English, eh? What kind of moron came up to the mountains in a leather jacket, a sweater, and jeans? He held a guitar case.

I left him on the porch and retrieved a blanket. His coat hung on the rack and he’d pushed the hood of his sweater off his head to reveal bleached hair. He had a nice, chiseled face and the hairs trying to curl at his nape were cute. I handed him the blanket and walked into the kitchen.

“What were you doing on the road in this storm?” I filled another bowl.

“Had a gig up at the resort earlier. Was supposed to be a quick thing and I’d drive back down to L.A. The storm came out of nowhere.”

“You couldn’t leave that thing in the car?” I asked, nodding to the guitar case.

He shook his head. “It’ll crack in the cold. I flipped burgers all summer for that guitar when I was sixteen. Where I go, she goes.” He took a seat at the table and tucked into the stew. “Thanks.”

“Not used to snow, are you?”

“Not in a long while.” He offered his right hand. “I’m Will, by the way.”

I shook it. “Jennifer Donovan.”

“Pleased to meet you, Jen. And thanks for the stew. You got anything to drink?”

“Uh, I can make tea or cocoa, or coffee if you want to wait.”

“Maybe something a little stronger to warm the blood.”

“No.” There would never be alcohol in this house again. I stood, collected the empty bowl, and walked to the sink to rinse it. “You’re going to have to be warmed by temperature, not alcohol.”

“Okay… Cocoa would be fine, then, if you have any of those little marshmallows.”

“Sorry, I only have the big ones, and those are going on the yams tomorrow.” I lit the fire under the teakettle.

“Right…it’s Christmas.” Poor guy looked as bummed as I was.

I felt a spark of compassion and remembered my manners. “You can use my phone to call home if someone will be worried.”

He shook his head, not meeting my eyes. “Just me.”

“Oh.” I knew how that felt right now. “So, you did a concert, huh? What do you play?” I sat at the table.

“Well, for this kind of deal, just some classic rock stuff and holiday tunes. They like some background noise up at the lodge and prefer it’s live. I was available.”

“Didn’t they offer you a room for the night? The storm’s been on the news.” The kettle whistled. I prepared the mug and set it in front of him.

“I was, uh, kind of anxious to go. My ex’s family runs the joint.”

“Oh. Awkward.” A thought occurred to me and I blurted out, “Your feet! I mean, you’ve probably got snow in your boots. You should sit by the fire and dry them out…if you want to.”

“Thanks. Eh… I don’t suppose you might have some pants I could borrow? I’m a bit soaked.”

“Oh! Deep snow drifts. Duh, of course you are.” Could I sound like more of a ditz? “I’ll go look.”

The bottom drawer of my dresser was filled with old stained stuff, like for painting the house and working on the car. It had a mix of mine, and Lee’s, and I hadn’t thought about it at all until now. The only clothes of his left in the house were in that drawer. I was not going to cry when I opened it.

Gripping the knobs, I pulled the drawer open. Started pulling clothes out on the floor and finally found a pair of sweats with a drawstring waist. They only smelled like the cedar insert I kept in the drawer, too, so all the better.

I brought them out to my guest. “Here ya go. They might be a bit big, but you can cinch the waist. Bathroom is down there.”

He smiled, taking the pants. “Thanks.” It was a nice smile, his eyes crinkling up at the corners.

Without the blanket wrapped around him, I could see his jeans were wet up to waist level. They hugged his skin. He must be freezing still.

“Use a towel if you need it,” I said.

Needing something to do, I remembered my own food and reheated my bowl and mug while he changed. It was such a weird night. The storm, being alone, a random stranger showing up at my door…all on Christmas Eve. He came back out carrying his jeans and sweater, wearing a tight long-sleeve black undershirt and the sweats loose on his waist. His socks and boots hung off his arm.

I took the wet stuff into the laundry nook and tossed his jeans and socks in the dryer, then took a look at the sweater. It required a lower heat setting, so I hung it up and started the machine. He was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, the blanket draped over him, when I walked out.

Amazingly, it was only around eight o’clock. “It’s a bit early still. I have movies.”

“That’s a nice tree,” he said, looking at the Christmas tree in the corner. “Smells real.”

“Of course it’s real. I’m surrounded by forest. My mother and sister were supposed to be here tonight, but--”

“The storm. Isn’t it a pain all winter, havin’ to shovel snow off the driveway just to get your car out?”

I sat on the other end of the sofa. “Can be, with a heavy year, but I like it up here. It’s peaceful, I have good neighbors, the air’s clean… Lee and I came up for a weekend once, saw the house for sale, and knew this was where we wanted to be. Just me now, though.”

“It is a nice place. Cozy. I’m more the urban type.”

“Gee, wouldn’t have guessed.”

He chuckled, a rich sound. “Guess it is a bit obvious. Nothin’ wrong with a getaway now and again, but I get bored. And small towns don’t offer much for musicians.”

“There is that. Are you looking to get rich?”

“Nah, just work steady. Wouldn’t say no, but…as long as my belly’s full and the rent’s paid, it’s really about the music. Sharing that harmonic connection.” He shifted to face me more easily. “What do you do, Jennifer?”

“I’m a writer. Fiction, now, though I used to do op-ed stuff in college.”

“What genre? Maybe I’ve read something.”

“I really doubt it.” He didn’t look like the type to read sci-fi.

“Naughty romances?”

“Why do men always have to jump to that conclusion?” I snapped.

“Sorry! My mistake. I was just teasing, love.”

I released a breath. “I’m sorry. Touched a nerve.” Lee wanted me to switch to a genre that paid more, back when. “It was hard to find a publisher.” And they had me write under a non-feminine pseudonym.

“So…what’s your niche, then?”

I chewed my lip. “Science fantasy. Sometimes for teens.”

“Oh. Well, you’re right. I’ve never read it. So, space age stuff, with aliens and distant planets?”

“Sometimes. Living here helps with the work. Few distractions.”

“Makes sense. Are you working on a book now?”

“Not for a while. I’m on a break.” More like the muse dove off a cliff.

“Ah.”

We lapsed into silence, watching the crackly movie. I studied him out the corner of my eye. He was built nice, if you liked the slim look. Visible muscle definition through the snug shirt. I hadn’t looked close enough to see what color his eyes were, yet. His hands were large, dwarfing the mug in his grasp, with long fingers and short nails.

“Do you think it’ll snow all night?” he asked.

“Maybe. Even if it doesn’t, the plows won’t come out on the roads until daylight.”

“So, I’m stuck here. All night.”

I let out a slow breath. “So it would seem.”

A young, attractive man in the house all night. Woo, boy. No awkwardness there…

He broke the silence first. “Want you to know you’re safe. Not a murderer or rapist or anything. Love women, actually.”

I arched a brow. “And they love you?”

He laughed. “Sometimes. Not enough to stay.” He dropped his eyes to his mug. “What about you? You mentioned a name.”

“Lee. My husband.”

“Oh. Couldn’t make it home for Christmas?”

“Not since he rolled his car off the mountain and died,” I said. Oh god…why did I say that? “I’m going to prepare the guest room.” I fled to the spare room to prepare his bed.

I couldn’t believe I blurted it out like that. God, what he must think of me…what he must think I think of him for asking. Stupid, stupid, stupid…

“Hey.” He stood in the doorway.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry for the personal question. It was none of my business. I’d offer to go, but…”

“You don’t need to apologize. I don’t know why I said that.” I sighed. “My husband died ten months ago. He was drunk and driving too fast and he didn’t make it around the curve.” I sat on the bed. “My family was coming up to help me make a good memory here for the holiday after… It’s my first Christmas alone.”

He took a step forward. “You’re not alone now.”

Not in the technical sense, anyway. “True. Thanks. Would you like more cocoa?”

“Please.” He backed up to let me out of the room.

He had a hell of a smile. His whole face lip up with it. Lee never smiled with his teeth showing; at least, not for a long time before his death.

Will followed me to the kitchen. I filled the kettle with more water and turned on the stove, then got some cookies I’d made the day before out of the pantry. He sat on the counter watching me, his bare feet swaying back and forth. His toe nails were coated in black polish haphazardly chipped away.

“Will…that short for William?” I asked.

“Yup.”

“Did you grow up in England?”

“Nah, accent’s from my dad, and a stretch at university.”

“You went to college over there? What was that like?”

“Only a year. My band got offered a deal and I quit.”

My eyes widened. “You had a record deal? Are you famous and I’m just out of the loop?”

He laughed. “Just a regular bloke, pet. We got taken for a ride. Barely reached a bit of fame, and the manager ran off with the profits. Embezzled the lot of it and left us in the hole. We scrounged up what we could to pay the debts, but the strain was too much to keep us together. I came back to L.A. to try goin’ solo.” He spread his arms out. “You see how well that’s going so far.”

I giggled, and handed him one of the mugs. I held up mine for a toast. “To better luck next year for struggling artists.”

He clinked his mug with mine. “I’ll drink to that.”

We shared a smile. I couldn’t help doing it when he did, like an automatic reaction of my cheek muscles.

“So, what kind of music do you play?”

He hopped down, careful not to slosh, and walked to his guitar case. He had an unusual gait, this kind of rolling glide that was more graceful than a human should be.

“Some of everything, really. Music just came easy.” He set the mug down and opened the case. “Let’s see how you fared, old friend.”

He plucked his thumb on the strings, checking their tune, then started playing a combination of embellished scales. He was really good, at least to my knowledge. He pushed his sleeves up a bit, revealing toned forearms with corded muscles that twitched and flexed as he played. Then he started humming something I didn’t know and switched melodies. Soft words escaped his lips, like he couldn’t help singing it, not just humming along. A smooth pretty baritone that made my tummy flutter.

I stared as he lost himself in the music, his eyes closed and head bobbing in time. It had turned into an intimate moment. I was sure he’d forgotten he had an audience and…wow, was it hot in here?

“I’m glad your guitar wasn’t damaged,” I said.

He stopped playing and cleared his throat. “Yeah. Seems okay. Thanks.” He grinned, then. “Any requests, milady?”

“Oh, um, I wouldn’t know what…I mean, I don’t listen to much, so…my knowledge is pretty much limited to boy bands and pop princesses.”

“You really haven’t been a fan of something since high school?” He looked at me like the concept didn’t compute.

I shrugged and turned away to the cookies. “I had other things to do.” I heard him put the guitar away.

“Like write books.”

“Uh-huh. Crafting a story is…engrossing. Or it used to be.”

He joined me for a cookie. “Muse run off?”

“Like it couldn’t escape fast enough.”

He leaned his forearms on the kitchen counter. “Maybe you need a change of scenery. Or experience. Shake things up. When I get stuck on a song, I try something I’ve never done before.”

I looked up and met his eyes. They were prairie sky blue. “What did you do?”

“The first thing that crossed my mind. Sometimes it got me in trouble, but it was still worth it.”

I propped my chin up with my hand. “What kind of trouble?”

He grinned, showing off sexy dimples. “Anything from women to getting arrested. Did some stupid shit at nineteen.”

I giggled. “Doesn’t everybody?”

He leaned closer. “I sense a story there, Ms. Donovan.”

I dropped my gaze and peeked at him through my lashes. “Well, I did the sorority thing, right? And there are dares, you know, to get in.” I shook my head. “I can’t, it’s too embarrassing.”

“Would I find pictures on the Web?” he teased.

“Oh, god, no…nothing that scandalous. Forget it…I’ve just met you! Oh, gee, that fire’s getting pretty low.” I darted around him to go get more firewood, only to be stopped when he grabbed my hand. The contact sent a jolt up my arm like an electric zap.

“I’ll share if you will,” he said.

“Share what?” My breath came out in a breathy whisper.

“Something old.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Or something new.”

Distance would be good.

Moving away any time now.

This was me, moving.

Why weren’t my feet working, dammit?

I hadn’t shared chemistry with anyone since Lee, and he’d stopped wanting me in bed months before his death. This close to Will, I couldn’t deny his looks were, well…gorgeous. I even liked the dark roots at the base of those white strands, and two-tone had always looked stupid before. What was this man doing to me?

He stood there, still holding my hand, eyes locked with mine. Was he waiting for something?

“I-I…”

A kind smile graced his face, and he let me off the hook. “You’re right, love. The fire is almost out. Do you have more wood handy?”

“I-in the snow room.”

He nodded and left to get it. My hand started to cool immediately and felt empty. He rushed back inside with a couple logs in his arms and shut the door, hopping on his toes.

“Cold!”

I laughed. “Serves you right for going out there barefoot.”

He crossed the living room to the hearth.

The movie was almost over. Had we really been talking that long?

“I should check on your clothes,” I said.

“Okay.” He kept poking the fire.

The dryer probably buzzed while he was playing. His jeans and socks were dry. I left his sweater draped flat on top of the machine.

“Here you go. Nice and warm.”

He grabbed the socks and pulled them on. “Ahhh…now that’s a beautiful thing.”

“Why do you paint your nails?”

He shrugged. “I get bored. Don’t sleep some nights, you know? So it’s infomercials and varnish.”

“Why don’t you take it off when it’s chipped that bad?”

“The chips are on purpose. Only girls have perfect manicures.” He shuddered.

“Okay, okay…”

“All meant to look lived-in, you see.”

“Ah. You care about looking like you don’t care.”

He winked. “Exactly.”

“Kinda vain, isn’t it?” I winked back to show I was teasing.

He laughed, a rich sound from his belly. “Probably!”

Still sitting on the floor, he leaned back on his elbows and stretched his legs out. I sat on the hearth rug, Indian style, and stared into the flames. This Christmas Eve wasn’t so bad so far.

I didn’t look at Will, though. That would mean seeing how his tight tee showed the definition in his torso and biceps, and the sliver of tummy revealed between his shirt and the low-riding sweatpants. It meant noticing the twinkle of his eyes, the modelesque cheekbones, and the lower lip just waiting to be bitten. Any writer would ascribe his looks to one of her heroes.

What was I thinking? I was a widow. He shouldn’t even be on my radar. My husband hadn’t been in the ground a full year.

The husband that barely acknowledged I existed before he killed himself.

But he was deeply depressed. It wasn’t his fault.

Maybe the depression wasn’t his fault, but did he try to get a job after he lost the first one?

Was it just an excuse when I found a number and a woman’s name in the pocket of his jeans?

Or how about the lipstick on his boxers after he came home stone drunk from the bar?

Or when I found condoms in the truck when I needed a flashlight?

OKAY! I get it!

Lee had been a sucky partner and wasn’t worth honoring anymore. I blocked those bad memories out the past months; afraid acknowledging my husband’s faults after his death meant I was a bad wife. I’d loved him, I knew I did, but the fairytale start to our romance gave way to a nightmarishly-real ending.

“Earth to Jennifer…”

I looked up into blue eyes. “Huh?” When did he move that close?

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“They aren’t worth the penny.”

He sat leaning toward me, his weight propped up on one arm. “I know I’m a lousy substitute for family cheer.”

I shook my head. “You’re not lousy. This is better than being alone.” A lot better.

He smiled. “Thank you. How can I entertain you?”

That was a loaded question. “You’re my guest. I should be asking you.”

“I’m just glad you didn’t let me freeze.”

Me, too. I leaned my cheek on my shoulder and smiled back. “Guess you owe me, then.” We gravitated closer, centimeter by centimeter.

“Then may I tell you that you have the most beautiful mouth I’ve ever seen?”

I blushed, but didn’t look away. “You just did.”

His gaze flicked to my lips a second before he kissed me. I had time to pull away or turn my head.

I didn’t want to.

For being the seducing stranger, his kiss was surprisingly gentle. God, I’d missed connecting. His breath still smelled like chocolate and his lips were soft. I sighed and tilted my head to deepen contact. He threaded his fingers into my hair.

When he pulled away to breathe, I whispered, “I haven’t been touched in a long time.”

He swallowed, then nodded. “I’m not trying to take advantage, Jen. Stop me when you want to.”

“I know. Just…please kiss me again.” I pushed Lee out of my mind and let myself feel. Lust, a crush, animal attraction…whatever you wanted to call it, I welcomed this moment. The months alone had felt like years. Maybe tonight had given me a way to move on.

Will moved into a kneeling position to have both hands free, one tunneling into my hair again and the other caressing my cheek. He kissed so sweet I might cry. Compared with his bad-boy appearance, it was unexpected. I shifted closer to touch him, too, wrapping my arms around his back, then crawled on his lap as the kiss gained intensity.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all night,” he said when we parted.

I grinned. “You always kiss strange women you meet in the middle of a blizzard?”

“Just the ones that save my life.”

Good answer. We made out in front of the fireplace until he tried to change position and couldn’t make his legs work. His feet fell asleep from sitting on them. I moved off his lap and turned off the TV. It’d lost signal a while ago, anyway. I sat on the sofa and watched him rub the blood back into his legs.

William stood on his feet. I noticed the prominent tent in his sweats and tried not to stare. That thing was definitely longer than— He pulled me to my feet and kissed me again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, relieved he wanted more. His lips were like a drug, creating more and more need inside me.

He gripped the hem of my sweater and pulled up. I raised my arms so he could lift it over my head, our timing perfect for only parting a second. Another fierce kiss, then the tank top I wore made it to the floor, too.

He glanced down at my bra. “Candy canes?”

I shrugged. “It’s Christmas.”

He grinned. “You’re too bloody adorable.” And kissed me again.

I didn’t want to be the only one shedding clothes and reached for his tee. He shed it and tossed it aside. Oh, wowza… He was really toned, an eight-pack leading all the way down beneath those pants. I trailed my fingers over his chest. His abs twitched when I reached his belly button. Lee had been beefy and tall, heavy enough to make it uncomfortable for him to be on top of me. Will’s body type was a better match for my frame.

“See something you like, love?” Will asked between kisses on my neck.

“Uh-huh.”

Enough talking. I shut him up with my mouth.

He teased my lips with his tongue. I didn’t like French kissing before tonight, used to a man plunging his tongue far enough in to make me gag, an invasion I expected to put up with as part of foreplay. This man enticed me to dance and play, tickling the roof of my mouth then retreating to beckon me to try the same on him. It was hot.

He picked me up and carried me to the couch, gently laying me down. Kissing down the center of my chest to my belly button, he undid my jeans, then pulled them off, tossing my slippers somewhere in the process.

“Matching candy canes. I love it,” he said.

I beckoned him to me. He crawled up my body, nipping and sucking on my skin. I arched into his touch, biting back a moan.

“Beautiful…”

My cheeks flushed. “I’m okay.”

He rose up on his arms. “Who told you that you were only ‘okay’?”

“No one…I just--”

He stood up. “Come with me.”

“What?” And go where?

“Take my hand.”

I took it, bewildered about what he had in mind. He pulled me into the bathroom and turned on the light. The mirror on the wall showed our bodies to hip level. He guided me to stand in front of him, his hands on my shoulders.

“Look at you.”

“Will, this is--”

“Look, Jen.” He trailed one hand down my ribs to my hip. “Look at that curve.” The other hand graced my cheek. “Look at how alive you are. The flush of your cheeks, your lips rosy from my kisses…”

I stared at my reflection, entranced by his show. When he brushed his finger across the top of my breasts, I shivered.

“The way your lovely tits yearn to be touched…” He wrapped his arm around my waist. “Tell me you don’t look sexy as hell right now.”

I hadn’t looked at my body in a mirror in a long time, especially not naked or nearly so. He was right. I was still young, and boys thought me pretty in high school and college. Lee had chased me.

“There you’re gettin’ it,” he said, seeing the change in my expression.

He kissed my neck, keeping eye contact with me in the mirror. My breaths came faster watching him seduce me, feeling his teeth graze my skin with each touch. I got lost in it and my eyes fell shut. He unhooked my bra and slid the straps down my arms. I opened my eyes in time to see him cup my breasts in his hands.

Oh, god… Don’t stop touching me.

The calluses on his fingertips were driving me crazy. In contrast, his palms were soft, and the combination felt unbelievably good.

“You’ve got a great rack, baby.”

“Don’t need to flatter me.” I was already going to jump him.

“Ain’t flattery when it’s truth. So pretty, love. So responsive.”

I squirmed in his arms, rubbing my ass against the hard length behind me. If he kept tweaking my nipples like that, I’d come. I didn’t want to do it in my bathroom, though, and couldn’t do it yet in my bed.

Escaping his hands, I ran back into the living room. He followed eagerly and caught me around the waist. I squealed when he latched onto one of my breasts with his mouth, then moaned when he sucked on my nipple.

We couldn’t keep from kissing long and touched lips with more hunger than before. I loved how his skin felt against me, the warmth and softness. He held my body tight and rubbed my back. His hands moved about like he couldn’t get enough of me to touch at once. Feeling how much he wanted me, I grew bolder and let my hands explore, sliding them underneath his sweats to palm his ass.

Could bounce a quarter off that, too. Did the man spend half his life in the gym? Yummy.

I hooked my thumbs in the waistband and started pulling his pants down, sinking to my knees at the same time. Distracted by his erection bobbing in my face, I almost missed the tattoo curling over his hip. I traced the letters and numbers with my finger. He watched, stepping out of the material pooled at his feet.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“The opening chords of the first song I sold. Product of a bit too much celebration.”

I smiled up at him. “I like it. It means something, even if you were drunk off your ass when you did it.” I lay back on the rug and beckoned him down with my finger.

He joined me on the floor and kissed me again, fingers teasing my belly. He pulled back an inch to ask, “What do you want, Jenny?”

I met his eyes, brown to blue, and said, “You.”

He smiled, revealing those dimples again, and crawled down my body to peel my panties off. He stroked a thumb down my center.

“Will…” The sensation was intense. I hadn’t been this turned on in so long.

He stopped teasing me and poised his penis at my entrance. I cradled his hips between my legs and nodded. A year without sex meant a snug fit at first. I tensed.

“Relax, love. Gonna make you feel good.”

I took a deep breath, let it out, and he slid in all the way. He paused, then chose a slow rhythm of shallow thrusts. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and started arching my hips to meet his.

“Ohhh, yes.”

“God, you’re tight. Squeeze me, love. Like that, yeah. Look at me, Jen.”

I opened my eyes and got caught in his blue depths. He stroked my skin as well as my insides, making me feel more desirable than in years. Even if I never saw Will after tonight, I knew I was better off for the experience.

I never came just from sex with my ex, but already I could feel it building now.

“Close, aren’t you, love?” Apparently, he could feel it, too.

I nodded. He reached between us and found my clit. Sparks of ecstasy shot through my body and my stomach tensed.

“So beautiful.” He stroked faster. “Wanna see you come, baby.”

I fell apart, my whole body shuddering around him. He sped up his thrusts, his climax right behind mine and extending the fluttering in my womb.

“Wow.”

He grinned. “Ditto.” He relaxed on top of me, breathing just as heavily.

My body twitched again. He moaned and kissed me, slow and languid.

I wanted more. I wrapped my legs around his hips, crossing my ankles together.

“Oh, I like you,” he said, smiling.

He started moving his hips again and drove deeper into me this time. We were soon at a pounding pace. I was so close to popping again, then he rolled our bodies to put me on top.

“You drive, love.”

“I, um…” If it wasn’t missionary, I’d never done it before.

He gripped my hips and showed me how to move. Once I found a comfortable rhythm, I liked it. The position made his penis stroke me in a different way.

“What’s-his-name was an idiot,” Will said, fondling my breasts.

At the moment, I couldn’t disagree.

****

I lost count of how many times we had sex in front of my fireplace during the night. Or how many positions. I even woke up from a nap half way to orgasm-by-tongue. Some time before dawn, Will grabbed the afghan off the back of the sofa and covered our bodies, finally letting me sleep.

****

I stretched. What time was it? I opened my eyes.

Sunlight shone through my curtains. He wasn’t next to me.

“Will?”

There was no response. I sat up, holding the afghan to my breasts, and discovered aches in muscles I didn’t know existed. A hot bath was definitely in order. I stood, gingerly, and wrapped the blanket around me. A piece of paper fluttered to the floor. I picked it up.

Jen,

Highway patrol came by this morning for the owner of my car. Sorry I can’t stay. Last night was amazing. You looked so peaceful I couldn’t bear to wake you. If you’re ever down in L.A., look me up.

Will

A phone number was written below his name. He left?

I looked around, and sure enough, his clothes and guitar were gone. He’d picked up mine and left them folded on the couch, though. I walked into the kitchen and discovered coffee has been made, too.

Sweet to the end.

With the blizzard over and the roads being cleared, my family would probably be up here today. Christmas would continue. I went to work on preparations with a smile.

****

Over the next week, I thought about my life up to now and where I wanted it to go. The contrast between Lee and Will was too great to ignore and the truth came rushing to mind.

Lee and I had moved up here because I fell in love with it. He still worked off the mountain, hung out with friends off the mountain, drove to the beach for the day while I wrote… He had looked on foreplay as a necessary chore and the main event like a race. After a while, he didn’t try to get me off anymore and I faked more than one climax just so he’d let me sleep.

When he got laid off and we couldn’t afford the gas trips up and down, he started to drink. At first, it was a couple nights a week at the bar. I didn’t mind at the time because I thought he was socializing, making friends. I was deep in a manuscript and the time alone kept my fingers on the keyboard. Only when he started drinking at home, instead, did I realize there was a problem. By the time I tried to help, it was too late.

I hadn’t written another book since.

The guilt had kept me shut away from living, from my true self. I’d been conforming to the wife I thought Lee wanted before he died—mostly without realizing it. But, looking back now, I saw the slowing of my proliferation as an author along with my attempts to make him happy. It wasn’t my fault he turned to booze, though. That was his choice, and his choice to get in that car.

I’d wanted a way to escape my self-imposed cage. Will just found where I’d dropped the key.

Now, I no longer felt like hiding on top of the mountain.

****

It’d been five days and Jen hadn’t called, yet. I couldn’t get her out of my head or my dreams, and it was driving me crazy wondering if she regretted our time together, or was just busy. We didn’t know much about each other, of course, but the girl was already in my blood. My favorite high. I knew if she’d just see me again, we could create something fantastic.

****

My mother was hosting a New Year’s Eve party at her house. Wanting to avoid heavy traffic, I started for Los Angeles in the morning, the note in my pocket. I stopped for lunch at a diner within city limits and used the pay phone. The person on the other end of the line picked up after two rings.

“Yeah?” Will’s voice.

I sighed in relief that it was a real number.

“Hello?”

Speak, Jenny. “Oh, hi…I mean, this is Will, right?”

“Jen?”

Was it my imagination, or did he sound excited to hear from me? “Yeah.”

“I was starting to think…um, what’s up, love?”

I bit my lip. “Well, I know it’s last minute, but…do you have plans tonight?”

“When and where.”

I grinned and did a little dance in the booth. “My mom is having a party, so it’ll be mostly old people, but--”

“I’d love to. Come and pick me up.”

I wrote down directions to his apartment and hung up after agreeing on seven o’clock. Finished with lunch, I drove to Mom’s to change clothes. It had to be a good sign he said yes so quickly, right? I’d debated all week whether to call him or not, the note mocking my hesitance from the refrigerator.

Getting ready in my old bathroom lent a sense of déjà vu to the whole thing. How many times had I prepped in front of this mirror for a date hoping this guy would actually get me?

“Wow, sexy dress just for Mom’s party,” Shelley said.

I applied lip gloss and assessed my reflection. “This old thing?”

My sister smirked at me. “If it’s old, you might want to cut the tag off.” She reached for scissors in a drawer and snipped the tag off the back of my dress.

“Thanks.”

The dress bad a deep V in the back. I’d left my hair down, so there would only be flashes of skin as I moved, but I hoped Will liked it. He’d spent an entire love-making session kissing my spine on Christmas Eve. My blood heated at just the thought of it.

Shelley leaned on the wall and watched me finish primping. “So, who is he?”

“Who’s who?”

“The new guy you’re sexing it up for.”

“You’re fifteen. ‘Sexing it up’ should not be in your vocabulary.”

“Pffft, whatever. I see sluttier stuff on TV. So? Who is he?”

“None of your business.” I tossed the lip gloss in my purse. “I gotta go or I’ll be late.

“Knock him dead, Jenny.”

I hoped so. I ran out the door and to my car.

****

I parked in front of his building at exactly seven. My hands sweating, I took the stairs to the second level and knocked on his door. He only made me wait a second.

“Hey—whoa.” He looked me up and down.

“Happy New Year’s Eve,” I said. I almost jumped him right there.

The heat in his eyes promised more sinful delights if I just said yes. He answered the door while still buttoning his shirt, giving me a nice glimpse of skin, and his hair was tousled in similar fashion to how I’d made it look when he went down on me in the living room. I clenched my thighs together.

“Come in, love. I was just about to grab my coat.”

I walked into his home and looked around. It was a tiny one-bedroom with band posters taped to the walls, a futon couch, and a kitchenette. Two guitars sat on stands in the corner, one the acoustic I’d already heard, and one electric. A small TV was propped up on a board stretched across two cinder blocks. He came out of the bedroom with his leather coat.

“Have to admit I was surprised you called today.”

I blushed and chewed my lip. “Wasn’t sure I should. I mean, I don’t really do that…I mean, before I was married--”

“Jennifer, I don’t think you’re a slut.

“Oh, good. Wait, did you want a slut?”

He grinned and took my hands. “I want someone that wants to be seen with me.”

“Oh. Well, party, so…” What was it about him that turned me into a babbling moron?

“You look amazing.”

“Thank you.”

He kissed my cheek. “When does this party start?”

I inhaled his cologne. He smelled delicious. He kissed the spot below my ear.

“Pretty much now, but…people will arrive any time before midnight.”

“So, there’s no rush.” He kissed my neck.

I tilted my head to give him further access. “Not technically…”

He wrapped one arm around me, his hand landing on my bare back. The smile he showed then was entirely wicked. “You wear this for me?”

I nodded. “Bought it for you.”

He moaned. “We’re not leaving right away.” He started walking backward to the bedroom.

“Okay.” My panties were already soaked, so why prolong the inevitable?

He dropped his coat on the floor and peeled the dress off my shoulders while I undid his belt buckle. My dress slid to the floor. Too impatient to get naked, we pushed enough clothes out of the way to join and fell to his bed. I climbed onto his lap, sank down on him, and sighed.

“Missed this,” he said.

I rolled my hips, making him moan and tighten his grip on my thighs. “Just this?”

His hands moved up my waist to cradle my breasts. I gasped when he gave my nipples a little twist.

“And these. And your smile. Come back with me after the party.”

I slowed down. “What for?”

“I want to buy you breakfast in the morning.”

“Midnight isn’t morning.”

“I know.”

I could find worse uses for my time. “And after breakfast I go home?” I needed to know if this was just a hook-up, or…

“Do you need to get home?”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

He sat up to kiss me. “Then we’ll see what comes to mind.”

I smiled. Good enough for now. Talking meant we weren’t kissing, and Will’s mouth was made for kissing.

“I could watch you bounce on my dick all night.” Except he felt like chatting.

“We don’t have all night.”

He flipped our position on the bed. “Then I guess we’ll have to pick up the pace, won’t we?” He nipped my breast. “Love your pretty tits.”

“I don’t usually like that word.”

“What, tits?”

“Yeah. But you say it so nice.”

He grinned and kissed me. I felt my inner muscles tightening, the ball of sensation growing with each stroke that rubbed my clit.

“What else do you like, sweet Jenny?”

“The…the…oh, god, like that…how do you do that…”

He groaned. “Made for me, you were. Open your eyes, Jen.”

I obeyed and stared into his baby blues. My orgasm started building. I was so close and he’d only been touching me for five minutes. I cried out his name.

Wow, stars…

“You know, we keep forgetting condoms,” he said next to me.

“I’m on birth control. Are you…?”

“Clean. Had a check-up after my last relationship.”

“Okay then.”

Once I could make my legs work, I got up to dress in his bathroom. My reflection made my jaw drop. Just-been-fucked hair--check. At least the fabric of my dress didn’t wrinkle or I’d have to wear my jacket all night.

Oh, god, Mom’s so going to know when she looks at me.

I found my brush in my purse and attacked the tangles he’d created. My mother would give me the evil eye if we were too late.

Will walked in with a glass of water, his shirt still un-tucked. “Here.” He set the glass on the counter and took the brush out of my hand. “You look hot.”

“I look like I’ve been up to no good.” I sipped the water and sighed at the feel of the brush on my scalp. Why did it always feel better when someone else did it?

“I’d say you were very good, love.”

I scowled at him in the mirror. “Not what I meant and you know it.”

My tresses smooth again, he set the brush on the counter and ran his hands up my thighs.

“Stop that.”

He groped my ass. “Stop what?”

“Stop--” I felt him slid into me again from behind. “Ohhh… You have a kink about mirrors, don’t you?”

“You like it.”

“With you I do.”

That was the last time either of us spoke until we were done, this round a lot faster than the one before. The longer we spent together in one place, the harder it was to resist wrapping around each other. I did like watching us in the mirror, though it was hard to keep my eyes open when he made me feel so good.

I looked at my watch and swore. After redoing my lipstick, I rushed him out the door.

****

Will was perfectly attentive all night. He refilled my glass without being asked, stayed by my side, and charmed the people we talked to. We even managed to dodge my mother for the first hour.

“Jenny, who’s this?”

I turned around. “Mom! Great party. Um…this is Will. Will, meet my mom.”

He put out his hand and shook hers.

She examined him. “Where did you two meet?”

“Christmas Eve,” Will said.

Mom arched a brow. “During the storm?”

“Jennifer was gracious enough to let me thaw out in her living room.”

That was one way to put it.

“And you hit it off?” Mom asked.

We shared a look. “So to speak. Will asked me to give him a call when I was down from the mountain, so, here we are.”

“Well, it’s nice meeting you, William. Jenny, could you help me refill the snack bowls?”

Uh-oh. I shrugged at Will and followed my mother into the kitchen.

“Not your usual type,” Mom said, opening a bag of pretzels.

True, I’d gone for jocks in the past, but that didn’t make Will any less desirable. “So what if he wears black and bleaches his hair?”

“Are you sure this isn’t just rebound from Lee’s death, honey?”

“Mom!” I opened the jar of salsa she handed to me. “It’s a first date, okay? I don’t know if it’ll last a week or a month or what, but I like him. I’ve been alone almost a year and I’m ready to move on. I’m ready to live again.”

I even started writing again. The day after Christmas, I’d woken up thinking about my unfinished manuscript for the first time in months, and when I sat down at my keyboard, it was with a smile on my face.

My mother grinned at me. “That’s all I wanted to hear.”

My jaw dropped. She’d been screwing with me. “You so suck.”

Shelley opened the kitchen door, Will in tow. “There you guys are. Someone needs to change the CD. People are starting to get bored.” She nudged Will into the room. “And I found this. A couple of Mom’s cougar friends were getting grabby.”

I sighed. “Will, meet my little sister. Shell, aren’t you supposed to be upstairs until midnight?”

“I ran out of munchies.” She started piling a plate with snacks and hors d’oeuvres.

I rolled my eyes and muttered about teen brats under my breath. Will moved to my side, placed his arm around my waist, and kissed my cheek.

“Half hour to midnight,” he whispered in my ear.

A half hour to kissing in the New Year, then fleeing to his apartment and a private celebration. I shivered.

“Well, kids, I better return to my hostess duties.” Mom left the kitchen.

Shelley stayed, leaning on the island and watching us with a dorky grin on her face.

“What?” I asked.

“You guys so got busy before you got here.”

“I’m gonna tell Mom to wash your mouth out!”

“You so did!”

I crossed my arms under my breasts. “And what makes you say that.”

My little sister smirked. “You’re missing an earring.” She picked up her plate and left, looking entirely too smug.

Will laughed. I hit his arm.

“Shut up.”

“Oh, come on, love. It’s funny.”

“It’s embarrassing! She won’t forget this, either. She’s evil.”

He brushed my hair behind my right ear. “Well, you are missing an earring.”

I pouted. “I like this pair.”

“I’ll help you find it in my bed.”

I poked his chest with my finger. “I’m holding you to that.”

He nuzzled my cheek. “Think of it this way, love…if we don’t find it tonight, you have an excuse to come back.”

“It’s a long way to come for an earring,” I said.

“How about a date with an earring bonus?”

I smiled. “Deal. But I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“What’s your last name?”

“Oh.” He smiled. “It’s Snow.”

And they say the universe has no sense of humor. “Well, that’s appropriate.”

He grinned, and held me tighter. “I guess it is.”

“Happy New Year, Will Snow.”

The End.

Author’s Note: Thank you for reading this story. Feel free to join me on Facebook, Twitter, or Livejournal.

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A Gift of Snow