Dear Desmond_a Christmas Love Letter Read online

  “You’re here.” She breathes in deeply, savoring my presence.

  North

  Despite where I am, and how I got here, I was somewhat afraid that Desmond was a dream. A figment I made up to keep me sane. I had been terrified of waking up this morning and him not being here.

  I don’t want to be lonely anymore. I want the promise of what we could be, and after the light touch of our lips, I feel like it’s within my grasp. Just moments before becoming a reality.

  “I’m here, baby.” His soft words wash over me like a waterfall. Beautiful in their intensity.

  “When do you leave again?” We never got too into specifics about what he does, and how often he leaves. I regret not preparing for that now.

  “I have six weeks of leave.”

  “Six weeks,” I repeat. My heart both cramps and sings with happiness. “Can I stay? Here…with you?” Asking that, it goes against everything I am.

  “I’d be pissed if you left, North.” My eyes stray to his. The conviction in his gaze and tone make me smile. He wants me.

  “I don’t want to leave.” I rub my cheek against his beard, loving the smooth hairs. Nuzzling in his arms far surpasses anything I’d dreamt of.

  “Did you have plans today?”

  “No.”

  “Ever been ice skating?”

  His excitement is infectious. “Of course. But not since I was a little girl.”

  “Get dressed. We’re going to Bainbridge Island to skate. Then we’ll go look at lights and come back for hot chocolate and whatever else you want.”

  “Christmas movies?”

  “Works for me.”

  Rushing to get dressed, I marvel at how quickly my life has changed in just a few short weeks. All because a man who cared about a perfect stranger wrote me.

  “When I first got your letter,” I begin to say as I join Des in the living room, “I was going to throw it out.”

  “Oh yeah?” He stands taller, like he’s waiting on bad news.

  “I’m really glad I didn’t.” More than I could ever express to him.

  Des walks closer to me, his hands immediately running through my hair to hold my head. Leaning forward, he murmurs, “So am I,” just as our lips touch again. This time it’s deeper, harder. There’s more than gratitude and thanks in it.

  There’s lust. Need. Want.

  There’s everything we feel but haven’t spoken yet.

  My body wakes up for him, screaming for him to take control. I want this, us, Desmond. Everything it will entail and so much more.

  Gasping when he nips my lip, I moan as his tongue slides inside my mouth, tangling with my own. He doesn’t hesitate to press our bodies together intimately. Pushing his hardness into my stomach, a shiver works its way through my whole being, and I shake in his arms.

  Des deepens the kiss, and I’m breathless. Panting, wanting more.

  “Wow.” I inhale as he pulls back.

  “Yeah.” He leans his head forward against mine as we calm our breathing down. “Now imagine what it’ll be like when I have you under me.”

  Holy smokes.

  I already can.

  Ice skating was amazing. It became a game of cat and mouse between us. Desmond chased me around the rink, stealing kisses and sweet touches each time. He thrilled in making me squeal and breaking out in red from embarrassment when his kisses would linger too long for the young audience surrounding us.

  We didn’t get to drive around looking at the lights like we’d wanted. A huge snow storm came raging through as we were leaving the ice rink. While slightly disappointed about that, I’m happy to be alone with Des now. Cuddling on his couch watching old Christmas movies and simply enjoying each other.

  His fingers keep roaming across my neck and down my arm as the sun slowly sets on the horizon. With each passing minute, I worry about sleeping arrangements. I readily admit, slumbering in his arms has been the highlight of my life. I’m just not sure I’m ready for that next step between us.

  I’ve had sex before; I’m no shrinking violet. But it’s always been with someone I’ve known for a while. I never just dove right into it. I require a deep emotional connection.

  The hours pass, we eat dinner, watch more movies, and when midnight rings in, I feel myself being pulled into sleep. When Desmond moves to stand, I startle and nearly fall off the couch. “I got you.” And he does indeed. Picking me up, Des walks to his bedroom, and my body noticeably freezes.

  “Just sleep, North.” He assures with a kiss on my neck.

  I love the feel of his lips on my skin. Anywhere I can get him, I’ll take it.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to.”

  “I know.” And he sounds like he does.

  Sleep claims me quickly as Des holds me through the night, and I suddenly wish for clarification about my feelings for him and his for me.

  I wish I knew more…

  Desmond

  Spending the day with North, having her at my side as my woman, made the waiting worth it. She may not be comfortable with being intimate now, but when she is, that’s when I’ll know she loves me, and that is more precious than anything else.

  North thinks I kept playing with her at the rink, chasing her around to steal light kisses. I wasn’t playing. I saw the looks she kept getting from some of the guys there, even the ones with their own girls. I needed to stamp my claim on North. She is mine, and people needed to see it.

  She has a carefree spirit that surrounds her. It’s addicting as hell, and I knew that if I saw it, others would as well. Watching her smile, hearing her laugh, was just icing on the cake.

  When we got home and she cuddled into me like we’d done it a million times, I knew I wasn’t alone in my feelings. I couldn’t get enough of touching her, feeling her soft flesh against my own. Like an addict, I want so much more.

  Good things come to those who wait.

  The mantra I’ve been repeating in my head for hours now as she once again pushes her ass back into my hard dick while she sleeps. Her light moans haven’t been helping either. Checking the clock, I see it’s after five a.m. and decide I need to get up and do something with this hard-on before it gets me into trouble with North.

  “Don’t leave,” she moans as I pull away.

  Kissing her forehead lightly, I say, “Just going to shower.” She rolls back over.

  Not turning any lights on, I head to said shower and set the spray. Stepping into the cascade of warmth, I close my eyes and grab the body wash. Soaping my hands, I run them along my body, slowing down when I reach the ache between my thighs. Gripping the swollen member, I stroke lightly, squeezing with each pass.

  My head falls back as a familiar pleasure envelops me. One I wish I could share with the woman in my room. Strong, steady strokes evoke pictures of North in here with me, watching, waiting for each drop of pre-cum as it drips through the small hole and leaks onto my hand.

  A cool breeze hits my back, followed by warm hands, and a small bite on my shoulder blade. Turning into the arms of the woman I’d been fantasizing about, I watch with passion as she wraps her own hand around my dick. With the same grip I once held, she strokes me to a too quick release and sighs into my chest as her arms envelop me.

  “North?” I question once I’ve got my bearings again.

  “I think”—she kisses my nipple—“I’ve been falling in love with you a little more with each letter. I could love you bigger than the stars, higher than the sun.” My arms circle her as she talks. “I don’t want to be one of those people who had everything they wanted right in front of them but were too chicken to take it.”

  “Neither do I.” I lift her chin, so she looks at me. “I want you, North. Have since that first picture and your broken words. I’ve felt a connection with you from the start. I don’t want you having regrets, however.”

  “The only regret I’ll ever have is not keeping you in my life, Desmond.” Her smile is the only confirmation I need.

  “Back a
t you, babe,” I mutter into her mouth. “Back at you.”

  New Year’s Eve

  One year later.

  “Officer Rowe!” I hear my name being called, and I’m fucking pissed. My video call to North was cut short a few hours ago, and I haven’t been able to get ahold of her since then.

  “What?” I snap at the officer calling for me as I leave my office. I’m back in Spain again as overwatch for another mission in Serbia, and I’d rather be almost anywhere else in the fucking world. Namely in my new wife’s bed, keeping her warm on what I’m sure is a cold damn night.

  “Got a package for you.” He whistles as he leaves the break room. The door closes behind me as I enter, and before I can protest, the passage to the bathroom bursts open, and there she is.

  “North?” She isn’t supposed to be here for two more weeks.

  Wiping her mouth, she walks closer and kisses my cheek. “Sorry, I wanted this to be a lot sexier, but well, it’s positive!” She whips out a stick and practically shoves it in my face.

  “You’re pregnant?” I’m thrilled and terrified all at once. “We’re having a baby?”

  Her radiant smile says it all. “We are!” Her scream is followed by cheers outside of our door.

  “Should you be flying? What did the doctor say?” I want to be excited, but she had to have taken at least three flights to get here.

  “Breathe, Desmond. Everything’s fine. I’m only eight weeks along, and the doctor says I can fly until the third trimester.”

  Eight weeks? That means…“Halloween?” She’d flown out to see me because my tour was extended.

  “Yes.” Her beaming smile is radiant.

  “Thank you!” I pull her body into my arms, hugging her tight against me, needing to feel her erratic heart beat in tune with mine. “Bigger than the stars.” I tell her. It’d become our way of saying I love you.

  “Higher than the sun.” She leans in to kiss me lightly. “Can we leave now?” she whispers into my neck. “Steele said you were done for the day; he’d take over.”

  “Yeah, baby, we can go now.” I’m sure my grin is lecherous as we leave to celebrate.

  Thanksgiving

  Two years later.

  “Desmond!” I giggle. “Wait a hot minute, would you!” He’s advancing further on me. Our son, Jackson, is with my father for the weekend, and we finally have time to ourselves. After a year of not speaking to me, my father made contact, and we were able to reconcile our relationship, and he’s proven to be a wonderful grandfather to our son.

  “Get your ass over here, North,” Des growls. His beard, longer and thicker than the first time we met, makes his animalistic demands seem that much more ominous. I’ll never admit to him how much I love it.

  “You’ve gotta work for it.” I wink and run down the hallway of our little bungalow house. His heavy footsteps follow, and I feel his hand brush through my hair as I jump on our bed.

  “Got you now,” Des groans into my back as his body towers over mine.

  “You always have,” I whisper, looking back to him.

  Spinning me onto my back, he opens my robe to reveal my nude body. “You’ve been a bad girl, Mrs. Rowe.”

  “Are you complaining, officer Rowe?” A devilish tilt to his grin shows just how much he isn’t.

  “Fuck, have I missed you, baby.” Des rests his head against my chest. He confessed once that when he comes home from a tour, listening to my heart beat grounds him. Brings him back to reality so that when life gets to be too much, he knows exactly where he belongs.

  I fell so deeply in love with my husband that day that I was brought to tears.

  The love we have isn’t traditional. It’s not what some think could last.

  To us, it’s everything.

  It’s our son, our family—small as it may be—it’s our silent connection that doesn’t always need words to be expressed.

  Our love is, “Bigger than the stars, Desmond.”

  “Higher than the sun, North.”

  And that’s all we’ll ever need.

  The end.

  Next in the Love Letters

  Coming sometime in the new year!

  Love Letters boxset with BONUS story that just might be Lena ;)

  Also by KL DONN

  The Protectors Series

  Keeley’s Fight

  Emily’s Protectors

  Kennedy’s Redemption

  The Possessed Series

  OWNED by Dominic

  One Dance for Case

  Lost & Found

  Love Letters Series

  Dear Killian

  Dear Gage

  Dear Maverick

  Dear Desmond

  Love Letters boxed set (Coming soon)

  Dear Steele (Coming Soon)

  Hogan Brother’s

  One Chance

  One Choice

  Unchained

  What Happens When Series

  Anonymous Bride

  Task Force 779

  Missing in Action (Coming fall 2018)

  Adair Empire

  King (Coming February 2018)

  Bullied Duet

  Bullied & From the Ashes are being rebranded and rewritten to come Late spring 2018!

  About the Author

  Krystal is a proud Canadian girl, hailing from Sherwood Park, Alberta. She has a strong dislike for the winter, and a love for spring. Married to her husband Steve, for 13 years, they have 4 beautiful red headed spawns ranging in ages 5-12. She has a strong love of coffee, sarcasm, and wine. (Not necessarily in that order either.)

  She has been a published author for over 2 years now. With 9 full length novels (1 unpublished) and a dozen novellas with 3 published, 3 waiting to go into edits, 2 being rebranded, and 1 being extended into a novel.

  Krystal loves to write about instalove between couples looking for love. She has a passion for contemporary romance and springs into menage as often as she can.

  Currently, she is working on 2 new series, the Adair Empire (with the first 3 books already written). The Adair’s are a whole lot darker, dirtier, and grittier than what her readers are used to, but boy has she had a ton of fun writing them.

  The What Happens When series will begin with Anonymous Bride and continue with untraditional love stories. Bringing you all the good feels, a ton of love, and maybe – if you’re lucky ;) a surprise baby or two!

  With the exception of Anonymous Bride, you’ll be able to find all her books on all platforms!

  She loves to hear from her readers, so please feel free to find her Facebook by searching Author KL Donn or subscribe to her website below! And of course join my amazing reader group!

  authorkldonn.wixsite.com/menagequeen

  [email protected]

  Running from Disaster by Aubrey Parr

  UNEDITED VERSION

  PROLOGUE

  Gabriella

  Half-way through her usual six-mile morning run, the news stories about the three runners that had been abducted in the area creeped into her thoughts. Gabriella cranked her music louder trying to drown them with the steady beat. Singing along to the music, the distraction worked. Eventually her eyes began to dart in every direction. Suddenly, she yanked out her earbuds. It was safer to try and listen to her surroundings and she knew it. Now running at a full sprint like a pack of dogs were chasing her, she pushed her body harder than ever before. Finally, she rounded the last corner onto her street. With her building in sight, her heart pounded against her rib cage. Fear was taking over and she couldn’t stop it.

  Fumbling with the key on her wrist, as tears welled in her eyes, she could barely catch her breath. Just as everything was going black, success, the key turned in the lock and she threw her body inside just in time to slam the door behind her. Practically melted to the cold door, she couldn’t move. Sweat dripping from her every part of her body, she forced her hand up to bolt the door and slid down landing in a pile on the floor. Eyes still sealed shut, she tried to control her b
reathing. Every ounce of her body hurt, muscles screaming with pain. Moments like these Gabriella hated the fact that she loved to run. Though, it wasn’t the running that had caused her body to defy her. It was the fear. Why did she run alone? Her running partners, Violet and Fiona both had to cancel. She should have jumped on her treadmill. Gaby craved the fresh air in the mornings, so she ran alone.

  What the hell was I thinking? She cursed herself and fought to slow her heartrate.

  Coming January 31, 2018

  Pre-order available now!

  Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2AC42Kb

  Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/AMZUKRFD

  Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/AMZAURFD

  Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/AMZCARFD

  Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/BandNRFD

  Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboRFD

  Follow Aubrey for updates on Facebook.

  Midnight Kisses by Deliaria Davis

  Chapter One

  (Snippet)

  “Here! I won this at work, and I remember how much you love them. ‘Sides, you need to get out of town.”

  Sol rolled her eyes when Chelsie bounded into her room and shoved a small, slippery piece of paper down her cleavage. Chelsie giggled, hopping around the bedroom, while she dug the glossy paper out of her chest.

  “Chels… I can’t accept this. You won it!” Sol gasped in shock when she saw it was a ticket to the sold-out Addison Crow concert. Sol tried to shove it back into her best friend’s hand. Even though they were Sol’s favorite band, the ticket was Chelsie’s, not hers.