Jingle Balls Page 5

  “Who else is here?”

  “Evan,” he answered as he draped Richard over his shoulders and headed into the house.

  Jessica sighed with relief again. Her dogs liked Evan. He could get them unhitched and fed and the sled put away while she took care of her guest. She didn’t want Richard to lose a couple of fingers or toes to frostbite.

  She nodded as Evan walked out of the house. “Hey, Jess, Jack said you were home. Hell of a package you brought with you. Once he’s thawed out, I’m sure Greta would be glad to take him off your hands.”

  Grabbing her bearskin, Jessica smiled. Greta would take anything with a cock dangling between his legs off anybody’s hands. “I’ll keep that in mind. First, though, I gotta make sure frostbite hasn’t set in. Losing a few digits wouldn’t do Greta any good now, would it?”

  Jessica chuckled as Evan roared with laughter and led the dogs around the corner of the house. Then, her bearskin wrapped around her, she stumbled up the steps onto her front porch and shuffled into the house. Gods, but she was tired. First dog sledding to Penny’s, then that wild ride to Seattle. Then some wild sex.

  She smiled.

  Wild, hot sex. Wild, hot, uninhibited sex with a wild, hot, uninhibited guy.

  But that magic moonbeam ride afterwards! Shit. Wait until she got her hands on Penny -- dropping the two of them in the middle of the Arctic barely dressed. What had her sister been thinking?

  Dropping her bearskin on the living room floor, Jessica yawned, stretched, and headed into the kitchen. Once there, she inhaled and smiled. Spiced cider was heating on the stove. Lord but that was going to taste good.

  Jack stomped into the kitchen followed closely by Evan. “Your gentleman friend woke up real fast as soon as his ass hit the hot water. I dumped some brandy down his throat, and now he’s out there cursing a blue streak. Evan fed the dogs, so we’re outta here. Tree’s up, but you have to decorate it yourself this year. Nick got a back order for more wooden blocks, of all things. Whole crew is working overtime.”

  Smiling, Jessica nodded. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate your help. Oh, thanks for the cider. I need it.”

  Chuckling, Evan jerked his chin toward the back door. “So does he. Pins and needles were just starting in his fingers and toes. I learned a few new curse words. Didn’t think there were any more for me to learn. Thank him for me.”

  Laughing, both men trotted through the living room and out the front door. The roar of a snowmobile soon filled the night, only to eventually disappear as they headed for home.

  After another yawn, Jessica poured two mugs of cider, dropped a cinnamon stick in each, and headed out the back door.

  * * *

  Gritting his teeth against the sharp pain in his fingers and toes, Richard pulled his sopping G-string off, dropped it over the side of the hot tub -- it landed with a soggy jangle -- and examined his surroundings. He sat in a cedar hot tub on a nice-sized deck behind a log cabin. A line of pine trees about 100 feet away circled the yard behind him, and he could just make out the roof of a shed to the left of the cabin. Above his head, the heavy gray clouds had blown away without dropping more snow. Bright stars shone, and a full moon sailed across the sky. And all around the cabin was snow -- more snow than he could remember seeing in his entire life.

  Blinking, he wiped his face with his hands. This was no nightmare. What the hell had happened to him? He remembered watching his brother puke his guts out. That hadn’t been a dream.

  Then playing fucking Santa at Prior’s store had been too miserable for it not to have happened. First Alison coming on to him then that little girl who wanted a kitten! Not even his imagination was fertile enough to come up with both of those in one nightmare -- not even after a night drinking cheap wine.

  Sliding deeper into the hot water, Richard leaned his head back against the edge of the tub. The club. He’d been there, right? Closing his eyes, he searched his memory. A picture of Tanya puffing on her cigarette appeared in his mind -- so did the smell. Yep, he’d been there. Did his last show. And then the bitch had tried to trick him into signing an extension to his contract. Thank goodness for Penelope.

  He frowned. Penelope? Penelope who? And her sister Jessica.

  Eyes still closed, Richard smiled. Oh man. Jessica. That was the one part of the evening that he was absolutely sure had happened. Hell, what a ride. She been wet and wild -- wilder than any other woman he’d ever known. First, she practically swallowed him whole. Then when he’d been ready to explode, he’d pulled her up, ripped her clothes away, shoved her against the door, and slid his cock into her hot tight pussy.

  He’d slid his cock into her.

  Richard frowned.

  He’d slid his cock into her.

  When the hell did he put a condom on?

  Surging up, he snapped his eyes open. What the fuck had he done?

  At that moment, the door slammed open, and his hostess emerged from inside the house carrying two steaming mugs. The tantalizing scent of sweet apples, spicy cinnamon, and nutmeg wafted through the clear, crisp air to his nose.

  She smiled at him. “Thawing out okay?”

  He scowled at her. “We didn’t use a condom.”

  The smile never left her face. “No we didn’t.”

  He pushed himself to his feet then sat down just as quickly. The water in the tub was nice and hot but the temperature outside of it was below freezing. “We had sex -- unprotected sex. No condom. I’m sorry. I got carried away. I never forget condoms.” Richard knew he was babbling, but the nipples pushing against the soft, pink wool of her sweater were distracting him. And she didn’t even look cold!

  “Aren’t you cold? It’s freezing out here.”

  She blinked. “What? Cold? Hell, but your train of thought shifts faster than an elf’s. I am cold. I’m just used to it. And you don’t have to worry. I’m taking birth control.”

  Relief washing over him, Richard leaned back and closed his eyes. Birth control. She was on the pill. All his muscles relaxed as he slid back down under the water until only his head was visible. Well, that was a relief. Then he frowned again. “Elf?” He cocked an eyebrow. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  Sniffing inelegantly, she lifted the mugs, walked to the side of the tub, and handed him one. “Here, drink this. How do your fingers and toes feel?”

  He took the mug from her and cupped it in his hands. “My fingers and toes are fine. Would you mind answering a question for me? Where the hell am I?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Jessica stared at Richard as she sipped her cider. Too bad Jack hadn’t added a couple of shots of whiskey. She had a feeling Richard would need something stronger to drink than cider by the time she finished explaining where he was.

  “North Pole?”

  He snorted. “Try again.”

  She shrugged and smiled. “Okay, northern Canada. No one can live at the real North Pole. Too damn cold.”

  At the same moment, a chorus of barks and howls erupted from around the side of the house. The sound was followed by the dogs -- eight of them, big ones -- with lots of fur leaping up onto the deck. One of them stuck his nose in Richard’s face and planted a sloppy kiss on his nose before he could pull away. The others went straight to Jessica.

  Smiling, Jessica patted heads and backs. “You guys all have supper? Ready for bed?”

  Richard stared at them. Eight dogs. Did she let them all in the house? “What are their names?”

  Grinning, she answered, “Dashiell, Danny, Prankster, Vicky, Compass, Cueball, Donny, and Blister.”

  He blinked. “Why did you name them that?”

  “To aggravate my brother-in-law.”

  “Brother-in-law?”

  She nodded. “Nicholas. Most people know him as St. Nicholas. Kids call him Santa Claus.”

  He dropped his mug over the side of the tub.

  Cider and spices rolled across the cedar deck. “Do you really expect me to believe you’re Santa Claus’s sister?”
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  “Sister-in-law. You remember Penny, my sister. She’s married to him.”

  His face got red really fast. “What kind of bullshit are you trying to feed me? Quit fucking around and give me some answers, Jessica. What is your last name anyway?”

  “Fenstermacher.”

  “What?”

  “My last name is Fenstermacher. And you are in Northern Canada.”

  “And I suppose I got here in a sleigh pulled by reindeer?”

  She shook her head. “No, only Nick uses them and only once a year. Magic first. Then dogsled. My dogsled.”

  Closing his eyes, he covered them with his forearm. “I’m fucking stranded in the middle of fucking nowhere with a fucking crazy woman.”

  After letting the dogs into the house where they’d fall asleep in front of the fireplace, Jessica swallowed the last of her cider and smiled. Then she began to laugh.

  Dropping his arm, he stared at her. “What’s so damn funny?”

  After a final giggle, Jessica gulped in some air and said, “I’m just trying to see things from your perspective.”

  “I’m not laughing.”

  Cocking her head to the side, Jessica nodded. “No, you’re not. But except for that goofy hat, you’re naked in my hot tub. And, if I remember correctly, you are one fine specimen of maleness.” With those words, she toed off her boots and socks, pulled her sweater over her head, unsnapped her bra, undid the only two buttons left on her jeans, shimmied out of them and her panties, then stepped into the hot tub.

  Richard snapped his mouth closed. Maybe he really was having a nightmare. His gaze fell to her full breasts and the tight pink nipples that bobbed in and out of the water.

  He shifted and spread his legs as his cock swelled. Nightmare? Nope, not a nightmare. This was one hell of a wet dream.

  Before he could reach for her, she was in his arms, her lips on his, her tongue caressing his. Moaning, he sucked it deeper into his mouth and cupped her breast.

  She shifted and tried to settle herself onto his cock.

  He pulled her mouth from his. “Oh no. Not so fast. Not this time. I want to take my time.”

  A delicious chuckle welled up out of her throat. “By all means, Richard, take your time. I don’t have anything better to do except sleep, and that can wait.”

  “Good!” Sliding his hands down her torso, he lifted her high enough out of the water so that her breasts were level with his face. Leaning forward, he sucked her right nipple into his mouth.

  “Oh yes,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his head and arched her back, pushing her nipple further into his mouth.

  He switched to the other nipple.

  “Are you cold?” he mumbled against her breast.

  “Oh gods, no. I’m hot. So hot.”

  “Good.” He sucked as much of her breast into his mouth as he could.

  Bending her head, she nipped his ear. “You make me so hot, hotter than any man ever has. Fuck me, Richard. Fuck me hard.”

  Lifting his head from her breasts, he stared into her eyes. “Be glad to.” Locking his mouth on hers, he dropped her onto his lap and buried his cock between her legs.

  Planting her feet on the floor of the tub, she lifted herself off of him then impaled herself again.

  They both groaned.

  He kissed her between her breasts. “You’re so sweet and wet.”

  She moaned. “Oh, gods, your cock feels so good! Deeper. Bury it deeper.”

  “Be glad to, sweetheart.” Thrusting his hips up, Richard buried himself even more deeply. “Damn but you’re hot.” He slid his cock out. “Turn around. I’m going to ride you until you scream.”

  Shuddering, she did as he asked, resting her arms on the other side of the hot tub.

  Richard probed between her thighs, first with his fingers then with his cock. After positioning her hips to his liking, he surged into her.

  She clutched the edge of the tub as he withdrew and thrust into her again. “Yes, yes. Harder, harder.”

  Richard complied, water splashed around them, slopping over the side of the tub. Cold air surrounded his upper body. Warm water surrounded him from the waist down. And Jessica’s slick, wet pussy surrounded his cock.

  Gripping her hips, he thrust again then swiveled his hips -- once to the left, once to the right.

  She moaned as more water sloshed out of the tub.

  Her internal muscles clasped and sucked at his cock as he pulled back. They relaxed as he pushed forward. He ground his hips against her ass. His balls tightened.

  She spread her legs farther apart.

  His cock jerked inside of her.

  “That’s it, sweetheart, tighten that pussy. Hold me tight.”

  “I’m going to suck your cock dry,” she groaned through gritted teeth.

  Leaning over, he slipped a hand between her legs and pinched her clit.

  She bucked against him. “Oh, gods. Yes. More.”

  Richard thrust into her again, pinched her clit again.

  “I’m going to come.”

  “Come, baby. Come for me.”

  “Oh, oh, oh. Yessssss!”

  As her internal muscles rippled and shuddered, Richard thrust into her one final time and exploded.

  Some minutes later, Richard slid his cock from her body and collapsed onto a bench. Pulling Jessica with him, he wrapped his arms around her and settled her onto his lap.

  She rested her head against his shoulder and smiled into his face. “So, what would you think about living forever?”

  Chapter Twelve

  Half an hour later, Richard sat before a roaring fire wrapped in his now dry robe and a soft, multi-colored wool throw with a mug of hot coffee cupped in his hands, staring at Jessica. She was snuggled beneath a gold and black afghan in an overstuffed armchair on the other side of the braided rug -- smiling at him.

  Assorted yips, whines, and snores escaped from the eight sled dogs sleeping all around them.

  Propping his elbows on his thighs, he leaned forward. “Let me get this straight. Your sister Penelope married St. Nicholas three hundred odd years ago. Since she didn’t want to live through the centuries without any of her family, she convinced Nicholas to use his ‘magic dust’ on you.”

  Still smiling, Jessica nodded.

  He glanced at the sleeping white dog at her feet. Her feet twitching, Vicky whined as she chased a rabbit in her sleep. “And you insisted on keeping your dog team.”

  After another sip of coffee, she nodded again.

  Richard leaned back. He was in the Twilight Zone. There was no other reasonable explanation. Because, if he wasn’t in the Twilight Zone, then what Jessica was telling him was true. And that wasn’t possible, was it? Santa Claus didn’t really exist, did he? People didn’t live for three hundred years, did they?

  Her chocolate brown eyes twinkled. “Richard?”

  Before he could answer, the door was shoved open. The sound of jingling bells rolled into the room followed by a man wearing a red coat.

  All eight dogs woke, leaped to their feet, and began barking their welcomes.

  Penelope was a few steps behind, a large red and green shopping bag looped over her wrist. “Richard. How nice to see you again. I’d like you to meet my husband, Nicholas,” she shouted over the general mayhem.

  Before he could answer, Jessica was out of her chair stomping toward her sister, her braless breasts bouncing beneath her gray sweatshirt. “Dashiell, Danny, Prankster! Compass, Cueball, Danny, Blister! Vicky, take them all out for your evening run.”

  With a woof, the white dog complied. The other seven followed her.

  Richard glanced back at Penelope and her companion.

  Nicholas’s eyes were glued to Jessica’s chest.

  A burst of anger rolled in Richard’s stomach. Those were his breasts.

  “Damn it, Penny. We could have frozen to death!” Hands fisted on her hips, Jessica glared into her sister’s face. “And you!” she exclaimed, switching her attentio
n to Nicholas. “What were you thinking to transport us into the middle of nowhere without proper clothing?”

  Lips twitching and eyes twinkling, he answered, “I didn’t think you’d be half naked.”

  “That’s enough,” Penelope said as she slipped an arm beneath Jessica’s. “What’s done is done, all’s well that ends well, I always say.”

  Jessica snorted. “You never say that.”

  Bells jingling, Nicholas shrugged out of his coat. He turned to hang it on the coat rack but stopped short and wrinkled his nose when he saw Jessica’s bearskin coat hanging there. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Jessica. Do you have to hang that coat in your house? It’s a wonder the whole place doesn’t smell like a hibernating bear’s den.”

  Tossing her hair back over her shoulder, Jessica sniffed. “It’s my house. I can bring in a hibernating bear if I want to.”

  Nicholas dropped his coat over the back of the sofa. “Well, don’t ask me to help you get him back out again.”

  Still sitting in his chair, Richard listened to the banter between Jessica and her sister but continued to stare at the bearded man. Fuck, but he looked exactly like Santa Claus was supposed to look, even if he was wearing blue jeans. But then lots of guys looked like Santa Claus. Still, there was something else familiar about him.

  Setting his coffee mug on the table next to his chair, Richard leaned forward, studying Nicholas’s face. He’d seen it somewhere before -- and not on a Christmas card.

  A picture appeared in his mind, a picture sitting among all the other family pictures his mother had on the mantel.

  His mouth dropped open. He snapped it closed, swallowed, and said, “Uncle Nick?”

  Nicholas chuckled. “I was wondering if you’d recognize me.”

  Jessica looked from one to the other. “You two know each other?”

  Richard continued to stare at the older man, so Nicholas answered, “The one and only time Richard saw me was when he was eight years old and his brother was six. His mother is my sister.” Then he chuckled. “Well, not really. His mother’s I don’t know how many greats grandmother was my sister. Did you ever meet Anya?”