Chapter 14

Dani and Sawyer stood in the sailboat, next to the bed. It had been a long night, but Danielle was charged with desire. All her senses were on fire. Sawyer looked so handsome in his tux, especially with his bow tie taken off and the first couple of buttons undone. “You’re beautiful,” he said.

“So are you.” He took her hand and kissed it. She slid her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a real kiss. Soon their bodies were pressed together, mouths and hands hungrily exploring each other. When Sawyer touched her breasts she felt a tingle all the way down to her toes. After a bit of teasing, he stopped to kiss up and down her neck. She groaned, grabbed his shirt with both hands, and tore it down the center. “Woman!” he said. “It’s a rental.”

“Don’t call me woman.”

“You’re going to pay for that.” He playfully threw her down on the bed and straddled her.

“Please don’t rip my dress,” she said.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She smiled, then rolled over and let him unzip her. Soon she was out of her dress and he his pants. She told him to keep his ripped shirt on. He laughed and tipped a fake cowboy hat. “Ma’am.” He admired her black lace bra and panties, gently outlining every bit with his finger. She wrapped her legs and arms around him, and whispered every little thing she wanted him to do to her. He was happy to oblige. She was already thinking ahead to next Christmas. She would definitely break out the naughty Santa outfit. He was going to love it.

 

On Christmas morning they awoke to the sound of seagulls. Dani was once again draped over Sawyer, but this time they were skin to skin. She stirred and then a few seconds later his hands began to rub up and down her body. In less than a minute they were making love again. They couldn’t get enough of each other. They did it again in the tiny shower, after laughing, and kissing, and knocking each other into the walls. Then it was coffee and donuts up on the deck, each back in their sweatpants and shirts. The sun was beaming on the water, causing it to glitter like gold.

“Chocolate eclairs and coffee,” Sawyer said. “Very Southern.”

“A mouthful of amazing,” Dani said.

“You can say that again,” Sawyer said, coming in to lick a bit of chocolate off of her bottom lip. “Should we open our presents?”

“How about we take a walk on the beach first?” Dani suggested. “We can open them there.”

“Perfect.”

The roads were clear, and they cranked Christmas carols on the radio as they drove to Wrightsville Beach. They found primo parking and soon they were standing with their toes in the sand, watching the waves crash onshore.

“I hope you’re not thinking of the Russian nanny,” Dani said.

Sawyer threw his head back and roared with laughter. “I lied about her,” he said.

“Good.”

“She’s actually Polish.” Dani pushed him, then he grabbed her around the waist and spun her around. Then they sat on the sand and exchanged gifts. Dani made Sawyer open his first.

“Circus toys!” he exclaimed. The delight in his voice was real. He examined each piece carefully. The tiger. The giraffe. The elephant. The circus train and tent. He set them all up in the sand and gazed at them. “I love them,” he said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Maybe we’ll go on safari and see them for real.” It sounded amazing. “Your turn.” He handed her a box that was too small to be teacups.

“I thought you got me teacups,” she said.

“There’s no more tea,” he said. “I dumped it all in the bathtub.” Dani was laughing as she opened the box. She stopped when she saw the gorgeous blue topaz and diamond necklace glittering back at her. She gasped. She’d forgotten how beautiful it was. “How did you know?”

“How could I not know? It was meant for you.” He took it out of the box and went to put it on her.

“I couldn’t,” she said. “It was a small fortune.”

“I put it on Adel’s credit card,” he joked.

“I love it.” She held her hair back as he clasped it around her neck. Soon, he was kissing it.

“Thank you,” she said, putting her hands on the side of his face. “You gave me Christmas.”

“Y’all come back now, hear?” he said in his best Southern accent.

“That’s terrible,” she said.

“I’ll work on it,” he said. They lay on the sand and listened to the waves. “How about a Texas Christmas next year?”

“Hook ’em horns,” Dani said.

“Don’t ever say that again,” Sawyer said. They laughed, and then kissed, and then played with the tiger and the giraffe in the sand.