Read A Sweet & Merry Christmas for Free Online

 
     
     
     
A Sweet & Merry
Christmas
    “You’re just in time! Pull up a stool, help
me ice these last ones,” Brandy Still called across the bakery,
lifting her head to smile at the petite woman who’d just walked in
the door from the outside . The bundled-up form
raised a hand with a noncommittal grunt, and began the process of
divesting herself of the seasonal wear necessary to survive a
Chicago winter.
    Gloves first, revealing slim, white fingers,
then the scarf was carefully unwrapped from a slender column of
throat, and Brandy caught her breath. She loved watching Jessica Nalan do nearly anything, but seeing her
undressing, even if it was just the outer layer of clothing she
wore, made desire clench deep in her belly.
    Next was the patchwork toque, tugged roughly
off leaving the short, pixie cut standing on end, her small fingers
threading through her blonde hair and bringing it back to some
semblance of order. Brandy stood, still watching as
those same fingers deftly maneuvered the zipper of the coat down
past breasts and belly, the edges of the coat falling open to be
shoved aside when Jess removed the garment entirely, draping it
over a nearby chair.
    “Let me wash my hands. I’ll be right back to
help,” Jess said, and Brandy tilted her head
questioningly. “You told me to help you ice cupcakes, dork . Did you forget already?”
    Laughing, Brandy turned back to the tray of
individual cakes on the counter. “Yeah, right. I guess I just
didn’t think you’d take me serious.” Shit , she thought, I
need to watch myself. I can’t get lost watching her like that, or she’s going to figure
things out .
    Piping buttercream icing on top of the
cupcakes, she was creating small cream-colored Christmas trees,
wreaths, reindeer, and candy canes, one after the other. She hadn’t
heard the swinging door that lead to the rear of the shop, but Jess
had probably headed back already. If she wasn’t just putting her
coat back on after seeing Brandy drooling over her.
    She let out a surprised “ Eeep ” when she felt cold hands push under her shirt and
place themselves palm-first against the small of her back. Twisting
away, she scolded Jess, “Your hands are cold!”
    “ And you are warm,” she heard,
but suddenly couldn’t concentrate on the words or the voice because
those hands had slipped to her sides, cupping around her ribs and
tugging her backwards slightly, holding her in place. Her breath caught in her throat, if Jess knew what
this did to her, she’d move away, take the warmth of her hands from
her skin, the heat of her body from Brandy’s back.
    She’d first noticed Jess on
the campus of the college they both attended, but the woman had
stuck close to her roommate, Mica Scott, and Brandy had never been
certain if they were a couple or not. It wasn’t until they’d graduated and all moved to Chicago that they’d
become friends, and she decided Mica wasn’t
Jess’ lover, glad she’d kept her questions to herself. She was sure
Jess still didn’t know her sexual preferences, and Brandy was happy
to keep a lid on it in order to stay friends with her.
    She’d seen firsthand the cruel
wedge that could be driven into a friendship when she admitted
being interested in women … even when she
hadn’t been attracted to that friend. She could just imagine the
Grand Canyon-sized gulf that would be created if she confessed her desires to Jess, who she’d lusted after for a
long time. So, she would just continue to hunger from a distance,
trying to hide her longing.
    But those hands… those damn hands were still curled around her sides, slipping down to her
waist and then back up, it nearly felt like a caress. Brandy closed her eyes, concentrating on the feel of Jess’
now-warm hands on her, fingers pressing into her skin, trailing up
and down her ribs, the tie of her apron no deterrent to the
touch. Soft, fingertips questing along the top of her jeans,
tracing the edge of the waistband around to the