Beach Blanket Santa

Do you hear me? You’re the person I’m falling in love with and can’t bear to see walk away. Please promise me you won’t do that again. Twice was bad enough. I’m not sure my heart can take a third time.”
    She shared a shaky smile, tears streaming from her eyes. “I promise.”
    “Besides…” He lightly stroked her cheeks. “Some say that kids are overrated.”
    “They do not,” she said with a sniff. “Especially in your family.”
    “There are options, you know. Life is full of options.” He grinned warmly. “I like dogs.”
    She laughed through her tears. “You’re such a great guy.”
    “Hmm, yes. I’m glad you can finally see that. Only from this point out, I’m going to insist on one thing.” He pressed his forehead to hers and looked deeply in her eyes. “That you call me Santa.”
    “What?” she asked with surprise.
    “I thought it was kind of sexy when you said I was like him.”
    “You are him,” she said, tugging him close.
    He threaded his fingers in her luscious hair and drew her in for a kiss. After an intensely passionate moment, he pulled back. “Can I convince you to stay for New Year’s?”
    “Why, Santa,” she said softly, “we don’t even have champagne.”
    He laughed out loud, snuggling her in his arms. “We’ll improvise.”
    He kissed her deeply then, again and again, only finding himself hungry for more. She molded herself to him, her legs appearing to give way. But he shored her up and held her close, determined now—more than ever—never to let her go.

Epilogue

    The following December, Matt took Sarah’s hand and led her onto the big, broad deck. The ocean bellowed and tumbled before them, gulls darting in and out of the waves under a darkening sky. Matt wrapped his arms around her from behind as they studied the seascape.
    “Looks like a storm’s brewing.”
    She glanced over her shoulder thinking he was the most handsome man she’d seen in anything —a tuxedo or a towel. “Hmm, yes. We could be stuck here indefinitely.”
    “Now, that would be a shame.” He leaned forward and nuzzled her neck, causing her to shiver slightly.
    “Chilly?”
    The wind kicked up ruffling the layers of her billowy white gown. “Just a bit.”
    Matt removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders before turning her toward him in an embrace. “I’m glad we bought this place.”
    “I couldn’t think of a better spot to spend our honeymoon,” she said, smiling up at him.
    He shot her a sexy grin. “And this time we brought champagne.”
    “What will we toast to?”
    Her face warmed under his perusal. “Santa?”
    “Yes. To him and Christmastime.”
    Matt brushed his lips to hers. “Spending Christmas with you is the best.”
    “Something tells me it’s about to get even better,” she said, nearly breathless.
    “Shall I carry you back to the sleigh?”
    “I’ll go anywhere with you,” she said, meaning it absolutely.
    “How about a trip around the world?”
    “ What? ”
    “You did say you wanted to see the Southern Cross? Travel to Tasmania?”
    “You can’t mean…?”.
    “Sarah, sweetheart,” he said with a loving look. “I’ve arranged some time off, and we’ve got plenty of money.”
    “But I thought this was our honeymoon?”
    “Beach baby of mine, the honeymoon has just begun.”

    The End