Memories of Us: A Christmas Scene
I absolutely loved Hunter and Mackenzie’s story this year that when I asked Fabiola for an excerpt I pushed for more Hunter and Mackenzie! I hope you loved them as much as me and that you will fall in love with them a bit more while reading their Christmas story!
Hunter
“Do you like this one?” I hug Mackenzie from behind as she stares up at a fir tree.
“It’s beautiful,” she sighs, keeping her eyes on the tree as her hands land over mine.
“Let’s get it,” I whisper into her ear, causing her to shiver. She leans back into me, and I tighten my arms around her waist.
“It’s probably really expensive. Does it even fit in the apartment?” Her head turns in an attempt to look at me and I take advantage, kissing her cold lips. “Let’s get a smaller one. We won’t be here for Christmas, so we don’t need something so huge.” She turns to face me.
“We’re getting it. It’s the first Christmas I get to spend with you in three years. We’ve got Christmas decorating to make up for.” I tilt my head and smile. It’s been almost six months since she moved to Nashville with me and every morning I send a prayer of gratitude to God for bringing her back into my life.
Her smile lights up her face and her blue eyes turn soft. “I’m happy we’re here now.” She brushes her fingers against my cheek, giggling as my scruff tickles her skin.
“Me too. You have no idea.” I turn my head and kiss her palm. Squeezing her hip, I say, “Come on.”
“Wait.” She grabs my hand and pulls me away from the employee I was heading toward. “Let’s take a picture.” She brings her phone out of her coat pocket and holds it up.
I wink and stand next to her, grabbing the phone. Turning the camera over and holding it up to face us, I snap a picture. Then another as I kiss Mackenzie’s cheek. One more, to make sure we see the tree behind us. Mackenzie laughs and pulls my arm down.
“Okay, paparazzi, let me see them.” She sighs as she scrolls through the photos, zooming in. “Thank goodness for technology so we can have these memories.”
“I know.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and she leans her head against me. “Ready to get our tree and spend the night decorating it?”
“Yes.”
As I help the employee set the tree in the bed of my pickup truck, Mackenzie squeals. “What happened?” I look at her.
“It’s snowing!” She dances in a circle, arms in the air.
I glance up and smile. “It sure is.”
“Probably won’t stick, but it’s pretty.” She continues to gaze up at the sky, a huge smile showcasing her teeth.
“You’re pretty,” I call out, as I secure the tree with a final strap. “Thank you,” I hand a tip to the employee, who looks between us with raised eyebrows as if he’s stepped into a romantic movie. He’ll understand the feelings when he finds the woman he can’t live without.
“Thank you,” Mackenzie comes to me, wrapping her arms around my middle and getting up on her toes to kiss my lips. “This is going to be the best Christmas yet.”
“That’s a promise I can keep.” I tap her behind and walk her to the passenger side, holding the door open. Instantly, she slides to the center seat as she waits for me to climb in. I smile, grateful some things never change.
Hand on her thigh, I take us home.
Living with her these last few months has been every dream I’ve had turned into reality. Something I’ve always wanted and fought for, but without her forgiveness, I’d still be the mess of a man writing songs about the only woman I’ll ever love.
I smile to myself as I think about her gift. Tonight. I can’t wait until Christmas to give it to her. She’s already given me so much, brought purpose back into my life. She doesn’t realize how I’ve lived the last few years, broken-hearted and guilt-ridden.
“Do you think we have enough ornaments for the tree?” Mackenzie smiles my way. I glance quickly out of the corner of my eye, driving carefully with the light snow falling.
“I think so. If not, we can buy more.” I squeeze her hand.
“I love the holidays,” she sighs, and I chuckle.
“I love you.”
“Smooth,” she teases.
“It’s the truth. No matter how many times I attempt to express it, what having you back into my life has done is inexplicable,” I tell her, knowing she’s heard this numerous times. I feel like I need to assure her each day what she means to me, make up for my mistake.
“I know,” she whispers and then becomes silent when I think she’s going to add more.
I focus on the road, ready to spend the evening in with her, and shake off the weird mood.
A few minutes later, I pull into the parking lot for our apartment building and find my spot.
“Ready to get decoratin’?” I look over at Mackenzie, my eyes locking on her teeth as they chew her bottom lip. She turns to face me, grabbing my hands.
“Hunter,” she pauses to take a deep breath. Whatever she’s about to say, she needs courage, which scares the hell out of me. “I love you, so damn much. I want you to understand and believe that. I don’t want you to feel guilty and feel like you need to make up for something. We both made mistakes, but we’re together now. That’s what counts.” She holds my face.
“We’re together, we get our happy ending,” her lips touch mine, and I pull her to me, needing to feel her energy and love.
“Thank you,” I murmur against her and she presses her upturned lips on mine.
“Now, let’s decorate this tree.” She moves back a bit and tilts her head, smiling as she looks at me before rushing out of the car and dropping the tailgate.
“You grab one end and I grab the other,” she climbs onto the bed and analyzes at the length of the tree with her hands on her hips. I smirk, taking in my country girl. I know better than to interfere in her plan, so I drag the tree until I have it on the ground.
“I’ll hold the trunk and you hold the top, deal?”
“That works.” She jumps off, her cowboy boots echoing on the humid ground, and closes the tailgate. Her smile is permanent.
I reach for the trunk, slowly tipping the tree so she can hold it and guide us to our apartment, carrying most of the weight. I won’t get in the way of her plan, but I’m not going to let her carry most of the weight. Her giggles fill the walk up to our home as she fidgets with the tree.
After getting it straight on the stand, I take a step back and look at it. Mackenzie’s hand sneaks into mine. “Perfect,” she looks at me with warmth in her eyes.
I tug her arm and hold her to me, wrapping my arm around her. I kiss her forehead before saying, “You picked the best tree.”
“I’m the Christmas tree whisperer,” she winks and grabs the bags with ornaments. “Okay, let’s do this.” She claps her hands and begins to take out boxes of decorations and lights. I observe her a moment as she sorts through everything, making sure I imprint this memory in my heart. I’ve got plenty of years to add memories to our list, but this is a special one. I didn’t think I’d be here with her this Christmas.
When she lures me in with her smile, I drop a kiss on her lips and we get to work adding the lights around the tree. The dark green shines under the white lights when we test them.
Ornament after ornament, we fill the tree with new and old. Mackenzie places the last ball and takes a step back,the lights reflecting in her eyes. I pull her to my side, wrapping my arm around her, and kiss the top of her head.
“Happy holidays,” I say. When she looks up at me, I see every emotion she feels exposed on her face. I cradle her face and kiss her, my lips running along the seam of her lips just before she opens up to me and her tongues strokes mine. I groan, turning my body so I can hold her better and angle her head to deepen the kiss. My cock strains against my jeans, but I take my time enjoying the feel of her pressed against me as our lips mold together.
My heartbeat creates a rhythm in my ears, pumping to our unique beat. Mackenzie’s hands grip the back of my shirt,pulling me toward her, and I reach below her ass and pick her up. Her legs instantly go around my waist, our lips never missing a beat. When my lips move to her jaw and neck, Mackenzie moans into the small space in our home and that about does me in.
I pull her down so she feels my hardness and walk to the bedroom, laying her down with a long kiss before I stand and gaze down at the love of my life. We’ve come a long way.
“Are you just gonna stare, cowboy?” She lifts a brow in challenge.
“You know better than that,” I tease and remove her boots and socks. “I’ve got plans that require you to be naked.” I undo the button and lower the zipper on her jeans, removing them when she lifts her lower body. I take in her red, lace underwear.
“Festive,” I smirk, “but these need to go, too.” I hook my fingers into the waistband and slowly move them down her legs, tossing them over my shoulder where her jeans now lie.
I drop a kiss on the inside of her thigh, and lift her sweater to expose her stomach, my fingers sneaking further in to run along her breasts.
“Hunter…” she moans.
“That’s right,” I kiss her hip and move my lips down. Before my tongue runs up her pussy, I swipe a finger. “You’re wet for me.” I lick my finger, causing her to whimper.
Without warning, I run my tongue along the same path my finger followed, and her entire body tenses. My lips come over her clit and I suck, moving my hands under her and angling her body up. Fucking her with my tongue, Mackenzie is a wild mess, hands tugging at my hair and sheets, her moans loud and desperate for a release. I look up at her while keeping my mouth on her and I groan against her watching her come undone.
She cries out, and I push her further, seeing what I do to her. I’m a man determined to satisfy her. With a soft moan, her body relaxes and her hands loosen on my hair. “Wow.” I give her a small lick and climb up her body, kissing her urgently.
Her hands undo my jeans and sneak into the back, her nails digging into my ass. “Take them off,” she demands against my lips. I stand and remove my boots and pants while she lifts her sweater over her head. My eyes heat as I stare at her in that lace bra, my dick showing off just how she makes me feel.
In silence, Mackenzie moves further up the bed, reaching behind her and removing her bra, letting it slip off her fingers onto the floor next to the bed. She’s naked and waiting. I tear my shirt off and climb on her, taking her lips in mine. No words are necessary as I enter her and she holds my body to hers.
I stare into her eyes, spreading the love I feel for her all around us, and make love to the woman who owns all of me.
***
I’m sitting on the sofa, the lights from the tree illuminating the living room, and strumming the chords of my guitar. Mackenzie strolls into the living room in her sweatpants and my old high school, basketball tee shirt, holding two steaming mugs. “Here you go.”She sits next to me, handing me one of the mugs, and tucking her feet under her.
“Thank you.” I lean the guitar against the couch and hold her to me. “Are you tired?”
She looks at me from the corner of her eye and I chuckle. “You wore me out. First in the bedroom, then in the shower.”
“I’m not sorry, either.” I put my arm around her shoulder and pull her to my side. “This is really good.” I lift the mug slightly.
“I added Baileys.” Her head lands on my shoulder, both of us quiet for a moment. These are my favorite moments. I could write hundreds of songs, spend the days with famous musicians, and travel, but being home with her in our own quiet space is what makes me feel fulfilled.
She’s the only thing that makes me feel more alive than music does.
“The tree really does look beautiful,” she says as she sits up to drink her hot chocolate.
“Sure does.” I take a sip and place the mug on the coffee table.
“Where’re you goin’?” she asks when I stand.
“Surprise,” I wink and open the small coat closet. I bring down the wrapped gift and sit next to her again.
“What’s this? It’s not Christmas yet.” She places her mug next to mine on the coffee table.
“I know, but I want to give it to you now, when it’s just the two of us.” She takes the gift from me, her eyes staring into mine, a small smile forming on her lips before she tears the paper.
I laugh at her enthusiasm, but her quiet gasp gets my attention. She looks over the frame, her eyes damp with tears.
“It’s a sound wave art with part of the recording of “Memories of Us,” I tell her. She runs a finger over the sound wave designed in a blue watercolor, the words, Memories of Us and H & M under the design.
“I don’t even know what to say.” She glances up at me, and I swipe a stray tear from her cheek. “It’s beautiful and perfect and so meaningful.” Another tear rolls down and I wipe it away ,dropping a kiss on her cheek.
“I wanted something special, and also a reminder of who we are and how far we’ve come.” I hold one of her hands.
“Thank you.” She leans in as far as the frame allows her and touches her lips to mine. “We can put it over our bed.”
“Perfect,” I nod. “I’ll hang it tomorrow,” I promise.
She places the gift on the table, holding my face with both hands. “You’re the most incredible man in the entire world. No,” she shakes her head. “In the universe. I love you, Hunter Daniels,and I can’t wait to become Mrs. Daniels in a few months.” She smashes her lips to mine, urgent, but breaks away too soon.
“I wasn’t done kissin’ you, darlin’,” I state.
“Let’s take it slow.” She leans in to me. “I want this memory to last for lifetimes, add it to the pile of memories we have stored, so when we have children, they know how much we love each other and learn about love from us.”
I lift her chin so she’s looking at me.“I can’t wait. They’ll know what real love is, unconditional and never-ending.”It’s the first time she brings up children, and I choke on my words. “Want to dance, Future Mrs. Daniels?” I reach for my phone and play “Memories of Us”before I pull her to her feet.
Moving together to the song that’s written just for us, I know I’ll never want anything but this. She’s worth it all, and I can’t wait for more holidays together and to experience all life has in store for us.
