The Christmas Wife (6 page)

“We, uh, we have good chemistry,” Claire said weakly.

“I’ll say.  Now tell me why you look as surprised by that as
I do,” Ellen said.

Claire could almost feel their carefully-constructed lie
falling to pieces around her.  But she hadn’t expected to feel such an intense
connection when he kissed her.  Hadn’t expected that jolt of electricity that
had surged through her body when his lips had touched hers. 

Keep it together, Claire!

She took a deep breath and smiled at Ellen.  “I’m not
surprised.  I just – sometimes forget.”

“Right,” Ellen said, “you forget.”

Ignoring her look of skepticism, Claire said, “Where’s
Hattie?”

“She’s in the spare bedroom changing to her jeans and
t-shirt,” Ellen said.  “This house is something else, huh?”

“Yeah,” Claire replied.  Rosa’s house rivaled Deacon’s in
size but while his was furnished with a modern look, hers was stuffed full of
ancient furniture and what seemed like thousands of small and delicate
figurines and vases and other decorative knick-knacks.  She shuddered at the
thought of Hattie rampaging through them like a miniature bull and smiled at
Ellen.

“I need to find Hattie before she breaks half the stuff in
here.”

“Claire, this is Brandon’s wife, Donna, and their two boys,
Brandon Junior and Tyson.”  Deacon put his arm around Claire’s waist and held
her firmly against his side.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Claire said.  She held her hand
out and the woman shook it briefly.

“This is my daughter, Hattie,” Claire said.  “Hattie, can
you say hi to Brandon and Tyson?”

“Hi,” Hattie said.  “Do you like playing with trucks?”

Brandon Junior just stared at her, he looked to be about ten
and favoured his father in looks, but Tyson nodded shyly.

“Me too.  I don’t have my truck with me though.  Mama made
me leave it at home.”

“Nana has a playroom,” Tyson said.  “There’s trucks in it. 
I’ll show it to you if you want.”

“Can I, mama?”  Hattie said pleadingly.

“Yes you may, honey,” Claire said.  “But remember to share
the toys with Tyson.”

“I will,” Hattie replied.

Donna patted her older son on the back.  “Go with them,
Brandon.”

He rolled his eyes but followed Hattie and Tyson from the
room as Jude waved at Deacon from across the room.  He was holding two shot
glasses of amber liquid, and a small grin crossed Deacon’s face.

“I’ll be right back, Claire, alright?”  He said.

“Of course,” she replied.

He bent and another delicious shiver went through her when
he brushed his mouth against hers.  She parted her lips, she wanted another
taste of him and couldn’t bring herself to care that Donna was watching them,
and swallowed her cry of disappointment when Deacon pulled away.

“Excuse me.”  His voice was a little hoarse and he walked off
quickly.

She smiled at Donna.  “So, do you – “

“Did you know that Deacon and I used to date?”  Donna
interrupted.

Claire studied the woman standing in front of her.  She was
beautiful with long blonde hair, dark brown eyes and a truly spectacular body. 
After having two kids, she either worked out religiously or had an amazing
plastic surgeon.

“I did,” she said pleasantly.  “Deacon mentioned that to
me.”  It had been on his typed list of previous relationships and had only
warranted a sentence or two.

“Oh,” Donna said briefly.  “Yes, we were madly in love.”

“Interesting,” Claire said.  “Deacon told me you only dated
for a couple of months.”

“It doesn’t take long for two people as similar as Deacon
and I to fall in love,” Donna said.

“You do seem to have a lot in common.”

“You know what I find strange, Claire?”  Donna asked. 
“Deacon and I broke up because he made it perfectly clear that he wasn’t the
marrying or the father type.  Yet here you are with daughter in tow.”

“Well,” Claire said, “that was nearly twelve years ago. 
Deacon would have only been twenty-three and I’m sure he’s changed a lot since
he dated you.”

“He hasn’t.  At least not until yesterday when he announced
his intention to marry you.  Rather convenient, considering that he was about
to lose the company to my husband.  Don’t you think?”

“It was pretty good timing,” Claire agreed.

Donna scowled at her.  “I’m going to be perfectly blunt. 
Just because Rosa thinks that her precious grandson has finally found the love
of his life, doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t see right through your sham of a
marriage.  I know women like you, women who come from nothing and are eager to
finally grab a piece of the pie.  My husband should be running that company but
Deacon couldn’t stand the thought that someone else might do a better job with
that stupid fucking toy factory.  So in desperation he found a money-grabbing
whore like you who thinks she’s finally found a way out of her miserable excuse
for a life.”

Anger bubbled up in Claire but she swallowed it down and
smiled at Donna.  “If you don’t mind me saying so, Donna, you really need to
work on your people skills.  You might be gorgeous but you’ve got the
personality of a slug.  And, even though it really isn’t any of your business,
I didn’t marry Deacon for his money.  I married him for his big dick.”

Donna’s mouth dropped open and Claire smiled sweetly at her
before walking away.

* * *

“Are you okay, Claire?”

It was nearly two hours later and Claire had ducked into an
empty room for a quick breather.  She had met Brandon’s parents, Rosa’s younger
twin brothers, and what seemed like a hundred close friends of the family.  Her
feet were starting to hurt and, despite the friendliness of everyone she had
met, she was anxious to go home.  It took a lot of energy to pretend to be
madly in love with Deacon Stone and the way he kept touching her wasn’t
helping.  It was innocent enough, his hand resting against the small of her
back, his arm around her waist, but God, combined with the kiss from earlier,
her entire body felt like it was on fire with lust and she could really do
without that particular distraction. 

She pasted a smile on her face and turned to Deacon.  “I’m
good.”

“Then why are you hiding in my grandmother’s sewing room?” 
He asked.

“Just needed a quick moment to myself,” she said.

He took a step toward her and she forced herself not to back
away as he perused her intently.  “Are you certain?”

“Yes,” she said.  “Well, Donna accused me of being a whore
who was only after your money, and that was mildly unpleasant but – “

“She did what?”  He interrupted.  A look of dark anger was
crossing his features.

“It’s fine, Deacon,” she said quickly.

“It isn’t fine,” he snapped.  He stalked toward the door.

Shit!

She hurried after him and shut the door before he could
leave.  “Deacon, it really is fine.”

“It really isn’t,” he said.

“I don’t want to make a scene,” she said, “and besides, I
told her I married you for your big dick, not your money.  That shut her up.”

His jaw dropped.  “You did not tell her that.”

“I did,” she said.

A brief smile crossed his face.  “Pretty ballsy of you
considering you’ve never seen my dick.”

“I took an educated guess,” she said.  “You’re a big guy
so…”

“So what?”  He took a step toward her and she shuffled
backward until her ass hit the wall.

“So, you probably have a big dick,” she said.

He didn’t reply but the way he was staring at her mouth was
sending little tingles of pleasure up and down her spine.

“So, uh, do you?”  She asked.

“Do I what?”

“Have a big dick.”

He shrugged and stepped even closer.  “I’ve never had any
complaints.”

“Of course you haven’t,” she said.

He gave her a sexy little grin that made her insides melt.  “Do
you think I’m lying?”

“Men do have a tendency to exaggerate when it comes to
size,” she said.

“Do we?”  He leaned forward and tasted her throat with his
tongue.

“Oh God,” she moaned before clearing her throat.  “Yes, they
do.  Maybe I should, um, check for myself.” 

She was appalled at how breathless and needy she sounded.

He licked the line of her jaw and she moaned again.  “Purely
for research purposes of course.”

“Of course,” he agreed.

“A good actress does whatever it requires to commit to her
performance,” she whispered.

“I admire your dedication to your craft,” he murmured
against her skin.

“Thank you.”  She wiggled her hand between their
nearly-touching bodies and reached for the front of his pants.  She swallowed
her moan of disappointment when he grabbed her wrist.

“Someone who was sincerely dedicated to her craft would know
she needs to go under the clothing to properly research claims of large dick
size,” he said teasingly.

“Good point.”  She smiled at the way his eyes widened in
surprise when she quickly unbuckled his belt.  She unbuttoned and unzipped his
pants and slipped her hand into his briefs. 

His breath hissed out between his teeth when she wrapped her
hand around his dick.  Already half-hard, it swelled in her hand and she
stroked it lightly as his eyes closed and his hips arched against her.  She ran
her thumb over the head and he groaned loudly.  Wetness dampened her panties at
the sound and she rubbed him firmly.

“Well?”  He gritted out.

“Well, what?”

“Is it big enough for you?”

“Most definitely,” she murmured.  “But size isn’t everything. 
You have to know how to use it.”

“Are you saying I don’t?”  His hands dropped to her hips and
squeezed tightly.

“I’m not saying you don’t, but I’m not saying you do,” she
said sweetly before rubbing his cock again.

“Fuck,” he muttered as his hips bucked helplessly.  “Maybe I
should show you,”

“Right here?”  She raised her eyebrows at him.  “That seems
rather naughty of you, Mr. Stone.”

“You have no idea how naughty I can be, Mrs. Stone,” he
muttered into her ear.

An odd little thrill went through her at hearing him call
her Mrs. Stone and she stilled her hand.  “Deacon, maybe we shouldn’t – “

“Don’t stop, Claire,” he said hoarsely.  “Please.”

The raw need in his voice got her hand moving again and he
moaned his appreciation before reaching for the hem of her dress.

Claire, what the hell are you doing?

He’s my husband, why shouldn’t I fuck him? 
She
argued with herself.

He began to inch her dress up and she ignored the warning
bells clanging in her head as he made another harsh groan in her ear.

“Claire, I want – “

The door popped open and Donna stuck her head into the
room.  “Deacon, are you in here?  Rosa is looking for you and – ”

She shut her mouth with a snap and stared at Deacon and
Claire.  “What the hell is going on?”

“What’s it look like?”  Deacon growled.  “Get out, Donna.”

Donna gave him a look of disgust.  “Your grandmother is
looking for you and your
wife
.”  She stalked out of the room, slamming
the door behind her.

Claire, suddenly mortified by her behaviour, yanked her hand
from Deacon’s pants and pushed away from him.  “Oh my God, Deacon, I’m so
sorry.”

“It was my fault,” he said.  He buttoned his pants and
buckled his belt, grimacing as he adjusted his still-throbbing cock.

“No, it is totally my fault,” she said.  “I’m not normally like
this but we just…”

She trailed off and he said, “Have some unexpected
chemistry?”

“Yes,” she said.

He blew his breath out in a frustrated rush.  “Claire,
listen, it’s probably not a good idea that we – “

“Mama?”  Hattie opened the door and she and Tyson walked
into the room.  “What are you doing?”

“Nothing, honey.  Deacon and I were just talking.”

“Oh.”

“Nana’s looking for you,” Tyson said.

“I know,” Claire smiled at him.  She held out her hands and
Hattie and Tyson each took one.  They left the room, Deacon following silently
behind them.

* * *

“Claire, I wanted to offer to take Hattie for the night.”  Rosa
smiled at her.  “You and Deacon should enjoy your wedding night alone.”

“Oh, um, that’s very kind of you, Rosa, but I can’t impose
on you like that,” Claire said. 

A night alone with Deacon?  Oh hell, yes.  Impose on her!

“Of course you can,” Rosa said.  “I don’t mind at all. 
Hattie and I will have lots of fun together.”

She smiled at the little girl who gave Claire an anxious
look.

“Mama, I don’t want to stay here without you.”

Claire squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.  “Okay, honey. 
You can come home with us and maybe in a few weeks you can have an overnight
visit with Rosa.  What do you think?”

“Maybe.  She does have some nice toys,” Hattie said.  “Maybe
Tyson can come over and play with us?”

“Of course he can,” Rosa said. “Whatever you want.”

She held out her arms and Hattie stepped willingly into them
for a hug.  “You’re nice.  I like you.”

“I like you too, my darling,” Rosa said.  “And in fact, I
have a little surprise for you.”

“You do?  I love surprises!”  Hattie said.

“Close your eyes,” Rosa said.

Hattie closed her eyes and Rosa waved to one of her brothers
– Claire didn’t know if it was Hugo or Henry – and he nodded and slipped out of
the room.  He returned a moment later carrying a bright green children’s bike -
a black helmet with green stripes was hanging from it - and set it in front of
Hattie.

“Open your eyes, my darling.” Rosa stroked Hattie’s hair.

Hattie’s eyes popped open and she screeched in delight. 
Claire could feel tears starting in her eyes as Hattie stared wide-eyed at the
bike.

“A bike!  Mama, it’s a bike!”

“I see that, honey.”  Claire’s voice was husky and she
squeezed Rosa’s hand as the older woman smiled at the little girl.

Deacon had joined them and Hattie held her arms up to him. 
“Put me on the bike.”

“Say please, Hattie,” Claire admonished.

“Please, put me on the bike.”  Hattie’s body was vibrating
with excitement.

Deacon hesitated and Claire started forward.  “Here, honey,
I’ll help you.”

“It’s fine,” Deacon said. 

He hooked his hands under Hattie’s armpits and lifted her
gingerly.  She dangled in the air and Claire pinched her lips together in an
effort to stop her laughter.  Deacon held Hattie away from him like she was a
disease he could catch, but she silently applauded his efforts as he placed her
on the bike and held the back of it so it didn’t tip over.

“Look, mama!  I have a bike and it’s green like the Hulk!”

“It’s very nice,” Claire said.

Deacon let her sit on it for a moment before lifting her up
again.  He set her on the ground, unconsciously wiping his hands on his pants
when he released her, and Hattie grabbed the bike helmet and plunked it on her
head.