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Plus giveaways on each author’s personal blog.  So the more you hop, the more you can potentially win!  On this blog, leave me a comment telling me if you’ve had a similar experience to Pam’s in the story.  Be sure to leave your email address and follow/subscribe to my blog and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Almost Perfect.

Last year during July I ran a series of short Christmas stories, calling it Christmas in July.  I thought I’d continue that this year as well, and start off with sort of a prequel to my 1Night Stand story Almost Perfect.  Before Almost Perfect, Pam and Roger were married.  This is the story of their first Christmas together. I hope you enjoy!

An Almost Perfect Christmas

by Jenna Jaxon

Christmas Eve 2004

“Come on, Roger.  Christmas Eve is almost over.”  Pam sat in front of their small but full Christmas tree, digging through the pile of presents wrapped in festive paper.

“Be there in a second, babe.”  The hushed, absent-minded tone carried from the dining room where her husband sat at his computer, eyes glued to the screen as they had been all night.

“That’s what you said an hour ago,” she mumbled then seized the big square package she had been looking for.  “Now, Roger.  Or you’re going to be sorry!”  She added a playful lilt to the last word.  This was their first Christmas as a married couple.  It had to be perfect.

“I’m here.  I’m here.  Where’s the fire?”  Roger plopped his tall frame down next to her.

“Right here.”  She grabbed his face, pulling his lips onto hers.  Tingles shot down her arms—always did every time he kissed her.  He settled his arms around her, drew her closer.  His tongue thrust into her mouth, probing her with bold sweeps.  Pam moaned and clutched him, pressing against his chest until he toppled backward onto the carpet with her on top.

He disengaged long enough to say, “We should have started this in the bedroom.”

“Oh, we’re heading there.”  She ground her hips against his and was rewarded with a groan from above and hardness below.  “But you need to open a present first.”

“But it’s not Christmas yet.”  He ran his hands down her sides, under her jeans to cup her butt.  When he squeezed her cheeks, she squealed.  “You get to open one present on Christmas Eve and I’m telling you which one.”

“Okay, but you’d better hurry.”  He stole another kiss.  “You’ve got Little Roger standing at full staff already.”

“Don’t worry.  He’s going to get all the attention he deserves tonight.”  She sat up and grabbed the present she’d pushed to the side.  “Here.”  Shoving it into his hand, she glanced toward the television.  “Oh, look!  This is my favorite part.”

Pam motioned to the screen where Bing Crosby in White Christmas crooned to Rosemary Clooney.  “…fall asleep, counting your blessings.”

“That’s just so sweet and romantic.”

Roger grasped her chin and turned her head back toward him.  “I’m counting my blessings this Christmas for sure.”  His lips brushed hers, feather light, teasing her.  Promising more.

“Just open the damned present!”  Her voice came out husky with her growing desire.

He grabbed the gift, ripping off the red and white paper with one swipe.  “It’s awfully light.  What did you get me?”  He shook the container, listening for a sound.  “One of those new USB 2.0 High Speed Flash drives?  But in a big box to throw me off?”  His gray eyes shone with hope.

“Uhhh, no.  That’s not what this one is.”  She forced a smile.  He’d never said anything about a flash drive before.  Damn.  After Christmas sales here I come.

Roger snapped the tape on the lid and opened it.  His brows furrowed and little lines around his eyes tightened with strain.  “It’s empty.”

“I know.”  She smiled encouragingly at him.  “Because what was inside is now in the other room.”

“Then why—“

“’Cause it’s your present, and you had to unwrap something, but I wanted it…all ready for you.”  The worry lines eased.  “Come on.”  Pam stood then pulled him to his feet.  Had he thought she’d played a cruel joke on him?  “I would never do that.”

“Do what, babe?”

“Play a joke on you like that.”  She put her arms around him, holding tight.  “I love you, Roger.”

“I love you too, Pam.”  He leaned against her and she felt his tension ease.  “So where’s this mystery present?”

“This way.”  She grabbed his hand and led him into the bedroom where candlelight flickered.  “There.”  Motioning to the bed, with the covers turned back, she glanced into his face to gauge his reaction.

He cut his eyes to her.  “The bed is new?”

“No!  The sheets, Roger, look at the sheets!  Feel the sheets!”  She dragged him over to the double bed, positioned in the center of the room, headboard against the outside wall.  He ran his hands over the glistening material.

“You got satin sheets?”

“Red satin sheets. Very old-style Hollywood.  And sexy.  Merry Christmas, Roger!  Wanna try them out?”  Pam had her top and bra off and jeans and panties around her ankles while he still fumbled with his buttons.  “Here, let me help, baby.”  She made short work of the shirt then shucked his pants off him in nothing flat.  After running her hand over his firm chest and down to grasp his still erect member, Pam gently pulled him to her.  “I want this to be a Christmas we’ll always remember.”  She released him and flung herself, spread-eagle, into the center of the bed.

And ended up on the far edge of the bed, her head hanging over the side.  She raised it to see a stunned Roger trying not to laugh.

“Can you do that again?”  His lips trembled, but he kept his composure.  “I want to savor that memory.”  He grabbed her ankles and slid her back toward him.

“That was not funny.”  She glared at him, but he simply chuckled and climbed up on the bed, on all fours over top of her.

“Let’s see if we can make the night memorable for something else too.”  His tongue traced the shell of her ear and she shivered in anticipation.  When his lips found her neck, nothing else mattered.  She giggled as he found the right spot halfway down that gave her goose bumps.

“Damn,” he growled, shifting his weight.

“What’s wrong?”

“I keep sliding.”

“Oh.  Well, maybe if you—“

“No, I’ve got it handled.”

He swept her legs open wide with his knees and gave one hard thrust.

There was a sensation of flight then her shoulder crashed into the wall.  She shook her head, staring up at the ceiling from an odd angle on the floor.  Roger’s face appeared over the edge of the bed, eyes wide, mouth a perfect ‘O.’  “Are you okay?” he whispered.

Pam took a breath, glad to find she could breathe, and nodded.

“I’m so sorry.  I never thought it would do that.  I mean, we never had a problem before…” His face disappeared and Pam heard choking sobs that quickly turned into outright laughter.

“If it wasn’t Christmas Day, Roger, you would pay for this.”  Obviously chivalry was not her husband’s strong suit.  Where was Arthur from Camelot when you needed him?

“I’m s…s…sorry.”  He could barely get the words out between sniggers.

“No, you’re not.  Come help me up.”  He slid off the bed and picked her up, cradling her against his chest.

“Are you okay?  Really?”  His voice had sobered.

“Yes.”  She snuggled against his warmth.  “Maybe bruised, but intact.  And still horny.”
His arms tightened and his lips brushed the top of her head.  “I think we can take care of that.”  He headed back into the living room where Bing Crosby now sang White Christmas.  Roger lay them down in front of the tree, the blinking lights casting twinkles of blue, red and green over their naked bodies.  His gaze raked her with a hunger she had never
glimpsed in him before. “Do you think under the Christmas tree will be memorable enough?”

Pam pulled him down to her, close enough to whisper, “Perfect.” He sealed her mouth with his as Bing warbled,  “And may all your Christmases be ….”

Ahhhhh.

Hope you enjoyed that look at Pam and Roger before things got, well, out of hand.  Their life together didn’t remain so perfect and after five years of marriage, perfect had turned into perfect hell.  They divorced–a pretty messy time.  Each went their separate ways and tried to forget.  And eventually they decided to try romance–or at least sex–with other people.  Not perfect, perhaps, but almost perfect.

Blurb for Almost Perfect:

Pamela Kimball’s birthday present, a 1Night Stand adventure, promises to jump-start her life, put a new man in her bed, and help her forget her past.  Unfortunately, movie-buff Pam’s Pirates of the Caribbean fantasy takes an alarming wrong turn when she’s abandoned on a not quite deserted island—with ex-husband Roger Ware.

Forced by hunger to accept Roger’s offer of dinner,  Pam realizes the geek she married has transformed into one of the most charming, sexiest men she’s ever met. His newfound confidence—and hot body—re-kindle old fires.  A simple kiss leads Roger to challenge her to discover how much his lovemaking skills have improved, leaving Pam torn between self-preservation and burning desire.

With time running out before they’re rescued, Pam must decide if her heart can survive the consequences of becoming Roger’s “almost” perfect 1Night Stand.

And here’s a little taste of the adventure on the island.

Excerpt from Almost Perfect:

Standing as good as naked on the deserted beach, Pam smiled as the warm breeze caressed her bare body. The sense of being slightly naughty added to her delight in the sensual feel of the air as it dried her breasts. Her nipples peaked as the wind cooled them. She strutted down to the water’s edge to sink her toes in the sand, the salty tang in the air adding to the perfect moment.

“If you’re skinny dipping, you forgot to remove one very important piece of clothing.”

Pam whirled around. Roger stood on the beach behind her, a green bottle of Perrier in one hand. His gaze played up and down her naked torso and his salacious grin widened. “Mind if I join you?”

She gasped, wrapping her arms across her chest to shield her breasts from his hot gaze. “What the hell are you doing back here?”

“I came to make peace.” He waved the bottle at her. “Thought you might be thirsty by now.”

Her eyes fastened on the green glass, her mouth suddenly dry as though she’d eaten sand. She took a step toward him then froze, unwilling to take anything from Roger, not there anyway. That would make her feel weak, dependent. At this moment, though, she had to acknowledge, she was weak, dependent and thirsty.

“Come on, Pam. It’s only water.” He still held the tempting thing out to her. Damn. She tromped up to him, her steps thumping as loud as she could make them on the packed sand. Stopping an arm’s length from him, she peeled one hand away from her breasts and shifted her other to cover as much as possible. For once, she thanked God for a B cup. She snared the bottle, shot him a look of triumph, only to realize it remained capped. To open it she’d have to use her other hand.

Furious, she shifted her gaze from the tantalizing object to his gleeful eyes. “Would you open this for me, please?”

“Suddenly lost all your strength, have you, hon?” His eyes took on a hunger she remembered. “It’s not as if I’ve never seen your breasts before.”

“Then you don’t need to see them again, do you?” Heat rose in her cheeks. “Come on, open it. You said it was a peace offering.”

“And these are part of the peace negotiations.” He stood, arms crossed over his muscled chest, better looking than she remembered. Not fair.

“I’m bored. My date still hasn’t turned up, so I thought I’d come harass you a while. I’ll tell you what.” He reached for the Perrier and unscrewed the cap, but didn’t offer it to her. “You show me yours, I’ll show you mine.”

“And why would I want to see yours again?” Her eyes remained on the bottle resting at his hips and watched the carbonated bubbles rising to the top.

“For old time’s sake?” His eyes flashed with mischief as he tipped the sparkling water up and started to drink. She stared, her parched lips opened in outrage. Glug, glug. He made that sound on purpose. Was he going to drink the whole damned thing?

After swallowing at least a third of the contents, he came up for air. “Ah! Hits the spot every time.” He grinned. “Still can’t take a joke? Too bad. Here.” He thrust it toward her. Grabbing with both hands, she shoved the end into her mouth so quick the glass clicked against her teeth. Greedily, she sucked in and almost choked. The exquisite, light lime-flavored water rushed into her body to hydrate the parched cells. Three more guzzles and she breathed deeply, satisfied for the moment.

She pulled the lip away and wiped her hand across her chin where she had dribbled some. Holding it out to him, she noticed his slack-jawed attention riveted straight on her chest. Which meant….

“You still look fine, Pam. Mighty fine.” Her ex-husband licked his lips, his grin reaching almost ear to ear. If there weren’t still some water left in the bottle, she’d brain him with it.

I hope this little look into Pam and Roger’s lives has piqued your curiosity.  If so, you can purchase Almost Perfect at Decadent Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and All Romance E-books.

And remember, three (3) lucky commenters will win copies of Almost Perfect. (Just be sure to leave your email address!)

Now, to continue hopping, click the button below to take you to the list of 1NS participants. Good luck!  Hope you find your happy ever after. 🙂