Luke, had one too many whisky’s last night, I think, judging by the snoring he’s doing this morning when I woke up beside him. I’m glad he had fun last night. I could tell it was a cultural shock for him, but he embraced it, as did the village, especially the old ladies. They loved giving him hugs, and squishing his cheeks, and not the ones on his face. Poor guy was totally manhandled by the geriatrics. Last night, Luke told me his tradition at Christmas Eve was to eat no meat to purify your body for Christmas Day, and because he didn’t get that last night, I wanted to do an Italian Christmas for him today, as much as I can with the limited food that I have in the pantry. I’ve spent the morning googling menus from the regions he said he lives in and I think I have some items to make him something that might resemble Italian food, with a bit of Scottish thrown in for good measure.

“Morning.” Luke groggily enters the kitchen.

“Merry Christmas.” Luke stills, rubs his eyes, and stares at me.

“It’s Christmas?”

“Yes.” He slumps down onto the arm chair beside the fire, his voice a little rough from all his singing last night.

“Huh.” He stares at the crackling fire for a long couple of moments. Maybe Luke isn’t really that much of a morning person. Then he suddenly jumps up and rushes towards me, grabbing my face and kissing me. “Buon Natale.” Merry Christmas he says. “Sorry, that is what I should have done when I first walked in,” he says as he leans back against the island bench.

“You kind of had a wild night,” I respond, turning back to my pots that are bubbling away on the stove.

“The old people can drink.” He shakes his head.

“Never get in a drinking contest with a Scotsman; you will always lose.”

“Now, I know.” He chuckles. “What are you doing?” he asks, noticing the pots.

“I am attempting to make an Italian Christmas.” His mouth opens in shock.

“What?”

“Last night you experienced a Scottish Christmas, I think it would be fair if you got to have an Italian one, as well.” He grabs me again and kisses my face all over.

“Of all the cottages you walked into, I’m glad it was mine.”

“Technically, you walked into mine.” I elbow him.

“You are always so analytical,” he jokes, then he starts tickling me.

“Stop it, stop it.” My stomach is hurting from giggling. I am so ticklish. He pulls me back into his arms again.

“I’m very happy that you came home when you did. There isn’t anyone else in the world I would want to spend Christmas with today.” Luke’s words set butterflies off in my belly.

“Well, I hope you still feel that way after lunch. I can’t guarantee the food will be totally authentic.” Luke kisses me gently again.

“It smells delicious. Let me go have a shower and then I can help you.” It’s only been a couple of days since being home but it feels like a lifetime. How have I become so close to a stranger in such a small amount of time? Is it because we are forced together? Chemistry? That all we have is time to get to know each other without outside interference? Does it really matter why? It’s not like you're going to marry the guy. He’s a holiday romance. Once his time is up, that’s it, he will be a lovely memory I have of the one crazy Christmas I spent with some hot Italian stranger.

I hear a raised voice coming from down the hallway. Who is Luke arguing with? He is talking in rapid Italian and I can’t quite catch it. You shouldn’t be listening, Lilly. He has a right to have a private conversation. Awhile later, Luke storms into the kitchen looking agitated, swearing under his breath.

“Are you okay?” He stills, looking at me, his face softening.

“Just business stuff.”

“On Christmas day?” Who calls their boss on Christmas day?

“The business is kind of 24/7,” he adds quickly. I haven’t pushed him about what he does for a living. I haven’t really pushed him much about his life. Is he even single?

“You’re single, aren’t you?” The question throws him off.

“Si, of course.” I let out a sigh.

“I just realized I never asked.” Well, now, this is kind of awkward.

“It’s a bit late if I wasn’t,” he tells me, putting his hands in his pockets.

“True, but it would mean the candy shop is closed for you, if you are.”

“Candy shop.” He bursts out laughing.

“You know it’s sweet.” I try to sass him, which makes him laugh harder.

“Lilly, I’m single.” He pulls me into his arms. “And I am so thankful that I am, because it means I can do this.” He kisses me gently. “And this.” Grabbing my ass and lifting me up on top of the kitchen bench, he pushes open my legs. Thankfully, I am still in my sleep shirt, and knee high socks. What? My toes get cold. He easily fits between my legs, which I wrap around his thick waist. “And this,” he says, pushing up the hem of my sleep shirt, exposing my knickers to him. “Is anything going to burn if I take your attention away for at least ten minutes? I can make it quick, just this once.” He smirks at me. I look over his shoulder and check what I’m cooking. Yeah, it should totally be okay. I mean, if anything starts to burn, I’m just here.

“Should be fine.”

“Good.” He rips my knickers off in one easy tug. Holy shit, he just ripped my knickers off, that is some kind of porn star move. I mean… damn those knickers were flimsy as. I thought Marks & Spencer were supposed to have good quality underwear, it shouldn’t tear like that. Damn, wish I had my receipt, I could have taken them back for faulty workmanship. “Lilly.” I pause my inner monologue and look up at him. “You were in your head again.” And so I was. “Let me help you focus on other things.” He pulls me to the edge of the island, giving me a devious grin, opening my legs. Thick thumbs tease my outer folds, back and forth, until they slowly slip in. My hands hit the counter, my head falls back as the electricity begins to pump through my veins. He continues until his fingers are slick with my arousal. When I open my eyes, I notice his track pants are down around his ankles and he’s sheathing himself. “Sorry, it’s a quickie this morning, but I just need you.” My teeth sink into my bottom lip at his confession. He needs me. That has to be, like, lighting a barrel of gunpowder at a woman’s vagina. That comment makes a woman combust in seconds. He needs me. They are three words women want to hear. Luke pushes himself inside of me, and I love the feeling of stretching all around him. We are connecting at this moment, as close as anyone can be. Those chocolate eyes are intense as he fills me, he doesn’t move, we just share the moment of raw togetherness. His forehead falls to my shoulder. “You were an unexpected surprise, Lilly.” I could say the same thing about him. “And most of the time I don’t know what to do with you.” This is not the sexy times I thought we would be having. “You’ve opened my mind to many new things that I never dared possible.” My dirty talking Luke has been replaced by a philosophical Luke. “I…” Luke pulls himself nearly out of me, his fingers gripping into the flesh of my ass, then drives himself back into me, pushing me hard against the countertop. “I never thought…” He pushes inside of me again, deeper, seeking to be as connected as we can be. “I never thought there could be another way.” My mind is swirling with orgasmic fog, what is he talking about. “You’re special, Lil.” His perfect rhythm is taking over as he continuously slams himself into me. Now, that’s my version of what a quickie is. We both hurtle towards each other’s orgasms, higher and higher, until we reach that peak simultaneously, then slump against each other, heaving with strenuous exertion.

“That was…different.” Luke looks up at me, with a frown on his face. “Your dirty talking was a little different to what you normally say.”

“I’m sorry about that,” he quickly adds.

“Hey.” Pulling his face to mine, not letting him feel embarrassed about sharing a part of himself with me, “I didn’t say I didn’t like it.” Pressing a kiss against the stubble of the beard he is starting to grow, I continue, “Just wondering where it came from.” He’s shutting down on me, the fog of his orgasm has gone.

“Let me clean up first.” He pulls himself out of me and walks towards the bathroom. I have no knickers anymore, so there’s no point putting them on. I’d better disinfect the counter. I grab the spray and quickly wipe it down, before following after Luke.

“Hey. Don’t shut down on me, it’s Christmas.” Yep, pulling out the it’s Christmas guilt card. Luke lets out a sigh and turns around.

“I’m sorry, Lilly. The phone call was from my family; they want me to come home.” My stomach drops.

“Oh.”

“Like you, I kind of left in a hurry.” I know that feeling, so I get it. “But, honestly, it’s too soon to go back, I need more time away, especially from them, they are very controlling.” I nod in understanding; my parents are the same. “I want more time with you.” He grabs my hand and kisses the delicate skin of my wrist. “The more time I spend with you, Lilly, the more I find myself.” Boom. There go the butterflies in my stomach, the cage that’s been holding them in just exploded, and I can feel them flittering around, tickling me.

“Oh.” Yep, that is the brilliant answer you say, when a man tells you that you make him a better person.

“I’m moving too fast…” Luke takes a step away from me, running his hands through his silky, black hair. “Forget what I said…” He pushes past me and heads to the front door where our boots and jackets are.

“Hey.” I call out after him, he slowly turns around and I can see the tiniest bit of hurt across his face. I run towards him and jump into his arms, nearly barreling him over. I place a slopping wet kiss on his face, which makes him laugh.

“You’re crazy, Lil.” He chuckles.

“Yeah, about you.” The words slip out easily, and he stills.

“Yeah?” The cocky smirk crosses his face.

“Yeah.” My arms wrap around his neck. “I think you’re a bit alright.” He raises an eyebrow at me, which makes my eyes roll. “Now, enough feelings for the moment, let’s get cooking, so you can work these new calories off me.” Luke’s palms squeeze my ass.

“I like the sound of that.”