*dusts off the old blog*
Hi everyone! Thanks for joining me for this fabulous Christmas Stories Tour created by the fabulous RJ Scott. Here's a short story from my Southern Charm series with Totally Bound!
Dakota's Gift: A Southern Charm Christmas
Dakota Mitchell & Samuel Ashford
Leaning against the counter in the quiet, darkened kitchen,
Dakota Mitchell studied the small binder he created for the Christmas feast. It
would be the first time in a while when the Southern Charm, a restored
antebellum B&B, would be comfortably full of families and guests wanting
something different for the holidays. Since the Charm reopened in early
November under his partner's careful watch, most of the rooms remained booked
solid for weeks. His restaurant, Southern Delights, saw a surge of customers
since the extravagant grand reopening.
With the holidays upon them, his lover, Samuel Ashford, went
all out with the decorations, highlighting the beauty of the building with
festive lights, garland, and a grand procession of luminary bags along the main
paths. Dakota teased him about getting a fake snow machine to blow around the
grounds. Samuel gave him a perfect 'stink eye' and trounced off with another
box of decorations.
After months of work restoring and renovating the Charm and
the grounds, Dakota couldn't believe the results of his friends' work. The
contractor and landscaper were long-time friends and put everything into
bringing the Charm back to its glory days. All they needed to finish was the
old owner's cabin. The original structure deemed beyond repair, they made the
difficult decision to tear it down and start anew.
As the Charm and the restaurant filled with guests, Dakota
left the rest of the planning and design to his partner, Samuel. More than six
months ago, he didn't think he would be here, ready to enjoy the first
Christmas in a committed, loving relationship. Let alone with the determined
northerner who swept into a small town and changed everything.
Tapping his pen against the pages as his mind drifted away,
Dakota lifted his head when he heard footsteps behind him. The woodsy cologne
of his lover had hit his senses before Samuel wrapped his arms around his
waist. Dakota pressed a hand against the slender hands clasped above his belly
button. He felt Samuel lean against his back, nuzzling him with his cheek.
"Is everything ready for tomorrow?" Samuel asked.
"We did about as much as we could. You missed Malcolm
and Dorian. I sent them home to enjoy Christmas Eve."
"Then it's time for your surprise."
"My surprise?"
Samuel moved around to the side and held up a red silk
scarf. "I need to cover your eyes with this."
"Ooh. When did we get into the kinky stuff?"
Samuel slugged his shoulder with a playful punch. He lifted
on his toes and wrapped the warmed silk around Dakota's face. He tied it with a
secure knot.
Blinded by the cloth, Dakota felt Samuel check the mask.
"Can you see?"
"Nope. Nothing but red."
"Good. Do I need to bring a binder with us?"
"It can stay."
"Perfect. I'll guide you."
After a gentle push from Samuel, Dakota walked with his
lover, guided somewhere through the old building. "Are all of the guests
settled in and comfortable?"
"Yes. Elise and Marilyn are keeping an eye on everyone.
Some enjoy the fire in the living room with books, games, hot chocolate, and an
ample supply of your cookies. Others are watching holiday movies."
"Anyone watching out for Santa?"
"A couple of kids are watching the NORAD tracker for
his progress."
"You know Marilyn was a good find of yours to help
Elise in the day-to-day managing of the guests."
"I'm pleased she took a chance with us. Watch your step
down," Samuel said and counted the steps as he guided Dakota.
"Why are we going outside?"
"You'll find out."
Dakota pulled to a stop and breathed in the cool air,
catching the hint of the ocean and sand along with Samuel's cologne. "What
is the sky like on this Christmas Eve?"
"A beautiful deep blue velvet with thousands of
sparkling stars. A few wispy clouds. It's perfect for Santa's trek."
"Santa already gave me his gift," Dakota said.
"How did you get an early present?"
Dakota chuckled when Samuel poke him in his ribs, knowing he
was ticklish. He wiggled away from Samuel's attack, chuckles turned into
laughter. "You!" He paused for breath. "He brought me your
love."
"Aww… Sniff…"
"Jerk. Get this blindfold off me."
"Not yet," Samuel said as he placed his hands on
Dakota's hips and marched him toward some unknown destination.
Dakota pled, begged, and cajoled Samuel to remove the
covering. Samuel resisted all of his efforts. Even when he offered extra
decadent dark chocolate mousse, the blindfold remained in place.
They stopped and Samuel wrapped one arm around his waist.
"Surprise, my love, and Merry Christmas," Samuel
whispered in his ear as he yanked off the blindfold.
Blinking, Dakota stared at the elegant sight ahead of him.
It was a cabin. The owner's cabin was finished.
"How? When…"
"Sully handed over the keys two weeks ago and we've
kept it a secret. Everyone helped put it together," Samuel said as he took
Dakota by the hand and led him up the stairs to the wraparound porch.
Dakota stopped to trace his fingers along the etched glass
panels in the doors. "Our initials are entwined. Did Wyatt create
this?"
"I asked him for something like the Charm, but
personalized for us."
"It's beautiful. The decorations are fabulous, just
like the Charm."
"I love the twinkle of white lights with a bit of the
blue. Nothing outrageous," Samuel said as he touched a thick evergreen
garland entwined with lights and a simple red ribbon he hung around the door
and front windows. He placed his hand on the handle and opened the door.
"Welcome to our home, Dakota."
"Our home for our first Christmas together."
"First of many," Samuel said as they entered
together.
The open concept had been a brilliant idea between Samuel
and the architect when they realized they needed to build from scratch. A
massive natural stone fireplace rose along one side, crackling with a warm
fire, and bookshelves surrounded it to fill the rest of the wall. Samuel placed
a long sofa with loungers nearby and mounted a flat panel TV with all the
electronics nearby for hours to cuddle together. The fresh Balsam pine tree
filled the room with the scents of the holiday.
Beyond the main room, Dakota found the eating area next to
an expansive kitchen. He glanced back at Samuel.
"Even with a kitchen in the Charm, I thought you would
rather spend time and experiment here. Especially as the Charm fills with
guests and Mal takes over more duties concerning the B&B side of dining. A
chef should always have a personalized kitchen," Samuel said as he
followed him.
"You filled it with everything I would need, didn't
you?"
Samuel shrugged. "I went shopping with Mal and an
inventory."
Dakota strolled back, cupped Samuel's face between his
hands, and lifted the shorter man into a deep loving kiss. He felt Samuel
clutch his shoulders as the kiss continued.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you," Dakota
whispered against Samuel's lips. "No matter whatever else is wrapped and
hiding under the tree. I'll cherish this gift forever."
"I know you wanted a home, a kitchen, and an end to
your wanderings. You started to find it when you stopped at the Charm and built
Delights. I only helped to complete your dream."
"How did you know…"
"I have my ways," Samuel said and stepped back. He
took Dakota by his hands and led him to the rest of the first floor to the
guest room and bath, another bathroom, and a furnished office for two. He took
him up the winding staircase to the expansive master suite taking up the entire
second floor.
"Oh wow," Dakota said as he stared.
The bed was placed on a low platform and massive. Only a
headboard completed the structure, but it wasn't a regular headboard. Dakota
noticed the 3-D design of the painted shapes. He checked it from a different
angle.
"It's the shoreline around the Charm and Shore Breeze
on our wall. I saw it done on one of the DIY shows and asked Sully if he could
recreate it. He did. Isn't it cool?" Samuel traced the edge of one of the
boards.
"It's so damn cool. Are the nightstands made from
driftwood?"
"Sully made the bases, but the tops came from Driftwood
Gifts. I found the dressers at Secondhand."
Walking across the room, Samuel slid the sliding louvered
doors to reveal dual walk-in closets, organized and filled with their clothes.
He opened another hidden door to show the large master bathroom with a walk-in
shower with all the gadgets, a Jacuzzi tub, and a dual sink.
"I don't think I'm going to want to leave our safe
haven up here."
"Safe Haven. A good name for our cabin."
"A name?"
"We need one. I'll ask Wyatt to create a sign for the
front."
Agreeing with Samuel, Dakota returned to the main bedroom
and studied another fresh Christmas tree. Leaning closer, he found an ornament.
"Where did you get these?"
"Elise and I went hunting for the old ornaments. I
found a couple of boxes with your name on them. Is it okay if I used them up
here? I figure we could create a new tradition of a personal tree. We'll add
special ornaments."
Reaching around Dakota, Samuel removed one from a branch and
placed it on Dakota's palm. "I chose this one."
Created out of driftwood, shells, and coral, a little plaque
read: 1st Christmas – Dakota and Samuel.
Dakota looked at his lover, his partner, and smiled.
"It's perfect."
"Merry Christmas, my love."
"Merry Christmas," Dakota said, hanging the
ornament back and enclosed Samuel in an embrace.
As promised, neither one left the safe haven for the rest of
their first Christmas Eve together.
For more fabulous stories, click here to follow the links!
I hope everyone has a wonderful
Happy Holiday season!
