Advent Calendar Day 13

 Happy Sunday morning in December!

We're about to have quiche and coffee and then a quick morning walk. It's cold and sunny and the trees are just about bare. What do you have planned for the day? Well, before you do that, here's your daily gift of holiday cheer. Today we have a lovely teaser by the lovely Catherine Dair. Cat captures one of my favorite scenes from The Monuments Men Murders. ;-) 

And then, because heck, it's the holidays! I'm sharing another little bit of sweetness. This coda was  written for Patreon way back when. A reader pointed out that we never actually get to see Sam and Jason's first real kiss because it happens after the end of The Mermaid Murders. (So much of the best stuff happens between books, doesn't it? :-P )

Anyway, here you go! Have a lovely morning! 

Jason and Sam – First Kiss

 

Kennedy let out a long breath, like a swimmer who just didn’t have the strength to keep fighting current. The moment seemed to float there, and then he reached out, hand locking in Jason’s hair, pulling him in for a kiss.

Just before their lips met Kennedy said softly, “When and where?”

 

The pressure of Sam’s mouth warmed, deepened—our first real kiss, Jason thought dizzily—Sam’s lips parting Jason’s lips with gentle insistence, and Jason opening right up, like a solar sail unfurling in space…he was flying, flying with astonished delight.

Sam here. Sam kissing him.

Sam tasted of bitter coffee and hard words, but his kiss was honey-sweet, unexpectedly, meltingly sweet.

Who would have dreamed Sam Kennedy could kiss like that? And when they reluctantly parted, Sam dropped another quick brush of a kiss on Jason’s mouth.

Jason tried to read Sam’s face. He was still a little uncertain. He had gone from heartbreak to happiness in less than sixty seconds and he was feeling off balance.

Sam’s gaze fell on Jason’s bags, packed and ready to go beside the door.

“You were planning on an early start,” he said.

“I know when I’m not wanted.” Jason was smiling, but the hurt had been real.

Sam’s hard mouth curled into a faint self-mocking smile. He shook his head, drawing Jason back against him. “I never said that.” He touched his mouth to Jason’s, lightly, teasingly, but maybe there was a hint of apology. Maybe?

Sam whispered again, “No, I never said that.”