Naughty Bride For Christmas

MAYA POV It’s the day after Thanksgiving, the official start of the Christmas season. The air was filled with the sweet scent of pine needles and the joyful sounds of Christmas carols. It was Friday night, and the holiday season was in full swing but little did I know, the next few hours would be unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. "Another round of tequila, please," I requested, my voice barely a whisper. The bartender, a seasoned pro with a mischievous glint in his eye, flashed a grin. With a practiced hand, he reached for the distinctive bottle of 'sotol Hacienda de chihuahua,' its label promising a fiery spirit within. "Wait, what's that?" I ask, pointing at the bottle behind the counter. "You can't be serious. That's way out of my league. I can't afford that.” "Don't worry about the p*****t, ma'am," the waiter assured me, his gaze drifting towards the table behind me. "The gentleman there is treating you." I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder. Whoever it was, they were undoubtedly expecting something in return And while I'm not against the occasional one night stand, I prefer for it to be on my terms and with my choice of partner. I mean, I'm on the lookout for a Christmas miracle - a naughty present to spend the season with wouldn't be a bad idea. But I don't need a man to buy me a drink to impress me. I'm looking for someone who can hold a conversation and make me laugh, not someone who thinks money can solve everything. A man trying to pick up women after Thanksgiving must be desperate. “No, thank you," I replied, my gaze narrowing on the bartender. "I'm quite content with my Dasylirion.” The bartender reached under the counter to grab the bottle of ‘Dasy’. Good ol' Dasy, my faithful companion through countless lonely nights. It had been my solace since I'd fled my suffocating home at seventeen, feeling like a bird finally freed from its cage. I was young and wild, always looking for the next party, the next thrill. I wanted to make up for all the years my family tried to control me, to keep me from living my life. But now, I'm ready to move on. At least I made it out, didn't I? Even though my father and brothers were against me, my mother was the only one who supported my decision. She told me to think carefully about my decision and that she wouldn't stop me if I felt this was the right path. I didn't need to think twice. Becoming a model and actress had always been my dream. It was something I'd wanted since I was a little girl, acting in school plays. I had taken a big step, and this was it. The moment I had been waiting for. The moment I realized my true passion, my calling. I knew in my heart that this was what I wanted to do, what made me truly happy. With my mother's loving blessing, I left behind everything else and embarked on this new journey. Four years have passed since I last saw my mother. The last time I was home was when she was battling stage four cancer. The pain of losing her is still fresh, and I often think about the time we could have spent together. If only I had known, I would have cherished every moment. Did I make a selfish decision by leaving when I did? And if I had stayed, would I still be plagued by regret? The bartender tops up my shot glass, then pops the bottle back in its place under the counter. I nod at him, and he moves away to attend to another customer. I toss back the glass of Dasylirion and the warmth explodes in my stomach. A pleasant heat suffused my skin, and I toy with the rim of the second glass. When I signed up to be the understudy in Romeo and Juliet, I never imagined that my debut would be in Italy, the country of my birth. It was the place I'd left behind to chase my dreams of becoming a famous model and actor, a place I'd hoped never to return to. Even if I had planned to come back, I had dreamed of doing so as a celebrated star, not as a nervous understudy. I had changed my last name, and because my father had sent me and my sibling to an American school, I already spoke English with an American accent. This made it nearly impossible for anyone to trace our origins. I had completely cut off contact with my family. The only person outside of my mother who I still talked to was my younger sister, Gina. It still pains me to think about leaving her behind, but staying meant following in the footsteps of my older cousins. They were married at nineteen, had children by twenty-three, and were already trapped in the same cycle as their mother and grandmother before them. ‘Nope, that would never be me.’ So I made it out of that hell hole, and I'm honestly glad that I had taken this part. but for the fact that roles don't come easily. That, and the fact that it's the first time since graduating from drama school that I would be acting in a major role with my close friends from school, made everything a little depressing. When I got the offer, I just couldn't say no. Now here I'm, stuck on my own, on a Friday night, no less. To be honest, my friend Tessa invited me to her place to watch a movie with her boyfriend. They were having a small Thanksgiving party to celebrate. While I was flattered by the invitation, I had to decline. I didn't want to dampen their fun night, especially since I knew she felt sorry for my single status. Moreover, I only had one free night today, and I really needed to relax. My plan was to have a few drinks at the bar, maybe get a room at the hotel next door, sleep it off, and head out tomorrow.” Maybe it's a little dangerous that I had decided to come here without Informing Tessa about where I was going: but I would rather not have my best friend around to judge any of my actions tonight. It was one of the reasons why I had decided to skip the nightclub because I was worried about bumping into someone I know, like a friend or family member. Instead, I chose to go to a quieter bar. Tessa didn't seem to have the same need to let loose once in a while like I do, I love her, but the idea of a fun Friday night isn't about having a small thanksgiving night watching Netflix with her boyfriend, with no f*****g chill. I needed something more…… something that challenges me, makes me think differently, excites my brain cells and the cells between my legs. Ideally at the same time. What's a girl gotta do to find someone who will stimulate both her brain and her clit, hmm? The bartender, with a perpetually furrowed brow, refilled my glass. I snatched it up—my fourth tequila of the night, to be precise—and raised it to my lips. Just as the cool liquid touched my tongue, a pair of thick, gnarled fingers clamped down on my wrist. “You have had enough for the night,”