“I’m going to kiss you.” I trailed my hand down her side, resting it against her hip. “If you’re not going to stop me . . .”
“Kiss me,” she whispered. She slid her hand up over my shoulder before she tangled her hand into the back of my hair. “Kiss me now and I might let you unwrap me later.”
“Fuck,” I muttered before I bent my head and pressed my lips to hers.
She gasped against my lips, parting her own and allowing my tongue entry. She tugged me closer, pulling my body against hers as she collapsed her weight back against the door. She tightened her fingers into my hair before she placed her other hand on my shoulder, crushing our upper bodies closer together.
I trailed my hand down her side and grasped her thigh. Before I could move this more in the direction that I wanted, we were interrupted by a way too fucking cheery voice coming from behind the door I currently had Faith pressed up against.
“Did he say yes?” she yelled through the doorway.
Faith giggled against my lips before she moved her hands down and rested them over my chest. She gave me a gentle push and slowly pushed me back.
“You have my full permission to offer yourself in sexual favors, if you need to!” Emma shouted through the door.
“Fucking hell,” Faith muttered. She pushed me back a little more and turned around. She squared her shoulders back before she opened the door. “Really?” she asked in a monotone voice.
“Well?” Emma asked.
We both turned to look at Jack and he rolled his eyes before speaking.
“With what Faith has just offered me, how can I say no?” He grinned. “I still hate kids, mind you.”
Emma giggled before she reached for Faith’s hand and tugged her toward her.
“You are a lifesaver.” She leaned her head against Faith’s shoulder. “Thank you, Faithy.”
Faith wrapped her arm around Emma’s shoulder and squeezed.
Chapter Seven
Faith
I looked back over my shoulder at Jack and smiled when I saw that he was watching me and Emma walk away from him. I never expected him to ever agree to it but I was very happy that he did. Using my body to trap him in a corner was my idea but when he stared down at me, I knew that this wasn’t completely one-sided.
He stared down at me like he wanted to kiss me but until he pressed me up against the door, I had fooled myself into thinking that we were just flirting. When he kissed me, I don’t think I had ever felt that spark. With his hands on my body, I could see myself being another of his girls and I really didn’t care anymore.
“Well . . .” Emma giggled before she continued, “I can see that my sexy elf has been encouraging Santa.”
“Emma!” I tapped her on the arm, embarrassed. “This is bad enough without you making comments like that.”
“Did you kiss him?” she asked.
I looked over her shoulder, grinning when I saw Jack staring over at us. Paul was standing near him talking but judging by the dirty smirk on his face, I don’t think that he was listening.
“You totally kissed him!” She stared at me with a look of shock. “You dirty elf!”
“Shut it.” I rolled my eyes at her dramatics. “You’ve got a bunch of kids waiting to see Santa. Shouldn’t you be over there training your new Santa?” I waved my hand toward him before my eyes drifted back over. “Your very sexy and fuckable Santa, I might add.”
She huffed at me before she turned around and walked over to him.
I walked over to the back of the room, groaning when I saw my reflection in the mirror. My belt was twisted a little and my hat was cocked to the side. After a quick fix, I looked presentable for the little darlings. Making out with Jack was obviously not good for my fashion choice.
“Okay, guys. Let’s get this show on the road.” She clapped her hands enthusiastically before she walked toward the door. “Santa, don’t let me down!”
I turned to face him and froze when I saw him taking a seat in the big chair. I never thought I’d ever find Santa Claus sexy but watching him sitting there, I suddenly wished I was allowed to sit on his knee.
He turned his head and caught me staring at him. He pulled the beard down while his eyes trailed down over my body.
“Maybe later, elf,” he said, giving me a sexy wink before he fixed the beard back into place.
“I am so fucking screwed,” I muttered to myself, trying my best to ignore the stares from Paul and Emma. “So fucking screwed.”
Jack’s first shift as Santa went a lot better than I expected. Considering that he hated children—or so he said—I had expected him to panic or stumble or something. He didn’t, though. He just got on with it. He chatted with the kids, asking them if they had been good, what they wanted and if it was super crazy, he’d usually say he’d work on it.
When it came to the last child of the night, I was surprised by the feelings that went through me as I watched him with her. She was so little and had the cutest blonde curls. She was currently telling him about school and how there was this little boy that was always pushing her.
“Maybe he likes you.”
She giggled at his words before she exaggeratedly shook her head.
“Maybe he does.” He tapped his finger on the end of her nose. “Try talking to him next time you see him. See what happens.” He grinned at her before he picked her up and helped her off his lap.
I held the small, wrapped selection box out to her and gave her a little wave before she walked out the door with her daddy. I closed the door after them and smiled over at Emma when I saw her talking to Jack.
She looked so happy right then and I knew that she was just as surprised with Jack tonight as I was. She nodded at him before she walked over to me.
“Thank you, Faith.” She squeezed my hand before she placed the keys in my hand. “Lock up when you’re done?”
I nodded at her, watching as she grabbed her coat and left with Paul. They looked strange together; mostly because he was dressed as an elf and jingling with every step he took and she looked like she had just stepped off a runway.
Turning around, I was surprised that Jack was still here. He was back in his normal clothing and was removing the red coat before folding it and placing it on the chair. His beard was also there but he still had the hat on his head. He walked over to me with his cocky swagger and placed his hands on my hips.
“What are you grinning about?” he asked, looking down at me.
“You.” I reached up and took the hat off his head before tossing it behind him onto the chair where the rest of his uniform was. “You did really well tonight.”
“Yeah?” He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss on my lips before he pulled back. “Better than you thought?”
“Loads better.” I reached up and placed my arms around his shoulders. “So, when are you taking me on this date of ours?”
He looked nervous when I asked that and I secretly loved that I could make him nervous. He had been with his fair share of women and I don’t think he ever got nervous with them. He was a manwhore for a reason.
“Well, as we are both shackled to Christmas duty now,” he started. “I was thinking we could go out for a drink or two after work tomorrow?” He stared down at me, waiting for my response.
“We could.” I grinned up at him, prolonging the torture a little for him. “I could ask Emma if we could finish an hour early. If you wanted to.”
“Think she would?” His hands tensed on my hips and I knew that this moving slow with a girl was probably completely different from his usual speed.
“I think she would if I asked nicely.” I looked into his eyes, loving the way they gazed down into mine. “You saved her ass today so I’m pretty sure she won’t mind.” I trailed my hand up to his neck, stroking my fingers through the curls at the back of his head. “Maybe we can go dancing as well?”
I giggled when he grinned at me and I knew that he wasn’t expecting it.
“I think I can
arrange that.” His eyes flicked down to my lips before he stepped away. “Can I walk my little elf home?” he asked.
“Yeah.” I nodded my head before grabbing my coat and slipping it on, smiling when he did the same. “I’d like that.” I quickly locked the workshop up and took his hand and allowed him to pull me into his side.
Chapter Eight
Jack
“What the hell is taking so long?” I muttered to myself. I looked at my watch, groaning when I saw that Faith had been in that bathroom with Emma for way too fucking long. I looked up when the door opened and Emma walked out, followed by Faith.
Fucking hell.
“Do I look okay?” she asked, smoothing down the skirt of her dress. She was wearing a cream dress that came to mid-thigh and it had shiny gemstones glittered all over it. Her legs were bare but were looking shiny as fuck and she was standing there in a pair of cream heels.
“Beautiful,” I choked out.
She gave me a beaming smile when I said that and I loved that I could make her look at me like that.
“You look really beautiful.” I slid my hands into my jean pockets, unable to stop staring at her. “Are you ready to go?” I asked.
“Yeah.” She nodded her head before taking her coat from Emma. She quickly slipped it on and grabbed her clutch purse before she walked over and held her hand out for mine. “I’m ready.”
“See you later, guys.” I gave Emma and Paul a two-fingered salute before I led her out the door and down the block.
“So, where are you taking me?” she asked. She swung our arms from side to side and she looked so relaxed.
“Not far.” I looked down at her shoes as we walked further toward our destination. “I’m afraid to take you too far. Especially in those ridiculous heels.”
She laughed. “I can probably walk further in these heels than a pair of sneakers,” she bragged.
“Uh . . .” I looked down at her disbelievingly. “You think so?” I asked.
“I know so.” She giggled at me and she looked so confident in her assessment. “I spend enough of my day in heels at work.”
“True.” I nodded my head up ahead to indicate where we were going. The Mocka Lounge was just up ahead. It was primarily a cocktail bar but it also had a small dancefloor. I couldn’t see her being able to dance in those heels but I guess we’d see.
I led her into the bar and grabbed a table for us. I smiled when she immediately removed her coat and reached for my hand across the table.
“This is nice,” she complimented.
It was a little quiet in here tonight, which I was happy about. On the weekend, this place was usually overcrowded but during the week, it made sense that it quieted down. Tables were lit up with a candle on each table and soft jazz music played out from the speakers.
A waitress arrived at our table and we quickly ordered drinks; a pint of cider for me and a strawberry daiquiri. They soon came and it was just us again.
“I’m a little surprised that you brought me somewhere so . . .” She paused and it looked like she was searching for the right word. A wicked smile came on her face before she continued. “So romantic, I guess.” She played with the stem of her glass and it made me think of her hands someplace else. “I didn’t realize that manwhores knew there was such a thing as romance.” She was mocking me now.
I rolled my eyes at her before I reached for my pint and took a gulp.
“I can be romantic,” I bragged.
She raised her eyebrows at me and I knew that she thought I was trying to pull one over on her. In other words, she thought that I was lying.
“No, really.” I shook my head at her before continuing. “I can be romantic. I just . . .” I shrugged my shoulders, not seeing our date go down such a serious path. “I have just never been with anyone that I found it worth the effort to be romantic with.”
“Wow. That sounded really romantic.” Her words sounded cold but she grinned at me to show that she was joking. “So, am I different, Jack? Am I worth your effort?”
“I’ve had a crush on you since high school.” I grinned at her, secretly loving the way her gaze was on me. “Every time that I saw you, I’d try and build the courage to ask you out but I . . .” I stopped talking, not really sure how to word it.
“But you what?” she asked. She stroked her fingers across the back of my hand.
“You’re beautiful,” I whispered. I could tell that my words had confused her by the look of confusion on her face. “You’ve always been beautiful, Faith. Now. Back then. I was just some geeky teenage boy and you were . . .” I blew out a breath. “You were the beautiful girl that I would never get a chance with.”
“That was so long ago,” she muttered. She stared at me for a moment before a short laugh escaped her. “Whenever you would come near me, I would get so nervous.” A beautiful blush stained her cheeks and I was desperate to know what embarrassed her.
“Nervous?” I asked, stupidly repeating her words back to her. “About what?”
What the hell did she have to be nervous about?
“Because . . .” She looked up at me from beneath her eyelashes and the action made her look so damn fucking sexy. “Because I wanted you to ask me out.”
We both laughed at her admission.
I turned my hand over and gently clasped her hand before I pulled it up to my lips.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing we are no longer teenagers.”
I looked toward the dancefloor behind her, smiling when I saw there were a few groups of people on there dancing. I stood up and held my hand down to her.
“Do you want to dance with me, Faith?” I asked.
She stared up at me for a moment before she slowly nodded her head.
“I’d like that,” she whispered. She held her hand up and slipped it into mine before standing and following me to the dancefloor.
I took her body in my hands and began gently swaying us to the slow beat.
“What is it?” I asked.
She was looking up at me funny and I knew that whatever was going to come out of her mouth would be interesting.
“It’s nothing,” she said, shaking her head.
“Tell me.” I gently dig my fingers into her ribs, grinning when a loud laugh escaped her.
“I just wish,” she said, “that we could have done this sooner.”
Fuck, so did I.
I tilted my head down to hers and pressed my lips to hers. I was starting to become addicted to her kisses.
Chapter Nine
Faith
Walking home with a guy at the end of the date had always been awkward. It’s coming to the part of the night where you’re thinking about the kiss. Should I kiss him? Do I wait for him to kiss me? Will he ask me out? Did he like me enough to ask me out again?
With Jack, though; walking home with his hand in mine, I didn’t have any of those questions. Maybe it was because we had known each other since high school but there weren’t any of those nagging worries of liking each other enough. Or maybe because technically, we had already had that first kiss. It was comfortable between us. Familiar, I guess.
“I’ll walk you up,” he said, tightening his hand on mine.
We slowly ascended the staircase with him leading me up.
I didn’t want tonight to end. It was so perfect. I don’t know what I had expected but I was surprised at him tonight. I had naively expected him to be flirtatious or—I don’t know—to just treat me like he probably treated the rest of the women that he had been with but he didn’t.
He was open. Easy to talk with. He was funny as well and whenever his hands were on me, I felt beautiful. Sexy, even. I never felt beautiful but when he was touching me, I felt wanted.
“This is me,” I said, pulling him to a stop.
He looked at the door behind me before he took a step closer to me. He backed me up against it and I hoped that he didn’t want this night to end either. He placed his hands on either side of me, caging me
in.
“This is where I leave you then.” He stared down into my eyes and I knew from the smirk on his face that he could no doubt see the lust that I had for him in my own eyes.
“Do you want to come in?” I asked. “Emma is staying at yours tonight.”
A moment of silence passed before he slowly nodded his head and took a step back.
I turned around and took my keys out of my clutch purse. I slid the key into the lock, cringing when my hand shook before I turned it and opened the door. I flicked the lights on and gave him a small smile as he walked past me over the threshold. I tried not to think too hard on what the hell I was doing. It had been a few months since I had been with a man.
I shut the door and froze when I felt him press his body up against my back.
He dipped his head and trailed his lips up the column of my neck before I felt his lips kiss against the arch of my shoulder.
“You taste delicious,” he whispered in my ear before I felt him suck my earlobe into his mouth.
“Do you, uh . . . Fuck.” I was stammering now but when I felt his tongue peek out and lick up my throat I was done for. “Do you want anything to drink?”
His hands wrapped around my waist before he stepped forward and pressed me harder against the door. He reached up and grasped my breasts and roughly kneaded them.
“Does it feel like I want a drink?” he asked. He rocked his hardness into me from behind and I knew that I was so fucking screwed with this man.
If he could make me feel like this fully clothed, I knew that one night with him was nowhere close to ever being enough.
He leaned his hand up and grasped my chin before turning my face to meet his.
“If you don’t stop me now, I’m going to take you into your bedroom and worship this body that’s been plaguing me for too damn fucking long.”
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