Naughty or Nice?

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  Stephan folded his arms across his chest and glanced around the tree to where the woman who’d kissed Max senseless now tried to feign interest in her bag of toys and not the Corbin brothers. Max stifled a smile.

  “Who, Toni?” Stephan asked.

  “Toni.” Max tested the name on his tongue, liking the sound as well as the incongruity of a man’s name on such a feminine creature.

  “She’s an associate—something you’d know if you didn’t make yourself so scarce.”

  His brother was right. Other than the obligatory holidays at home, Max avoided family situations—especially family business functions like this one—if only because they were always fraught with tension between himself and his parents.

  “Any interest?” Max asked, ignoring his brother’s jibe but still needing to lay other cards on the table.

  Stephan shook his head. “Maybe when she first started working here, but that was a while ago. And once we became colleagues and friends . . .” He waved his hand in dismissal. “No interest.”

  It was obvious to Max that she didn’t feel the same—at least she hadn’t before kissing the wrong twin, but no point in informing his brother now. “You sure?”

  “No interest. Not that way.” Stephan glanced at him, surprised but obviously certain. “Field’s clear.”

  And so were his brother’s words. Nothing stood between Max and his elf.

  He turned, determined to stake his claim, but she was talking with a female colleague, and then without warning the conference room was overrun with scampering, chattering children. “What’s this?” Max asked over the din.

  Stephan laughed. “This is Toni’s contribution to the annual firm Christmas party. We always made a cash donation to a charity, but she insisted we do something more personal, too. Now we buy gifts for the kids at one of the local women’s shelters and Santa hands them out—with her help.”

  “Santa?”

  “Dad. But not this year. He’ll be here but the doctor’s banned him from anything too stressful like picking up the kids and putting them on his lap. At least until next year.”

  A twisting pain lanced through Max. “You sure?”

  “That he’ll be around till next year?” Stephan asked, finishing Max’s unspoken question in a way only a twin could. “I’m sure. Spend some more time with him and you will be, too.”

  Max had seen the older man in the hospital and again when he’d been released, but they’d never been alone long enough to get into serious conversation. Yet apparently the stroke had prompted a renewal in the older man’s determination to get Max back into the family firm, because he’d been summoned here by his father, who claimed he had an offer Max couldn’t refuse.

  “He’s determined enough for four men,” Stephan said.

  “Swell.” Determined to stick around and determined to get his way with his one ornery son. Well, one out of two wouldn’t be bad. Max glanced at his twin, knowing he had to be honest about not wanting to take over in the office, or in his brother’s hard-worked-for domain. “Hey bro, you should know I have no intention of coming back—”

  Stephan cut him off with a slug to the shoulder. “I know. The only one you have to convince is Dad.”

  Max nodded. His brother was obviously secure in his place and position within the firm and the family. One potential problem taken care of.

  He looked over. His elf—Toni—was kneeling down with kids beside her, tickling one, laughing with another. Not only did she have an altruistic streak but from the looks of things she was a natural-born nurturer, too. Add that to her sexy-as-hell appearance and her knock-out kiss and Max knew he’d found a gem. Getting to know her would be a real pleasure.

  “Who’s replacing Dad as Santa this year?” Max asked.

  “Even cash couldn’t sway any of these uptight jokers to do the job and I wasn’t sure I’d make it on time, so Toni’s handing out the gifts herself,” Stephan said.

  “Really.”

  His brother chuckled aloud. “You sound awfully pleased. Aren’t you too old to be telling Santa what you want for Christmas?”

  Max grinned. “Hell, no. Especially not if it’ll let me get close to his sexy emissary.” And as soon as the children were finished, he planned to tell Santa’s helper exactly what he wanted for Christmas.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Toni was one part mortified and two parts completely turned on. She was in a sweat that owed nothing to the crowded, overheated room and everything to the man watching her out of the corner of his eye. With hindsight and the rush of adrenaline to act on impulse gone, she saw the differences in the brothers more clearly. This man had slightly longer though equally black hair, and razor stubble gave him a more rugged, less clean-cut appearance. He exuded a raw masculinity that appealed to her on a deeper, more carnal level. One she hadn’t known existed inside her until that kiss.

  That kiss. Toni hugged her arms around her chest, as if she could hold tight to the feelings he inspired. As always, she forced herself to take an honest look at herself, her actions, and the situation. She couldn’t deny the truth. At a crossroads, about to embark on a new professional life, she couldn’t afford more than a one-night stand, no matter how out of character it was. She’d thought Stephan Corbin was the perfect man on whom to test her feminine wiles, but she’d been wrong. Whatever attraction she’d felt for Stephan paled in comparison to what she’d experienced under the nonexistent mistletoe with his twin. And darned if she didn’t want an instant replay.

  But with the onslaught of children from the shelter, she had no choice but to wait. In the meantime, she continued the cat-and-mouse game of eye contact he’d begun earlier. Her heart beat frantically in her chest and anticipation flowed through her veins.

  “Only two more kids, Toni,” Annie, her secretary, whispered in her ear.

  “I don’t know whether to say thank goodness because I’m beat or thank goodness because even one child here is one too many.” She ought to know, having spent more than one night in a shelter as a child.

  “How about thank goodness so you can go play get-to-know-you with the Corbin twin?”

  Toni felt the heat rise to her cheeks. Had Annie seen that consuming kiss behind the tree?

  “He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you sat down in this chair.”

  Toni shifted in her seat to accommodate the next little girl. “Did you know Stephan had a brother?” she asked Annie.

  “No, but I wish I had, at least before you nailed him for yourself. I’ve got to run. I have a date. Have fun tonight,” she whispered on a laugh and walked away before Toni could respond.

  The last two children and their requests for Santa went quickly. Toni kept her mental list of extra things to send over to the shelter from Santa and soon the kids, their chaperones, and the gifts were bundled up and on their way. She started to rise, knowing she still had an office to pack before the night was through.

  “Not so fast.”

  She recognized the seductive voice that rumbled from behind.

  She curled her hands around the arm of the office chair she’d appropriated, steadying herself with a firm grip. “Something I can do for you?”

  “Since you have a special relationship with the big man in the red suit I was hoping you could relay a wish.” His strong fingertips brushed her hair back from her face and around her ear, strumming across her skin with perfect precision.

  Her stomach fluttered with longing and she forced an easy laugh. “Aren’t you too old to believe in Santa?”

  “Aren’t you too young not to?”

  “I’m dressed like one of his elves. Doesn’t that tell you something about who and what I believe in?” And right now she believed in this man—and anything he said or did.

  She tipped her head to the side and found herself sharing breathing space, close enough to kiss him if she desired. And she did, badly. She’d never experienced anything as strong as her immediate attraction to this stranger.

  “It tel
ls me some. But I know too little about you and I intend to change that.” He walked around and eased himself onto the arm of her chair, not on her lap but close enough to increase her growing awareness.

  His hip brushed her arm and her body heat shot up another ten degrees. She glanced around at the thinning group of people. Though she and her companion didn’t seem to be garnering added attention, Toni was still aware of this being a place of business.

  Even if she had temporarily forgotten once she’d gotten him behind the tree, they were in full view of the masses now. “I’m not Santa Claus so there’s no lap-sitting involved,” she warned him.

  He bent closer. “I’ll accept those barriers . . . for now.”

  She inhaled a shaky breath. His masculine scent, a heady mix of warm spice and pure man tempted her to throw caution aside. Before she could lose common sense she grasped onto the one thread of the conversation she could remember. “So what can I tell Santa you desire . . . I mean want. What can I tell Santa you want?”

  She’d caught her phrasing, an obvious extension of her thoughts and needs, and attempted a too-late retraction. But the word “desire,” once spoken, hovered in the air, teasing, arousing, and building upon the electricity arcing between them.

  “I know what you meant.” He laughed and the deep sound both eased and aroused her in ways she didn’t understand. “I also know what you want and it’s the same thing I do.”

  A tremor shook her hard. “And what would that be?”

  “To finish what we started under the so-called mistletoe.”

  A rousing round of applause erupted around them, interrupting their banter and his huskily spoken words. Despite the beat of desire thrumming inside her, she forced herself to look for the cause of the stir. She glanced up and saw Mr. Corbin, the firm’s senior partner—Stephan and his twin’s father—standing in the doorway. His twin. But beyond the obvious resemblance Toni drew a sudden blank.

  Oh, Lord. For as quickly as they’d connected, she didn’t even know his name.

  He brushed his knuckles across her cheek in a gesture more tender and caring than overtly sexual. She could have melted at his feet. And then there was the heat rushing through her body. She felt on edge, the desire inside her out of control.

  He rose to his feet. “I’ve got to go greet the old man but no way are we finished.”

  She bit the inside of her cheek. When she’d decided to go after Stephan, the firm’s bachelor, she’d known nothing long-term could come of it. She’d just wanted to enter the new year feeling good and knowing she could get the man she thought she desired, if just for a brief time. But she’d kissed the wrong brother—or the right brother depending on her perspective—and knowing nothing about him, all bets were off.

  So she could continue her bold act and see where things led or she could run, something she’d seen her mother do too many times. Toni Larson didn’t run.

  “Oh, we’re finished all right.” She licked at her dry lips. “At least until you tell me your name.”

  “It’s Max.” Amusement mingled with desire in his blue-eyed gaze.

  She grinned. “ ’Bye, Max.”

  He shook his head. “Only until later, Toni.” His words held certainty, his voice the promise of sharing more than just an introduction. With a last glance, he reluctantly turned and walked away.

  She watched as he approached the older man and witnessed what was so obviously a reunion between a father and a son he loved deeply. A lump rose to her throat. Looking at Max, Toni saw concern and love cross his handsome features, no hint of the playful man in sight. Apparently this reunion was emotional for both men.

  But as Max broke from his father’s arms, he said something light enough to make Stephan laugh. Then he turned and, from across the room, his compelling gaze met hers and he treated her to a sexy wink. One that assured her he hadn’t forgotten her or his promise of seeing her later.

  Her stomach curled in anticipation and searing heat assaulted her senses. She shook her head, amazed. Not only had she been naughty, she’d most certainly gotten her man. Just not the man she’d expected. Fate and irony were at work tonight. She touched her fingers to her lips and imagined the feel of his mouth working magic over hers, his warm breath and his masculine scent wrapping her in seductive heat.

  She let out a breathless sigh, knowing the night she’d desired was about to get much, much hotter.

  Max hadn’t wanted to leave Toni’s side, not for an instant, which he supposed told him something about the strength of his attraction to a woman he barely knew. An attraction he wanted to explore further.

  After spending time and discussing everything but business with Max, the older man had grown tired and said he’d see Max at home tomorrow. He just hoped the truce they’d begun to forge today lasted once Max told his father that no offer, no matter how supposedly enticing, could coax him back into the family firm. The most the older Corbin could expect from Max was a loving son who’d always be there for him. Max hoped it would be enough.

  But before he had to deal with tomorrow, he had tonight ahead of him and he looked forward to every last minute. He walked down the darkened hallway, lit only by lights from some occupied offices, and stopped by the door his brother had told him belonged to Toni.

  Light shone from beneath the partially closed door and the low strains of music sounded from inside. Anticipation and arousal beat heavy inside him as he let himself in. Toni was emptying her office, packing boxes and singing while she worked.

  The woman couldn’t carry a tune to save her life. Max folded his arms across his chest and grinned. “You can serenade me anytime.”

  She yelped and jumped. “You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that.”

  He stepped forward, moving closer. With each step he took toward her, she inched back until she hit the wall, looking up at him with wide eyes. “What are you doing?”

  “What you asked. Making my presence known.”

  “As if I could miss it,” she said wryly.

  “But you’re afraid of me.”

  She shook her head in denial but he backed off anyway. He wanted this woman in many and varied ways but frightened wasn’t one of them.

  “You don’t scare me . . . Max.” His name fluttered off her lips. Then as if to prove her point, she held her hand out for him to shake. “And it’s nice to officially meet you.”

  “Likewise.” He eased his hand inside hers. Warm and soft, her skin caressed his coarser flesh.

  “You just surprised me,” she said in a husky voice.

  “A good surprise, I hope.”

  “Definitely that. So why are you here?”

  “I was hoping to talk you into going for dinner.”

  She bit down on her lower lip. “What if I have plans?”

  He propped a shoulder against the wall beside her. “Break them,” he said with more confidence than he felt. His biggest fear was that she’d blow him off before they had a chance to explore what was between them.

  “Convince me.” Her teasing smile invited him to do just that.

  He curled his fingers around her hand and pulled her toward him, wrapping one arm around her waist and holding her other hand out in front of them. “Let’s dance.”

  Her eyes opened wide. “You’re kidding?”

  “Do you see me laughing?” He pulled her flush against him and swept her around the small office in time to the beat of the music. He had no idea what had come over him except he had no intention of losing her now.

  She anchored her hand around his back for support, molded her body to his and let go. He felt it in the sway of her hips and saw it in the sassy tilt of her head. She was enjoying herself and he was glad.

  His body couldn’t ignore her lush curves and his groin hardened, unsatisfied with a single dance. But Max wasn’t in this for a one-night stand. He was a man who’d spent his life trusting his own instincts and he wasn’t about to question his gut now. He wanted much more than sex with this woman and for M
ax that was a first.

  She tilted her head back. “You’ve got good moves.”

  “I give my partner all the credit.”

  Her smile was nothing short of incredible. “Is that what I am?”

  “You tell me.” He turned her once and stilled. They were so close, their warm breath mingled. So aware of one another he thought, as he stared into her expectant eyes.

  Toni’s legs shook beneath her and she tightened her grip on the only available means of support—Max’s waist and hand. Then she waited as he lowered his mouth to hers, slowly, surely, his blue-eyed stare never wavering until his lips touched hers.

  Their first kiss had been spontaneous, unplanned, and yes, she admitted to herself, a bit desperate. But this was so much more. He took his time, his tongue delving and discovering the deep recesses of her mouth, learning her, not once rushing the moment.

  Her stomach curled in response to the drugging kiss, much the way her fingers curled into his skin.

  His lips slid gently over hers, making the most of the moisture they generated together. Strong yet gentle, he took control, mastering the moves that made her sigh into him and spin dizzily out of control. Toni needed to participate on equal footing and she traced the outline of his strong lips with her tongue and reveled in his uninhibited verbal response. He was a man who not only expressed his physical desire but was bold enough not to hide his emotional reaction. The masculine groan found an answering pull deep inside Toni, in a place she’d kept hidden, uncharted until now.

  Without warning, he pulled back, leaning his forehead against hers, his breathing rough in her ear. But the intimacy of continued body contact felt both good and right. Teetering on an emotional precipice, Toni shook deep inside.

  “Have I convinced you yet?” he asked.

  “Convinced me of what?” She was out of breath, stunned by the intensity of the short but extremely emotional encounter. She couldn’t call it just a kiss, not when he’d engaged her heart and soul in every move he’d made. Did he really expect her to think clearly now?