To his disappointment, I slip my hand free, and make him smile when I interlace my fingers with his. “Why don’t we spend our free time together and see how it goes. That’s all we can do, right?”
“I like that idea.” He smiles, and suggests, “Do you want to get out of this room for a short time? I have thirty minutes left.”
“I thought you said we’d be the talk of the town.”
“Not where I’m going to take you.”
I raise a brow. “Do tell.”
He blushes and pulls me to my feet. “Shoes and jacket.”
“I’m curious.”
“Well, Emma De La Fuente, all I can think about in your room is you in the large bed, so I think I should entertain you differently for our first date.”
Although I feel my cheeks blush hot, I can’t hold back the grin from splitting my face. “First date, huh?”
He chuckles. “You’re ignoring the bed comment.”
“Oh, I heard you just fine.” I wrap a scarf around my face, and admit, “If I bring that up, I have a feeling I’ll need to go and bury myself in the snow to cool down, so I figured it best to focus on the first date part.”
“Hmm,” Jared mumbles, his voice dropping deeper before he suddenly snaps out of it and opens the door. “Out! Before we both get in trouble.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting into trouble with you,” I whisper, walking through the doorway.
Jared takes my hand and instead of leading me toward the stairs, he leads me away from them. I give him a quizzical look but all he does in return is smile.
He pushes the door marked roof open, and says, “It’s going to be colder than the sidewalk up here because there are no buildings to protect us from the wind. So, it’s a quick visit but one you have to see in the snow.”
“I’m used to snow, so lead the way.”
The moment he starts walking up the stairs, my eyes find it difficult to look elsewhere other than his fine butt. The way the round curves and toned thighs stretch the fabric of his pants throw butterflies around in my belly. This man is dangerous, and he wants me.
Sighing heavily, I lift my gaze and find his eyes on mine. I swallow hard at what I see on his face and slide my hand into his once we reach the top step. He pushes the door open with a hard thud. The snow is thick and untouched. Snow angels are the first thing that comes to mind. I smile at the fact that I don’t think Jared knows just how much of a kid there is left inside of me.
When he laughs, I think I’ve judged him wrongly. He knows exactly where my thoughts have gone now that my eyes are off his butt.
“Before we go inside.” He chuckles. “Walk in my footprints. It will be easier. I want you to see Main Street.” He pauses. “You’re not afraid of heights, are you?”
Shaking my head, I say, “I’m a native of Vermont. Essex is close to Burlington, so I grew up in the snowy mountains.”
Moving heavily toward the edge, I grip Jared’s hand and sigh when he comes to a stop. I can’t feel my toes because I’d peeled a few layers off after breakfast. My cheeks are frozen in place, but the view of the snow coming down with all of Main Street lit up is breathtaking. I feel Jared move behind me, and he wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me against his body.
“It’s my favorite view of the town.” He points. “Temptations is the one with the giant chocolate Santa in the window, lit with the white lights.”
“I see that! Vivien is making us special chocolates for opening night. She was supposed to meet with Levi this morning.” I frown. “I haven’t heard from my brother, which is weird, considering he’s been blowing up my phone for months.”
“Hmm,” Jared mutters, and coughs, although it sounds more like a laugh.
I tilt my head so I can see his face, and find his eyes are filled with humor. “Have I missed something?”
He laughs and tries to hide it, so I turn around and, being daring, reach up and cup his face with my mittened hands. “Tell me.”
My eyes caress over his face, and his do some looking of their own when he says, “As much as it’s killing me not to say anything, you need to ask your brother how his meeting went.” He drags my scarf away from my face and dips down, dropping a kiss onto my cold lips.
Blinking quickly, I then narrow my eyes. “How do you know how it went and I don’t?”
“Trust me. You’ll have more fun getting the details out of your brother than you will if I tell you. Plus, I can’t tell you.” He frowns. “This is one of those calls that I can’t talk about.”
“I gather he’s not hurt because you keep laughing and trying to hide it.” My eyes widen. “He didn’t get locked out of his apartment butt naked, did he?”
“Not…exactly.”
“You’re not going to tell me?”
He shakes his head and after another quick kiss, wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Snow angels.”
“I do believe you’re trying to change the subject.”
“Is it working?”
“Providing you’re going to get down in the snow with me, then it’s working.”
“That sounds more appealing than going back to work.” Jared hugs me tight before pointing at a large clear spot. “This will be safe. Only concrete flooring beneath the foot or so of snow.”
“Okay, then.” I clap my mittened hands together in excitement as I turn my back to the space. Jared takes my hand and I smile into his happy face, causing me to giggle. “You’re enjoying this as much as I am.”
His eyes sparkle. “One. Two. Three.”
We throw ourselves backward and land in the soft snow. I keep hold of Jared’s hand as we scissor our arms and legs, laughing. My jeans become wet, but I find that I don’t want to move. I don’t want this moment with Jared to end.
It does, though.
Jared stands, brushing off the snow before he reaches for my hands and pulls me up. He’s close. Like really close, and even though he’s brushing snow from me, I become warm and tingly inside. His eyes narrow, and in nervousness, I slip my tongue out to run over my lips.
“My lunch break is nearly over,” he says, breathing heavily while slowly pulling me closer. “You’re making it very”—he gives me a dirty grin—“hard for me to go back to work.”
“I better not mention what you’re doing to me.” I lean in closer and wrap my arms around his neck. “It might make it even harder,” I whisper close to his lips. “And we wouldn’t want you uncomfortable at work now, would we?” Brushing my lips over Jared’s, his eyes hold mine, which is how I see the lust fire in his veins.
A large hand grips the back of my head and then his mouth is on mine. I moan and he uses that opportunity to shove his tongue inside my mouth. The taste and feel of him makes me think of things I shouldn’t with this man. Pushing the worry out of my head, I wrap myself around him and enjoy the kiss. He’s consuming me with his warm mouth, not to mention what he’s doing to me with his body. The bulge pressing into me is enticing, so I can be forgiven for hooking a leg over his hip and rubbing up against the throbbing hardness.
“Emma,” he groans against my mouth at the same time as he grabs hold of my thigh, sliding his hand up to my bottom. He squeezes and softens the kiss. “I hadn’t planned this.”
I lick my lips, and say, “The very best things are unplanned.”
“Hmm.” He swallows hard and drops his forehead to mine while his hand massages my butt. “I want to do dirty things to you, Emma De La Fuente.”
“I wouldn’t object,” I whisper.
Moments later, Jared slowly pulls away but not before he presses a kiss to my lips. He releases my leg and guides it down before stepping away. “I have to get back to work, and you need to call your brother and ask about the meeting. Do not tell him I mentioned anything.” He clears his throat and, turning me, leads me back inside and down the stairs.
Jared’s kiss has me turned upside down, but my head is spinning as to what my brother has gotten up to now. The last time anything ha
ppened, he had been locked out of his apartment naked. I’d been the one called to go and let him in, and I can tell you he does not look good in pink silk.
“Are you laughing?”
“Maybe.” I grin and enter my room. Jared hesitates, so I don’t give him a choice and tug him inside. “My brother has had a few unfortunate mishaps where I’ve had to come to his rescue.”
“Ah!” His phone rings and on a disappointed sigh, Jared turns away and answers. It’s a work call, which makes me sad we can’t spend more time together today.
“I have to go. If it’s not too late when I finish work at eight, I’d like to pick you up and take you to my place for a late supper.”
Grinning from ear to ear, I nod. “I’ll be ready.”
“Dress warmly.” He hesitates and then moves closer. Removing his gloves, he smooths his fingers over my face before grazing my lips with a finger. “I’ll see you tonight, Emma.” He holds my gaze as he dips down and kisses the tip of my nose before disappearing.
I watch the space where he’d been standing, willing my heart to stop its pit-pat.
Six
Levi De La Fuente
Vivien talks about shapes and logos and pricing, while all I can think about is the smell of her perfume as she’d leaned over me earlier. I keep getting a whiff of it while I’m sitting close at her small desk. The woman has been inside of my head since I first came to town, and she won’t budge. No matter what I do for a distraction, she’s in there. She’s not even my usual taste—tiny, blonde with small boobs. She is shorter than me. However, her boobs are high, large, and firm, and her larger curves are so damn sexy that I want my hands on them. Who am I kidding? I want the woman in every way possible.
“You haven’t heard anything I’ve said.” She accuses me, raising a brow.
Feeling a slight blush creep onto my cheeks, I reply, “As it’s Christmas, we’ll go with the chocolate robins with Emelia’s on the red belly in white.”
“So, you were listening.”
I wince slightly and confess, “Not really. I saw the pictures.”
Vivien pauses and then bursts out laughing. “I don’t think I’ve laughed as much as I have since I met you.”
“Glad you find me amusing,” I snap, suddenly finding myself annoyed. “Sort everything else out with Emma.” Standing, I move away and turn my back. Here I am thinking of naked, sweaty sex with the woman, and she finds me amusing!
“Levi, wait.”
I feel her coming up behind me and wipe the confusion off my face before turning and facing her. “What?”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Tears hover in her eyes, making me feel like a jerk.
“I’m not having the best day.”
“I didn’t lie, Levi. You always make me smile or laugh. I honestly didn’t mean to hurt you with my comment.”
I run my hands through my hair and stomp toward her. I don’t stop, even when her back hits the wall. I press my body against her soft curves and watch as Vivien’s eyes flutter. I nuzzle into the curve of her neck. “You want to know why I was annoyed?” I lick a trail of fire along her collarbone and raise my gaze to meet her eyes. “I was thinking of your sexy body naked, and you thought I was funny.”
Moaning, Vivien slides her fingers into my hair, and that’s all the encouragement I need. I press my tongue against her skin and dip into the opening of her dress, right between her breasts.
“I didn’t think it appropriate”—she gasps—“to tell you how much I ache between my legs when I think of you. I didn’t think I should admit to you how wet my panties are after sitting next to you.” Her chest heaves while my dick goes hard as granite.
“Can I touch you?”
She searches my gaze, her pause telling me I should back off. I really should, but the feel of her cradling my dick against her belly is fantastic, and having her tight nipples digging into my chest causes my brain to addle.
“I want to say yes.” She pants. “But I can’t. Not when you had someone else last night.”
Fuck! I should have remembered that.
“I’m an ass.” I force myself to give her a bit of space and move to lean against the opposite wall. “I didn’t want her. I wanted you. Still do. I can’t think when you’re close.” I eye her warily. “I don’t usually have that problem with women.”
Vivien tilts her head and gives me a soft smile. “You don’t like it, do you? Having me on your mind.”
“You’re different, and I don’t know what the heck to do about it.” I shake my head and breathe through my nose, hoping for comfort in the groin area. “I messed up last night because I wanted you, but I knew I wouldn’t want to let you go if I came to you.”
“So, you took someone else to your bed? Makes a lot of sense.”
“I told you I messed up. It made sense last night. In the light of day, it was a stupid thing to do. No wonder I woke up tied to my bed.”
“That was hot.” Vivien licks her lips, and I thicken imagining those lips on my body. Her throaty laugh squeezes my balls as her eyes focus on my groin. “I need to shut my mouth.”
“I could say so much to that.” I groan. “I’m going to go before I talk you into letting me under your skirt. You’ll have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’m going to head outside and shove some snow into my jeans before going back upstairs.”
Her chuckle follows me from her apartment. I was serious. At least about going outside.
It’s ice-cold out here as I take some deep breaths, glad my dick and balls are shriveling up in the cold.
“Levi? What are you doing outside without a jacket?” Emma rushes over to me. “You’re going to freeze.”
“That’s why I’m outside.”
“Huh?” She looks me up and down. “You’re not making any sense.” She holds the tricky door open for me and I follow her inside. “I want to know about the chocolates, but first I want to know why the cops were here.”
My eyes widen, which, unfortunately, Emma catches and her eyes narrow.
“What exactly did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“That isn’t going to work.”
“How do you know something happened here and that it involved me?” I question, following her into my apartment.
“The sheriff was busting a gut trying not to laugh. He wouldn’t tell me what happened. Told me to ask you.” Emma comes to a sudden stop and stares at the bed. “God!” She gives the bed her back. “I wish I hadn’t seen that.”
“Seen what?”
I glance over her shoulder and wince. The silk stockings and neckties are still hanging around the head and footboard of the bed. I should have done some tidying up before leaving my apartment.
Emma isn’t going to stop pushing and questioning me until I’ve admitted what happened this morning. Thinking I’d get away without her knowing was wishful thinking on my part. The whole family will know soon.
Inhaling deeply, I slowly exhale before admitting, “I woke up tied to the bed and Vivien came to my rescue.” I pause at the stunned look on her face. “I am never repeating that, and neither are you.” I step closer and grin. “If you do, I’ll tell Mom you’re fooling around with the sheriff.”
“Ugh! You seriously think blackmail is going to stop me from telling this story?”
“I noticed how you didn’t deny fooling around with the sheriff.”
I’m not even sure if Emma hears me. Her face splits into a grin and then howling laughter fills the room. “Were you naked? Like, Vivien saw you totally, one-hundred-percent naked?” Tears run from her eyes as she can’t contain her laughter. “Oh my God! She did see you naked. I knew it! Did you behave while she got you free? I mean, she did get you free as soon as she saw you, right?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I tease.
“Yes, I would.”
Rolling my eyes, I grin. I’m not telling.
“If Vivien came to your r
escue, then that means it was another woman who tied you up.” She tilts her head. “Which means Vivien untied you and got out of here.”
“Whatever. Can we move on?”
“In a minute. I have one more question.” Her eyes twinkle with delight. “Were you, um, hard?”
“Emma,” I growl. “Do not go there.”
“You were.” She hoots with laughter, and I quickly move and slap a hand over her mouth.
“Will you be quiet. It’s not that funny.”
“It is.”
“Chocolate, Emma. Think chocolate.”
“Hmm, okay.” She does a mixture of coughing and laughing before pulling herself together. “Chocolate. I can be professional.” She smirks.
I ignore her and say, “I’ve chosen a robin redbreast for the chocolate. Emelia’s will be written in white on the red belly. They’re cute. Figured festive. Ryan said his fiancée likes the robin.”
“I think they sound cute and fun.” Emma tugs me into a hug. “I’m sorry you were embarrassed this morning. It is funny, but I promise not to repeat it.”
I narrow my eyes at my sister.
“I promise.” She kisses me on the cheek. “I do think you should ask Vivien out, though. She’s nice and friendly. Pretty too.”
“I have.”
Emma raises a brow, and I say, “Tomorrow night.”
“Well, I guess I should admit I’m having dinner with Jared tonight.”
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to go out with him?” I frown. “You live in Essex.”
“I know.” She sighs. “I like him, Levi. A lot. I’ve never felt like this before.”
“Then go out with him.” I wrap my arm around her neck and kiss the top of her head. “What are we like, huh?”
“Mom and Dad arrive in three days,” is her reply.
Christmas at Emelia's: Blossom Creek Novella Page 3