Panic seized me and Leisha’s face now sported a wide-eyed look of alarm.
“The damn gears got stuck,” a man said. “So they had to take the damn thing apart.”
“So it’s just sitting here like this?” another man asked.
Oh, great. Just what we wanted—to put on an X-rated show for a couple of idiot guys. Muff Divers in Christmastown.
“Yeah, there’ve been so many other problems this year, they didn’t want to spend any more time on this. They may never get to it,” the first man said.
Afraid to move, I held my breath. Leisha stared up at me. I wanted to put her mind at ease, so I gave her a quick nod to let her know that it would be okay.
“So what do you want to do with it?” the second man asked.
My heart almost stopped. Through a protective instinct, I almost shifted so that my entire body would cover Leisha’s. So what if they saw my bare ass? I just didn’t want Leisha to be humiliated. But something told me to just stay still.
With my hand still in her crotch, I bent my head down onto her shoulder to mask my breathing, now labored because of the heat and my nerves.
I stopped breathing altogether when the structure began to rock. There was jingling all over and a bear fell from the ceiling onto my head with a thud. I didn’t know if Leisha heard the thud or if the sound was just in my own head, but for a soft, furry toy, it sure as hell hurt.
“How sturdy is this thing anyway?” the second man asked.
Leisha’s nails dug into my shoulders and bit her lip. Was she laughing?
And just like that, our plight went from tense and embarrassing to comical and inconsequential.
The bears stopped rocking. Outside, the other man responded, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” He was apparently ignoring the sturdiness question. “If it ain’t their priority, it ain’t mine.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
The sound of their footsteps fading was like a cap being removed from a bottle of soda—everything just released. My breath, Leisha’s laughter, and our muscles unclenched.
“Wow, that was close,” I said, trying to catch up with my missed intakes of breath. Sweat was dripping from my face and a drop landed on Leisha’s chest. I tried to pull my hand from between her legs but couldn’t. The snow shit on my stupid ID bracelet had gotten caught on the little bell. Yanking it caused a ripping sound, so I stopped.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I’m stuck,” I whispered. This began a new wave of laughter, and I joined in. The whole thing was so absurd. She laughed so hard that tears rolled down her cheeks.
She sat up as best as she could, her laughter diminishing into chuckles, and reached down to help me. With all four of our hands in her crotch, we pulled the bracelet free.
She leaned back on her hands and took a few deep breaths. Sweat coated her forehead and upper lips, and she looked really hot. In both ways.
“Listen, why don’t we take this somewhere else?” she said.
“I have to finish my shift.”
“I know. I meant after.”
A little thrill ricocheted through me. “I’d love to.”
It was a tight squeeze with both of us trying to dress, and we kept falling over ourselves, which led to more giddiness and chuckles. The bell on her panties tinkled as she slid her pants back on, and the sound made me smile.
I poked my head out and looked around. “All clear. Let’s go.” We crawled out and together we adjusted the bears, putting them back into place. I almost didn’t see Snowflake, a helper elf, standing there looking at us. She had a mop and bucket in her hands, and probably on her way to clean up some kid’s mess.
Dread prickled my spine, until I realized that I didn’t care. I grinned and, pointing to Leisha, said, “Replacement elf. I’m showing her around.” Leaving Snowflake with a puzzled look on her face, I led Leisha toward the staff elevator, out of the way of the public. “I’m really sorry about that,” I said.
“Are you kidding? That was hilarious. Although, I must say, I’m a little disappointed. I’ve never had sex in a bunch of bears before.”
“No, can’t say I have either. Too bad we didn’t actually do it.”
“Are you going to get into trouble?” she asked.
“Nah. And even if I do…” I shrugged. “I’m sick of Stanton’s Fascist Christmas Regime anyway.”
At the elevator, I pressed her against the wall and kissed her. I couldn’t help pouting for a moment. “You must be disappointed.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t perform any magic acts.”
Leisha looked at me. “On the contrary,” she said, the tip of her forefinger on the top button of my elf smock. “I’ve had more fun this Christmas than I’ve had in a long time. I think you’ve performed some magic here.”
Her soft eyes were so inviting and gentle that, for the first time since I was a kid, I believed in Santa Claus. Without my asking, he had sent me the Christmas present I most needed.
“So, Jingles, it looks like we have some unfinished business. Can I take you to dinner first?”
“I’d love that.”
“Okay, I’ll pick you up. Five, right?”
“I’ll need a few minutes to change.”
“Oh, you’re changing?” she said in a wounded voice. “Too bad. That outfit’s kinda cute. Besides, wouldn’t I be the envy, walking into a restaurant with a Christmas elf?”
My cheeks grew hot. “Umm, no, not really.”
Her laughter filled my ears, and I fell in love with it. It was more melodic than any bell, and her smile was better than any Christmas present. Her sense of humor beat all. My stomach knotted at the thought that I might fall for even more of her.
She stepped into the elevator and turned. “I’ll meet you downstairs at the main entrance.” I nodded and watched the doors slide shut.
When I was back at my register, the Elf Overseer gave me a stern look from across the room. I was a few minutes late returning from my lunch.
“Nice of you to join us, Jingles,” said the elf whose lunch break had been delayed.
“I’m sorry,” I replied, stifling myself. “I got tied up.”
At that moment, I decided that I loved my elf name. It was appropriate after all. I chuckled.
“Oh, you think this is funny? This is cutting into my time,” the elf said. With an irritated look, she stomped away. I began taking customers again, and with each woman who approached, wrangling an overexcited or crying child, I wondered if she’d ever had sex in a pile of stuffed animals. It was possible. After all, I believed in magic again.
The End
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Elfin Magic Page 2