part0014

W hen I wake up the next morning, I expect to feel a warm body spooning me from behind. Instead, I’m naked and alone.

The sweet smell of pancakes fill the air, and I sit up, bringing the blanket with me.

There, standing behind the counter, is Nick wearing a Naughty or Nice apron and humming to Elton John’s Step into Christmas.

I can’t contain the giggle that bubbles up from within me. “Hey there, Santa.”

His head snaps up, and the grin that forms on his face has my heart melting in my chest. “Morning, sweetheart.”

Wrapping the blanket around me, I double check to make sure no one’s around, and walk over to him.

I have to admit, I’m not quite sure what the procedure is for the morning after. I don’t do one night stands (even though we didn’t have sex), so I’m not sure how I should approach him or the situation.

Should I pretend last night didn’t happen?

Or do I go with my gut and kiss him?

Nick doesn’t give me long to stew, before he’s yanking me into his arms and pressing a long, lingering kiss to my lips. Caressing my cheeks with his thumbs, he whispers, “So, Martha May , have you been naughty or nice this year?”

Hooking my fingers under the waistband of his sweats, I urge him closer and palm his firm ass. Lifting up on my tiptoes, I lick his lips. “I’d like to think I’ve been a good girl, but...” my hand sneaks around to the front of his sweats, and I stroke his hardness. “I’m hoping you can change that.”

Groaning, he drops his head to my neck. “You want to be a bad girl, sweetheart?”

“I’m thinking that could be arranged.” Hoisting me up onto the counter, he swoops down and swipes his tongue over each of my nipples before pushing me backward. “Lay down, baby.” Nick leans down and drags his callous thumb up my wet slit. “Need a taste to get me by.”

The first lick has me jerking off the counter and crying out.

By the second, he’s alternating between fucking me with his tongue and finger.

With the third, he has me so worked up, I’m riding his hand and face like a crazy woman, and screaming out his name.

“I could live off your pussy,” he mumbles into my slick skin.

Panting hard, I somehow summon the energy to sit up and push him back. “You’ve had your taste, now it’s my turn.”

Growling, Nick captures my lips in a toe-curling kiss and makes quick work of ripping off his apron.

Sinking to my knees, I pump his hard length before taking him in my mouth.

“Fuck yeah,” he rasps, as I swirl my tongue around his tip.

Wrapping my hair around his fist, he guides my head over his shaft.

“So fucking good.”

Before I can explore him any further, I hear movement upstairs.

As much as I want to feel him come down my throat, we’re in charge of this place until Gladys gets back. We can’t be seen acting inappropriate, no matter how much we want it. Releasing his length, I chuckle when I hear him mutter something incoherent.

Helping me up, Nick brushes a gentle kiss across my lips. “We will continue this later.”

Swiping my thumb across his oozing tip, I bring the delicious saltiness to my mouth and lick every last bit. “Mmm. We definitely will. But I need to go get dressed before someone sees me. Maybe you should do the same.”

Slapping my butt, Nick takes the pancakes out of the pan and places them on a plate. “Bummer. I kind of like you walking around with no clothes on.”

Draping my blanket around my shoulders, I walk toward the door and stop. Feeling sexy, I throw a sultry glance over my shoulder. “Find that condom and I’ll show you a whole lot more.” Purposely, I let the blanket slip off my shoulder until it shows off my ass and wink.

Nick groans and I laugh.

“ I ’ve seen bigger,” I tell Nick through a smirk as I lick the icing off my finger, later in the evening.

His gaze snaps to mine. “Take that back.”

Feeling emboldened, I push my insult a little further. “In fact, yours is pathetically small.”

“I’ve never had any complaints before.”

“Oh, yeah?” I reach across and steal a piece of candy. “Make a lot of gingerbread houses, do you?”

Piping a line of icing along the edge of his roof, Nick glances up at me and pins me with a playful glare. “Funny, smartass. When Gabrielle was a child, we'd do this every Christmas.”

I roll a piece of marzipan in between my palms, making the body of my snowman. “Does she see her mom over Christmas?”

His jaw clenches and his face darkens as a thunderous expression steels his features. “The woman who birthed my daughter is a piece of work who doesn’t deserve the honor of being called her mother.”

Shit. Touchy subject.

I reach a hand out to comfort him, but he seems hesitant. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.

“You didn’t pry. It’s just... I can’t talk about her.”

“Of course.” Completely understandable. “So what would you like to talk about? Maybe the fact Gabby’s birthday is in two days and we literally only have the tree.” I laugh, trying to diffuse the tension.

Pushing the gingerbread house away, Nick climbs off the stool. “I think I’m going to turn in. We have a lot to do tomorrow.” He won’t look at me, and I hate the dread that fills my stomach.

“Oh, okay. Sure.” I stand up and collect all the dirty dishes. “I should be getting to bed too.”

Nick hovers by the door for a second, a remorseful look on his face, before he sighs and heads up to his room.

Throwing my dishtowel on the side, I rub my temples.

“Nice, Holly. Way to go,” I mutter to myself.

How the hell did that escalate so quickly?

I was just trying to find out more about him.

Next time, I’ll just keep my mouth shut.

I t’s the middle of the night when I hear my suite door open. I don’t need to lift my head to find out who it is. I already know.

The bed dips and a large, warm body curls into me from behind. Wrapping his arm around me, Nick pulls me close and nuzzles my neck. “I’m sorry.”

I turn to face him, and even though my room is pitch black, I can tell he means it. “I honestly wasn’t trying to be nosy. I just wanted to get to know you better.”

Looking down, he laces our hands together. “I know. I acted like a jerk and there’s no excuse. It’s just... she’s a sore point for me. Not because I’m still in love with her, but because of the way she just up and left Gabrielle. Not once has she tried to contact her. What kind of person does that? Has a kid and then pretends they don’t exist?”

“Someone who’s extremely selfish and self-absorbed,” I tell him, caressing his knuckle. “You’re right. She doesn’t deserve either of you.”

He presses a kiss to my head. “I’ll never forgive her for how she’s treated Gabrielle, but the last thing I want is my issues with her coming between us.”

Heat warms my cheeks. “So there’s an us?”

Nick’s body shakes with silent laughter. “Sweetheart, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not the easiest guy to get along with. I haven’t been with a woman in a very long time. So trust me when I say that we’re an us.”

“So, I can kiss you?”

“You better had.”

I flip him so he’s on his back. “And, I can touch you?”

Tensing, Nick grits his teeth as I rock over his hard cock. “Fuck, yes.”

Lifting up my top, I bring it over my head and throw it to the floor.

Growling, his hands immediately find my breasts. “These rock my goddamn world.”

Grinding down on him, I close my eyes and bite my lip as he pulls and tweaks at my nipples. “Does this mean I can finally feel you inside of me?”

Bringing himself up, he captures my lips in a scorching kiss. His hot tongue delves into my mouth as he grips my ass and urges me closer. “You couldn’t keep me away.”

“Do you have...?”

Hooking an arm around my waist, he arches off the bed and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a reel of condoms.

Excitement and desire ripples deep in my stomach. “Where did you get those?”

“Stole ‘em.” He grins, pushing me until I’m on my back.

A laugh bursts from my lips. “You stole someone’s condoms?”

He shrugs and shoves off his sweats. My mouth goes dry when I see his thick cock hanging proudly between us.

“Wasn’t like they were using them.”

As Nick pulls at the waistband of my panties, I lift off the bed, letting him slide them down. Parting my legs, I whimper as I feel him settle in between them. He’s so hard and heavy. Everything about him just makes my body sing.

Brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, he sprinkles kisses over my face and chest. “I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I do know that I’m not ready for this to end.”

I press my finger to his lips. “Just be here with me. I don’t want to talk or think about anything else other than you. Can you do that for me?”

Grazing his nose against mine, he whispers, “I’ll do anything for you.”