Santa's X-mas [Anthology]

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Santa’s X-mas ISBN # 1-4199-0879-0 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Santa’s X-mas Copyright© 2006 Lani Aames Edited by Pamela Campbell. Cover art by Syneca. Electronic book Publication: December 2006 This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 443103502. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

Content Advisory: S – ENSUOUS E – ROTIC X - TREME Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (Erotic), and X (X-treme). The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. This story has been rated E–rotic. S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination. E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. E-rated titles might contain material that some readers find objectionable—in other words, almost anything goes, sexually. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry in terms of both sexual language and descriptiveness in these works of literature. X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Stories designated with the letter X tend to contain difficult or controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.

SANTA’S X-MAS

Lani Aames

Lani Aames

Chapter One “What is Santa going to slip inside my stocking this year?” Chelsea Lowell whispered suggestively in Santa’s ear after effectively capturing him by looping a strand of gold garland around his neck. He had already removed the matching hat and beard, so she didn’t have to fight strands of curly white hair or fur trim. Santa’s first instinct, she noticed, was to pull away, but then he stopped and inhaled sharply. Chelsea’s heart triphammered in her chest as her pussy dampened with anticipation and her clit throbbed with hot desire. At last, Santa was hers to do with as she wished! He wasn’t really Santa Claus, of course. He was Rob Sinclair, the younger of the two brothers who owned Sinclair’s Department Store—and her boss. Chelsea had sneaked away from the Christmas office party of Sinclair’s Department Store just as it broke up. Every year, Rob dressed as Santa to hand out gifts, and she wore the matching elf costume to help him. She knew Rob would wait until everyone else left before returning to his office to change clothes. She had quickly put everything for the evening in place in his office. Just as she moved with garland in hand to stand by the door, she’d nearly had a panic attack and changed her mind. At that moment, Rob walked in, trying to flip the light switch, and there was nothing to do but proceed with her plan. She had taped the switch in the off position, so he couldn’t turn the light on and ruin the ambiance, but he tried a few times, muttering under his breath. The twinkling multicolored lights wound around the Christmas tree in the corner flawlessly set the mood for a private X-rated Christmas party. “What would you like in your…mmm…stocking?” Rob asked, his voice huskier than usual.

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Oh, yes, the slight pause before he repeated the word stocking meant he understood her allusion perfectly. She quivered with excitement and eagerness. After more than two years of working as Rob’s administrative assistant, she’d finally mustered the courage to make her move. She had Tasha Elliot, soon to be Tasha Sinclair, to thank for that. “Surprise me,” Chelsea challenged. Both Rob’s elder brother Reed and their Uncle Roger had always intimidated her with their height and breadth. She knew Mr. Sinclair, Reed, and even Tasha and Miss Monroe, the strict office manager, thought of her as a klutz and a ditz. She always stumbled and dropped things at the most inopportune times, and she stuttered when she got nervous. Rob wasn’t short or small by any stretch of the imagination, but he wasn’t quite as massive as the other Sinclairs. Around Rob, she didn’t trip or drop things or stammer over her words. Probably because she didn’t find him daunting, she felt graceful and articulate around him. She stood on tiptoe to lick his earlobe. “If you’re very naughty, we might have a nice time tonight.” “Naughty sounds like fun,” he responded. Chelsea breathed a sigh of relief. Using the strand of garland around his neck, she guided him around until the backs of his knees hit the seat edge of a cushioned leather and wood guest chair with a low back and no rollers from the reception area outside the office. Then she put her hand in the middle of his chest, the sensuous softness of red velvet against her palm making her knees turn to jelly, and pushed him down. The twinkling lights of the Christmas tree reflected in Rob’s brown eyes, shielding them from her, but she could tell by the expression he wore that her actions fascinated him. The lights also cast a multitude of moving shadows across the planes of his face from the sharp angles of his cheekbones to his square jaw.

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Sometimes, when he sat still and silently studied a report or letter, his face appeared to have been carved from stone. Then he would smile, softening the edges of his countenance, and she’d melt. She took his arms, placing them on the arms of the chair, and proceeded to tie down his wrists with the ends of the garland, the bulk of it strung loosely across his lap. In a moment of frank girl-talk about six months before, Tasha had confided in Chelsea how she and Reed hooked up the previous December—the same night Reed had caught the thief who’d been stealing merchandise from the store. Tasha’s story had given Chelsea the idea of how to make a play for Rob. Her plan scared her because if she discovered Rob had no interest in a relationship with her, their mutual embarrassment would send her seeking employment elsewhere come the New Year. Crazy about Rob for as long as she could remember, Chelsea had taken administrative assistant courses expressly for the purpose of working with him. At the time, his uncle Roger was alive and running Sinclair’s, and Rob had dedicated himself to the family business. He’d rarely dated at that point, usually hanging out with his friend Tasha when he had any free time. A few years younger, Chelsea just couldn’t seem to catch his eye. Now, in this one special moment in time, she held his undivided attention…and he seemed very interested. She tugged the knots to make sure they would hold then walked around him. She knelt and, using more garland, tied his ankles to the front legs of the chair. He could escape the flimsy strands with one hard yank any time he wanted free, but he remained seated, his hands bound to the arms of the chair, his ankles secured to the chair legs. Chelsea sighed. This delicious hunk of man was about to receive the best Christmas present of his life! Still on her knees, she ran her hands up the velvet pant legs of his Santa suit, and Rob rewarded her with a hoarse groan.

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She rested her hands on his thighs. “You’ve heard of The Twelve Days of Christmas, right?” “Sure. Who hasn’t?” “But I bet you haven’t heard of The Twelve Ways of X-mas,” she said, pronouncing the X, and moved between his parted thighs. “X-mas?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. “Mmm-hmm. It’s an adult version, and takes place all in one night. A poem instead of a song.” She leaned forward until she pressed against his chest. “Tonight, we’ll put the X in Christmas.” “Ahhh,” Rob said. “You have certainly aroused my interest.” Chelsea moved closer, her mouth hardly an inch from his as if she meant to kiss him. She pretended her hand inadvertently slipped from his arm and let it land in his lap, along the already erect length of his cock. She gently squeezed. “That’s not the only thing I’ve aroused,” she whispered, then swept away from him. It was a difficult thing to do, but she wanted to tease him as much as either of them could stand before they gave in to their stimulation. Besides, they had a game to play, and if she ripped open the red velvet suit and straddled him right then, all her hard work would have been for nothing. Not exactly for nothing, but the actual sex would be over too soon. She wanted to savor this night and her time with Rob. In the cold light of morning, he might come to regret his impulsive actions of tonight and tell her it couldn’t happen again. He might even suggest she find another job. If that turned out to be the case, she would accept it without complaint or recrimination. Even if it meant her heart shattering into microscopic pieces, she wanted to ensure that she had this one magical night to remember.

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Chelsea turned to face him. “There’s just one rule. You can’t get loose from your bonds unless you ask and I give you permission.” Rob smiled, a thin quizzical tilt to his lips. “And if I break the rule?” She licked her lips. “Then you’ll be punished.” Rob’s eyes widened in surprise, but he seemed more amused than alarmed. “Mmm, I had no idea you could be so…wicked.” “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, and that’s part of what tonight is all about,” she explained. The major reason for the evening she had planned was to satisfy her sexual appetite for Rob, but if they formed the beginnings of a relationship, all the better. “I want you to know there’s much more to me than being just your secretary.” “Oh, I’m sure there is,” he said quietly. “I’ve often wondered what you do on your days off, if you have hobbies or special places you go on your vacation.” Wishing I could be with you, but she didn’t want to say the thought aloud. She hadn’t spent the past two years of her life hidden away and yearning for Rob Sinclair. Well, all right, she had longed for him during that time and years before, but she’d gone on with her life. She dated interesting men she met and even slept with some of them. None of the relationships lasted long because she hadn’t found a man who replaced Rob in her heart and made her forget him. “I sew,” she said suddenly, wanting to tell him everything about her. “I spend my vacations on my grandparents’ farm.” “That’s nice,” he commented, sounding sincere. “Well, tonight isn’t about being nice.” Chelsea decided it was time to get things back on track. She didn’t want to spend the evening talking about her grandparents or how to hem a skirt. “It’s all about how naughty we can be.” “I’m up for that,” Rob quipped.

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“Yes, I can see that you are.” She let her gaze travel from his face to his bulging red velvet crotch. “You’ve risen to the occasion exceptionally well.” She heard him chuckle as she turned her back on him. “Now, let’s see what’s under the tree for Santa.” She had angled the chair so Rob could see the lit tree in the corner as well as the divan situated on the other side of the room. Chelsea’s plans included using the old leather backless couch later on in the evening. As she crossed the room, she swayed her hips so that the red velvet miniskirt swung from side to side. Normally, she didn’t emphasize her charms, but the abbreviated elf suit made her feel sexy, wanton, and wild. Plus tonight was all about freeing their inhibitions and shedding their business demeanor for something deeper and more physical. She always wore dark conservative business attire, suits with long skirts or slacks, to work. She often thought the way she dressed might be part of the reason Rob saw her as asexual as Miss Monroe, the sixty-something office manager. Miss Monroe’s strict dress code kept them in similar clothing—ugh. Now, in the elf suit, bare skin showed more than halfway up her thighs. When she reached the tree, Chelsea drew in a deep breath and bent over at the waist, keeping the lines of her legs taut and showing off the red thong she’d searched everywhere for, to match the shade of their suits. She took her time finding the first of twelve variously sized red gift bags from beneath the tree before straightening up and walking back to Rob. The look in his eyes differed from before. He’d been aroused but mostly amused before she showed off her new thong. Now, he seemed more eager to find out what she had in store for him. Standing directly in front of him, she reached into the gift bag, lifted the card attached by ribbon, and read, “The twelfth way of X-mas is to keep your drumstick drumming, and a twelve-pack of condoms for all the pleasures a-coming.”

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She dropped the card and pulled out a strip of twelve condom packets then dangled it in front of him. He looked at them then shifted his focus to her, his intense brown eyes piercing her with their smoldering gaze. One of his arms jerked then the other, but he stopped himself before ripping out of the garland ties. “Chelsea…can I get free now?” She dropped the strip of condoms into his lap and leaned forward. Her breathing had deepened, and the tips of her breasts ached for his touch. Her clit started to pulse, and her inner muscles automatically clenched, trying to find relief. All she had to do was say yes, and Rob would be hers. Leaning closer, she slid her lips over his, tasting him for the first time. He still tasted of tangy punch from the Christmas party. As his tongue ran over her lips, she wanted to melt into him and become one with him. It took all her willpower not to tear off the garland restraints, their clothing, throw herself on him, and fuck him like mad. She worked her mouth against his, and his eagerness made him lean toward her. She eased away from him slowly, until their lips no longer touched. Then she answered his question. “No.”

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Chapter Two Somehow, Chelsea kept from laughing at the wild, frustrated expression that registered on Rob’s face in reaction to her refusal. His hands strained at the garland but didn’t break it, and his fingers caught the hem of her short skirt. Inching the fabric into his hands, he pulled her closer. She allowed it. She’d never said no touching. She let his hands roam up her thighs, his fingertips caressing her skin and leaving trails of fire, until he reached the waistband of her thong. When he started pulling it down, she reluctantly backed out of his reach. “Naughty Santa,” she admonished in the most titillating tone of voice she could manage. He squirmed against his bonds, and his nostrils flared. She didn’t know if she’d like it better if he remained her willing captive or if he tore free of the garland and ravished her. Both scenarios appealed to her. Chelsea ran a finger along the ridge that rose from the juncture of his thighs past the probable location of his navel. His fully erect length impressed her and made her question why she insisted they wait. The evening was about discovery, she silently reminded herself. Sure, they could go ahead and fuck, but afterward, they’d still not have much in common except work and a fleeting acquaintance with one another’s bodies. If they continued the game, by the time they made passionate love, they’d have a small store of shared memories and personal knowledge of each other. Perhaps with that, they stood a better chance of developing a true relationship. Chelsea wanted to give them every advantage possible to end the evening on promises instead of regrets.

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Snatching her finger away, she tuned on her heel and went to the tree again. The sound of Rob’s groan followed her and intensified when she again bent over, giving him a clear view of her naked butt cheeks divided by a thin red strip of fabric. Thongs weren’t her favorite form of underwear—why pay good money for a permanent wedgie?—but they served a purpose in providing Rob with a visual to aid in arousing him. The ploy seemed to be working. She retrieved gift bag number two and returned to stand in front of Rob. Leaning forward, she whispered in his ear, “I tried to keep to the spirit of the original, but make it sexy. Just remember, I’m no poet. Some of these rhymes are pretty bad.” He took advantage of her nearness to press kisses down her neck then back to her ear. “It doesn’t matter,” he murmured, breathing heavily into her ear. “And if you give me permission to break loose, we’ll enjoy it even more.” “Oh, no, you don’t,” she protested in mock indignation. “You can’t bribe the elf!” He nipped her earlobe. “Can’t blame a Santa for trying.” She arched her neck, inviting him to lick and nibble. He did so, tracing the curve of her throat and shoulder with his tongue and suckling her skin but not hard enough to leave a mark. Tingles of excitement coursed through her, and a moan escaped her parted lips. Her knees grew weak and wobbly. She wanted Rob more than he’d ever know. “Let’s see what’s in this present.” Slowly, she pulled away from him and read the card, “The eleventh way of X-mas is flavored oil to wipe, then a slow massage will really clean your pipe.” As she brought out the bottle of edible massage oil, she expected him to laugh at her terrible couplet, but he didn’t make a sound other than a little groan in the back of his throat. She loved him even more for not ridiculing her and reached out to cup the side of his head. “I warned you it was bad, but I appreciate you not laughing.” 12

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Rob blew a breath through his pursed lips. “Chelsea, right now the last thing I want to do is laugh. I’m amazed at your imagination and touched that you went to all this trouble. I don’t know how I can ever do anything for you that will ever come close to what you’ve done tonight.” Simply love me was on the tip of her tongue, but she pressed her lips together to keep from saying it aloud. She didn’t want him to feel obligated to express emotions for her that he didn’t really have. “Don’t worry about that,” she said, rubbing her thumb across his cheek. “Just enjoy the evening.” “I am.” He kissed her palm. “Very much.” “Good.” She removed her hand, the center of her palm tingling from the touch of his lips, and placed it on his chest. “Now, I wonder where you keep your pipe. Could it be here?” “A little lower,” he said in a hoarse whisper. She dropped to her knees between his thighs and moved her hand down a few inches. “Lower than this?” He nodded. Just about were his navel should be, the red velvet cloth jumped, so she slid her hand down a few more inches, stopping short of her true destination. With a growl, he raised his butt off the chair until he positioned himself just where he wanted her to touch. She felt the rounded head of his cock and his heat radiating through the fabric. She molded her hand around it and squeezed. Rob nearly bucked out of the chair. The front legs rose off the floor then slammed down again. “Oooh, I think I found it.” She winked at him and let her fingers play along his erection. His hips rose off the seat again on each downstroke. She trembled, knowing she was about to uncover the object she’d so long wondered about. His width and length

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impressed her, and her thong dampened heavily with her cream. Her heart racing in her chest, she searched for the snap at the waistband of his pants. With one flick, she unfastened it then drew the zipper down along the incredible length of his cock. Each side of his fly fell open, but his white briefs, molded to his erection, still hid it from her view. She caught his waistband and pulled until his cock bounced free. His hips rose once more, and she pushed his briefs and pants out of the way. His beautiful cock stood tall, a slight curvature giving it a graceful appearance. Veins marbled its surface, some of them raised. She ran her fingers up and down the rigid length, finding his skin moist from his body heat. She had lowered the thermostat in the room so they wouldn’t become overheated in their velvet suits, but even though the air was comfortably cool against her bare legs, the rest of her body felt as hot and damp as Rob’s. She found the buttons hidden in the white fur trim and unfastened each one, laying open the jacket when she finished. He wore a sleeveless white T-shirt. He looked sensuously sexy half-undressed and tied to the chair. “Isn’t it time, Chelsea?” She knew exactly what he meant, but she wrinkled her brow as if puzzled by his question. “Time for what?” “To untie me,” he almost yelled. He shook his head. “I want to touch you.” “No, not yet.” She rubbed the clear fluid that oozed from the tiny slit in his cock head. “You’ll get your chance soon.” She opened the bottle and poured a little into her cupped palm, breathing in the rich scent of sun-ripened strawberries. Holding her hand above his cock, she drizzled the oil and it ran in rivulets down the shaft. Then she slid both hands over his erection, wiping him down with the slick liquid. When she dipped her head and stuck out her tongue. Rob’s groan sounded almost painful. 14

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Looking up at him, she asked, “Should I stop?” “No. Don’t. Please don’t stop,” he rasped. With the tip of her tongue, she touched the base of his cock, the nest of curls coarse against her bottom lip. She licked the hot, silken skin, tracing the engorged veins along the curve, all the way up to the tender spot before it flared into the head. His cock jerked toward her, and she took the bulbous tip into her mouth. He tasted of sweet strawberry and a musky essence that was all his own. She wrapped her hands around the stem of his cock, massaging and sucking at the same time. His hips thrust up again and again, pushing his cock farther across her tongue. She prepared herself then deep-throated his enormous cock head. Chelsea slowly moved him in and out of her mouth, letting the sensitive underside of his cock rub across her tongue. He groaned each time his cock head touched the back of her throat. She put one of her hands beneath his sac and ran her fingers lightly over it, feeling it grow tighter with each measured stroke. His cock expanded, getting longer and harder, and he started pushing into her mouth at a faster pace instead of letting her guide him in a slow rhythm. When his movements became frenzied, he let out a low, primal roar, twisting his hips and stiffening. At the last second, she pulled him free of her mouth and used her thumbs to finish him off. His white fluid shot into the air, and she milked him until the last drop seeped from his slit. He slumped back into the chair and threw his head back, beads of perspiration dotting his forehead and face and a small sweat stain forming at the neck of his T-shirt just below his throat. Chelsea used a corner of his Santa jacket to clean away the droplets of thick cum on her hands and arm. Then she rested her elbows on his thighs and watched his breathing return to normal. When he finally raised his head, he looked at her with such affection,

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tears burned behind her eyes. She blinked them away, determined not to turn sappy over an expression on his handsome, chiseled face. Rob would have looked at any woman the same way he now looked at her after doing what she’d just done to him. “God, Chelsea,” he breathed. “Please let me loose. I want to make you feel as good as you made me.” “Oh, you will, Rob. You will,” she assured him. “Then can I break free?” The hopeful tone in his voice almost made her laugh. “Sure, you’re able to break free at any time, but no, you may not.” He laughed, but she just smiled at him. She started to rise, but the thong shifted, pressing into her swollen, throbbing clit. She almost came right then and had to carefully, and discreetly, peel the wet fabric from her pussy. She hadn’t been with a man in six months—since she had decided to go after Rob and started planning her X-rated strategy. She hadn’t used her toys in a few weeks so that she’d have a buildup of sexual tension to thoroughly enjoy her time with him. She hadn’t realized she’d be so turned on that just merely moving might make her explode. Standing, she turned to the tree. “Time to open another present for Santa.” She found number ten and returned to Rob, drawing out the card. “The tenth way of X-mas is for when your lord’s a-leaping. A towel to clean up all the tears your lord’s a-weeping.” Rob chuckled as she took out the soft terrycloth hand towel and shook it open. She could tell by the softness of his laugh that he wasn’t making fun of her or her silly poetry. After gently cleaning his cock, she wiped smears of cum from the red velvet. “What’s next? Nine ladies dancing, isn’t it?” Rob asked. Chelsea nodded. His eyes brightened. “I can’t wait to see what you have planned for that.”

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“Then let’s not wait any longer.” She went to the tree again and picked up number nine. Standing in front of Rob, she read the card. “The ninth way of X-mas is when a lady’s dancing, she’s telling you she’s ready for romancing.” She pulled out a CD and walked behind him to his desk. Inserting the CD into his player, she adjusted the volume to low. It had taken her a long time to find just the right instrumental Christmas song, played at a reduced tempo to match a slow and sensual dance. Oddly enough, she’d found a version of Deck the Halls that worked well. She’d burned it to CD along with enough other instrumental seasonal favorites to last the rest of the evening as background music. She wasn’t a dancer, but she had put together a routine—a mix of belly dancing and freestyle—to last as long as the song. She didn’t think he cared whether she looked professional or not. The main point was to continue to set the mood and arouse him again for the grand finale. Picking up another length of gold garland from the desk where she’d placed it, she draped it around her neck like a feather boa. He turned to watch her as she swept past him, trailing the garland over his face. She undulated her belly and rocked her hips in time to the music while moving around him. His eyes never left her swaying body. She danced close to one of his bound hands, shaking as she dipped her body and rubbed her thigh and hip against his fingers. He took the bait, reaching under the short elf skirt and hooking the narrow waistband of her thong. He pulled it down over her hip while she rose and stepped out of the thong with first one leg and then the other. Without taking his gaze from her, he leaned over and breathed in her scent from the scrap of fabric, a guttural groan sounding deep in his throat. Cool air hit her pussy, and she ran her hands down her body and back up again to keep from jamming them between her legs. Soon, Rob would relieve the merciless ache that made her wiggle and squirm to the music. Soon.

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She danced around to the back of the chair, and he sat up, tipping back his head to watch her. She improvised by shimmying her breasts near his face. He raised up, attempting to catch the nipple of one. Letting him have it would give away a later part of the plan, so she moved the deep vee of her cleavage near his mouth. He pressed his lips to her skin then attempted to burrow beneath her bodice, angling first one way then the other. She kept moving side to side so he wouldn’t get very close to either breast. Wild sensations swarmed through her body when his tongue emerged from his pursed lips and he swirled deeper between her breasts. Her hips pushed forward without conscious effort on her part and rubbed her mound on the back of the chair. “Enough’s enough,” Rob said, his voice ragged and harsh against her skin. “I want you, Chelsea. I want to bury my face in your pussy and make you come. I’ll lick and suck you until you scream. Let me loose from these damn ties. You won’t regret it, baby. I’ll eat you all night long if you want. C’mon, Chelsea, just say the word.”

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Chapter Three The song finished just as he stopped speaking and brought her back to her purpose. If it hadn’t, she probably would have told him yes. She dragged herself away from him, dropped the garland boa, and headed for the tree. She was so ready for number eight that her entire body trembled and she could barely stand. The words on the card blurred. When they came back into focus, Chelsea’s voice quavered as she read them. “The eighth way of X-mas is to milk the maid, to keep her satisfied until the time she’s laid.” “Then untie me, dammit!” Rob struggled against the garland, her red thong crushed in his fist. He could have ripped free but he didn’t, and she loved him even more for playing by her rules. “Give me permission to get free, and I swear I’ll throw you on your back and never let you up.” His pledge sent shivers of delight down her spine and through her belly. Her womb clenched at the picture he created in her mind. Tempted to abandon the game, she shook her head instead and turned the small gift bag upside down. Nothing fell out, and she dropped the bag. “You have to direct me,” she explained, “tell me what to do. Anything except untie you or give you permission to free yourself. Oh, Rob, tell me how you’re going to satisfy me.” He yanked at the garland. It gave more than he expected, and he looked at it in horror. He hadn’t asked what his punishment might be, and she hadn’t volunteered the information. The truth was she hadn’t thought up any punishment. In her daydreams, when she envisioned this night playing out, if Rob chose to break free, he swept her off her feet, took her to the divan, and fucked her hard and fast. Or sometimes slow and sweet. The details changed every time she indulged. 19

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Now, she realized he’d taken her threat of punishment seriously. Did he think she would refuse to let him touch her or something equally drastic? The intensity of his reaction excited her even more. He ran his tongue over his lips. “Come here, Chelsea. Come to me.” She walked forward until she stood between his open thighs. “Turn around.” She did as he instructed, made every move he told her to make. “Bend over. Pull your skirt up and spread your legs. That’s it. Put your legs on each side of mine. Oh, God, you’re so wet and plump. Put your hands on my ankles. Now, back up a little. Yeah, baby, like that.” Chelsea braced herself with her hands on his ankles. Rob’s warm breath blew across her pussy lips and her hips arched back toward him. “What do you want me to do, Chelsea?” He ran his tongue along the back of her left thigh. “Tell me what you want?” “Lick me,” she whispered. She hadn’t imagined this as part of the game, but receiving orders from Rob was as exciting as giving them. “Where? Tell me where you want me to lick you.” he pressed, blowing his breath over her sensitive flesh. “Lick my pussy.” She nearly choked on the words because she wanted him to do it, not talk about it. “Please, Rob, lick and suck me until I scream, just like you said you would.” His tongue flicked lightly along her lips, over each fold and through each hollow. She widened her thighs as far as she could and bent her pelvis back as far as it would go, but he continued licking her inner and outer lips, slowly increasing to long, lazy strokes down one side and up the other. Her knees grew weaker and her shaking hands didn’t want to hold onto his ankles. She rocked her hips back and forth, increasing the breadth and depth of his strokes. She

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felt as if her whole body stood on the edge of a bottomless abyss, and if only she could tip over, she’d find the answers to every eternal question in the universe. Her clit prickled, a constant pleasurable ache that created an escalating tingle all through her body. She thought she could go on like that forever, balanced on the edge, lost in the hypnotic rhythm of rocking against his swirling tongue. Without warning, he swabbed her clit with his tongue and the resulting implosion bowed her back. Chelsea dug her fingers into his ankles and screamed his name, a rapturous primeval sound ending on a sob. Her pussy quaked with the force of climactic pleasure, a shiver spreading through her body and limbs. Rob continued to suck and softly tease her with mouth and tongue, bringing her down gently. She tried to remain where she was, thrilling to his intimate caresses, but her legs gave way first then her hands. She collapsed in a heap at his feet. Rolling away from him, silent sobs racked her body. “Chelsea, are you all right?” he asked. She couldn’t find the air to say anything or the strength to nod. She heard something rip and frantic movements. Then big, strong arms picked her up and held her close to a broad chest. She took in big gulps of air, trying to stave off the tears building in back of her eyes. “Chelsea, baby,” he crooned and smoothed her long blonde curls away from her face. He brushed away the tears that had escaped her closed eyes and sprinkled kisses along the side of her face. “I’m okay,” she finally found the breath to say. She sounded like a delicate child to her own ears when she felt anything but frail or young. She drew in a deeper breath and looked up into his worried brown eyes. “Rob, I’m fine,” she assured him in a stronger voice. He blew out a breath of relief and his expression lightened. “I thought I’d hurt you somehow.”

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“No,” she said with a smile. “You gave me the best orgasm I’ve ever had and knocked me off my feet.” He grinned, kissed her forehead, and helped her into a sitting position. She snuggled into his embrace, his arms holding her protectively. She wanted to take this moment and bottle it, seal it up so that it would never change. No matter how the night ended, whether or not a relationship grew from the seed she’d planted this evening, she would always have this to remember. By the time Rob had helped her to her feet, she was mostly back to normal. Still a bit weak in the knees, her pussy continuing to tingle when she moved, she walked over to the tree and located the small gift bag marked number seven. “The seventh way of X-mas, while swans swim on the lake,” she read from the enclosed card and wished she’d come up with a rhyme that made more sense. “It’s time to freshen up and take a little break.” Rob grinned and ran his hand back through his hair. “Sounds like a good idea even though I’m anxious to find out about the other six sexy ways of X-mas.” “All in due time. We don’t need to rush. We have all night to play,” Chelsea said. “Now, I’m going to the restroom, but no peeking in the other bags while I’m gone.” Rob laid his hand over his heart. “I promise.” She went to the women’s staff restroom after checking to make sure the hallway was empty. Everyone should have left long ago except the temp security guard. The regular security guard, Stu Denison, had taken two weeks of his vacation for Christmas and New Year’s. Luckily, the security cameras were all located in various departments of the store with none in the office area. Chelsea answered the call of nature then cleaned up with more hand towels she had stashed under the counter while making her preparations. She stood in front of the mirror and finger-combed her hair—she’d forgotten to put a comb with the towels. She’d lost the elf hat at some point during the course of the evening, but it was just as

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well. Without it, her shoulder-length curls would stay in place instead of becoming flattened hat-hair. She straightened her skirt and returned to Rob’s office. He waited for her, seated in the chair, wearing only his briefs and T-shirt. She missed the Santa suit, but knew he must have become overheated during their play. His dark brown hair was damp and combed back into place, so he must have visited the men’s restroom while she was gone. He held out one hand to her. “Come here.” She did as he said, lacing her fingers with his. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her. Everything that had gone on before almost seemed like a dream, as if one of her fantasies about Rob had been played out for her enjoyment. Oh, the lingering ache in her pussy told her it was very real, but part of her felt as if the things they’d done were too good to be true. A very tiny, cynical part of her thought she might wake up any minute and find that none of it was real. When the kiss ended, Rob traced the curves of her lips with his thumb. “You have given me the best Christmas present I could ever imagine.” “Same here,” she murmured. “But it’s not over yet.” “Yeah, six ways to go. I don’t know if my heart can take it.” She slid her arms around his neck and hugged him. She supposed he meant the excitement, but could he have also meant his emotions? Oh, she knew it was much too early for him to get emotionally involved with her. That would come in time. But the part of her that was the complete opposite of the cynic wished he would fall madly in love with her tonight. The hopeless dreamer and romantic wanted instant love and happily-ever-after. It would happen if they gave it half a chance. Not instantly, but with time to season their slow-cooked passion and affection for one another, they could have a good helping of happiness.

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She almost giggled aloud at the whimsical metaphor. Maybe hunger made her refer to food preparation. She swung off his lap and went to the tree, stopping short when she saw an extra package sitting among the gift bags she had placed there. A big golden bow topped a small cube-shaped box wrapped in red paper. She knelt and picked it up then looked back at Rob. “What’s this?” “Your Christmas present. I wasn’t expecting all this, so I had to improvise while you were gone. I hope you like it,” he added, his forehead creasing as if he worried she wouldn’t. “I didn’t expect anything because all this was a surprise to you. I’m sure I’ll love it no matter what it is.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “May I open it now?” He shook his head and gave her a broad grin. “Not until we’ve finished with your last way of X-mas.” She sighed and set the small box back where it had been. “All right. I can wait.” She chose a large bag this time, number six, and took it to Rob’s desk. She looked at him. “You don’t have to sit in that chair anymore. Why don’t you sit behind the desk? That chair is much more comfortable.” When he was seated in his overstuffed chair, she joined him by sitting in his lap. She reached for the bag, but he pulled her back and kissed her. She melted against him and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his lips on hers and the taste of his tongue. His hand glided along her thigh and under her skirt. She shifted slightly and his hand traveled farther up to cup her butt cheek. When he squeezed, her hips jutted toward him. With the intensity of her orgasm, she wouldn’t have thought she’d be ready for him so soon, but her body couldn’t seem to get enough of him. His cock jerked, nudging her and telling her he was ready for her too. With regret, she broke the kiss. They had more ways of X-mas to get through before the last and best. Usually, she liked spontaneity, but she wanted the full effect of her plan for both of them. 24

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She licked her lips and inhaled sharply. “Don’t you want to know what the sixth way of X-mas is?” “I’d like to explore this way a little more.” Rob nibbled at her ear and squeezed her bottom again. “Soon,” she murmured, giving his stiffening cock a rub. She sat up and turned around, ignoring Rob’s protesting groan. She pulled the card from the bag. “The sixth way of X-mas is time to energize. A supper shared will make your goose arise.” She ended on a giggle, and Rob laughed out loud. He glanced down at the growing bulge in his briefs. “It’s never been called a goose before.” “I had to make a connection to six geese a-laying somehow.” She pulled out a bottle of white wine, crackers, a container of homemade chicken salad, two wineglasses, a spoon and napkins. “Are you hungry? I’m starving. I was so nervous I didn’t eat anything at the party.” Chelsea poured wine into the cups then spread chicken salad on several crackers. Rob took one and fed it to her. She took bites and licked a bit of mayonnaise from his finger. After she’d fed one to him, he moaned. “Did you make this? It’s delicious.” She beamed. She was learning to cook from her grandmother, who was a whiz in the kitchen. Chelsea’s mother had always been the frozen dinner, fast-food type. Chelsea loved the big, home-cooked meals her grandmother served and decided she wanted to be able to do that too. “Yes, I did. From scratch. It’s chicken, not goose, though.” “Killed the chicken and took the eggs from the nests, did you?” he asked with a raised brow.

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“As a matter of fact, I took the eggs from the nests. My grandfather is a retired farmer, but they keep a few chickens, a cow and a vegetable garden. The pickles in the chicken salad are some that Grams put up earlier this year with cucumbers they grew.” He took another cracker smeared with the spread and stuffed it in his mouth, washing it down with wine. When they’d finished, Chelsea leaned back against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. Her hunger satisfied, she closed her eyes and basked in the wonder of being this close to Rob. He splayed his long fingers across her stomach, rubbing back and forth. Inch by slow inch, he moved upward until he reached her fur-trimmed neckline. As much as she wanted him to touch and fondle her breasts, it would spoil the game if she let him. With a groan, she pushed his hand away and jumped out of his lap. “It’s definitely time to open the next gift for Santa.”

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Chapter Four Rob followed her to the tree. “Since they’re my gifts, can I open this one?” She nodded. “Sure. Number five.” He searched until he found the right one and took out the card. “The fifth way of Christmas will really ring your bell. To find the five gold rings, you have to search the elf.” His gaze darted from the card to her and both of his dark eyebrows raised high. Chelsea reached into the bag and brought out a small handbell clenched in her fist to keep it from clanging. “For every gold ring you find, the bell will ring.” “Well,” he drawled, dropping the card into the bag, “I know where a gold ring isn’t.” Her checks grew hot under his knowing gaze. “I’ll start with the easy ones.” He let the bag fall to the floor and stepped closer to her. Brushing her hair away from one ear, he leaned in and licked around the outer curve until he reached her lobe where one small hoop dangled. “One gold ring.” His warm breath in her ear made her tingle all over. She rang the bell then clamped her damp fingers around it again. Rob kissed his way to her other ear, leaving a heated trail down her throat and along the lines of her collarbones. Again, with his tongue, he swabbed around her outer ear and ended at her lobe. “Two gold rings.” Chelsea shivered and rang the bell. Rob straightened and looked her up and down. “Hmm, where could those other three rings be? Guess I’ll have to strip-search the elf.”

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A quiver passed through her again when he ran his fingers over the base of her throat, zigzagging into the space between her breasts. Hooking his finger around the fur at her neckline, he tugged down until one of her breasts was fully exposed. “Ahhh,” he said on a gust of breath and touched the small gold loop that pierced her nipple. “Three gold rings.” When he dipped his head and swirled his tongue around the tight point, Chelsea moaned. The piercings made her nipples hypersensitive, and Rob’s touch sent a rush of sensation straight to her pussy. Her clit began a low, rhythmic thrum that echoed throughout her body. “You forgot to ring the bell,” Rob murmured, his lips moving against her nipple. She jangled the bell and thrust her breast farther into his mouth. He sucked gently around the gold loop while pulling the sleeves of the elf suit off one arm then the other. She heard his breathing deepen and become harsher when he moved to her other nipple. “Four gold rings,” he said, barely audible, and sucked it hard. She bucked forward, the motion automatically sounding the bell. She raked her free hand through his hair and pulled him closer. “God, I want you, Chelsea.” He finished pushing the elf suit down to her waist and over her hips until it fell around her feet. She helped him draw off his T-shirt, revealing a light matting of hair covering the lean, hard muscle and bone of his chest. He yanked her to him, and his body heat increased the desire surging along her nerves. “I want you too,” she murmured, her voice shaking with lust, “but you have to find the fifth ring.” He growled in frustration and set her away at arm’s length. “There! It’s right there.” “Show me.”

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With a snarl of impatience, Rob backed her up. They reached the desk, and he raked his arm across the surface, sweeping the remains of their supper, papers, and everything else to the floor. Lifting her, he set her on the edge and laid her back across the desktop. He pushed his briefs down and stepped out of them. Raising her legs to just above his hips and moving between them, his erect cock probed at the entrance between her pussy lips. Instead of thrusting forward, he leaned over and licked a circle around the hoop in her pieced navel. “Five. Gold. Rings.” She rang the bell then tossed it aside. Laying her hands flat on the surface of the desk, she rose to a sitting position, her legs still hooked around his waist. Her face was mere inches from his. “We still have four ways to go.” “Woman, if I didn’t like what you’re doing to me so much, I’d turn you over my knee and spank you before fucking you.” Chelsea’s clit boomed at the thought, surprising her. “We’ll save that for New Year’s.” His eyes widened, but he said nothing. Then he grinned and hauled her up, throwing her over his shoulder. He whirled around and stalked across the room to the tree. He lightly smacked her bottom before setting her on her feet. “Just a taste of what to expect on New Year’s Eve.” Chelsea gulped and stared at him. Although the thought of it excited her, she wasn’t sure it was something she really wanted. Still, the playful swat he’d just given her had sent a sensual thrill to her pussy. Rob retrieved gift bag number four and pushed the card into her hands. She took it and the bag, but said, “Go sit in the chair.” With a snort of exasperation, Rob did as he was told. He slumped into the seat, his cock standing erect from his body. Chelsea drew in a deep, uneven breath. They’d gone beyond the need for the game to arouse them. While devising all the twelve ways of Xmas, she hadn’t taken into account their immediate and powerful reaction to one 29

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another. None of the rest of the ways of X-mas were needed to keep up their sexual tension, but she wanted to see the game through to the end. She gathered up the remaining bags, hooking the string handles over her wrist, and crossed to Rob. She read, “The fourth way of X-mas is a feathered fan, to keep your bird a-calling as long as you can.” She tossed the fan made of four feathers at him. He caught it, his dark eyes even darker with passion and want. She dropped bag number four and plucked the card out of number three. “The third way of X-mas will help to grant your wishes. Close your eyes and enjoy three French kisses.” Rob stood and met her as she moved toward him. She went into his arms and felt the feathers brush her backside. Their mouths melded, his tongue easing against hers. She mimicked his movement then swirled hers in light, smooth circles around his. Capturing hers, he drew her tongue between his lips and farther into his mouth with gentle suction. He ended it with a solid kiss at the corner of her mouth. “One French kiss.” Rob picked up something off the floor then placed one arm at her back and the other behind her knees. He swept her up, and she flung her arm, with the last two gift bags on her wrist, around his neck. Their mouths met again. The tip of his tongue traced across her upper lip and around her bottom lip. Slipping inside, he ran his tongue over her teeth too. She darted hers along his lips and copied what he had done before by sucking his tongue in a rhythm that imitated sex. He groaned when she withdrew from him. “Two French kisses,” she whispered breathlessly. He carried her to the far side of the room, to the divan. Earlier, she had spread a throw over the couch, piled the pillows at one end and added a crocheted afghan her grandmother had given her several Christmases ago.

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Rob gently settled her among the pillows, spreading her legs until he fit snugly between them. His hard cock lay along her pussy lips, pressing her tender flesh, and she shivered at the intimate contact. He grazed her sensitive nipples with the feathered fan. After dragging it across her ribcage, he let it fall away. He held the strip of condom packets—what he must have retrieved from the floor before picking her up. He tore one free, dropping the rest, and ripped the packet open. He set the rolled-up rubber at the tip of his cock and smoothed it down to the base of his erection. Leaning over her, he put one arm beneath her and slid the other under her shoulder until his hand cradled the back of her head. Their lips came together once more, their tongues dancing a slow, sensual ballet of light, fluttering movements that sent ripples of pure passion through her, echoing the steady drumbeat of her clit. They each took a turn sucking the other’s tongue then parted. “Three French kisses,” Rob murmured. The last two bags still hung around her wrist. She held up her arm and pulled off number two. She squinted and positioned the card to catch the most light. “The second way of X-mas will not slow down the thrill. Two chocolate turtles, to sweeten the deal.” He reached into the bag and pulled out the two individually wrapped chocolate turtle candies. “We’ll save these for later. The only sweet I want right now is you.” She nodded, and he set them on the table at the end of the divan. She dumped bag number one at her side, a candle and a lighter falling out. “Would you mind lighting that?” she asked. He set the candle on the table and lit it. As the scent of spiced pear permeated the air, he put his arm under her shoulder and head again. Chelsea threw the last empty gift bag on the floor and recited from memory. “The first way of X-mas is the best way to be, by putting your partridge in your lady’s pear tree.”

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“As my lady wishes,” Rob whispered. He gathered her closer, bending one of his legs until it made her knee cock over his hip. His other leg remained straight, bearing most of his weight. She curved her other leg around his waist, and he shifted until his cock head poised at the entrance of her pussy. She wiggled against him, eager to feel him inside her and finally be one with him. His hips pushed forward and, inch by extraordinary inch, she took him in, his cock gliding deeper until his sac rested against her butt cheeks. He laid his head alongside hers and impaled her over and over in slow, steady strokes. Her hips surged in time with his, and each rise pressed her swollen nub, sending pleasurable waves crashing into one another in her center. She clenched her inner muscles around him, feeling the friction of his cock as it moved back and forth. When her spine arched, Rob increased the tempo, grinding against her each time their thighs touched. Tension coiled in her like a tightly wound spring, making her movements jerky and out of time. He redoubled his thrusts to keep up with her, occasional groans reverberating through his chest. Another repetitive noise joined his, and she suddenly realized she was creating the mewling sound. Her arms tightened around him, and she tossed her head to and fro while he whispered her name between kisses that he showered over her face and neck. A loud moan tore from her throat, and her body jackknifed against his. He now ended each thrust with a twist, rubbing her clit until at last the coil of tension sprang loose and spiraled through her entire being. She shuddered hard, crying out Rob’s name and emitting inarticulate sounds that held no meaning other than to celebrate the pure joy that radiated from her core to the ends of her fingers and toes. She huddled around him, crushing her clit into him to make the release last as long as possible. Rob’s body went rigid, and he grunted as his cock jerked hard inside her, sending her over the edge again, another impassioned thrill enveloping her.

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Drained and sated, she ran her hands over his sweat-slick back and through his hair. She murmured unintelligible words of longing and love while he strained against her, finishing his release. Then he relaxed, slowly collapsing from his ecstatic high until he rolled away from her and onto his side. She pulled the condom free of his shrinking cock—still an impressive size even at rest—and disposed of it in one of the empty gift bags. He reached for her, and she scooted into his embrace, cuddling against his damp chest. He breathed hard, and the thunder of his heart vibrated his chest as her own breathing and heartbeat returned to normal. She touched him, stroking his arms and chest, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time she’d be able to be this intimate with him but afraid it might be. She didn’t think Rob was the one-night-stand type, but had to admit to herself that she really knew very little about him. Chelsea sighed, and Rob ran a finger across her lips. “This has been an amazing night,” he said between heavy breaths. “For me too, Rob. You were amazing to go along with my X-mas game.” She shook her head. “It seems silly now—” “No, not at all,” he assured her. “No one has ever done anything like that for me.” She shivered, the cooler air creating goose bumps on her skin now that they had stopped generating excess body heat. “Are you cold?” When she nodded, he groped for the afghan and spread it over them. Their trapped heat warmed her up quickly. She watched him as his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep. His hands flexed, squeezing her possessively. She let him nap, prolonging her time in his arms. Now that they’d had sex, he might be ready to call it a night. She didn’t know if she could bear never being with him again, but she hadn’t put any conditions on the evening’s events and he had made no promises he was bound to keep.

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Chelsea snuggled closer to him, pressing her ear to his chest and listening to the strong, steady beat of his heart. She fervently hoped the evening didn’t end with the shattering of hers.

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Chapter Five Rob napped less than half an hour before he woke up and apologized. “I’m sorry. I only meant to close my eyes for a few minutes. It’s been a long day…and an exciting evening.” “It’s okay, I understand,” she said. “I was about to drop off too.” He kissed her, a slow, easy kind of kiss that made no demands. His hand roamed from her shoulder to her breasts and he fingered her taut nipple. Suddenly, he broke the kiss. “I’ll be right back.” “Rob, what?” She reached for him, but he had already slipped from under the afghan and was crossing the room. He bent under the Christmas tree, the lights flashing colors across his skin, then he hurried back to her. When he’d settled beside her again, he handed her the gift he’d put under the tree while she was in the restroom. “Oh, I’d forgotten about it. Thank you.” She kissed him soundly and tore off the bow and paper to reveal a gold jewelry gift box. She lifted off the top and moved the protective layer of stuffing aside. A necklace lay in a heap in the center of the bottom layer. The pendant attached to the chain was a fancy italic letter X in gold with a small diamond where the two lines crossed. She’d seen the shipment of gold initial necklaces when they’d come in early for the giftbuying season and thought their simple elegance was perfect. Rob lifted the necklace by the X. “Whenever we get items with initials, there’s usually only one of the rarely used letters for names, like Q, X, and Z. After a certain length of time, if they haven’t sold, we return them to the company. Now, we had a C in stock and I could have chosen that for Chelsea, but the X makes it more personal.”

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Rob had brought her near tears several times during the evening by things he’d said or done. Mostly, she’d been able to keep them at bay, but this time she let them fill her eyes and overflow. He hadn’t just grabbed the first thing he saw. Even on short notice, he’d put some thought into his gift for her…and that was more precious to her than all the gold and diamonds in the world. “When you wear it, especially at work, you’ll be reminded of this X-mas night.” He undid the clasp and, moving her hair out of the way, put the chain around her neck, fastening it again. “Not that I need reminding because I’ll never forget this night, but when I see you wear it at work, it’ll bring to mind what we shared tonight.” “Oh, Rob, how sweet!” She looked at him through a blur of tears. “This means more to me than you’ll ever know.” She threw herself into his arms, and he caught her, holding her fiercely. “Maybe I do know. Tonight means more to me than you can imagine. It feels like it’s been ages since I cut loose and really enjoyed myself. When Uncle Roger was alive, I was always walking on eggshells around him, afraid I would do or say the wrong thing. Then after he died, Reed and I had the responsibility of the store.” He grasped her hair and pulled her head back, kissing her tears away and sprinkling her cheeks and mouth with more kisses. “I have a secret to confess,” he whispered. She opened her eyes and watched him. “What secret?” He pressed another kiss just beneath her ear. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble. My New Year’s resolution was going to be to ask you out before Valentine’s Day.” The lights from the candle and tree flickered over his face, and she thought she saw an enormous amount of affection for her in the depths of his eyes. “Oh, Rob, why did you wait so long?”

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He shook his head. “You remember how Uncle Roger was. He wasn’t a mean man, but he was stern and a workaholic. He never forgave my father for marrying and having a family. He believed all their time and energy should have gone into making the store a success.” “I’d only been here about six months when he died. He always frightened me even though he never did or said anything out of the way. But that attitude doesn’t make much sense to me.” Chelsea frowned. “What was he working for if he didn’t want himself or your father to have a family to inherit the store and carry on the business?” Rob shrugged. “I don’t know. None of us ever really understood Uncle Roger. I think he worked for the sake of working, and all that stress and pressure to succeed are probably what caused his heart attack. Reed and I put in long hours, always updating and upgrading where Uncle Roger would allow it. He was adamant about not buying into every fancy, newfangled thing that came along unless he thought it was really needed.” “I remember the times you tried to convince him to upgrade the security system.” Rob fell back on the divan. “And the crazy thing is he was probably right. If we’d kept to the old security system of just having a night watchmen and an alarm instead of hiring a security specialist and upgrading to a digital video system, we might not have had all that merchandise stolen last year.” Chelsea turned over onto her side and leaned on her elbow. Her free hand touched the X that lay just above where her cleavage began. She had a feeling the gesture would become a habit. “So you didn’t ask me out because Uncle Roger wouldn’t have liked it.” “Yeah, he told me when I came to work for him—and Reed said he told him the same thing—get your paycheck and your pussy in two different places.” “Oh, my God, he said that?” Rob nodded and laughed. “Uncle Roger was very outspoken but traditional. He would never say anything like that in front of a woman, but when it was just me, or Reed and me, when he lost his temper, he said it all. Some, I’d never heard before.” 37

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“Oh, wow, I just can’t imagine.” Chelsea tried to equate the staid Mr. Sinclair with the potty-mouthed Uncle Roger that Rob described. She couldn’t quite do it. “But he’s been gone a year and a half. Don’t tell me you still let him hold you to that.” Rob shrugged. “No, it wasn’t that. When he died last year, all of a sudden, Reed and I owned Sinclair’s. We had to continue to make it a success in Uncle Roger’s memory, as well as our father’s, and for the employees who depend on us for their livelihood. We had to put in long hours and figure things out. Uncle Roger never told us everything about the business, and it was a nightmare for a while. He had his own style of bookkeeping, and he kept a lot of information in his head instead of writing it down or confiding in us. The Sinclairs usually live to ripe old ages. He probably thought he had plenty of time to tell us everything we’d need to know.” Suddenly, Rob smiled and threaded his hand through her hair, cupping her ear affectionately. “Then after we got everything in order early this year, I thought maybe I’d waited too long. You’d been here over a year, and I never gave you any indication that I was interested. And I never got the impression you were interested in me. Chelsea giggled. “Then I was a very good actress. I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize my job and not be near you anymore.” “Well, I didn’t know, so I wasn’t sure how you’d react. Then I had to consider that I’m your boss, and if I made any overtures you didn’t like, you might hit me with a charge of sexual harassment.” He placed a kiss on the end of her nose. “You have no idea how hot you made me in your prim business suits. Or how many nights I dreamt of peeling off those long skirts and shapeless slacks.” “You can thank Miss Monroe for that. She informed me of the dress code the day I started and regularly measured to make sure my skirts were long enough and my slacks loose enough. The only time I ever felt sexy around you was when I wore the elf costume at Christmas. That first Christmas when I said I’d wear it to help you with the gifts, she gave me that disapproving frown and shook her head. So I suggested she wear it. You should have seen the look of horror on her face.”

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“I can’t imagine Miss Monroe in that skimpy outfit. She’s an excellent office manager, but she must be nearly seventy years old.” Rob exaggerated a shudder. “I’ll have nightmares for weeks after that visual.” “Just replace it with visions of me wearing it…or not wearing it, if you prefer.” “Oh, I prefer, all right. The first time I saw you in it, I wanted to jump your red velvet elf suit right in front of everybody. If I’d known you wore a little red thong underneath, I would have.” Chelsea trembled at his words. She’d had no idea how he’d felt toward her before now. She regretted and resented the time they’d lost by neither of them speaking up sooner. She didn’t let bitterness get the better of her, though. For the most part, Rob had bowed to his uncle’s wishes, and she could never be angry with him for that. “I kept putting off asking you out until I realized how ridiculous it was,” Rob continued. “Tasha and Reed are happy together, and I knew I wanted that. I didn’t want to end up all alone like Uncle Roger.” “I was very impressed with the way you deferred to your uncle’s wishes and opinions, even when they seemed unreasonable. I think if I’d ever seen any disrespect in your actions or words toward your uncle, I wouldn’t have stayed and—” She broke off and bit her lip. She almost said and fallen madly in love with you, but now was not the time. They had just found one another, and she didn’t want Rob to think she expected any more than he was ready to give. Love, if it was meant to be for them, would come in time. She had waited this long. She could wait a little longer for Rob to fall in love with her too. Instead of saying those provocative words, Chelsea moved over Rob, entangling her legs with his and placing her hands on his chest. “Why Valentine’s Day?” “I knew if I didn’t give myself a deadline, it’d be next Christmas before I screwed up the courage to ask you out. And I wanted to be with you sooner than that—a lot sooner.”

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Oh, how long she’d dreamt of a moment like this, where Rob admitted he wanted her as much as she wanted him. She wiggled against him and felt the proof of his desire as his cock lengthened and hardened against her. She flexed her pelvis, rubbing her mound up and down his erection. She was so ready for him again. “I’m glad I took the chance, then,” Chelsea murmured, spreading her legs over his thighs. She stroked his cock with her pussy lips and heard him groan. Groping for the strip of condoms, she ripped a packet open and unrolled the rubber over his cock. “I didn’t know whether we’d be together or I’d be looking for another job after the holidays. I couldn’t wait any longer and, even if it meant losing any contact with you, I had to try.” “I’m glad you did, Chelsea.” Rob put his hands at her waist and lifted her until the tip of his cock touched her wet and ready entrance. Then he raised his hips at the same time he pushed down on hers. “Is this what you want in your Christmas stocking?” “Yes,” Chelsea said in a breathless rush. She laid her palms against his chest to keep her balance as she pushed toward him each time his cock thrust deep inside her. “Do you want the same thing in your Valentine box, your Easter basket, your Thanksgiving cornucopia…?” He punctuated each suggestion with a long, slow thrust of his cock before his voice trailed off, his concentration apparently giving over to the mating undulations of their bodies. “Oh, yes!” Chelsea cried out. “Every holiday.” “And every night in between,” Rob promised softly. He drew her down to him, and the gold X dangled from the chain around her neck then slid across his shoulder. He slanted his lips over hers in a profound and intense kiss. Chelsea closed her eyes as their bodies rocked together, their lips pressed together, tongues touching. Her heart swelled, the joy of their lovemaking surpassed only by the happiness of her very own Santa making her wish come true at last.

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About the Author Email: [email protected] Website: www.laniaames.com

Lani welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

Also by Lani Aames Desperate Hearts Ellora’s Cavemen: Tales From the Temple I anthology Enchanted Rogues anthology Eternal Passion Lusty Charms: Invictus Moonstoned Santa’s Lap Statuesque

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