Page 15 of Daddy Christmas

Confirmation, check! I managed to keep my face composed, but it did feel nice to have it verified.

“I wasn’t sure,” I admitted. “A friend told me she thought you were gay, but then you had two women waiting outside your office last night, so…”

“Ah. You mean Claire and Cassie—my new interns.” Mirth seeped into his eyes. “They’re my nieces, Parker. They mentioned they saw a naked guy asking about me.”

Fuck. I scratched my ear, and it felt hot. Eye contact was suddenly difficult too. I was so embarrassingly obvious.

“Are you finished?” He gestured to my food.

I nodded and inched back. “Thank you very much, sir. You didn’t have to do this for me.”

“Consider it a thank-you for the snickerdoodle cookies. They were perfect.”

That put a grin on my face so fast. “I’ll make you thousands more if you want.”

“Oof. Some of us don’t have the metabolism of a twenty-five-year-old anymore.” As he brought my plate to the sink, I grabbed some more stuff to help out, and I followed him there like a puppy.

We’d had such a nice time that I couldn’t bear to put any distance between us yet. I wasn’t ready. I wanted more. Much more.

Once we reached the sink, I put down the dishes there before I leaned against the counter next to him. “Oh, wow. I don’t think my sink has been empty ever.” Even after I’d just tidied up the kitchen, I found the random spoon or plate somewhere, and it had to wait in the sink until I was ready to do the dishes again a week later.

“Discovering that you’re a slob doesn’t even qualify on the top ten surprises I’ve had this week.” He smirked to himself as he threw away the leftovers in the bin under the sink. “But this is interesting. You don’t like boundaries, you struggle to control your urges, you eat way too much sugar for breakfast, you were seemingly born without a verbal filter, you’re a goofball, and you’re a slob.”

I swallowed hard and looked away as I bit at a cuticle.

Talk about a reality check of the cold-shower variety.

What was I even doing here? Mr. Abrams was so far out of my league that I shouldn’t be allowed in the same room.

“Yeah, I know, I’m such a catch.” I needed to grow up.

He finished what he was doing, then positioned himself in front of me, and when he cupped my face in his hands, it was damn near impossible to keep my stare fixed to the floor.

Holy crap!

My heart began pounding furiously.

He dipped down till our foreheads touched, and then he waited me out. Oh my God, was this happening? I could barely breathe, much less understand what he wanted me to say or do to get…more. He had to kiss me, dammit. He has to, he has to, he has to. My whole body buzzed around those three words. He has to, he has to.

He smiled a little, just enough to show a hint of his perfect teeth. And he finally closed the last distance and kissed me.

I sucked in a quick breath and kissed him back, and I felt the need to lock my arms around his middle to prevent him from going anywhere. Just in case he wised up.

“An irresistible catch,” he whispered.

I shuddered and deepened the kiss, at long last getting a taste of him. He was all warmth and coffee and sweet almonds. And he kissed so damn well. Soft yet demanding, unhurried yet with urgency lacing every touch. There was no getting enough, and I didn’t have the patience he evidently did. I slipped my hands up his chest instead and stood on my toes to reach him better.

As his hands fell to my hips, mine went around his neck so I could press myself against his body.

He let out a quiet groan and kissed me hungrily, then reached down and squeezed my ass.

The kiss turned into an absolute drug, and I poured myself into it. Every brush of his tongue, every touch of his lips, and the air of control he exuded reduced me to a pile of needy mush.

“What on earth are you doing with an old man like me, Parker?” he murmured raggedly.

“All the unspeakable things, I hope,” I replied, out of breath. He couldn’t stop now. It was too soon. “Forty-six isn’t that old anyway.”

“I’m glad you think so.” He kissed me again, a deep, passionate one where he swept his tongue into my mouth and stole my breath.

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