Page 163 of Forbidden Heroes

I sat up a bit straighter in my chair, ears growing warm. Jolly Nights? Scrooge?

“Keep your voice down, man,” Porter whispered roughly.

The room was dead silent with only the gurgle of the coffeepot in the corner going off before West spoke up.

“Relax. Nobody’s going to hear us.”

“Wynter is sitting right behind you, man. Shut the fuck up.”

West finally lowered his voice, but in a room this silent it didn’t make a difference.

“Come on. She’s sweet, but in a Church potluck kind of way. I hardly think she’s on Jolly Nights.”

Burn. Damn.

“Good point,” Porter agreed.

I brought my cup to my lips, barely tasting the now-cooled coffee. My brain buzzed and it had nothing to do with the caffeine. And forget the dis these two guys just layered on me. They weren’t my cup of tea either. Hell, I might not be Mateo’s. Really, honestly, I know I’m not, but still. What if, right?

Not only was Mateo on Jolly Nights, he was using Scrooge as a screen name. And he was looking for a virgin.

The cards were all stacked in my favor.

Holy shit. My luck just turned around. Or, I suffered from having a really bad idea making my face flame red. I felt like my wicked sins were shining bright for all to see. I quickly ducked my head.

I could really have a chance with Mateo. The man I’ve secretly lusted for since arriving in North Pole. I never thought I’d find a man like him in a town this size. Commanding. Handsome in ways that have me aching to have him between my legs, and kissing me so hard I lose track of the days. Forget being dry around him. Just the idea of having him go down on me in the middle of his office has me creaming my panties. And when the stars align with the moon and he graces the accounting department, leaving behind the scent of his cologne, my fantasies run wild for days.

Not surprisingly, he didn’t have a clue of my existence. Which might be to my benefit, come to think of it. My employment in the lower levels of the hotel kept me from crossing his path too often. He spends most of his time locked away in his tower—the penthouse suite of Luna hotel where he lived and worked. The place sprawls across a ten-acre spread of lush greenery in the summer and a winter wonderland come winter like now. Everywhere you look there’s a sea of white with the castle turned posh hotel sitting dead center. It’s a postcard I never grow tired of.

At twenty-two and another December already well on its way, I thought for sure I would be long past the virgin part of my life.

Err… I’m embarrassed to say no dice. Nerdy accountants don’t get the sexy guys chasing after them, I’m sad to report. I don’t even have dirty stories to share of backseat groping or picking up a guy at the bar. I just can’t seem to bring myself to engage in a casual fling. The idea of letting some strange guy inside my body has me shuddering with dread.

That said, I pant at the idea of finally getting beneath the sheets with someone a little hotter and more experienced than my vibrator. I mean, I’m not exactly saving myself for someone special or some Mr. Forever. But someone I have respect for and I know will make me love every minute of the deed would be nice.

And that is where Mateo comes in. Latin, dreamy eyes and damn, I just knew without a doubt he would sound sexy as sin telling me to come all over his cock with that Spanish accent.

The minute I saw him, I knew exactly who I’d been saving myself for—Mateo Caldera aka off-limits billionaire mousy me doesn’t stand a chance with.

Out of my league, possibly universe. And even if by some miracle he noticed me, he held a strict policy about upper management not dating employees. What were the chances he’d be willing to bend those rules for someone like me?

My sour thoughts matched my wet feet—cold and miserable. A tiny tear escaped the corner of one eye and slid down my cheek. I swiped it away with the back of my hand, hoping no one noticed.

They didn’t. Naturally.

West and Porter still snickered like horny schoolboys behind me over their boss’s Jolly Nights ads.

My phone vibrated with a message from Pepper, my BFF, who ran the hotel salon.

Guess what, next 2 apps bailed. Gotta love December! Dudes were too hung over to get out of bed. Come by for some pampering and love XOXO

I stared at her message through blurry eyes, instantly back on track with my slutty idea I had no right to be considering.

I shouldn’t.

It’s crazy.

Could I?

---