Page 165 of Forbidden Heroes

I blinked at myself in the mirror.

“Wow,” I managed, not recognizing the woman staring back at me.

Pepper and Lana smiled, both of them looking a little smug. “I know, right? You’re gorgeous. Inside and out.”

Leaping out of my chair, I gave them each a hug. “You two are the best, seriously.”

“Why the sudden change of heart, if you don’t mind me asking?” Pepper asked. Lana stopped sweeping up my hair to catch my response.

“Uh, no reason,” I shrugged nonchalantly. “Just the holidays coming up, you know. All the visitors due to arrive for the town’s festivities soon so I wanted to look my best.” I felt heat hit my cheeks. Lying sat at the top of my shit-I-can’t-do-well list along with ice skating.

Maybe a good trait to have and one that made me a good accountant but not so helpful in other areas of life.

“Oooh, girl! You’re ready to pop your cherry!” Pepper grabbed me and pulled me in tight.

Now I could feel the heat turn into flames of hell. Not a detail Lana or anyone else needed to know about me.

“Who’s the lucky guy?” Lana asked, ears perky.

“Um, no one, really,” I squeaked out. “He’s not from around here.” Oh God, why couldn’t I tell even a decent white lie?

Pepper cleared her throat. “Let’s never mind. It’s Wynter’s business. She’ll tell us when she’s ready.” Pepper arched an eyebrow my way that was best friend code for tell me all the deets later.

“You ladies are fab at what you do. Thanks again for everything. I really mean it.”

Pepper and Lana exchanged a look.

“Sweeties, you aren’t done yet. We still have the waxing.” Lana set aside the broom and left the main salon.

Pepper put her arm around my shoulders, marching me back to the private treatment rooms. Dim lighting and soothing mood music washed over us. Maybe I could just lie down and take a nap. It sounded tempting now that I’d managed to thaw my feet a little.

“We have a whole new makeup line in, so I’m going to pick out some colors for you, and Lana is going take care of one last little wax,” Pepper said.

“Not that’s okay. Yeah, let’s skip that. It’s not necessary,” I protested. Pepper had wanted to update my makeup scheme ever since we first met. “You both have done so much already. I promise I’ll shave my legs before the date.”

We stopped before the treatment room door. “You go right ahead and do that because Lana isn’t waxing your legs,” Pepper said meaningfully.

I grabbed my robe tighter, knowing exactly what she meant.

Pepper opened the door, gently pushing me inside. “Trust me, you’ll thank us later. Besides, that miser who runs this place can afford a little employee appreciation.”

I stumbled into the treatment room and over to the table covered with a long strip of paper. The looks I was getting told me I wasn’t leaving here until they’d tidied me up everywhere.

I sighed as I stretched out and Lana spread my robe open. I squeezed my eyes tightly as warm wax was slathered in my most sensitive spot. To distract myself, I kept my eyes closed and mentally composed the message I’d send in response to Mateo’s ad.

Dear Mr. Scrooge, I have the perfect present for you to unwrap this Christmas—ME! Untouched, inexperienced, and ready and willing to submit to your control.

XOXO, Your Winter Angel

Three

Mateo

Imust be out of my ever-loving mind. I still couldn’t believe I’d allowed myself to be talked into something so asinine. Or that someone had actually responded to that ridiculous profile I’d put on Jolly Nights.

The profile of the woman who messaged me said she was twenty-two. Am I really supposed to believe that a woman that age could still be a virgin?

Untouched. That was the word that jumped out at me when I saw her message. It had made my cock jump too. I’d only added the virgin shit so nobody would be interested. I’d never fantasized about finding some perfect virgin I could claim like some dragon with its treasures.

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