Page 25 of A Christmas Auction

“Mmm hmm. Thanks for the reminder.” She yawned and then hissed as my cock finally went soft and slipped from her body. “Five more minutes,” she sighed and snuggled my chest like a baby kitten. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close.

Damn, I could get used to this.

The thought lasted a whole two seconds before the titanium emotional wall I had built between me and my feelings slammed down, breaking the connection, and I let my arms drop to my sides.

“You sure? It’s 9:25 now…”

That caught her attention.

Within half a breath she’d jumped up and out of bed. I barely registered her naked ass swaying before it disappeared through the door, likely headed to her own room. The sound of a shower starting sealed the deal.

It didn’t take me long to get ready for the day. I showered, dressed in my preferred all-black suit and black accessories, including my double gun shoulder harness, and was ready to go within fifteen minutes. My hair was still wet as I made coffee. I could hear Holly running around her room talking to herself.

“How do you like your coffee?” I called out.

“Black is fine!” she responded.

Me too.

By the time the coffee was brewed and poured into the to-go paper cups with lids the hotel so helpfully supplied, she was exiting her room. She wore a men’s button-up, white sleeveless shirt, with a black bra that showed entirely through the thin fabric, not to mention the front only had one button fastened. Ididn’t like seeing another man’s shirt flirt along her bare skin so casually, as if it was a perfectly normal day for her.

Did it once belong to an ex-boyfriend?

I made a mental note to find out her dating history. Maybe Jonas could pull some additional information.

Stand down, Bruno, I suddenly reminded myself.

This was not my woman. She could wear what she wanted. Besides, doing a deeper dive than what the client wants, expects, and has paid for, is a blatant misuse of our talents, not to mention treading a little too close to ethical boundaries. I didn’tneedto know who she’d been with romantically in order to guard her body or fuck her into next week.

The frustrating thing was Iwantedto know.

Desperately.

I coughed and attempted to clear my throat at the sight of all that succulent Holly flesh. Under the dress shirt she wore a body-hugging miniskirt showing off her mile-long legs. On her feet, she wore thin, black, flip-flops.

I pushed the personal thoughts away and focused on the problem in front of me, including our lack of time to talk over what happened between us and how we were going to move forward.

“We’ve got five minutes to get you up to Alana’s office for your beauty appointment and subsequent date with Mr. Hollywood.”

Her eyes lit up at the mention of the actor she was to accompany tonight. Part of me loathed and loved that fact. Loathed because I didn’t want her being excited to date someone else, and loved because the sooner we had some separation from one another, the better. Which made me think about handing over her protection to another one of my men. As soon as that idea hit, I dismissed it entirely. There wasn’t anyone else besidesJonas that I’d trust to protect her. Which created a whole new problem. I fucking liked the woman. More than I should.

“I’m ready when you are.” She sipped her coffee and hummed.

That hum reminded me of when her lips were wrapped tightly around my cock, and I was fucking her throat.She took me so deep…

“Fuck me,” I grumbled underneath my breath and rubbed at my temples with thumb and forefinger.

“What was that?” she asked, pulling her purse up over her shoulder as I abruptly turned around and headed toward the door.

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

She flip-flopped after me, her shoes smacking noisily on the tile. “Should we, uh, maybe talk about last night? I don’t think Alana would be upset if we were maybe ten minutes late.”

I stooped at the door. “There’s really nothing to say…”

Her head jerked back. “Really? Nothing? I think a dozen orgasms between us warrants at least a little bit of conversation, wouldn’t you agree?” She smiled playfully then nudged my shoulder.

I inhaled fully and let it out slowly, feeling much like an irritated dragon that would much rather use fire to burn the entire world down than have this conversation.

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