Page 78 of Christmas Criminal

"Looks like you're popular," I tell her, my voice low so only she can hear, and she rolls her eyes, though I detect the hint of a smile.

I can only hope that comment goes to war against her difficult high school experience, even if it is too little, too late.

We hand out bucket after bucket, and as our supply slowly dwindles, a girl dressed as a candy cane stops in front of us, her attention focused on Noelle.

"Hi, Noelle," she says, her voice unsure.

Noelle cocks her head to the side, her brow furrowed, and a moment later, recognition spreads across her features.

"Hey," she says. She clears her throat. "How are you?"

I can only tell the girl shrugs beneath her costume by the way the tip of the candy cane tilts to one side. "I'm okay. Just wanted to say Merry Christmas."

"Oh," Noelle says. "Well, thank you. Merry Christmas to you, too."

The girl nods, the tip of her candy cane pitching forward this time, and accepts the bucket Noelle holds out to her.

"You know her?" I ask, as the girl darts onto the float.

She shrugs noncommittally. "One of my dad's kids." She bites her lip, and then shakes her head. "Fuck, I feel terrible. I can't remember the damn kid's name."

"Ask your sister," I suggest.

She shakes her head. "No. I don't want to give her any reason to think I'm interested in any sort of relationship with my dad."

I nod. "Ah. Well, it seems like she likes you, for what it's worth."

Noelle turns to me, her the space between her eyes creased. "You think?"

I shrug. "In my experience, when a high schooler likes you, they do things like say hello."

She gives me a look. "Is that what all of that experience being a math teacher has taught you?"

"A few other things, too. I've gotten good at two plus two," I say, throwing my arm around her shoulders and tugging her away from the fully-loaded float. "At me plus you," I continue, leaving a kiss on her temple.

She scoffs, but I see the hint of a smile on her face. "Ugh, you're sappy, aren't you?"

I shrug. "Only on occasion."

Once we're out of the crowd, she turns to me, her hands resting on my chest. "For what it's worth, I really like practicing my me plus yous," she says.

I grin, my hand dipping only briefly to her ass now that we're mostly out of the crowd.

"Mm, I like that too," I say, closing my fist around her jacket and tugging her close.

"Maybe we should go practice somewhere," she says. "Like your bedroom."

I kiss her again. "Nice try, Noelle."

She huffs. "Alright, alright." Her hands slip underneath my coat, running across my abs and causing them to bunch in response. "We'll go to the damn parade instead of getting naked and touching each other," she says, standing on her toes to press a kiss to my jaw. "And instead of watching me slowly lower down"–She pauses for dramatic effect, her fingers trailing down my torso to the clasp of my jeans. I glance around, but we're far enough away from the action that no one can see the way she's touching me–"and taking you in my mouth." She pauses again, pressing a kiss to my collarbone. "I guess we'll go to the damn parade."

A strangled sound jumps from my throat becausefuck.

Her eyes flash. She knows she has me.

Everything in me wants to abandon the stupid parade and call her bluff. Weave my fingers into her hair and feel the back of her throat with the head of my dick.

But I rest my hands on her hips, my fingers digging into her skin in the way that makes those sexy little gasps fall from her mouth, and press my lips to her ear. "We're going to the parade and you're going to enjoy it, damnit."

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