Page 9 of Father Christmas

"We can skip the paperwork tonight, right?"

"Absolutely. But I might make you sign an NDA."

"Why? Something wrong with your little reindeer?" She grinned.

Noel stopped and pulled her up against him. What Mindy felt between his thighs definitely had horse power. "I don't think you'll talk about the things I'm about to do to you."

"What things?" Mindy's voice was barely above a whisper. Her brain was so focused on that beast between Noel's thighs. Her heart raced like it was flying across the night sky to get to every single child's house across the earth.

"You're going to have to wait to find out. First, I'm going to get you inside and unwrap my present."

"Your present?"

"You, Mindy. You're my present."

"Yes, sir."

CHAPTER EIGHT

The snowflakes, which had been gently descending from the overcast sky all evening, began to swirl with renewed vigor, cloaking the world in a thickening veil of white. Noel squinted through the flurries, his breath misting before him as he took Mindy's hand, guiding her down the snow-coated sidewalk.

"Looks like we're in for a proper blizzard," he said, his voice warm against the cold air. "I think we should go to my place instead."

Noel knew where Mindy's apartment was. He had tried to not memorize it when he'd looked at her application, but it was still on his mind. It wasn't in a bad neighborhood, per se. Neither was it in the best neighborhood. More importantly, it wouldn't have the amenities his condo had.

"Lead the way, Santa," Mindy quipped, squeezing his hand with a trust that stirred something deep within him.

They trudged through the deepening snow, their laughter mingling with the muffled sounds of the city on pause. When they finally reached his building, Noel fumbled with his keys, his fingers numb but his heart thumping with anticipation. Heushered Mindy inside, shaking off the chill as the door closed behind them.

"Cozy," Mindy observed, her eyes darting curiously across the room. She began peeling off her crimson coat, revealing the elf costume beneath.

Noel watched, captivated by the simple act of her undressing in his domain. Each article removed—a glove, a scarf—felt like a layer of formality falling away, leaving raw, undeniable attraction in its wake. He savored the sight of her making herself at home amidst his collection of rare ornaments and framed memories.

"Need a hand with those boots?" Noel offered, a teasing glint in his blue eyes.

Mindy balanced on one leg as she kicked off her footwear with a grace that belied the treacherous weather outside. Then she padded around on bare feet. She filled his living space with her vibrancy. It was as if she belonged among the twinkling lights and evergreen scents—a bright, spirited addition to his carefully curated life.

Noel's fingers deftly struck a match, the tiny flare of light illuminating his rugged features before he touched it to the kindling. The fire caught quickly, eager flames lapping at the wood, and soon a comfortable blaze crackled in the fireplace. He glanced back at Mindy, her bright green eyes reflecting the dance of the flames, and felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the fire.

"Better?" he asked, his voice low, the corners of his mouth tilting into a smile as he watched the snowflakes continue to fall outside the window.

"Much," she replied, stepping closer to the hearth. A rosy glow from the fire kissed her cheeks, giving her an ethereal quality that was impossible for Noel to ignore.

The embers popped in the fireplace, the only sound in the room aside from the shared rhythm of their breathing. This was the kind of magic that couldn't be bottled or sold, a kind of enchantment that even Santa couldn't conjure.

It was real, it was raw, and on this snowy December eve, it was theirs to explore.

He wasn't sure who reached for whom, but in the space of the fire sparking, they were flush against one another. No preamble. No pretense.

Noel wanted Mindy.

Mindy wanted him right back.

Her hands slid beneath his shirt to explore the territory beyond. Noel felt a jolt of electricity shoot through him as her palm grazed his skin, igniting a fire far more intense than the one crackling in the hearth nearby.

Her touch sparked an answering hunger within him—urgent, insistent. His own hands sought her out, slipping past the barrier of fabric to find the warmth of her skin. Her pulse thrummed beneath his fingertips, a syncopated rhythm that matched the sudden racing of his own heart.

"God, your heartbeat..." Noel's voice was low and heavy with desire as he felt the rapid drumming against his palm. It was a wild thing, untamed and honest in its tempo.

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