Page 53 of The Christmas Cookie Crush

Strolling away, he holds up a peace sign without looking back, and Austin and I both laugh some more. “I better finish up,” I tell Austin, patting his shoulder. “Then we can leave.”

“I’d tell you to take your time, but I don’t want to. I’ve been patient all day, and I just want to get you alone.”

I toss a grin over my shoulder as I make my way back to the camera. “Don’t worry. I’ll hurry.”

It doesn’t take long to finish breaking down the camera equipment for the night, and when I go to check everything else, I realize Trevor’s taken care of all of it. He might be slightly obnoxious sometimes, but he’s actually a sweet guy.

Grinning, I return to Austin’s side, lace my fingers through his, and start towing him toward the locker room. “I just gotta change and grab my things, and we can go.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Austin

“The famed North Pole locker room,”I say in hushed tones as Nora leads me inside. “I’ve heard about it but never seen it myself.”

She laughs and rolls her eyes like I’m being silly, heading to the small bank of lockers on the opposite wall. “It’s a square room with lockers and a bench. Not all that exciting.” Opening the locker, she fusses with a tote bag hanging from a hook, takes off her elf hat and ears, and toes off her shoes.

When she reaches for the hem of her dress, my breath catches. “I dunno,” I say, voice husky. “Seems pretty exciting to me.”

She grins at me over her shoulder before pulling her dress up and off, leaving her in a bra, thong, and white and green striped knee-high socks. Her ass looks biteable, her back pale and pristine, and I want so badly to touch her that I move before I even think about what I’m doing.

My hands glide over her skin, and she freezes in the act of pulling clothes out of the tote bag inside the locker. My fingers slip just under the top edge of her panties as I move my hands around from her hips to her front then up until I cup her breasts through the lace-covered satin of her bra. “This is pretty,” I whisper, bending to nip at her neck, enjoying her gasp.

She hums. “Thanks. I hoped you’d like it.”

“You wore a pretty bra for me?” One hand drops and grips her perfect ass cheek.

She presses back into my grip. “Of course. I knew you’d see it. I wasn’t going to wear my boring or ugly lingerie.”

I grin and press a kiss to the side of her throat, inordinately pleased that she wants to dress up for me. “I wouldn’t care if you did, though.” The sound she makes in response has my dick going from half to full hardness in a matter of seconds. “God, I want you,” I whisper.

Another groan that turns into a whimper as I move my hand from her ass to her lower belly and hold her in place while I grind against her, letting her feel what she does to me.

She casts a glance over her shoulder at the door. “Not here,” she whispers.

“Who’s going to come in?” A thrill zings through me at the thought of taking her here against the lockers.

Her lip caught between her teeth, she shakes her head. “Not here,” she repeats, pushing back against me and turning in my arms. She wraps her arms behind my neck and presses up, kissing me. I suck her lower lip into my mouth, biting gently.When I release it, her tongue is there waiting for me, and I deepen the kiss.

She hisses when I press her back against the lockers, and I immediately feel a little bad. Metal lockers are cold on bare skin.

Backing off, I offer her an apologetic smile, spreading my hands out on her bare back to keep her from touching the lockers and kiss her once more. “Sorry,” I murmur, then force myself to step away.

With a cheeky grin, she turns and pulls clothes out of her bag, slipping into them, then stuffing her feet into her boots as she shoves her costume into the bag. “I know that in books and movies it’s all sexy to get carried away and bang at work, but …” She bites her lip and shakes her head. “Even though it’s after hours, and everyone’s probably gone, it doesn’t seem worth the risk, you know? Especially in a town like Arcadian Falls. Everyone would know by morning. I couldn’t do that to my parents. And I can’t let you risk it either. You’re staying here and working with your grandparents, planning on possibly staying here forever.”

A lump forms in my throat at her words. Forever seems like such a long time. Do I really want to stay here forever? But I suppose that’s what taking over Give and Cake means.

The fact she’s that concerned about my reputation is sweet.

Stepping forward, I hold out my hand for her tote bag, then step close and kiss her once more. “Thank you.” Another quick kiss. “Let’s get out of here. I’ve been dying to get you naked for hours, and that little show didn’t do anything to make that better.”

She laughs as I tug her out of the locker room, through the now-empty ChristmasFest space, and out to my car. She fills me inon her day, telling me the whole story about the customer her mom shut down with just a look as well as the more memorable moments, like when she got the baby to stop crying and took an adorable picture, the toddler who wouldn’t stop petting Santa’s beard, and the little boy who saw the basket of candy canes, grabbed a whole handful, and took off, leaving a trail of dropped mini candy canes in his wake.

She finishes the last story as we step inside our room, her face lit up with laughter, and it’s got to be the most beautiful sight in the world. When she notices me looking at her, her smile fades into something softer, and she tilts her head to the side. “What?”

Shaking my head, I reach for her. “Nothing. You’re just beautiful is all.”

Her brows raise. “Thanks?”

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