Page 17 of The Bad Boy's Secret Santa

“A terrible storm.” The mayor’s expression turns grim. “Most of the ornaments didn’t survive, and half of the lights no longer work. The garland—that was all shredded by the strong winds. We didn’t have the budget this year, and no one came forward in time?—”

“Can we decorate it?” Eli asks.

“Why would you want to do that? Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. It’s a big tree?—”

“Do you have any of the decorations left?” I ask.

“Just a couple boxes,” the mayor says, pointing down the hall. “They’re in the storage room next to the janitor’s closet.” She pulls a wad of keys from her coat pocket. “You two really want to do this?”

Eli meets my gaze, and both of us smile. “Yes,” we say in unison.

She pulls a key free from her ring and hands it to Eli. “I’m trusting you to return this after Christmas.”

“We will,” I promise.

“Mayor?” Eli says.

“Yes?”

“After Christmas I’d like a meeting with you. I’ll be writing you a check to take of the tree lighting ceremony for years to come.” I look at the man like he’s grown three heads. Decorations for a tree that large add up. And to put on an entire event for the community is certainly not free. There’s no way there’s anything left from his inheritance. This has to be his own money he’s offering to donate.

Oh my god.Eli Winchester wants tostayin Alpine Valley.

“C’mon,” he says, taking my hand and running down the hall with me.

Inside the janitor’s closet we find the small stack of boxes markedtree lighting. Eli’s focused on the contents. I’m focused on Eli.

I flip the deadbolt, effectively locking us in the closet. Not that it appears as if anyone else is still at City Hall. But I don’t want to risk upsetting the mayor in this particular moment.

I strip out of my coat, sweater, and jeans. Letting my hair free from its messy bun, I call to him—my true love. The one I’ve always been meant to be with. The timing may not have been right before, but it’s right now. “Eli?”

“Just a minute. I’m looking?—”

“Eli,” I say again, this time firmer.

“What—Oh.Oh.” He abandons the boxes as his eyes turn to liquid fire. By the time he’s met me near the door, he’s lost his coat and shirt. The bulge in his jeans in undeniable. He backs me up against the wall, caging me there. A hand drops to my hips, the other scoops the back of my head. Our bodies press together. The heat of skin on skin makes me dizzy with desire. “You’re okay with doing this here?”

“We’ve fucked in some pretty crazy places,” I say, sliding my hand around the back of his neck and pulling his lips closer to mine.

“That we have, Pipes.”

Our lips join together in a hungry frenzy. My fingers scramble with his belt until at last, it falls open. This time, he’s not stopping me from what I want. I yank down the zipper to his jeans and plunge my hand inside. Wrapping my hand around his hard cock.

As I stroke him, my bra falls away. His jeans drop to his ankles.

“Pipes,” he growls my name, making me even wetter.

“Hmm?”

“I’m going to fuck you here like you want,” he says, his words firm with that sexy hint of possessiveness that has always been my weakness. “But then, I’m taking you home and enjoying your bodyallnight long the way thatIwant.” He groans, his eyes rolling back as I twist my hand around his length. “You’ll come so many times you’ll lose count.”

I damn near explode from that promise alone. “What about the tree?” I ask, really not caring all that much about the tree right now. Tree? What tree?

“It’s dark out.” He yanks my panties to the side and strokes his fingers through my pussy lips. “And we need to track down more decorations.” Just when I’m about to see stars, he pulls his hand from between my legs and lifts me by the hips. My back presses against the wall. I’m suspended there by his sheer strength as the tip of his cock teases my entrance.

“I have some decorations we can use,” I say, my voice raspy. I want so badly to sink down on his cock, but he’s holding me in place. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, surrendering to the man I’ve always been meant to be with.

“Pipes?”

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