Page 37 of Ho Ho Oh No

It won’t be a harsh punishment thanks to the contrite expression overtaking his face. Those pleading eyes and jutted lower lip alone wipe away the last few traces of my animosity.

Who could stay mad at such a precious face? Especially since the topic that set me off this time has done been plowed down to the bedrock. The mule is sleeping it off in the barn for another six months at least. Maybe seven.

With that last thought, my indignation all but vaporizes into thin air.

Mashing my lips closed, I fight off a grin. Can’t let him know I’ve calmed down yet.

As leader of the Redleg Brat Pack—name patent pending—I can’t miss this golden opportunity. Clearly, baby Jesus has forgiven me for all the sinnin’ I’ve done, thus granting me with this Christmas miracle.

Hallelujah.

Tomer and I are a perfect match, balancing each other out in all possible ways. For all my overreactions, he consistently underreacts—like now. Each time I jump the gun, he’s there to yank me back to the starting line. And when I klutz myself into a bloody mess, he patches me up.

Or calls me pretending to be working at the front desk at a dive hotel, offering to get me an ambulance, and warns me not to take aspirin for the pain.

Sexy stalking fucker.

Why the hell is that so hot? My good sense must’ve jumped on a horse heading in the wrong direction.

Likely realizing I’m not about to chew him up one side and down the other, he drags his palms along the tops of my thighs. It’s intentionally seductive.And it’s working.

“What do you want me to say, Lettie? You want me to apologize? To tell you I’m sorry for calling you when you broke your nose? Sorry for ensuring you were safe in that shit bag hotel? Not sure I can be sorry about that.”

“A phony baloney apology ain’t necessary,Tom Thomas,” I sass with an exaggerated eye roll, throwing the fake moniker he gave me back at him. “Now, I know why you stuttered that day when I asked you your name.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to ask me that, and I panicked,” he admits, his voice feather soft.

His hands knead into my upper thighs, making my breath hitch. My legs spread on their own volition.

I lace my fingertips through his, letting him guide our joined hands along my body. “Didn’t think I’d ask for the name of my hero? I wanted to thank him. Or you, as it would seem.”

“At that point, I didn’t know how obsessed you were with thanking people unnecessarily.” He grins, snaking our hands under my skirt. “Honestly, I was so horrified by the sight of your gorgeous face with that bloody rag blocking it that I could barely focus. I’m lucky I could formulate any response.”

I purse my lips, shaking my head at him like a disapproving mother—gotta practice while there’s still time to perfect my scolding technique. “Oh, that’s right. You could see me through my phone’s camera, couldn’t you?”

His throat bobs with a swallow. “Yes. I turned it on when I heard you scream.”

“That time, you had a reason to look, but not the other times, right?”

“Yes. And I am sorry aboutthosetimes I spied on you.”

Letting his hands go so they can wander as they please, I twirl my fingers around the short hair at his temple. “Ignoring that apology in favor of requesting a different type.”

His voice deepens, velvet caressing his words. “What do you want, sugar bear?”

Sloping my head to one side, I level him with a heated glare. One full of the lust that his touch and proximity sets off in me.“I want what I’ve been wanting all day long.”

“And what would that be?” he plays dumb, making me get specific with what I want.

I know that trick. Used it myself a time or ten before.

Come to think of it, I probably learned it from him.

Lowering my chin to my chest, I moisten my lips with a leisurely swipe of my tongue, intentionally drawing his attention to my mouth. “I want to open one of my presents. The sexy gift.”

One of his deft fingers finds its way to my clit, stroking me over the sheer fabric of my panties. Just teasing little movements that make my hips pulse, seeking more friction than he’s willing to give. On the last pass, he curves his fingers around the edge of my panties and draws the pads of his fingertips through my slick flesh, adding a little wiggle when he gets up to my clit.

Breath quickening, I spread my thighs to give him better access and encourage him to kick it up.

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