Page 35 of Blame It On The Reindeer

Twenty-One

Jasmin

Brody’s story broke my heart.

Seeing him break down as he told the story about his father and losing him when he was just a teenager made me understand why he hated Christmas so much. I felt bad for asking, but I also felt honored to know something about him that no one else really knew. It also explained why he didn’t have a relationship with his mother, even though it made me angry that she had the nerve to callhima grinch. I didn’t know her very well and was thankful for that. She definitely didn’t sound like someone I wanted to know.

We moved all of the raffle baskets to the kitchen island so they were out of the way. It was incredible how much we had gotten done, and I felt the weight on my shoulders lift. This put me ahead on some of the stuff I had fallen so quickly behind on while I was stuck at Brody’s.

“I think I’m going to call it a night,” I said to Brody as we cleaned up the last of the supplies we had used for the baskets. “You’re welcome to stay up and watch TV or something if you’d like to. Help yourself to anything in the fridge or pantry. Coffee is already set to start brewing in the morning.”

“Thank you. I’ll probably call it a night as well.”

“Well, if you need anything, just let me know.”

He nodded his head, but not before I saw the look in his eyes.

Neither of us had bothered to discuss the kiss we’d shared in my office earlier, but I wasn’t sure now was the time for it. Wewere both tired and now emotionally drained after talking about his dad. Not knowing what to do, I leaned in and gave him a quick pat on his pec.

His eyebrow rose as he studied me, but I was too stunned by my own awkwardness to process that I should remove my hand from his body.

“I’m sorry,” I said with a nervous laugh. “I don’t know what that is. Pretend I didn’t just do that.”

As I went to pull my hand away, he captured it with his and held it in place before wrapping his other around my waist and pulling me into him.

“I don’t regret kissing you earlier, and I’m not going to regret it now, either,” he said, his voice low and sultry.

My eyes blinked rapidly as my heart raced in my chest.

While we had already technically been intimate with each other—or more so, him pleasuring me—this felt different. More intimate. There was a connection between us that hadn’t been there before. Or if it was, it hadn’t feltthisstrong.

He let go of my hand and used his fingers to lift my chin, forcing me to look up at him. Then his lips slowly trailed over mine, the wetness of his tongue coating them.

I parted my lips, allowing him access as his tongue eagerly began to explore my mouth. His grip on me tightened as if he were afraid to let go. But I wasn’t going anywhere. No matter how many times I tried to deny it, this was what I wanted.

I lifted my hands and tugged on his short locks of hair, trying to pull him closer to me. His hands moved down to my ass and gripped it, lifting me to his hips as our mouths continued to try to devour each other.

“My bedroom,” I panted, barely pulling my mouth away from his long enough to get the words out.

“I thought you said it was off limits,” he teased, carrying me down the hallway.

“I was stupid. It’s definitely on limits.”

“I don’t think that’s a thing.”

“Ugh. Just shut up and keep kissing me.” I grabbed his head in my hands and held it still as I kissed him, thankful I didn’t make him trip and fall since he couldn’t see where he was going. But Brody struck me as the kind of person who could find his way in complete darkness because within a few minutes, we were in my room and he was lowering me to the bed.

“Clothes off,” I insisted, pointing to his hoodie and jeans as I lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it to the floor. He was moving way too slowly for my liking as he watched me shimmy out of my yoga pants and toss them as well. “Now, Brody.”

He chuckled and kicked off his boots, painfully slow I might add. Then took his sweet time removing the rest of his clothes, leaving just his black boxer briefs that outlined his erection perfectly.

I swallowed hard as I stared down at it, knowing things were about to get really good.

“Is this what you wanted?” he asked, extending his hands out to his side.

“No.” I shook my head. “That’s what I want.” I pointed to his dick, smiling when he looked down and gripped it with his hand.

“You sure about that?”

---