Page 57 of His Off-Limits Christmas Gift

“You’ve seemed extra distant lately,” he observed.

Because I’m smitten with your sister.

“And busier than usual.”

Again, because of your sister.

“Just know I’ll be there.” He chuckled. “I’m always ready to be your wingman.”

I smiled, rubbing my chin and letting out a deep breath. This should’ve been the perfect time to tell him that I’d asked Rachel to be my plus-one. I could break the news gently here.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I couldn’t risk his getting mad and stressing me out before that party. He could come to terms with it after the fact.

As I sat on the arm of the couch and eyed him, I hated this feeling of hiding Rachel. Of covering up how good she was for me, how well we fit each other.

I wanted to tell her. I had to let her know that I was falling further and faster for her, but I still couldn’t be entirely sure she’d want the same.

She came here to escape home. To live and find someone to make her feel good. Telling her that I wanted to have a solid relationship was the opposite of the casual good times she was looking for.

The timing just wasn’t good. I couldn’t fathom laying my heart on the line and giving Rachel a chance to reject me now. On the eve of Christmas Eve, when I’d have to squash down the memories of the last, colossal time I had been rejected and ridiculed so publicly, it was too much of a risk to take.

After. I’ll talk with Rach after the party.If I could get through the stress of that night, then it would all be well. Shecould come to the cabin with me. I could admit that I basically fell head over heels this fast and see how she accepted it.

Holding her back from what she wanted out of life was the last thing I wanted to do. Yet, I couldn’t accurately speculate whether she was after the same thing with me, a future. A commitment.

Brandon left almost as soon as he’d arrived, and I didn’t delay going back to find Rachel.

She’d cleaned up and found one of my shirts to borrow. Then she must have dozed off. Asleep in my bed, she looked like she belonged there.

For a long while, I sat there and watched her rest, hopeful that we could be back here in a couple of nights. At this time on Friday, perhaps we could be in this bed, sated and secure with each other again. After successfully enduring the holiday party with her at my side, we could retreat to this peaceful privacy again.

And again.

Forever.

21

RACHEL

The morning of the big Malley, Inc. holiday party, I woke up next to Nate. He was groggy, too tired from not getting much sleep.

That’s your own fault, buddy.I smiled as I shook him gently. If he hadn’t woken me up and wanted to have sex again at the crack of dawn, he might look a little more rested.

“Hmm?” He snaked out his arm to tug me into a cozy, tight hug against him.

I laughed, squirming to get free. “Hey, sleepyhead. Time to get up.”

A long groan rumbled from him, but he started to open both eyes. “I don’t want to,” he pouted. “I was having a good dream.”

“Oh, yeah?” I asked as I looked at him. “About what?”

He rolled me over so quickly that I squeaked in surprise. “You.” He kissed along my neck, aiming for my breasts. Already, he had one nipple captured between his thumb and forefinger.

“Hmm. And what was I doing?” I sighed as he lowered his mouth to my nipple. “Reminding you that we have to go to the office and letting you know that we overslept?”

He tugged on my nipple gently, causing my uterus to clench with arousal. “No. I had you bent over my desk, fucking you sohard that I had to muffle your screams with my hand over your mouth.”

“Oh, God…” I moaned as he lined up and slid into me. The feel of his long, hard dick would never fail to push me toward coming.

---