Page 47 of Dr. Scandal Claus

From what I could tell, Scarlett and I were on the right track in our relationship. Ethan was on the mend. And now I just wanted the town to back off and leave Scarlett alone so she could live a normal peaceful life.

I much preferred the new nickname the town gave me, but I knew in my heart I didn't need their approval. I just needed them to treat me like any other person. Only time would tell if that would happen.

37

SCARLETT

Iheard the light tap on the door and knew it was Nick. I'd sent him a message letting him know Ethan's friend Ryan had left a while ago, and now Ethan was napping on the couch. I tiptoed to the door and opened it, holding a finger to my lips.

Nick walked in carrying a few gift bags with ribbons and a balloon on a string. He had such a proud papa smile I couldn't discourage him, but when he whispered that the packages were for Ethan, I rolled my eyes.

"They have to be for Christmas. I don't want him to be spoiled." I peeked into one of the bags and noticed a new game console and knew Ethan would love it.

"You're no fun," Nick chuckled but he pecked me on the cheek, and while I locked the door he placed the packages by the tree.

Nick was working when Dr. Chandler discharged Ethan from the hospital earlier today. With two weeks until Christmas I was happy he was home and there weren't anymore complications. They took out the temporary pacemaker and he'd had a round of heavy antibiotics due to a slight infection, but other than the normal healing after surgery, Ethan was healthy.

"I was hoping to watch a Christmas movie," Nick said, sliding his arms around my waist as I met him by the tree.

"He needed a nap…" I rose up on my tiptoes and kissed him softly. "We should just hang out in my bedroom so he can rest…" I looked over at him sleeping and saw his eyes twitching. He was dreaming something, and I hoped it was a good dream.

"That sounds fun," Nick said, wagging his eyebrows at me. I rolled my eyes again and took him by the hand, leading him to my room.

The past few weeks had been chaos. Between orders at the bakery tripling what our orders were last year, and people bombarding me with requests for interviews, I'd hardly had a sane moment. I never left Ethan's side, and I'd never been more grateful for Nellie in my life. She and Evelyn were running things smoothly and they agreed to hire another temporary baker for the holiday season.

I delegated everything and left those hard decisions to Nellie, giving her a raise and a promotion to partner. After the first of the year when the bakery went back to its normal routine and I was able to return to a semi-normal work-life balance, I'd go to the bank and the state and file the paperwork to make it official. Things felt like they were finally back to normal.

"So," Nick growled as he shut us into my bedroom. I heard his coat unzip and then I felt his arms around my waist, his chin nestling into the crook of my neck. "How is my blushing beauty this afternoon?" His lips pressed against my skin softly and I leaned into the kiss.

"Completely drained. Caring for a sick child is exhausting." I rolled my neck and instantly his hands were there, rubbing out the tension from my sore muscles.

"Let me help you with that," he purred, and I felt his stubble as he kissed my neck again. I moaned softly. It'd been weekssince we connected and after everything that happened, I felt like if he didn't take me now, I'd wilt.

I turned in his arms and kissed him hard, crushing my mouth against his. His hands slid down my back, cupping my butt, and I felt him harden against me. "Mmm," he growled, and his lips traveled down my neck, lavishing attention on my collarbone. "I've missed this." His hands began to unbutton my shirt deftly as his tongue danced along my pulse point.

"Nick," I gasped as he pushed me down onto the bed, his weight pinning me in place. His hands continued to work my buttons and then he was on me, his mouth on mine, his tongue invading my mouth in a passionate kiss that stole the air from my lungs.

His hands roamed my body, exploring every curve and crevice as if he were reacquainting himself with me. It'd been so long since we'd been alone like this, and I ached for him. I pulled at his shirt, desperate to feel his bare skin on mine.

Nick chuckled low in his throat, breaking our kiss for a moment to pull his shirt over his head. "Impatient, are we?" he teased. He returned to my neck, kissing and biting gently as his hands continued their exploration. He unhooked my bra, freeing my breasts, and groaned in approval.

"So beautiful," he breathed, and then his mouth was on me, his hot tongue circling my nipple before he sucked it into his mouth. I arched my back, moaning as the sensations coursed through my body. "I've missed this." His voice was husky as he moved to the other breast, giving it the same treatment.

I was writhing beneath him, my core aching for him when he finally kissed his way down my stomach. He pulled down my pants and panties in one swift motion, and then his mouth was between my thighs, lapping at me like I was a treat he'd been craving for months. I whimpered, rocking my hips against him, desperate for more contact.

"Nick," I moaned, "please." He only chuckled in response, teasing me mercilessly with his tongue and fingers. I was on the edge of climax when he slid two fingers inside of me. I clenched around them, clinging to the edge for as long as I could. "Nick, I'm going to?—"

"That's it, baby," he growled, and with a few more hard thrusts of his fingers and his tongue on my sensitive clit, I shattered around him, crying out my release. I shuddered and jolted, grinding my pelvis against his face and pulling his hair as he hummed a low note and it vibrated through me.

As my orgasm subsided, Nick crawled up the bed, kissing a trail of fire along my stomach and up to my lips. "That was for the past few weeks," he said, his eyes dark with desire. "Now," he added, undoing his belt and shucking his slacks, "I'm going to make you mine, and only mine."

His dick brushed over my slick folds, and I spread my legs wider for him. He teased me mercilessly, dipping in just enough to tempt me to clench then pulling back. "God, don't torment me," I mewled, clawing at his sides, and he chuckled again.

"But you like me to get you worked up. It makes the orgasm better." He wasn't wrong. And he did know exactly how to push every button I had. So he kept teasing me, circling my entrance with the head of his shaft while he closed his lips around a nipple and bit down gently.

I whined and arched my hips upward, trying to force him inside of me, but he simply chuckled again and continued his torture. "Nick," I whimpered, on the brink of insanity. "Please."

"Please what?" he purred against my ear, his voice dripping with arousal.

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