Page 57 of The Naughty Elf

He doesn’t move to take another bite as I turn beside him, pressing myself into his bicep to feel more of him. Sawyer glances down at my cleavage, but it’s the only sign he gives me that he’s noticed my over-the-top flirting.

Yes, I am probably being a bit more intense than normal. Sue me. I’m feeling vulnerable and jealous, and I don’t like those kinds of feelings.

“It’s just you and me in here, you know. You won’t spontaneously combust if you give me one of those big smiles.” I bat my lashes at him, playing up the teasing.

He doesn’t give me a big smile, but his eyes are shining with humor. I’ll take that win.

Giving up his hold on the fork, Sawyer turns to me, our bodies lined up just right for him to press us together fully. My head tilts back to look at him, and he finally makes a move—albeit a small one.

That big, gentle hand reaches around to play with the ends of my red hair.

I reach across him to swipe a small dollop of the whipped cream frosting and pop my finger in my mouth. He drops his hand to the small of my back.

His intensity cranks up a notch as he watches me suck on my finger. Nostrils flare. His jaw clenches. Is he imagining my mouth on him? I hope so. I wish I could sink to my knees right here to take him.

“Fuck,Ginger.” Sawyer tugs me closer, pressing his erection against my belly.

“You’ve read my thoughts.” That comes out breathier than I mean, but it does the trick. His gaze makes every inch of my skin heat up. “There’s a bed upstairs…”

“Naughty Elf.”

That has me laughing, my hand creeping up his chest. It’s always so easy to be near him. He doesn’t flirt the same way other men do. He’s blunt. Sweet. He doesn’t exaggerate or try to blow smoke up my ass.

I don’t need to question how he much wants me. It’s always obvious.

I could probably take him by the hand and drag him up to the master bedroom, but he’s least comfortable doing things at work. And usually, he wants to touch me instead of the other way around.

Except for the one time, when he had his hand up my skirt. Then I was able to take hold of him and stroke him for a long time. It takes so long to make him come, he won’t fuck me at work.

At least, not yet.

25

JACKSON

Michelle actually eats two-thirds of the cake Ginger offered her. Which is a solid compliment from my ex-wife.

I shake my head at her when she blinks at me meaningfully. “Don’t worry about it. I have it under control.”

“Do you?” She knows me too well because I am absolutely obsessed with Ginger. I can’t deny liking the hints of jealousy I saw today. Ginger plays it so cool most of the time.

And objectively, Michelle is a bombshell. I’m not sure how I got her to marry me when we were eighteen, but eleven years of the two of us trying to conceive brought a lot of struggles into our relationship. We both blamed ourselves and said awful things to hurt each other on many occasions.

Having Emily reminded us just how much we loved each other, but the pressure of having a young child and a young business gave us little time together. We became friends, and we couldn’t find our way back from that.

I wouldn’t change that. She’ll always be my family.

The energy thrumming through me like a live wire isn’t because of her, though. Ginger’s wild blue eyes when theyflashed at me had made me want to scoop her up and have her right then and there.

I swipe at the remnants of frosting and marvel again at the skill my efficiency elf has in the kitchen. In everything she does, really.

I stop myself before the barrage of memories of what it’s like to be the center of her attention.

“Hmm.” Michelle stands. “I’ll go grab Em’s new volleyball schedule from the van.”

“Thanks, Mick.”

She rolls her eyes and marches out of the house. I stare up after Ginger, but go to my office to wait on Michelle. After a short chat, she heads off to her job at the accounting firm.

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