Page 9 of Christmas of Convenience

“I mean, if we were a couple, we would learn to cook together, but we’re not, so we won’t.” Dear Lord, girl. Even I want to vomit after that attempt to clear the air.

Suddenly, the heat pumping from the vents is sweltering. Okay, well… this was fun. Now, if someone could point me to thenearest cliff, I’d like to take my chances on an alternate escape plan.

“I guess you’re going back to Kansas at the end of this weekend, huh?” Sam’s tone is somber, but I’m not buying it. I’m sure the second I leave, he’ll be more than glad to put this whole thing behind him…with my two grand in his pocket.

“Yeah.” Why is he asking me? Of course I’m going back to the town where I have a job and a home and a life. And yes, it’s happening after this whole nightmare is over. My thighs ache and the truck is overwhelmingly hot. It’s so hot, that I feel a bead of sweat begin to slide from my forehead down the side of my nose.

What the hell is going on right now?It’s like I’m in a full body panic attack except my clit is throbbing. I need to get out of the truck. I need fresh air. I need anything but the sight of this big, jacked, sexy giant asking me how long I’m staying.

“I don’t think I got my mom a good enough gift for Christmas. She loves butterflies, so I found her a set of measuring bowls and spoons with butterflies on them. That’s stupid, right?” What am I saying? I wipe away another bead of sweat and glance out the side window and back again, avoiding eye contact.

“No, I think she’d like that.” He rings his hand against the back of his neck and stares at me. “You think she’s going to believe this whole thing?”

My heart hammers against my chest as my gaze meets his. I swallow hard and say, “I don’t know. Probably not. I mean, this is awkward, right? Are you feeling it too?” I scrape my hand through my hair and tuck it behind my ear as my inner voice goes nuts.

‘You’re an idiot. This man is gorgeous. No one is going to believe that he’s here voluntarily. You’re stupid, Jen. You’re sofucking stupid. How do I get out of here? Now. I need to leave now.’

“What if we kissed?” His tone is low and graveled, and every bit of it has just pushed me off the little ledge I was holding onto.

“Kissed?”

“Yeah. Maybe that would help loosen us up and get us more comfortable with each other.”

The altitude is getting to me again because I can’t breathe. The literal air is being sucked from my lungs. I think I’m nodding. I must be nodding because Sam’s giant frame is closing in. His calloused hand cups my throat as his lips meet mine.

Holy fuck.The pressure of his lips is light at first. Innocent and sweet. Then, I moan. It’s an involuntary noise and very accurately describes the throbbing ache currently growing between my legs. It’s as though my body is telling his that I need more.

He listens.

Sam pulls me closer, holding me tightly against his chest, and the innocent kiss we were sharing a moment ago turns deep. His tongue slides against mine and his hands wander my body as though there’s a desperate, needy monster inside of him.

I remind myself again that this is all pretend, and that I paid him to be here, but the warmth of his hands and the rumbling growl in his throat has me forgetting reality.

“Jesus, baby. You taste good.”

Baby? Taste good?

My panties are sopping wet and if I don’t open this door right now and throw myself into the falling snow, I’ll be climbing onto his lap and begging him to let me come all over him.

“Baby?”

“Yeah,” his brows narrow, “is that weird? It just came out.”

“No.” My breathing is so fast that I’m sure it’s noticeable. Again, I’m not sure if I’m having a panic attack, if the altitude is taking me out, or if the prickling down my neck, tight chest, and throbbing clit are from desire alone. “I like it. The pet name Baby, I mean.”

He nods and holds my gaze as though this isn’t a game at all. As though every second of every touch meant something. As though he wants me as badly as I want him.

I know he doesn’t, and me continuing to think stupid shit like that is only going to leave me heartbroken.

“I’m just going to get some fresh air.” I open the truck door and hop down into the freezing cold snow, power my phone back on, ignore the barrage of missed calls from my family, and dial Heather. I’ll deal with whatever it is my sister wants in a bit. Right now, I need my friend, and she should have landed in the Springs by now.

She answers on the first ring. “Oh, God. This must be going horrible if you’re calling me already.”

“What counts as horrible?” I loosen my coat to let the cold winter air cool the sweat from my skin. “We’re currently trapped on a back road in a snowstorm, and we just kissed.”

“What? Why the hell are you talking to me then?”

“How was your flight?”

---