Page 12 of Holiday Flame

FIVE

JADE

My body shakes as I race into the station’s laundry room. Slamming the door behind me, I lean back against it, taking giant gulps of air.

When I finally catch my breath, I clench my eyes shut. “I am such an idiot.”

What was I thinking? Flirting with Remington. Kissing him. Obviously, my friends got into my head. Not to mention, my libido is firing at all cylinders after so many years of neglect.

But, seriously, what did I think was going to happen when I showed up here looking like a horny elf trying to get in Santa’s pants. I mean, there are children present. Remington’s colleagues.

Let’s not forget my brother—my very protective brother—is also among the masses.

And now here I am. Tucked away in the crew’s laundry room pretending to get eggnog out of my dress when really I’m trying to hide the fact that I want to get jolly with my brother’s best friend. A man who could probably teach a TedTalk on the waysof satisfying—and being satisfied by—women. While that was the point, at first, now I feel like a teenager with a learner’s permit trying to drive a semi.

Considering the little preview I got of what this Santa Claus is working with, let’s just say I might need a little more experience driving a stick shift before I attempt to handle his… stick.

I clench my thighs tightly together against the dampness that has formed between them.

I don’t know how I can possibly go back out there when I’m like this. I can’t. I eye the dryer and suddenly recall a steamy story one of the girls mentioned during their sexual escapades recap. It involved a dryer and a roll of quarters. Though, now that I think about it, the quarters were to run the machine.

No, I couldn’t possibly. I should think of something unsexy. Something like the way Remington connected with that little boy. His voice was so sincere. So deep. Just like his eyes. My nipples tighten.

Shit.

Now I’m remembering how it felt after. The memory of Remington’s lips so close to mine. A fresh tingle settles at the apex of my thighs.

It’s a lost cause. I have to unleash some of this pent-up sexual frustration before I go back out there.

Absently flipping the latch on the door I shove and stride to the dryer. I quickly move a load of towels from the washer. I can’t explain it. My instincts tell me the extra weight will heighten the experience.

Worst case scenario, at least I’ve helped the team.

Pulse chattering, I press my lower belly against the dry and hit the start button. The towels begin to toss and the dryer vibrates against me. An instant thrill shoots through my body, and I grab the edge of the machine more tightly.

“Whoa.” I let out a gaspy laugh. “They weren’t kidding.”

Clenching my eyes shut, I remember the look on Remington’s face. The hardness of his body pressed against mine. The length of his cock pressing against me.

I release one of my hands from gripping the machine and slowly slide it up my torso. My fingers leave fresh ripples of desire through me while the machine moves against me. I cup one of my breasts, imagining it’s Remington’s. I moan and press harder against the dryer.

The door swings open and my eyes fly open with a gasp.

“Hey, do you need a…”

Remington’s voice trails off as he enters the laundry room and takes in the sight of me. My pelvis against the dryer. Frozen with my eyes wide, my jaw open. My hand on my breast.

He arches an eyebrow, silently asking me what the hell I’m doing.

I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “I locked the door.”

Like that really matters right now. My cheeks flush, but I can’t move. I’m like a deer caught in the headlights. Or a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar, which isn’t far from the truth.

“You didn’t.” He swallows hard, and raises his gaze from my chest. He slowly looks over my body until he reaches my wide-eyed stare.

The spark in his eyes is enough to knock the air clear out of me. It takes three attempts for me to draw a shaky breath.

Remington recovers first. “I came to see if you need a hand with anything.”

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