Page 11 of Santa's Candy

I squirmed in my seat, my thighs squeezing as renewed heat erupted in my center.

“Beds are very useful,” I hedged, ignoring his spanking taunt. “Having one last night was a nice change from our usual.”

“We haven’t been together enough times for us to have ausual, but I agree. The bed was good. I don’t think our neighbors appreciated it, though.”

A burning flush rushed into my face. “Oh, God.”

“Or maybe, they did like it,” he continued, a smug grin curling his lips. “They did cheer and applaud after the third round.”

And someone had yelledThat one was a ten, man. Now, let her sleep.To which someone else had yelled,Let usallsleep.

“They just wanted us to shut up,” I muttered.

“You are loud,” he teased.

“I’m loud?” I scoffed, shoving his arm. “You’re loud.”

He snorted in amusement, though he kept his eyes on the road. “So that’s a yes for staying with me at the hotel?”

“Yes.” And was that really me having a flutter of excitement over it? Maybe, Pax and I just needed to have last night’s talk, like…oh, eight years ago. I felt kind of bad about that—actually, really bad—but when I’d voiced that to him in the wee hours of that morning, he’d told me, well ordered me, not to guilt myself because it would only start another problem. He wasn’t wrong, I supposed, so I would battle down that remorse with a wire-wrapped bat.

As if sensing the rise of emotion in me, he reached over and enveloped my hand in his warm grip. It grounded me, and I almost had to catch my breath at the depth of the belonging that welled up in me. I was in the right place with him.

I squeezed his fingers, leaning into the connection. “I need to go to my parents’ house first. Hang out with them for a little bit.”

He nodded, grimacing. “Same. My mom and dad aren’t thrilled I’m not staying with them, even though I’ll be around all week. They’ve been pretty vocal about that.”

“Mine probably won’t like it much, either. Oh, I need to hit the after-holiday sales tomorrow, too.”

“Why?”

“Well, for one, I didn’t get you a present, Santa. We haven’t exactly been in that place.”

“You gave me your candy. I enjoyed your present all night long, baby girl. And I’m keeping my gift forever. So why don’t we just go to breakfast in the morning, instead, and maybe go over to Christmas display at the botanical gardens.”

“I’d like that. It sounds way better than after-Christmas crowds at the store. But speaking of crowds… Tonight is the block’s Christmas party.”

“It’ll be fun. Always is.”

“I hope my mom didn’t buy me a fancy holiday outfit. She loves to do that, and she refuses to believe I’ve grown out of frilly dresses.”

“Did you bring a dress for the party?”

Fair point.

“No…” I replied slowly.

“Then I hope she did. Do you know how many years I’ve wanted to slide my hands up your tights and push aside all that chiffon, lace and velvet and—”

“Pax Kane!” I exclaimed.

“What?” he defended. “Seriously, do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to unwrap you? I’ll give you a hint… Way before eight years ago. I know why our male students have crushes on you because I did when I was their age.”

I glanced over at him. “I’m surprised you didn’t give up on me a long time ago.”

If I hadn’t been looking at him, I would have missed his reaction, missed how serious he grew. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and the hand holding the steering wheel tightened, even as the thumb of his other hand brushed lightly over the inner curve from my thumb to my forefinger, sending shivers through me.

His chest lifted with a heaved breath. “I will never, ever, give up on you, Candace. I can promise you that.”

---