Page 22 of All The Happily Ever Afters

He takes a seat at the bar, looking up at the college football game on the TV behind the bar as he slides off his leather jacket. All he’s wearing underneath is a clean crisp t-shirt that hugs his broad shoulders tightly, and a pair of faded blue jeans. Fuck, even in casual clothes he looks like a million bucks.

Suddenly the expensive dress I wore makes me feel cheap. I stop picking at the stupid label on the bottle and finally take another swig.

“You look beautiful, Cherry,” he says in a deep low voice that’s somehow directly connected to my clit. I turn to look at him when I feel those baby blue eyes on me.

I’m not letting him go without making it damn well obvious what I want tonight.

He’s my Christmas present to myself. If that makes me a ho, then I’ll ho ho ho myself right to his bedroom. Definitely his, since I’m still at my parents' house until I start my new job. I visibly cringe at the thought.

Vinny laughs, and then orders a beer. “What, you don’t like my nickname for you?” he asks me.

I let out a small laugh and smile, feeling the light buzz of the beer and accepting another as the bartender slides the glass bottles toward us on the bar.

“I like your nickname for me. It sounds dirty when you say it,” I confess and blush violently at my own words and silently blame it on the alcohol.

He cocks a brow at me and leans in as he asks, “Is that so, Cary Ann?” His hot breath lingers on my neck and creates a shiver that slowly runs down my body, hardening my nipples. His lips barely touch the shell of my ear as he huskily says, “I didn’t know you were a dirty girl… Cherry.”

I laugh it off even though I’m all hot and bothered. I want him to know that I want him, but I’m not going to make ittooeasy for him.

“So what are your plans for Christmas Eve?” I ask casually, and then I remember my own plans. All the desire leaves me, and my mouth goes dry. I grip my beer a little harder. My heart races in my chest. I have to work, but more importantly, I need to make sure everything goes smoothly.

I need to stop the video camera footage first. My blood heats with anxiety. I’m not letting Morose do this again. That orphanage matters to me, and I know for a fact last year he did the same thing. The donations are truly needed, and that greedy fucker took it all. I saw the check he wrote to himself. I didn’t want to believe it, but when I asked Mrs. Pilcavage if the check went through and she said she hadn’t gotten it, my heart truly broke. She’s an older lady and she believes what he tells her. It’sso wrong. I can’t stand it. I’m going to do the right thing, even if it costs me everything.

“Not much,” Vinny says and shrugs and then seems to stare off at the television for a moment. I have to get my shit together. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

I’ve never done anything like this, but I’m not going to let anything stand in my way of making sure I take every cent from the registers and giving it to the orphanage where it rightfully belongs.

And on top of that, I have proof of what Morose did so he goes to jail for being the thief he is. But I’m not waiting on the law. I’m making sure those kids have the best Christmas they’ve ever had.

The last thought fills me with conviction.

Anger courses through my blood, but the sight of Vinny staring back at me changes it to something else. Something stronger, something hotter that I can’t deny.

This shit is for me to worry about tomorrow night. Everything’s going to go down perfectly. So tonight I’m going to relax. Withhim.

“So nothing for Christmas Eve then?” I ask casually and then set the bottle down on the bar. I remember he’s from the orphanage, and my heart hurts a little. He grew up there for a few years before his aunt finally took him in. I can’t believe I forgot. I take another drink to stop all the emotions from creeping up on me.

I have to change the subject, fast. “You looking forward to anything for Christmas?” I ask him.

He looks above me at the holly and asks again, “Mistletoe?”

I laugh a little, making my shoulders shake some.

“How about a kiss then?” he finally asks me, leaning in.

I smile shyly at him, but I’m not shy about this kiss. I’m more than happy to give it to him. I wantmorethough.

I lean in slightly and he goes for it, but I put my finger to his lips and stop him. His eyes slowly open and they narrow at me, as if daring me to deny him. The hidden threat lying there in his baby blues ignites that desire full force.

“I’m gonna need you to take me home first,” I whisper against his lips.

I gasp at the heat that blazes in his eyes. “That can be arranged, Cherry,” he says. “Finish your beer, and then you’re coming home with me.”

VINNY

Ican’t rip this dress off of her fast enough.

Her fingers kept inching closer and closer to my dick while I drove her back here. We left her car at the bar and she rode with me on the back of my bike, her warmth on my back and her breasts pressed against me. I was already hard just feeling her curves, but then those hands...

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