Page 38 of Christmas Candy

“Yeah?” She got to her feet, though she swayed. “What do you want?”

“I’m Frank, your driver. I was called to come pick you up.”

“What?” She banged on Michael’s door. “You fucking prick!”

“Please, miss. Allow me to escort you to the car.” Frank held his arm out to her as she beat and clawed at Michael’s door to no avail. After a few more moments filled with vile curses and a final kick at the unmoving door, she stepped back and smoothed a hand down her long yellow locks.

“Fine. You were a lousy fuck anyway.”

She’s drunkanda liar.

She screamed and gave the door the finger before taking Frank’s arm and moving toward the elevator.

I thought I heard Michael’s low laughter, but couldn’t be sure. Once the elevator dinged and Layla was gone, Michael opened his door and stepped out in the hall.

“I know you’re there, Jess.” He stared at the peephole, just like before.

“Yes, I am.”

“As you can see, I have no interest in anyone else.” His earnest green eyes struck right at my soul. “But, I want you to make your own decisions. So, I’m going to leave my door unlocked and go get in my bed. I would love for you to join me. And, not to be hokey here, but I would also love it if you would be my valentine.” He tapped the skin over his heart where an intricate lattice heart was inked in sturdy black. “Anyway. I’ve laid out all my cards. I want you. I …” He took a deep breath. “I know it sounds impossible, but I love you. From the first moment I saw you, I’ve loved you.”

My heart seemed to stop completely before taking off at a breakneck pace. Did the remarkable man in the hallway just say helovedme?

“So, I hope to see you inside.” He gave me a panty-melting smile and backed into his apartment.

When he was out of sight, I turned and leaned against my door. I was having trouble catching my breath. He said helovedme. I covered my mouth with my hand and squealed into it while jumping up and down like an idiot. Then I actually pinched myself. It hurt. This was real.

I darted to my bathroom and checked myself in the mirror, but I couldn’t do much because a smile seemed permanently affixed to my face.Get it together, Jess.

Back into the living room and out to the hallway. I put a hand to my chest, as if that could calm my heartbeat, and then swung his door open.

The room was dark. I crept past his cozy décor – nothing liked I’d imagined it before – and only paused to admire a couple of the dozens of photographs he had along his walls. All of them were done by him, and I’d seen versions of them at the gallery a couple of blocks away.

His bedroom door was open. I straightened my back and walked through. There were no mirrors on the ceiling and his bed had a white duvet instead of a black one.

What I saw on the bed made my jaw drop. Michael looking at me with lust in his eyes. His hands were laced behind his head and the white duvet covered just to his hips. He was sex on a platter. His piercings glinted in the light of his lamp and his sculpted body had my mouth watering. His hair was still jutting this way and that from when I’d run my hands through it earlier.

“Come here.” His voice was low and full of command.

I couldn’t have disobeyed if I’d tried. I walked to him as he sat up and swung his legs off the bed.

“On your knees.”

I dropped in front of him and looked up into his eyes.

“Have you made up your mind?” He stroked a hand through my hair.

“Yes. I had it made up the moment I saw you. I want you.”

He smiled, devilish and sincere all rolled into one.

I darted my eyes to the duvet covering his cock.

“Curious, Jess?”

Yes, very. After I’d touched it earlier, I wanted it in my mouth. But then Layla had shown up and ruined it.

“Yes. I want to taste it.”

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