Page 25 of The CEO's Christmas Wife

Kandi’s tongue was salty and sweet and her mouth a warm haven of ecstasy. The way she kissed me in return was pure delight and an unraveling of the blissful expectation she held within.

My hands slid underneath her nightshirt, and I groaned at the softness of her skin. It was like silk, something I could bask in for hours—the mere touch of her. I pulled my hands back to the front to unbutton her nightshirt, ready to taste her and savor her.

“Kayn? Kandi?”

Kandi pulled back with wide eyes.

“I forgot to close the door all the way behind me,” I groaned.

Kandi pushed me back and jumped off the counter. Frustration filled me as she rushed from the bathroom, calling out, “Yes, Aunt Frances?”

“We’re making s’mores over the firepit out back. Grab your coat and snow boots, and come on, baby.”

“Okay, Aunt Frances,” I heard Kandi say.

Fuck.

13

THE MAGICAL SEASON FOR LOVE

Kayn

The house bustled with activity, laughter, and loud chatter like it once had when I used to live here. I slowly sipped my coffee as I leaned against the counter, watching everyone around me.

“Where’s Kandi?” Myra asked.

“She’s still upstairs getting her beauty sleep in. She’s not an early riser.”

“I noticed that too,” Aunt Frances stated.

“How did you two meet?” Myra asked.

“At work.”

“Oh? I thought she said that she was your life coach. That she was brought in to help you bring order to some things when your business started booming,” Aunt Frances commented.

I felt discomfort weave its way throughout me. I already hated lying to my family, but now this lie was only getting deeper and deeper. I forgot that Kandi had said that, and now, I had no idea what Kandi had told Aunt Frances.

I put my coffee down and cleared my throat. “Uhm, . . . we did. But you know, that was still through work. She was doingher job, I was doing mine, and I needed somebody to help me get shit, . . . uhm, stuff in order.”

Aunt Frances and Myra nodded. Myra snatched a strip of bacon from a pan Aunt Frances had set on the counter.

“Ouch!” She complained when Aunt Frances smacked her hand.

“That’s not for now. Wait until I finish with the breakfast,” Aunt Frances chided.

“So when did you know she was it for you, or was it love at first sight?” Myra asked.

“I mean, I was attracted to her right away.” That much was true. The first day that I saw Kandi several months ago, I thought her ass was fine as hell. But I don’t eat where I shit. “But I like to keep the lines of professional and personal firmly in place and separate, so I didn’t make a move.”

“Well, eventually, you did.”

“That was after she stopped being my life coach. I knew at that point that I never wanted her out of my life.”

“But did she ever really stop though, Emmanuel?” Myra asked.

“Nah, I guess she didn’t,” I replied slowly.

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