Page 26 of Mistletoe Bargain with the Billionaire

I inhale her scent while letting my mouth trail kisses along her neck and behind her ear. I’ve discovered she’s not only ticklish there but it’s a prime erogenous zone for her. “Nick… we need to free Mr. Jinglebell,” she murmurs as I’m working her up with kisses and caresses.

I release her with a slow exhale, willing my body to calm down a little and do things right. I tell her to feel free to get ready in the bathroom while I take care of the cat and a few things.

Mr. Jinglebell sits stubbornly in his carrier, refusing to emerge while I rush around fixing things up to my (and hopefully Carol’s) satisfaction.

Shedding jacket, shoes and socks, I find the condoms buried at the bottom of my bag, push the rest of our luggage into the closet and set up the fireplace area with extra care. She wants romance, she’s getting romance.

I turn on Spotify, finding some soft instrumental music of the season that won’t clash with the mood. I make sure ‘Mistletoe Muse’ is not on the playlist. Then, I turn the lights down.

Mr. Jinglebell’s eyes glow from inside the carrier still. Even after I’ve set up his necessities and tried to coax him out with a treat, the fussy feline stays put.

“What? You’ve got plenty of square footage to roam compared to that SUV. Don’t you want to come out for a stretch? We’ll be using the bed and that blanket over there but you can lay down anywhere else. They allow pets here.”

No reply or movement.

“Is this because you know I’m going to fuck your mom?” I whisper.

A low hiss.

“Well, you’re not screwing this up for us, pal.” I have half a mind to close the carrier door back and let him sleep there if he’s going to be such a grump.

But then the bathroom door opens and I lose track of everything buther.

16- Carol

Ididn’t pack any sexy pajamas. Just my typical Christmasy ones. I feel kind of silly facing Nick in these considering our plans tonight. Maybe I should just walk out there naked.

I brush my teeth and then brush out my hair, staring at the grown woman in the mirror wearing her sleep set covered in gingerbread men frolicking with candy canes. I’m going to sleep with Nick tonight. I have no idea what that might mean tomorrow or next week but I refuse to overthink it. I want him and he wants me and that’s good enough. Right?

I catch a few notes of music drifting under the door. Nick’s got music playing for us. My heart flutters, thinking of him. I start humming along to soothe myself.

But, I soon realize I’m humming something different than the soft tune playing on the other side of the door. It’s something new, something unknown… something that’smine.

“Oh!”

I drop my brush and rummage through my bag for my Storyteller journal. A long time ago, I learned to keep it close for whenever inspiration struck. It’s a habit now or else I might’ve stopped. It’s been a long while since I’ve felt inspired to write a song. Not since what Travis did.

As I’m humming, the notes and then the lyrics are slowly coming together.“For him, it’s just a holiday… but for me…”

I keep writing, rhyming and humming until I feel like I’ve jotted down what I can for the moment. It’s not much, just a start, but it’s something.

And maybe tonight could besomething, too.

Putting my journal back away, I give the nervous lady in the mirror a confident smile and open the door to find Nick. He’s easy to find, waiting for me. Forme.

He’d smirked at my snowman pajamas last night. He’s not smirking tonight. Maybe the gingerbread men frolicking with candy canes is a bit risqué? Those wild ginger boys.

“Carol…” he says gruffly and I forget all about any ginger except the gorgeous man with dark auburn hair and forest green eyes before me.

“Hey,” I say shyly even as need fills me.

“You look… delicious.”

And, there’s that slow, sexy grin I adore. I shiver with nerves and anticipation. The fireplace is roaring. “You did this?” I ask when he’s led me to it and to where he’s spread out one of the bed’s fluffy blankets in front of the hearth with some pillows.

“I did. Figured we’d lay on that cloud bed later, honey. First, I thought if you wanted…”

I nod, stumbling into his arms, overcome with feelings and desire with that new melody swirling through my mind. I want his closeness, his body’s heat, his kisses… and his love.

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