Page 62 of Her Christmas Harem

Ibrahim

PIPER AND JAMES WRESTLED for space on the couch, filling our suite with laughter. Fierce satisfaction welled up in my chest at the sight of her creamy thighs peeking out from the bottom of one of my button-down shirts, knowing she was completely bare underneath, after her restorative shower. I was not a religious man, but I thanked God for bringing her into our lives this holiday season.

When the wrestling turned sexual, Benedict looked up from his laptop and sighed. Not that any of us objected to fun and sexy times with Piper, but we all needed a break, and she needed to understand that we liked her for her, not just for fucking.

I took the hint and moseyed over to the couch. I pulled Piper from James’ grip and maneuvered us until James and I sat side by side, with Piper in my lap, her legs draped over his.

“Mmmm, better,” she murmured, snuggling into my chest and sticking her tongue out at James.

“Don’t stick it out unless you’re going to use it,” he teased her.

Piper raised an eyebrow, then wrapped one arm around my neck and drew me down for an intense kiss until Benedict cleared his throat. Right. Less sexy times, more get to know Piper and spoil her rotten times.

She whined in protest when I drew back. I nipped at her bottom lip hard, curious as to whether she’d be into that. When she shifted her legs together in my lap, I had my answer.

James gave me the side-eye and turned on the television. “Die Hard?” he asked.

“Die Hard is definitely a Christmas movie,” Piper answered, wiggling and adjusting my arms around her until she could sit comfortably and watch the movie.

When she leaned her head on my chest, something inside of me melted—a block of ice I hadn’t realized was sitting in my chest. I didn’t want to say goodbye at the end of this blissful interlude, even though I knew she’d only agreed to any of this because of the end date on our relationship.

As the opening scene rolled, Benedict draped a blanket over her bare legs and dropped a kiss on her head. “I’m going to run some errands. I’ll be back.”

James raised an eyebrow. “As discussed?”

Benedict nodded. “All taken care of.”

Good. If nothing else, Piper would have a lovely Christmas morning. All of our phones buzzed at the same time.

Piper’s face fell, then she flattened her expression into neutrality. “My flight’s for the day after Christmas, nine in the morning.”

“Ours is for the afternoon,” James said. Piper’s shoulders tensed, and then she buried her face in my chest. When she turned her face back to the movie, her eyes were red-rimmed.

“Let’s worry about departures when the time comes, all right, Piper, Princess of Peaches and Pineapples?”

A watery giggle escaped her. “Your nicknames are ridiculous, Ibrahim.”

I held her close, determined to enjoy every moment of her company until her departure in less than two days. “Precious, Perfect Piper,” I whispered into her hair.

She hummed thoughtfully. “Hey, I have an idea for a Christmas present for Benedict. Can you two help me with it?”

James’ eyes brightened. “You don’t have to get any of us anything, sweetheart.”

Piper blushed adorably. “I know we’re not exchanging presents or anything, but I have this idea, and I think he’ll like it, but I’m not quite sure how to execute it,” she trailed off.

I tapped my fingers on her stomach thoughtfully. “Tell me what you want to do, and we’ll do our best to make it happen.”

She grinned and started to explain.

When room service brought popcorn, James and I amused ourselves by feeding it to her, one at a time. Too soon, the movie ended, and we were left to our own devices.

“Piper, what do you like to do for fun?” James asked as he massaged her bare feet.

She frowned. “I work eighty hours a week for a soul-sucking corporation. I don’t have a lot of time for fun these days. Read? Play solitaire? I guess? What about you?”

I grinned. “James is a card shark.”

Piper laughed. “Note to self—no strip poker with James, then.”

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