Page 11 of Tempted By December

I hurry across the parking garage to her, grateful beyond words for her anyway. By the time Alaric and I made it back upstairs, the entire design floor was in chaos. Blaze convinced Georgia, one of the models, to play an elf at the party, leaving the design team a matter of hours to put together a costume worthy of a fashion house of this caliber.

It took all afternoon to finish it, and we still have to fit her. There's no way I'm going to have time to run back home to get ready before the party. So I'm getting ready here. It's not ideal, but it's the price of fashion.

Luckily, this place has everything you could possibly need to get ready on the fly. Except for my dress. There's no way I trust myself to wear one of the dresses in the closet here. Knowing my luck, I'd destroy it in five minutes.

"You're a lifesaver," I say, taking the garment bag as Jillian shoves it out the window toward me. "Thank you."

"You can thank me by telling me every single detail when you get home." She giggles. "I'm not sure if I'm happy for you or insane with jealousy right now. I hope you have a great time while I'm eating Ramen in our tiny apartment."

"You love Ramen, and our apartment," I remind her.

"Semantics."

I laugh quietly, glancing over my shoulder at the building. "I better get back in there."

"Go. Shoo," she says. "And don't worry about anything, December. Dad has some boring business dinner tonight. He doesn't have a clue that you're the one interning in my place."

"Alaric does," I whisper.

Jillian scrapes her glasses down her face, staring at me in wide-eyed shock. "He knows?"

"He figured it out on day one," I admit. I haven't told her because I didn't want her to worry, but we're a little past that now. "But, um, I don't think he's going to tell anyone."

"Oh my gosh!" she squeals, and then quickly slaps a hand over her mouth. "You're going to the party with him, aren't you?"

"Maybe."

She squeaks wordlessly, dancing in her seat. "I am so waiting up for you tonight. And you are so telling me every detail!"

"Deal," I say, smiling.

Chapter Six

Alaric

"Jesus,"Ibreathe,staringin awe as December steps out of the changing rooms with a sweet smile. I cross to her in three steps, my fucking heart in my throat. "You look ravishing, angel."

She looks like a Goddess. Her hair hangs in soft waves around her face. Her eye makeup is dark and smoky. The top of her black dress shimmers under the lights. It dips between her breasts, showing a hint of cleavage that's going to drive me crazy all night. The A-line bottom ends at mid-thigh, leaving her long legs on display.

Every motherfucker at the party will wish they were me. Too bad for all of them. This sweet angel is mine. I decided that four days ago. Spending the morning with her today only confirmed it. She's mine.

All I want for Christmas is her under my tree, wrapped in a bow and nothing else.

"Thank you." Her blush deepens, spreading down her chest. "Um, this isnotthe dress I asked my sister to bring. I think it's too short."

It's definitely too short to be worn anywhere except my bedroom, but I'll be damned if I tell her she looks anything less than perfect.

"It's perfect. You're perfect." I take her hand, helping her do a spin as my dick imprints itself against my zipper. Fuck me. It's going to be a long night. "Every man out there will envy me, sweet December."

"Alaric."

"I brought you something."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I know." I grin, reaching into my pocket to retrieve the small blue jewelry box I sent Ruby to pick up this afternoon. "Turn around."

December eyes me curiously before slowly obeying my command. The metal teeth of my zipper dig into my cock, leaving impressions. Goddamn. I want to bury my face between her cheeks and stay there permanently. Her round ass is a work of art.

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