Page 7 of Merry Me Grumphole

This small room is starting to feel a bit stuffy. Finishing my cup off, I set it on a stack of packaged paper. I pluck at my tie, loosening it a bit.

“Bought this tie for you,” I confess with a scowl, “and you don’t even like it.”

Gwen doesn’t respond to that, but she does move. Way too fast. One moment, she’s standing next to a shelf with miscellaneous office supplies on it. The next, she’s directly in front of me, yanking on my tie. Her mouth is so close, I can feel the warmth radiating.

Even her breathing is sharp, sudden, and quick.

I’mfinallygoing to kiss this sweet girl. Finally going to taste her. Before I can enjoy the warmth of her mouth, I’m feeling the air of her scoff.

“You seriously got drunk before I even got here?” She’s shoving me away before I can even see how soft her hair is. Looking at my cup like it’s the culprit, she’s huffing. “Didn’t take you as a partier, Sanders.”

“Riley,” I correct with a frown. I’m tired of all theSanders.“You took too long. Hate parties. Hate talking.”

With a bunch of employees that want to talk about their spouses and kids? Ugh. Don’t need a painful reminder of what I don’t have. What I long to experience with the one woman who is standing in this tight space with me.

Drinking eggnog was the better option. The burn helped cover the sweetness. How many cups did I even go through before Gwen appeared, yelling at me?

Her shoulders sink and she shakes her head. Sighing, she’s kind enough to straighten up my tie, tucking it back into my sweater vest. This woman knows me down to my core.

“People are going to gossip if they find out,” she murmurs, “you’ve kept up quite the act,Riley.”

She’s got a hint of a smile on her lips like she’s amused.

“They’re going to gossip anyway. You’ve dragged me into a supply closet.” A corner of my mouth lifts and I tilt my head. “We can deny all we want, but they’ll spread the silliest of rumors.”

She forces a laugh and shakes her head as that smile slips away. The jingling is killing me. “Silly.You really think the two of us together are silly?”

Even if I’m feeling a little looser, I can’t miss the way her body scrunches up. Fuck. No. I’ve messed up again, haven’t I?

“No, Gwen. Fuck.” Before I can say something else stupid, I reach for her. She comes forward so easily it’s almost laughable. I breathe in, groaning. “Strawberries.”

It’s not a perfume. It’s her hair. Must be the conditioner. So soft.

“You’re going to regret this in the morning.” She sighs and it sounds sosad.

I pull back slightly, scowling. “Regret? Gwen, if I’m going to regret anything, it’s making you upset.”

Now is not the time to get pissy. Not when I can see the way her eyes are glistening. Those better not be tears. I will rip out my tongue if she sheds a single one.

“I regret drinking all of that eggnog. I’m an asshole. I regret not being the one to ask you to this stupid party. You shouldn’t feel like you have to challenge me to spend time together. That’s amething.”

Truths are rolling off my tongue now. She’s staring up at me, her lips parted without speaking.

“Gwen, do you know how many mistletoe they’ve hung in this room?Three.Three excuses to finally kiss you and I regret not taking advantage of a single one the moment you stepped into this party.”

I don’t care about gossip or rumors. I’d kiss her in front of all our coworkers. I want to scream out to the whole world how badly I want this woman to be mine.

My chest is heaving and my head hurts.

Okay. Maybe she’s right. I am going to regret saying all this. She’s going to make a visit with HR the moment the office opens back up on Tuesday. She’s–

Going to mess up my tie for a second time so she can yank me right back down?

My reaction time is pitiful as I let her drag me down to her height. I have to catch my hand on the nearest wall to avoid falling forward.

She’s not smelling my breath this time. No. She’s standing up on her toes so our lips can touch. She’s opening up so I can taste her mouth and feel her tongue.

Gwen’s even gifting me with the sound of a soft moan as she melts against my chest.

---