Page 13 of Holiday Temptation

Watching her settle in, I can’t help but think of what we did here last night, the cherry taste of her lips, the warm, wet heat between her legs, the delectable sounds she made when she came on my hand. My cock presses against my zipper at the memory, and I do my best to ignore it as I start the car.

“Not at all,” I finally answer. “I just wanted to treat you for once.”

She arches a brow, smirking. "Treating me? Is this the same man I met in the coffee shop three days ago?"

"I've evolved," I quip back, shooting her a sidelong glance as I start the car.

"Evolved? In three days?" Her laughter is light, and I let the sound wash over me, realizing how addicted I've become to her presence.

"It's amazing what a little festive immersion can do."

As we merge into traffic, my hand finds its way to the gear shift, brushing against hers. Instead of retracting, I linger, fingers dancing over her knuckles before grasping her hand. She doesn't pull away. The warmth of her skin melds into mine, sending an electrifying current up my arm.

Our eyes meet, and I'm taken aback by the intensity of emotion I see in hers. That familiar tug in my chest returns, but this time it's coupled with excitement.

As the skyline gives way to suburbia, we pull into the lot of "Pine Haven Christmas Trees." Tall pines sway gently in the breeze, their fragrant scent permeating the crisp winter air.

She turns to me, eyes alight with surprise. "A tree lot?"

Nodding, I release her hand and switch off the engine. "Thought we could pick one out together."

A genuine smile spreads across her face, and it strikes me how this simple gesture seems to mean so much. "I'm impressed, Mr. Scrooge. I never pegged you for the tree type."

Exiting the car, I lean against the door, eyes fixed on hers. "Like I said, I've evolved."

We wander amidst the forest of pines, their sharp scent tickling our noses. Emily moves from tree to tree, her fingers brushing against the prickly needles. Each tree she considers, she studies with her head tilted, lost in thought. It's endearing watching her deliberate, and I find myself chuckling.

"What?" she asks, catching my eye with a playful grin.

"You're just very serious about this tree business," I tease.

She mock-gasps, placing a hand over her heart. "This is a very important decision. This tree will represent our joint festive venture!"

Her delight is infectious. I find myself joining in her tree analysis, pointing out the sturdiest branches and the fullest shapes. "How about this one?" I suggest, pointing to a particularly tall and regal-looking pine.

She steps closer, studying it intently. "It's perfect," she declares after a moment, giving me an approving nod.

We both share a laugh, basking in the easy camaraderie. The weight of the world seems to lift, if only for a moment.

But that moment is shattered when a voice pierces the air. "Grange? Is that you?"

I stiffen, recognizing that voice immediately. Turning, I come face to face with Charles Darby, the potential business partner who had made that inappropriate comment about Emily when he was in the office.

"Darby," I respond tersely, an uneasy tension settling in my gut.

He glances from me to Emily, that smarmy smirk resurfacing on his lips. "Out shopping for Christmas trees? You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think this was a date." He pauses, letting the words hang in the air for a moment. "Quite the festive catch you have here, Grange."

The insinuation hits me like a slap, and I feel myself growing hot with anger. I shoot him a glare, but Emily, unversed in our previous exchange, just gives a polite chuckle, brushing off the comment.

"We're just enjoying the holiday season, Mr. Darby," she says, with an innocence that both endears her to me more and frustrates me.

Darby chuckles, letting his eyes roam over Emily for a moment longer than I find comfortable. "Well, don't let me keep you from your... festive endeavors." His tone drips with suggestiveness, and it takes all my restraint not to snap at him.

As he saunters away, the light atmosphere has been replaced with a palpable tension. The joyous bubble we were in is burst, and I find myself filled with anger and self-doubt. Without a word, I begin to lead us away from the tree lot, the memory of Darby's smug face lingering in my mind.

I quicken my pace, leaving the scent of the pines and the twinkling lights of the lot behind. Emily hurries to keep up, a furrow forming between her brows.

"Dominic, what's going on?" she asks, reaching out to touch my arm.

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