Page 36 of Everything Christmas

Another six, three on each side stole her breath.

“I’ll lock everything, keep up with my keys, and set alarms and reminders on my phone. Whatever it takes. I promise.”

Four more landed, lower this time and from side to side across her sit spots. Her yelps and moans turned to raspy indrawn breaths. She was desperately trying to keep from crying and ruining her face, but tears welled and threatened to fall from the ungodly sting of...whatever it was.

“That’s it. You’re done,” he announced, lightly stroking her inflamed skin as she slumped over the railing. “I went easy on you, elf. Any more incidents and I won’t be nearly as gentle.”

“Our definitions of gentle are a wee bit different, sir.”

When he helped her stand, she searched for the source of the uncomfortable burning on her butt and homed in on the thin yardstick in his hand. She carried them in a variety of styles, each decorated with a different holiday character. They were one of her bestsellers, meant for measuring snowfall, not for spanking. Reese had selected Frosty on a Stick. Merry wouldn’t be able to look at the cute little snowman in quite the same manner ever again.

With her curiosity satisfied, both hands flew to her burning bottom as she buried her face in his chest. Rubbing didn’t help, and she was badly in need of a hug, so she slid her arms around his lean waist and hung on tight.

“I’ll do better, Reese. I promise. It’s not fair of me to worry you with my forgetfulness. I think I’ll install one of those self-closing doohickeys on the door so I never forget again.”

“Good idea, honey. I’ll even install it myself.” Angling her face up to his, he lowered his mouth for a sweet, soulful kiss. When he broke away, his words made her heart turn over. “I love you, Merry.”

She hadn’t shed a tear from the sting of the spanking. Now, they overflowed.

Seeing them, he brushed them away. “You’ll ruin your makeup. And I was so careful, too.”

“I don’t care. Will you love me now, Reese?”

“I plan to, elf. Now and forever.”

Walking her backward, he laid her down on the blanket of white, fluffy fake snow under the tree. Popping open her front hook bra, he eased back the lace until she lay naked before him. Then he sat back on his heels and simply looked at her—and looked.

She squirmed a bit, self-conscious. “Is something wrong?”

“No. Just drinking you in. With the lights of the tree gleaming on your flawless skin, your mass of burnished curls against the white batting, and all of your tempting curves, I’ve never seen a prettier Christmas present.”

Deciding to swoon at her man waxing poetic over her later, Merry sat up and pushed his black jacket off his shoulder. Next, she attacked the buttons on his pristine white shirt while he ripped at his tie.

“Advance warning,” he said as he stripped off his shirt. “This is going to be quick. We’ll make it slow and romantic next time. I promise.”

“We’ve got our whole lives to go slow. I need you inside me now, Reese. I crave it.”

“Elf,” he growled huskily as his hasty fingers tore at his fly. “Have I mentioned how perfect you are for me?”

“No, but I’ll remind you to tell me later.”

With fervent eyes, she watched as he revealed his hard length and slipped on a condom. With a good dose of apprehension as well. It had been a while for her, and Reese was proportionate in all of his above-average body parts—big hands, feet, chest...

Her concern must have shown on her face because he slowed down and stretched out next to her. Propped on an elbow, he gently kissed her. “Relax, I’ll go easy.”

His mouth returned for a deeper kiss, his tongue tangling with her own until she couldn’t think, much less worry. At the same time, his hand caressed her everywhere—jaw, throat, chest, breasts, and belly—returning her to her prior state of urgency. When he parted her thighs and stroked the freshly waxed skin—it was a full-service spa, after all—he groaned. “I love the little tuft of curls in front and how smooth you are in between. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Merry smiled, relieved at her gamble. “I was hoping you would. I had it done at the spa for the first time today. It was embarrassing and hurt like the dickens.”

“Thank you for that. But how did you know we’d be... intimate tonight?”

“Wishful thinking. I was counting on you being unable to resist the dress.”

“The dress is definitely hot. Your undies hotter. And these stockings and heels... Just be careful not to poke anything vital.”

She giggled again at the unintentional pun in his words.

“But what’s underneath?” he continued, desire blazing in his eyes. “Fucking gorgeous.”

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