Page 45 of Hostile for the Holidays

I chuckle at her list of events, and how she doesn’t shy away from listing the orgasm I gave her.

“Same.”

“I’m going to go inside and hang out with my family, but I’ll see you on Tuesday for your family’s party.”

“Sounds good.” I press a soft kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, Stella.”

“Night,” she says, turning to go.

I’m no Grinch, but seeing the look on Stella’s face when she saw the lights on her house made my heart grow three sizes. At this point, Stella has my heart, only time will tell if she chooses to keep it.

FIFTEEN

STELLA

“Where have you been?”Sadie asks, pushing a bowl of popcorn into my hands.

“I was with Jasper,” I say, grabbing a handful of popcorn and shoving it into my mouth.

She grins wickedly. “Oh, right. Yourboyfriend.” She winks at me. I should have never told her that we weren’t really together.

“Shh.” I glance around nervously. “I don’t want Daniel to suspect anything.”

“Daniel’s out with Cady Cosgrove. They really hit it off last night and he took her to dinner and a movie tonight.”

I take a moment for that to sink in. If Daniel isn’t pursuing me then do Jasper and I even need to continue this dating ruse? I expect this development to make me feel relief, but that’s not the emotion that comes to the surface.

“Oh, that’s great.” Using my upper teeth, I pull the corner of my lip into my mouth.

“What’s the matter, Stell? Are you having second thoughts about rejecting Daniel?”

“No, that’s not it at all. I’m happy for Daniel and Cady.”

“Well, good news, it looks like you’re off the hook and don’t need to fake date Jasper anymore.”

She has no idea how not fake the orgasm he gave me this afternoon was. It was so not fake that my legs are still wobbly from the aftershocks.

That’s right. It has been confirmed. Jasper Jensen knows how to use his tongue and his fingers to please a woman. To pleaseme. Never in a million years would I have thought that would happen.

But god, did I love having his mouth on me. His tongue both teasing and demanding against my clit while he thrust his fingers inside me. It was the most intense orgasm of my life. But also, the way he was with me after. Kissing me sweetly and helping me get dressed without a mention of anything in return. And from the sizable bulge in his jeans, it was clear he was turned on.

Now I’m thinking about Jasper’s dick and wondering what it would feel like in my hand, in my mouth, inside…gulp. I try to not finish that thought, but my brain is one step ahead, already conjuring up images of Jasper bending me over that table in the warehouse office, or hiking up my skirt and drilling me on the side of my house. We really need to find more suitable places for these activities.

“Well, it’s better to be safe than sorry. I should probably let this thing with Jasper play out until I’m back in New York.” And collect a few more orgasms. “Just in case things with Daniel and Cady don’t work out.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Sadie’s still smiling at me, her smugness evident. “You can admit you like Jasper. I won’t tell anyone.”

I’ll admit no such thing.

“Shut up.” I give her a friendly shove into the dining room where Tom is sitting at the table.

Sadie yelps out of my reach before rushing into Tom’s arms. He wraps his arms around her and she playfully feeds him ahandful of popcorn which he devours before snuggling into her neck.

There’s an ache in my chest, and a feeling like something is missing. A longing for something that I can’t quite put my finger on.

I pull off my coat and boots in the mudroom, then join them at the dining table.

Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”is blaring from a small Bluetooth speaker on the table.

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