Page 59 of Unwrapped

“HA! A nice guy doesn’t drench a stranded woman in a layer of dirty slush!”

“It was an accident!” He holds up his hands.

“Not buying it. What’s a CEO doing alone at a hotel in Springdale.”

“What’s a teacher who has way more money than a teacher doing in Springdale by herself?” He counters.

“I asked first,” I roll me eyes. “…and I’m not a teacher. I work in the guidance office.”

He rinses a pan; toweling drying it and puts it away before leaning on the opposite counter. “I grew up here. Rog is family. I pledged to Creed the second I turned fifteen. I worked at the Club cleaning bikes, cooking meals, doing laundry… hell anything to earn my patch. It wasn’t long after that I started doing other things.”

“What kind of things?”

“The kind that would give a sweet little piece like you nightmares.”

“That’s all I’ve been having lately,” I snort.

“Is that so? I thought you were having wild sex dreams.”

“I am…but then the man turns into you.” I admit, before I even realize I spoke out loud.

The kitchen’s quiet. My pounding heart and the old clock ticking away; the only sounds as the snow continues to fall, blanketing the world outside. He hooks the dishrag over his shoulder and walks around the counter. His big body stops behind my seated one. His large palms, come down on either side of me, resting on the cool stone. I wait.

The tip of his nose runs down the back of my head, to my neck and around. “Who knew hate could be such an aphrodisiac?” His meaty hands come off the counter to cup my full breasts. My gasp echoes in the dark as his thumbs swirl over my areolas. Round and round he worships them while his mouth sucks the side of my neck, giving me tiny love marks that will stay with me long after this moment ends.

“Let’s take this upstairs?” I pinch myself, hating how pathetic I sound.

“What about him?” Dare’s hands still.

“Who?”

“The Santa you want me to find.”

“You’re right. He’s a better kisser. His package felt bigger too.”

My chair is yanked back. His handsome face is full of mischief as he picks me up and hauls me over his shoulder fireman style. He palms smacks my ass.

“Oww! I’m not into that Dom shit!”

He smack me again.

“You will be. You don’t have a clue what you’re missing.” The door to my corner room is kicked open and he puts me down.

“I’ll never be any man’s plaything.”

His eyes narrow. A devious grin appears. “Is that so?” He bears down on me, picks me up and throws me on the bed. His eyes glow hot as embers from the fire Sally lit in my hearth as he stares down at me while unbuckling his belt. His jeans drop.

“Oh my.”

“Is my package big enough?”

I gulp. How in the heck will that ever fit?

“Here’s what’s going to happen. We will establish rules. For as long as we’re both in Springdale you’re mine. Only mine. You got that, cupcake? No dates with men from Creed. No Santa. Just you and me. You will obey me in the bedroom. Call me Daddy if I ask. I’ll make you come so hard you’ll never forget my face not even when you’re a hundred and blinded by cataracts.”

I want to spit in his face. Tell him to go to hell. But I’ve already lost. I was lost the second my eyes landed on him in the airport. It just took my stubborn ass days to admit it. Besides, isn’t this what I came here for? To find a handsome stranger to make me forget my case of the holiday blues?

“Fine. But for the record I still hate you. No kissing or touching in public. This will be our dirty secret. After dark, I’m yours but when morning light comes…we’re back to being enemies.”

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