Page 16 of Santa's Dirty Secret
The morning light streaming in through the window is blinding even with my eyes closed. I cringe and turn away. My arm reaches out to the other side of the bed for Alexis, but she isn't there. I peek one eye open and look around. Her side was clearly slept in, but she must have snuck out this morning without saying goodbye. We'll likely be spending the day here with Mason, and that won't give us much alone time together. I would've liked the chance to wake her up with my mouth.
My morning wood gets harder just thinking of tasting her sweetness again. I let my mind wander back to last night, and each glorious lustful moment we shared. I smile when I remember her telling me that she loved me too. I can't describe the relief I felt when she said those words. I thought that I was alone in my deep feelings for her.
But nothing as beautiful as falling in love is ever easy. We still have one huge hurdle to cross before we can ride off into the sunset in our own happily ever after together—Mason.
I lay in bed and consider the different ways he might react when he finds out the news.
1. He tries to kill me—that's the worst of the worst-case scenarios, but I can't completely rule it out.
2. He accepts it like a rational adult seeing that we are both in love—this is the pipe dream, but I still hold out hope.
3. He ends our friendship and forbids Alexis from ever seeing me again—I'd be a little more nervous about this one if Alexis weren't the headstrong woman she is.
4. The unknown factor—this one probably freaks me out the most. It's the scenario that I can't see coming, but it's no less devastating than two of the three scenarios that I've already thought about previously.
I get up and take a quick shower, tugging one out, so I don't embarrass myself or give away what I feel for Alexis the moment I lay eyes on her. Mason lent me some clothes last night to wear today, so I'm not in my tuxedo from last night.
When I open the door, I can hear Mason and Alexis talking in the kitchen. From the sounds of their laughter, the two of them must have made up. I'm glad, but I can't help but think that this happy reunion could be short-lived if Alexis and I tell him what is going on.
The scent of coffee brewing and bacon sizzling in the skillet makes my stomach growl, so I head down the hallway towards the kitchen. As I turn the corner, I run into Charmaine—literally.
She bounces off me and nearly lands on her ass before I reach out and catch her.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She glances around before turning her head up at me looking disoriented before recognition strikes, and she flashes me a smile that can only mean one thing. "Nick."
Uh oh.
I make sure she's steady on her feet before letting go of her and stepping back. The predatory look in her eyes makes me wish she wasn't standing between Alexis and me in the kitchen.
"I was wondering when you were going to get up," she says, thrusting her shoulders back, so her fake breasts are more pronounced.
"Long night," I say and try to step past her, but she moves to block me.
“I bet,” she giggles. “I saw Alexis leave your room this morning. She didn’t see me, but I saw her. She looked like one satisfied customer.”
I narrow my eyes at her. Despite the playful tone in her voice, I can tell she has a plan.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Charmaine shakes her head. “I know what I saw. And someone’s been a naughty boy,” she giggles.
"Whatever you think might have happened between Alexis and me is none of your business."
"Don't be like that," she swats her hand in an attempt to be playful, but I'm not in the mood for her games. "I'm just trying to make conversation with my new friend. We are friends, right? I mean, friends like you and I keep secrets for one another, and in return, the other might make that financially worth their while."
“You’re blackmailing me?”
"Don't think of it as blackmail." She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Think of it as the start of an investment in your relationship with Alexis. I'm pretty sure Mason wouldn't want to find out that his best friend is fucking his daughter under his own roof. I can't imagine how he'd react to that news, do you?"
ALEXIS
Charmaine is exactly like the person you’d think she is just by looking at her. Now I know that judging a book by its cover is not good, but sometimes a shitty book has a shitty cover.
She's been making under-the-breath comments behind my father's back all morning, making me wonder if she knows something about Nick and me.
Last night, I thought that I'd just close my eyes for a moment before returning to my room. As much as I wanted to spend the night in Nick's arms. I didn't think finding me in the bed of his best friend and having a heart attack was the gift he was looking to get for Christmas. So, when I woke with a start this morning and the sun was already up, I knew I had to get out before we were caught.
