Holly waved a hasty “goodbye” as she picked up her gown. She frowned at me. “What’s going on?”

“I told you, a medical issue has come up.” I removed her drink from her hand and set it on the tray of a passing server.

“Medical issue, my ass.” She breathed while I steered her away from the ballroom.

“You had more than one drink.”

“It’s Christmas Eve!” She glanced around in the dark hallway where we’d stopped. “This is awfully dark for a medical discussion.”

“You should be in bed.”

“Are you offering to tuck me in?” Holly swayed as she giggled. “Daddy.”

I grabbed her by the elbows, staring down at her sternly.

“By the way, Mr. Grump, I had plenty of offers tonight to show me around your village.”

“To hell you will.” I felt like my world was crashing down. Her dark hair, her fair skin, and her red lips made her the most beautiful woman in the world.

My hands wandered down her breasts and her nipples hardened under my touch. My exploration drifted further down her body with my hands sliding under her dress where the backless style ended right above her ass. I felt the globes of her ass, her crack, and nothing else. “Holy fuck. You’re not wearing panties?”

“I thought that was what you wanted.” Her cheeks blushed in the dim hall light before glancing away.

I hauled her against me hard and crushed my lips to her. She gave a squeak of a surprise, but her lips parted beneath mine. I stroked my tongue against her lush lower lip as she moaned. My cock was stiff with need, and I flexed into her.

I pulled back, breathing hard. It was painful to be parted from her once I had her in my arms. “I’m not going to fuck you in the hallway.” The wall of dark windows behind us faced the rose garden, which was wrapped in burlap and twine under the deep snow.

“Why not? I’m game if you are.” Her hand tightened on the lapels of my kilt jacket, pulling me back to her. I had the oddest feeling we were being watched, but no one was in the garden this time of year.

Oh hell. Who was I kidding? I was intoxicated with her. It was easy to back her against the wall in this dim hallway. Her pupils were dilated, and her lips swollen from my kisses. My heart thumped in my chest like I’d run a marathon.

“I’m not going to fuck you here because I’m taking you to my bed where I’m going to make you come so hard, and so many times, you won’t remember your name.”

Holly stared at me, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire. Then she reached behind her head and unclasped her halter top gown. Her neckline immediately sagged. She caught it, but the swells of her breasts entranced me.

“Can’t we do both? Besides, I know what will make you less grumpy.” Holly got down on her knees.

Fuck no.

Yes.

She looked up at me from under her lashes as her fingers danced up my thighs under my kilt.

“Holly.”

“Shhh.” The tip of her tongue was between her teeth; she found my bare cock.

The sight of her pink tongue made my balls ache. Fuck, I wanted her mouth around me, sucking me off.

“Wait.”

I shucked my suit jacket off, handing it to her. “For your knees, stone castle stores aren’t forgiving.”

She took it, folded it, and put it under her knees. “Always the gentleman.”

Precum glistening from the tip of my shaft in the moonlight. Her gentle fingers ran up and down it lightly. She fingered my balls and they grew tight and heavy in her hands.

I guided her head forward.