Page 40 of All I Wank for Christmas

“I’ll do it.” I move her hair back from her face and place a kiss on her forehead. It’s one of those slow kisses where I let my lips linger, absorbing the heat of her skin.

I should say something. I should ask to see her again or ask her to a movie next week. I should offer to come another day and take her to a better breakfast than gas station sandwiches. That would be the proper thing to do.

Would she even want me long-term? I live in Canada and have a weird job. She also has a weird job, but she isn’t known the world over for it with lots of work stress one night of the year, to say nothing of a legion of elves and a team of reindeer to command. I can’t imagine how hard it would be for a woman to wrap her head around my life and the responsibility day in and day out. She probably thinks I’m a fun time for a night, and she’s kind enough to make sure presents get delivered to the children of the world.

But something long-term? I’m destined to have my heart ripped from my chest and shown to me before she walks away.

Holly pulls back the blanket that was over her lap and moves to get out of the sleigh. Think, dummy! Do something to impress her before she gets out and walks into her house.

“I almost forgot,” I say, pulling the bag out of my pants. “I got you something from the gas station.”

Holly smiles a fake smile, bats her eyes, and places her hands flat under her chin. “Just what a lady dreams of hearing.”

I laugh and open the bag to root around for one of the items I purchased. Finding it, I grip it in my hand and pull it out of the bag without showing it to Holly. “Close your eyes.”

“Jasper, you shouldn’t have.”

“Open your hand,” I direct.

She does as I ask, and I marvel at how trusting she is of me. I can’t help but drag my finger over the palm of her hand, sending up a silent prayer to whatever entity is listening that it’s not the last time I touch her hands. I place the item in her hand and close her fingers over it. “OK, you can open your eyes.”

She opens her eyes and her hand at the same time. When she opens them, laughter rumbles from her chest, and her smile widens so I can see her back teeth. She clutches the item to her chest and places a kiss on my cheek. “You shouldn’t have.”

“Geez, Holly, it’s just a magnet that says, ‘I put the big O in Ohio.’”

“I love it.”

“I didn’t give you the big O in Ohio, though. I made you come in Pennsylvania. I don’t think they make magnets saying something like ‘I gave you the P in Pennsylvania.’”

She waves her hand. “Eh, it’s a border state. Close enough. That’s a hell of a slogan, by the way. Our state travel bureau should look into it.”

“We can go back to Ohio real quick if you’re interested in the big O – “

She shoves me, and I catch her hand, squeezing it in the process. “Good night, Holly Hepperdine. Well, I guess it’s morning. Have a good day, Holly Hepperdine.”

“What else was in the bag?” she asks, already reaching for the bag with the hand I’m not holding. “I saw something else in there.”

I pull away. “Just something for the sleigh in case we needed it. You have to get back.”

We wrestle a little until she pulls the small plastic bag from my pocket. I reach for it, and she slaps my hand away. “What are you hiding?”

“Uh, nothing.”

She opens the bag and rolls her eyes. “Condoms? Hopeful, huh?”

“It was just a precaution in case you couldn’t control yourself around my dick, but we don’t have time.”

“Who says?”

“You have to give your mom her meds.” I gesture to the house below us.

Holly looks at the snow falling in the early morning light. There’s a quiet about her. It’s also quiet around us since it’s too early for anyone to be out and about on Christmas morning. It’s cloudy and dark for this time of day, the snow picking up and hitting us in the face when the wind blows. “I have thirty minutes before Mom needs her meds. There’s always time for Christmas magic.”

My head jolts up. “Yeah?”

Pulling me to her, she buries her face in my chest, inhaling deeply. “Yeah. I can’t leave without saying goodbye, you know? I can’t think of a better way to top off the night.”

My hands wind in her hair, and I tilt her head back until she’s looking at me with those maddening eyes. If I never see her again – and who could blame her if she’s done with me after tonight – I’ll never get them out of my head or stop dreaming about them.

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