Your Christmas Love

by Layla Hagen

  I tilted my head to one side, drumming my fingers on the counter.

  “You have that smile again,” he pointed out playfully.

  “Nothing against the gym, I just thought of a more delicious way for you to unwind.”

  “All part of my plan.”

  “Silly me. Of course, it is.”

  I helped him get everything ready for the sandwiches. While slicing the cheese, I accidentally dropped the knife on the floor.

  “Oops. Sorry.”

  “You’re not much of a cook?”

  “Not really, but...” Tilting my head, I added playfully, “I don’t know if I should tell you this next thing...”

  “Tell me what?”

  “I just can’t seem to focus when you’re around. You distract me.”

  He snapped his gaze up from my finger, and oh my... that look was in equal parts smoldering and affectionate.

  “What exactly distracts you?”

  “I could show you, but we might end up without dinner.”

  “I don’t mind. I’m hungry for you, Sienna.” His voice sounded on a lower octave than before. My body hummed, as if he was touching my bare skin.

  “No, no. I’m starving, mister.”

  We worked side by side, and the sandwiches were ready in no time. We ate them right there at the kitchen counter. Turns out Winston was starving too.

  “You know, we served appetizers at the store. If you hadn’t been an ogre, insisting on going to the ER, we could have tasted them.”

  Winston set his empty plate down, watching me intently, moving toward me.

  “You overestimate my self-restraint if you think I would have waited any longer to have you all to myself.”

  Wow. What could I say to that? Somehow, he was wrapped around me again. His hands on my hips, his knee nudging my legs apart. “I’ve waited the whole evening to touch you. Taste you.”

  He trailed his lips down the side of my neck, setting on fire every inch of skin. I had no idea how my body could react so fast to a simple touch.

  “I won’t say no to being spoiled.”

  He laughed against my skin. I loved feeling the sharp exhales on every guffaw. I loved that I could make him laugh so easily. Only a few weeks ago, I wasn’t even sure Winston knew how to smile, let alone laugh, and look at him now.

  “So I’m an ogre when I take you to ER, but now I can spoil you?”

  “Yep.”

  He watched me intently, touching his fingers to my cheek.

  “What am I going to do with you, Sienna?”

  I didn’t ever want him to stop looking at me this way. It filled me with warmth, and so much happiness that I felt as if I was going to burst with it.

  “I don’t know. What are the options?”

  “Still considering them.”

  “While you do, how about a tour of the apartment?”

  ***

  Winston

  “Sure.”

  I had three bedrooms, and the master bedroom had an enormous bathroom with a tub the size of a small swimming pool.

  The whole place was huge, but it had been the only one available for rent in this building when I’d arrived, and I’d wanted to be close to the store. It was a waste, because I didn’t spend much time in it; though if I had Sienna here with me, I might just change that.

  I’d thought that the feeling of relaxation I’d felt in Burlington had been because of the change of scenery, and because it had been the weekend.

  I’d been wrong. It was all Sienna. I couldn’t be around her and not relax. Something about her just demanded that I live in the moment and enjoy it for all it was worth.

  “You don’t have a home office?” she asked, after inspecting the third bedroom.

  “I thought it would be better if I didn’t have one officially, but I just end up working on my laptop.”

  Reports were lying everywhere. I picked them up as I went through the apartment, bringing them to the living room.

  “I keep thinking that if I change the scenery, I’ll come up with a solution I haven’t seen before.” I was about to launch into another conversation about the rebranding campaign but caught myself just in time. “Sorry, I don’t want to talk about work again. Don’t want you to think that’s all there is to me.”

  Sienna trailed her fingers up my torso, resting her palms on my shoulders.

  “Winston, I like this about you. That you feel so responsible for the team, that you’re tirelessly searching for a solution. You have plenty of money. You could just close the store and be done with it. So many in your place wouldn’t bother. I admire you for not choosing the easy way out.”

  She admired me. This was such a different reaction than what I was used to that I couldn’t wrap my mind around her words, let alone answer. So, I didn’t even try. I kissed her instead, long and deep, and I knew that I couldn’t stop at that one kiss. I’d been starved for her ever since we returned from Burlington. Seeing her around the office all the time was a special form of torture. She was close but untouchable. Just in my reach, but not quite. I had to fight with myself constantly to keep myself from calling her into my office under any pretext and just having my way with her... because one kiss could easily escalate into more. I’d always prided myself on my discipline and self-control, but both those things went up in smoke when Sienna was around.

  But now I had her here, at my mercy. I’d told her I intended to get my fill of her, but I was beginning to think it just wasn’t realistic. Everything about Sienna—her laughter, the way she looked at me and seemed to understand me in a way no one else did, the way she kissed me back—just made it impossible to stop craving her.

  I could just picture sharing my evenings with her like this... and the mornings.

  If I told her that, she’d probably think I was crazy, and yet, I couldn’t stop picturing that.

  She made delicious little sounds I drank up.

  I was already rock-hard, but I wanted to prolong this foreplay, explore her. Every moan I lured out of her felt like a victory.

  “Winston, what are you doing to me?” she whispered.

  I could ask the same thing. I felt different when I was with her.

  It was the first time in months that I felt relaxed. No, it was more than that. I felt stronger, and I knew that I was drawing that strength from her.

  I moved my mouth along her neck, alternating light bites with small circles with my tongue. She shuddered in my arms, and when I claimed her mouth again in a kiss so deep that I could barely think, I bunched her dress up too, needing her skin.

  A light tremor went through her when I drew my fingers up her inner thigh, inching closer to the hem of her panties.

  I lingered just shy of touching it, teasing her, wanting to ramp up the anticipation, even though I was already on edge.

  When I finally stroked her over the fabric, I swallowed hard at how ready she was, how much she wanted me.

  “Sienna, fuck.”

  I pushed her panties to one side, touching a finger along her slit. She braced both hands on my shoulders, instinctively pushing herself against the wall of the living room, closing her eyes. I touched her with slow, deliberate moves, pressing my hand against her clit, drinking in the way her thighs shook, her breath stuttered.

  “Winston,” she gasped. When she grabbed the collar of my shirt, pulling me closer, I completely lost my composure. I let go of her dress, gripping her hips, kissing her until she pressed her pelvis against me, trapping my erection between us.

  Instinctively, I rocked my hips back and forth into her.

  I needed to get her to my bed, or I’d fuck her right here against this wall. I couldn’t think past how much I wanted her. I needed to claim every inch of her, mark her as mine so she’d never doubt that she belonged to me.

  I slid a hand to the back of her head to protect her from the hard surface of the wall before kissing her deep and fast. She whimpered, letting out a shaky breath, rocking her hips into me, seeking even more
friction.

  “Bed. Now” was all I managed to say. I didn’t stop kissing her, touching her, on the way to the bedroom. I didn’t miss her smile either. It was different than her usual one—a little smug.

  “You like this, don’t you? Watching me lose control.”

  She grinned, shrugging one shoulder. “I do. Whatcha gonna do about it?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Before I had a chance to do anything else, Sienna braced her palms on my shoulders, jumping on me again. We fell on the mattress the next second. I stopped short of crushing her, propping my palms at the sides of her shoulders.

  My nose was inches away from hers. She was grinning from ear to ear.

  “Thought you said you’d warn me next time.”

  “Yes, but not when you plan to use your sexy skills to torture me. I want you. Right now, Winston.”

  The way she said my name drove me completely crazy. She stirred underneath me, and it took me a second to realize she was pulling her dress up. I looked down at every inch of skin she was slowly revealing. When her panties came into view, I gave in, fisting the fabric of the dress, pulling it over her head. She was wearing a white, lacy bra that looked stunning on her. On another night, I’d take my time admiring her, but right now, I needed to run my mouth all over her, watch her succumb to pleasure.

  “Take it off,” I told her.

  I wanted to watch her undress for me. I held her gaze stubbornly while she opened the clasp. Her cheeks became even more flushed than before. This woman was so damn adorable that I might just not let her out of my bed again... or my apartment. Or my life.

  When the bra was off, I lowered myself slowly over her, hovering with my mouth just an inch away from her skin. My breath was coming out in sharp bursts.

  “Winston, please.”

  I rubbed my palm lightly over one nipple, moving my mouth over every inch of skin I could reach.

  “Sienna, I love your taste. Your skin.”

  She squirmed underneath me, parting her legs invitingly. I moved even lower, taking off her panties, watching her come undone from the anticipation alone. I loved seeing her like this. So ready for me, so open. I moved my mouth down her pubis until I reached her clit, and then I drove her crazy, kissing and lightly biting the exposed flesh. I teased her until she pushed her heels in the mattress, clawing at the sheets... and my hair. When her fingers pressed against my scalp, I couldn’t wait any longer.

  I stepped off the bed, discarding my clothes. She propped herself up on her elbows, watching me hungrily, and when I was completely naked, she reached out a hand toward my chest. I caught it midair, turning her palm up, stealing a quick kiss before lunging over her and claiming her lips. She sighed against my mouth. I rolled us over so she was on top.

  “Winston,” she whispered, rolling her hips back and forth so slowly that it was driving me insane. It felt better than anything had ever felt before. I wanted to hang on to this feeling for as long as possible.

  She wrung pleasure out of me so slowly that it was killing me. Every roll of her hips brought me closer to climax, every moan of hers made me want to grip her hips and take control, bring us both over the edge. I pushed myself up on my palms in a semisitting position. I needed to kiss her, just feel her closer. Then I pushed two pillows between my back and the wall, leaning against them, leaving my hands free to explore her. I trailed my fingers along her spine, feeling her skin turn to goose bumps. Lowering my hands, I kneaded her ass cheeks, running a finger between them.

  “Winston...” She clenched so tight around me that I almost came. No. I wanted her to get there first.

  We were both sweaty, desperately chasing our climax, and I just couldn’t hold back any longer.

  I brought one hand to her hip, guiding her moves. She relented the next second, giving in to me. I fucking loved how fast she surrendered. I wrapped her hair around my fist, first tilting her head back, so I had access to her neck, then forward, crushing my mouth to hers, suckling on her tongue in the same rhythm I was driving inside her.

  Her moans grew louder as she pulsed madly around me. She was so damn close, and so was I. I didn’t stop kissing her even when she came apart. I needed to own her so completely that I wanted to capture even her sounds of pleasure.

  I only lasted a few seconds longer. I came so hard that my muscles clenched almost to the point of pain.

  My vision blurred from the sheer intensity of the orgasm.

  “Sienna, fuuuuuck. Baby. You’re...”

  I couldn’t form a coherent sentence, so I just kept her close.

  She was breathless and soft in my arms, her knees pressing against my thighs, her forehead resting on my shoulder.

  I smiled when I felt her breath slow down, and she stirred a little.

  I didn’t know what time it was, but I was in no hurry. I just wanted to keep her like this, feel her close, enjoy her.

  “What did you do to me?” she murmured, sounding exhausted.

  I laughed, bringing a hand to the back of her neck, pressing my thumbs in a light massage.

  “That’s good.”

  “We should move to the shower.”

  “No. I just want to stay here. And I think you agree with me.”

  I was still inside her and in no hurry to pull out. She flexed her inner muscles around me as if to prove her point.

  I groaned, gripping her hips.

  “You’re a temptress, you know that?”

  She laughed lightly. “Wasn’t my intention to tempt you, but now that you mention it...”

  She flexed those muscles again, and I had no choice but to move her off me before she tempted me too much.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Carrying you to the shower. Who knows what you’ll do if I let you go?”

  She narrowed her eyes, as if preparing to say something sassy back. To my surprise, she wrapped her legs around me when I scooped her up.

  “Ha! And you think this is safe?” She touched her finger to my chest. “That’s temptation right there.” She moved that finger lower to my abs. “So are these.”

  Then she shimmied against my semihard erection, and my eyes nearly rolled back into my head.

  “That’s temptation too,” she informed me nonchalantly.

  “Then I guess I’ll have to do something about it.”

  “I like the sound of that. Details?”

  I brought my lips to her ear, biting her earlobe lightly.

  “You’ll have to spend the night here for that.”

  Damn, that had come out like a command. But now it was out there, and I couldn’t wait to hear her answer. My chest constricted as silence stretched for a few seconds.

  I pulled back, looking her straight in the eyes.

  “That sounded almost dictatorial.”

  “I meant it as a question.”

  “You don’t really mean anything as a question.” She cocked a brow, but I was relieved at the wide smile on her lips, the twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

  “What’s your answer? I promise I’ll take excellent care of you.” On a lower note, I added, “In every way there is.”

  She wasn’t just smiling now, she was grinning. I hadn’t been so happy in a long, long time.

  “I’m staying, you bossy, grouchy thing. But you’d better make good on that promise.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Sienna

  “Well, I think we did a splendid job.”

  Winston chuckled. “You mean you did a splendid job.”

  I winked. “Don’t downplay your role. You cheered and gave me hot looks. Very motivating.”

  A few days after Winston brought me to his apartment, we went to buy the Christmas tree. That was yesterday, and I’d gone completely overboard in my enthusiasm to decorate it. Winston merely watched me with amusement, then convinced me to stay overnight using dirty tricks. But guess who wasn’t complaining? That’s right. Me.

  So even though to
day was a Monday morning, I was in an excellent mood.

  Since we’d returned from Burlington, I’d spent quite some time with Winston. We were cooped up in the office until late in the evening and also spending a few nights at his place, since my house was still a construction site.

  That meant that Winston and I arrived at the store together most days. I had a hunch that everyone knew about us anyway, judging by their not-so-subtle winks. And somehow, all requests for the boss went through me.

  Oh, well. I did have a good track record of convincing him to approve them, so why change a running system?

  Once we arrived at the store, I went into his office with him, because we needed to finalize some packaging details for the after Christmas sales.

  “I’ve got everything I need,” I said, surveying my list of bullet points.

  Winston nodded. “I’m starting a conference call in ten minutes. I don’t want anyone interrupting me. Except you. You can come in at any time.”

  I stood up from my chair, walking over to him, leaning in for a very quick peck before straightening up and nodding.

  “Aye, aye, captain.”

  “Can’t tell if that’s an upgrade or a downgrade from grouchy boss.”

  I tilted my head playfully. “Definitely an upgrade from dictator, don’t you think?”

  His eyes flashed. “I’ll show you an upgrade.”

  “No, you won’t. Your conference call is starting, remember?”

  I took a few steps back quickly, then left the office before this dangerous man got any more ideas.

  I spent the whole morning on the phone with the packaging company. Just before lunch, a vaguely familiar woman strode in. She appeared to be in her midsixties, with gray hair flowing around her shoulders, a speck of freckles doting the bridge of her nose and her forehead. She was beautiful. I could have sworn I’d seen her before, in pictures at least.

  “You must be Sienna,” the woman said, striding straight to my desk.

  “I am.”

  “I’m Everly. Winston’s mom. We spoke on the phone.”

  “It’s so great to meet you in person. I’ve heard so, so much about you. You’re practically a legend.”

  “You’re sweet,” she said.

  My stomach cartwheeled. Sweat dotted my palms. I had to impress her. Not only because she was Everly Statham, but because she was Winston’s mom.