Once Upon a Holiday

by Beverly Jenkins

  A thunderous applause erupted from the hallway as the women then poured into the office.

  Epilogue

  Christmas Eve…

  Montel and Candace’s wedding was just as sweet the second time around. Candace was surprised that Montel was able to find someone to marry them in three days, but Montel boasted of calling in a few favors, and before she knew it, there they were at Mandarin Oriental standing before a preacher in front of family, friends and coworkers, exchanging vows and rings.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife,” their smiling preacher announced. “You may kiss the bride.”

  Monty leaned toward his wife in an amazing white Vera Wang gown that he had claimed he’d just happened to buy off the rack. It was just a coincidence that it fit her body perfectly. When they sealed their love with a kiss, the crowd erupted with cheers and applause.

  At the reception, Candace was still answering questions about when and how she and Montel met and fell in love. Some of the women were clearly jealous and others were genuinely happy that she and Monty had found their way to love.

  Mia, Vicki and Georgine were gathered around one of the reception tables, taking in the elegant décor of the room. “This place is absolutely beautiful,” Vicki commented. “This man can pull off a miracle in three days.”

  “You’re telling me,” Mia said, sipping her champagne. She was actually looking forward to the newlywed’s first dance. “Someone must’ve canceled at the last minute or something. No way can someone pull off something like this in Manhattan at the last minute.”

  Georgine smiled. “Well, I wouldn’t exactly say it was all last minute.”

  Mia and Vicki’s gaze shifted toward her. “What do you mean?”

  Just then, Montel walked up to the table. “Is everyone enjoying themselves this evening?”

  “Yes,” Mia and Vicki said, grinning adoringly at the officially off-the-market handsome god.

  Mia hastily added, “Wonderful wedding. We’re so happy for both of you.”

  “Thank you.” He turned toward Georgine. “I believe you have something for me?”

  Georgine’s smile widened. “I sure do.” She reached for her purse and pulled out a thick envelope. “Here you go. Your pool winnings.”

  Mia’s face dropped. “You mean that you…planned this wedding all along?”

  “Never underestimate a man with a plan, ladies.” Montel winked and then waltzed off with the sound of them laughing behind him.

  Later that night, the renewed newlyweds wasted no time getting reacquainted with each other’s bodies. Tears of joy leaked from the corners of Candy’s eyes at the feel of Monty’s mouth tasting every part of her. When that wasn’t enough, he pressed his soft fingers through her wet, pink walls until her body’s natural honey coated his fingers.

  “Damn, baby…. don’t stop.”

  He had no intention of stopping. His warm tongue mopped up her honey, swishing against the base of her clit and causing her legs to tremble violently. She reached for his head and then grinded against his open mouth. When she came, fireworks exploded behind her closed eyelids and her body quaked deliciously.

  Monty was willing to let her take a small break before they continued, but Candy pulled him upward until she had a firm hold of his thick cock and then slid it between her full cherry-red lips like she was sucking on the sweetest chocolate log ever made.

  Monty’s mouth sagged open at the pure pleasure that swept through him, plus the sound of her lips sucking and smacking was a heady aphrodisiac that made his toes curl. Candy turned her head and gave him a hard jawbreaker until a few drops of his salty cum started to ooze down her throat. He pulled back and kissed her lips. “Touch your pussy.”

  Candy obeyed, sliding her long fingers down in between her legs and spreading open her glistening brown lips and then twirled them inside.

  “Are you nice and wet, baby?” he asked.

  “Mmm-hmm,” she moaned, reaching for his dick again.

  “Yeah?” He reached down and got a good feel himself. “Ah. Yeah. That’s what I’m talking about.” He pulled his cock away before she could vacuum suck it back between her lips. A second later, Montel slid into his wife’s warm, sticky honey pot while his eyes rolled to the back of his head. “Oh, baby. You have no idea how much I’ve missed us.”

  A wicked grin slanted Candy’s face as she gave his cock a nice, hard squeeze with her inner muscles.

  Monty hissed and threw his head back. “Awww. You’re going to make me come too soon.”

  Squeeze. “I’m just showing you how much I missed you, too, baby,” she panted. Squeeze.

  Monty’s eyes kept rolling to the point he doubted whether he could start stroking just yet. That didn’t stop Candy’s show. She rolled him over, happily taking the top position so she could bounce the ass he loved so much up and down his long shaft until he was the one writhing and thrashing beneath her.

  Squeeze. “You know there’s a new pool at the office, sweetie?”

  “W-what?”

  Squeeze. Squeeze. Squeeze.

  His nut sack started to tingle.

  Candy leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “I placed a bet that you’d give me a baby on our honeymoon.”

  Montel’s heavy-lidded eyes opened wide. “W-what did you say?”

  “I want us to make a baby.”

  A bright smile bloomed across his face. “Why didn’t you say so?” He quickly tossed her onto her back, hooked her legs over his shoulders and finally got his deep stroking on until their bodies were dripping with sweat and Candy’s body was filled to the brim with potential babies.

  Monty collapsed next to Candy and pulled her close. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Monty brushed a hand down the column of her neck and felt the steady beating of her heart.

  Buh-bump. Buh-bump.

  CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

  Kimberly Kaye Terry

  To my amazing daughter, who always motivates me to be the best that I can be.

  Chapter 1

  Camille Jackson kept her composure until she stepped inside the elevator. Just barely.

  She let out a loud “whoop!” and twirled around with her eyes shut tight as the elevator doors began to close.

  “Hot damn!” She clapped her hands together and dropped it low…in her best video vixen imitation. “Who’s the man? I’m the man!” Camille was on top of the world. Her career had taken an amazing turn in the past few hours.

  She added an extra drop to her impromptu dance and laughed.

  “I would agree. But you’re much too pretty to be a man,” a deep voice directly behind her replied.

  Camille spun around as her hands covered her mouth in embarrassment. Her eyes widened as she gaped at the figure in the corner of the elevator.

  Slowly her gaze followed the length of his dark gabardine slacks past a trim waist, over a broad chest and shoulders…and up, to a face so fine it made her heartbeat speed up as heat flushed her face.

  Dear god in heaven, she thought.

  How in the world could she have missed seeing him casually leaning in the corner of the elevator, his chiseled arms crossed over his wide chest?

  Camille smiled weakly and swallowed.

  She tried to inconspicuously tug at the hem of her conservative navy blue suit while trying her best to ignore the heat steadily warming her skin.

  He was tall, very tall, something that made her look at him even more closely.

  He had a prominent, aquiline nose that seemed to dominate his angular face, which only added to his rugged masculinity. A deep cleft bisected his square chin, and a shallow dimple creased just one side of his face, which was punctuated with a well-defined mouth. Several sable-brown strands of hair lay over a thick brow, set above hazel-colored eyes that held a glint of amusement. He watched her watching him. She must have stared too long. But have mercy, the man was fine.

  “I, uh, I…thought I was alone. I was…I was just
celebrating,” she stuttered. “I don’t, uh, normally, you know…do that. Dance in elevators, that is.” Camille clenched her mouth shut to stop herself from blurting out anything else and turned around, her face flaming. When she was nervous she had a bad habit of doing that—babbling.

  She kept her eyes fixed straight ahead staring at the slow-moving numbers on the elevator panel, praying that they’d get to the lobby as quickly as possible.

  “No problem. Actually, you just missed my own celebration.” She heard the humor in his deep baritone. Did he have to have a voice that deep and sexy, and be that fine? The sound alone sent a shiver along her spine.

  Camille glanced back over her shoulder hesitantly and caught the shy smile playing across his luscious lips.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. In fact I was just on my way down to the bar in the lobby to finish my celebration.” He paused. “Don’t suppose you’d like to join me?”

  Before she could answer, the elevator stopped and three other occupants joined them.

  As she made room for the new occupants, Camille eyed Mr. Tall, Dark and Fine from beneath lowered lashes, considering his offer.

  She’d just received the promotion of a lifetime, which had included a fantastic raise. Although it meant moving from her native Seattle to the corporate office in Houston in a few months, she was definitely in the mood to celebrate.

  Gideon hid his grin, not wanting to embarrass the gorgeous woman any more than he had. When she’d danced into the elevator, he’d been surprised and pleased to see her.

  Thirty minutes earlier he’d returned to the offices of Silverman to sign one final document on the new contract to provide training for their upper management personnel. On his way to Matt Silverman’s office, he’d passed a partially opened door. A sexy, husky laugh coming from within the office had stopped him dead in his tracks.

  Slowly, he’d walked closer to the sound and the door.

  The sexy laugh had accompanied a pair of long, bare, shapely brown legs casually propped up on a desk.

  He had only been able to see her profile. Her shoulder-length, dark, curly hair and her cell phone cupped between her shoulder and ear had obscured much of her face. Cautiously, Gideon had stepped closer.

  “Mom, I got it! I can’t believe it, I got the promotion!” she’d said, twirling a strand of hair around her index finger as she spoke.

  She’d paused, obviously listening to her mother on the other end before continuing. “I’ll come by later tonight and tell you all about it!” She’d spoken a few moments longer, hung up the phone and happily spun around in her desk chair.

  Unable to walk away, he’d continued to watch her, sliding closer behind the door so she wouldn’t see him.

  When she’d stopped spinning in the chair long enough for him to glimpse her entire face, his breath had caught in his throat.

  She’d been breathtaking. Large eyes dominated her heart-shaped face; the corners slanted, slightly, and pouty pink-tinted lips had lifted in a wide smile. Her ear-to-ear grin, which emphasized the deep dimples in her cheeks, had completely captivated him.

  And when she’d thrown her head back and laughed again, her face glowing in happiness, tilting her head to the side so that the long line of her neck showed…damn.

  The phone clipped to his belt had buzzed, alerting Gideon to a call. The call had stopped him before he could have made a move toward her and made a complete and utter fool of himself, without a thought to what he would have said to the woman.

  Uttering a mild curse he stepped away from the door. The call had been from Fred Silverman. After a moment of hesitation he’d turned and briskly headed toward the CFO’s office. He’d hoped Fred wouldn’t be long-winded and he could sign the contract quickly.

  Although he hadn’t known what in hell he’d say to the woman if she had been still there when he’d returned, Gideon had felt a keen sense of disappointment when her door was closed with no sign of her when he had made his way back to her door.

  And now, here she was.

  Today was definitely his day. Nice.

  When the doors opened to the lobby, Camille eased past the woman next to her and quickly exited the elevator.

  The ride down had seemed painfully slow and she could feel the man’s eyes on her the entire time.

  “So, will you join me?”

  She swallowed the melon-ball-size butterflies fluttering in her stomach when she heard the voice behind her and turned to face him.

  “Oh, uh, well…I thought I’d better go home. It’s getting late and I kinda promised my mom I’d stop by, and, I, uh…” She stopped and wanted to kick herself in the butt for the rambling, something she did whenever she was nervous. “Thanks for the offer,” she finally finished. “I’d better pass.”

  She forced an easy smile and ignored the way his intense stare was making her heart beat crazily in her chest.

  “Are you sure I can’t convince you? They have a bar right here in the lobby. Just one drink to celebrate?”

  The seductive smile playing around his mouth coupled with her overall excitement made the decision for her. Why not? It was only one drink, after all. After that, she’d go her way and he’d go his. She gave a shrug of her shoulders.

  Nothing wrong with accepting an offer for a drink with a good-looking man. And Lord only knew the last time she had gone out on a date, much less just shared a drink with a man.

  With her nod of agreement, his smile grew. He grasped her elbow, leading her toward the lobby.

  “So, what are you celebrating?” she asked as they made their way toward the bar. She glanced up at him as he adjusted his much longer stride to match hers.

  They reached the entrance to the bar, and, although the door was closed, Camille could hear the low rumble of music and voices from within. He opened the door, glancing down at her with a smile as he allowed her to enter before him.

  Once inside, the music, that had been a low roar outside the heavy glass doors, bounced off the walls, the latest pop tune filling the crowded bar.

  “Just got a great contract, one that I’ve been working to get for a while now!”

  The faint scent of mint blew across her nose when he leaned down, speaking in her ear so she’d hear him over the music and voices.

  “That’s great!” she enthused, grinning up at him.

  The bar was hopping. Happy hour was in full swing, packed with patrons forcing Camille into close contact with… She didn’t even know his name.

  She turned to ask when she was pushed from behind and forced into even closer contact with him. Their bodies brushed against each other, and he held her closer to avoid the loud, rambunctious patrons.

  The hold he had on her arm was subtle, yet the way he positioned her closer to his body made Camille feel oddly protected as he guided her through the crowded throng. He walked them to the back of the bar where the noise was less grating, and they found a small empty table. Before Camille could pull out her chair, he was there, pulling it out for her.

  “I don’t even know your name,” she said after a murmured thank-you, once they were both seated.

  “Gideon, Gideon Taber.”

  He extended his hand, almost formally, and with a smile, she placed her hand in his. The instant their fingers touched a spark of electricity surged between them. The shock made her jump. Her eyes flew to his, and the lopsided grin tilting the corners of his mouth made her groaning heart speed up even more.

  Yes. It had definitely been too long since she’d been out with a man.

  “And yours?”

  “It’s Cami…pleasure to meet you, Gideon,” she replied, giving only her nickname. Thankfully he didn’t press her for her full name.

  Camille turned away, scanning the crowded bar. “I’d heard this was the place to be during happy hour, especially on Friday, but I didn’t know it was this popular!” Even though it was quieter in the area they were sitting, she had to speak much louder than normal in order for him to hear her.
>
  “You’ve never been here before?”

  “No, I usually work late. By the time my workday is done, happy hour is long over,” she replied.

  “Even on Fridays?”

  “I work late most nights,” she replied with a shrug. “Nothing special about Fridays.”

  “Doesn’t leave a lot of room for play time.”

  “Play time?” Camille laughed lightly, smoothing her skirt down around her hips as she settled into the chair. “That is so not a problem. I don’t know the last time I played or even had anyone to play with!” As soon as she made the remark, she groaned inwardly at the response.

  A waitress came by to take their order, saving Camille from saying anything else revealing and avoiding further embarrassment.

  “This beautiful lady and I are in the mood to celebrate…what would you suggest in the way of a nice vintage wine?” Gideon asked.

  After giving Camille a cursory once-over, the waitress turned her attention to Gideon. All thirty-two of her pearly white, even teeth gleamed as she grinned at him and recommended a pinot grigio.

  Gideon ordered their drinks, giving the woman a distracted smile before turning to Camille again.

  “So, is that your normal way of celebrating?” he asked, a ghost of a smile flirting around the edges of his sensual mouth.

  “I’m assuming you mean my dance in the elevator? No…that was a one-night-only performance,” she said, laughing. “I just got promoted, that’s all.”

  “That’s all? From the way you looked in the elevator, I’d say it was a little more than a simple promotion,” he said, grinning.

  Camille groaned and laughed along with him. “Oh, God, please don’t remind me!”

  “Hey, like I told you, you had just missed my own celebratory dance!”

  When she gave him a “yeah, right” look, he raised a brow. “Oh, you don’t think I know how to dance?”

  “I didn’t say that, but since you asked…” She gave him an assessing once over, as though she was considering his talent.