Stuff My Stocking

by Blythe Reid

  The door flung open, and she stood there, steam billowing from the room and rolling off her skin, with tiny beads of water dripping down her arms. “It’s all yours.”

  “Oh, thanks.” I wasn’t sure what to say, and it was obvious by her actions she wasn’t in the mood for apologies. I couldn’t blame her for being upset with me, but all I wanted to do was help.

  “I’ll bring you up some fresh towels and a robe if you want it,” she said.

  “I don’t want to be any trouble. There are clothes in my bag, so a towel is fine.” My eyes trailed along her body, and I fought the urge to reach out and pull her close. Even though she seemed a bit angry, I wanted to know how she tasted and what it would feel like to have her warmth surrounding me as I buried in her thighs.

  “It’s really no problem.” She went to the door that connected to her own bedroom, and I undressed and set the water.

  I made quick work of showering to get clean, and then I stood there under the spray, thinking about her and all the ways I’d like to have her. It felt kind of dirty to be doing such a thing in our joined bathroom to a woman I’d just met, but I closed my eyes and let my head fall back as I gripped my cock. I needed the release.

  I worked myself over and thought about how good she’d looked in her tight jeans and boots, how perky her breasts had been beneath that blouse of hers, how it made her breasts look and what I wanted to do with them. She had curves in all the right places, and I wanted to explore every peak and valley.

  She’d be so good, down on her knees, pleasuring me, and I couldn’t help but think of all the ways I wanted to have her: on her knees, on her back, on all fours. I’d do it all with her and leave her with a steamy memory of me.

  The thought of leaving deflated me a little, and I changed my thoughts back to the sensual for my benefit. I could just see me pumping my cock in and out of her mouth, and then she’d wrap her sweet tits around it and stroke me.

  I heard a sound, and when I pulled back the curtain, my clothes were gone, and there was a stack of fresh towels on the counter. Fuck. I’d been working my cock and thinking of all the filthy things I’d wanted to do with her, and she’d been on the other side of the curtain the whole time.

  Somehow, that did something for me, and my balls tightened as the head swelled, and thick jets of creamy white came spurting out, dropping to my feet. I sagged against the shower tile.

  I wondered if she knew or if she’d seen. I suddenly felt like I’d violated her in some way, and even though I knew she couldn’t have been able to tell what I’d been doing, the fact that she’d felt comfortable enough to come in the room was a good sign. Wasn’t it?

  Maybe I was overthinking things, and she wasn’t interested at all. She’d grown up around men, and perhaps she didn’t think anything of it. I couldn’t read into it. It would be the worst thing I could do, to not only her, but to myself. I didn’t want things to be awkward over the next few days, and I didn’t want to have to leave and go to a hotel.

  I made sure the evidence was washed down the drain, and when I shut off the water and stepped out into the chilly air, I made quick work of getting dry.

  I looked over to see a pale pink bathrobe and held it up to me. Surely, she didn’t want me to wear the thing, so I left it and opted for wrapping the towel around my waist. The white cotton was a much better look as I opened the door to my room and stepped over to the bed where my suitcase was. My phone and wallet were both on the bed where I’d left them, and I moved them to the nightstand and turned back my covers.

  The smell of freshly laundered sheets hit my face, and the bed was nice and soft, like it was made of feathers or puffy clouds.

  I had hoped that my little episode in the shower was going to be enough to tide me over until I went home, but then I heard her padding around in her room, and the dirty thoughts came back to me, as well as my erection. I might not ever get enough of her.

  I was naked beneath the sheets when a soft knock sounded on my door. “Come in,” I said.

  The knob turned, and she peeked inside. “Hey, I was just wondering if you needed anything else before I turn in. There are some extra blankets in the trunk.” She pointed to the foot of my bed. “And if you need another pillow, I have a few extra.”

  “No, these are fine, thanks.” I wanted to tell her I needed her help, but I took a deep, calming breath and hoped she didn’t need me to get out of the bed. I didn’t want to scare her away or offend her with my bulge. I suddenly felt like a dog. She deserved a nice guy. Someone with her same ideals. She wasn’t a cock-hungry whore like some of the women who’d have already thrown themselves at me the minute they’d seen my car.

  “Okay, well, goodnight, Tyler.” She paused. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry about earlier. I know you didn’t mean to pry or anything. It’s just that the idea of losing this place scares me to death.”

  “I understand. My sister would feel the same way about the business if it went under. That’s why she sent me out for that tree. Our client threatened to bail on us if we didn’t get our act together. So, I guess I’m glad I found you. And I’ve already made arrangements. I’ll pay you tomorrow for tonight and the rest of the weekend. I know it won’t solve everything, but it will help.”

  “I would normally tell you your money is no good here, but I’m afraid it would be a lie.” She gave a little chuckle, and then after a shy grin, she shut the door, and her footsteps faded in the hallway.

  I tossed and turned, trying to behave myself. There was just something about her, something that wouldn’t let me rest. My brain was going a mile a minute thinking of her possibilities, and she was the first woman in my life who had made me think of those things for someone else and not myself.

  I could help her. I wanted to help her. But first, I’d have to convince her to let me. With any luck, in the end, we’d both be better off.

  I cursed my dick, but it wasn’t going to let me sleep. I reached down and cupped my balls with one hand, and my cock with the other. Then I let my mind take me to her. I imagined her last visit going down a bit differently. In my fantasy, she came inside and noticed my erection beneath the covers. She’d, of course, offered to help me out with it, and I’d obliged.

  She was so beautiful, and it wasn’t difficult to see myself with her, even though I wasn’t sure she’d ever go for me in that way. I had a clear image in my head of kissing her softly, first her mouth and then her breasts. I’d move my way down her flat tummy and to her soft mound, taking my time and planting the softest of kisses against her flesh. I could hear her moaning and knew that it would be the sultriest moan I’d ever heard. My mind was reeling with thoughts, and not all of them were sexual, but all of them were a turn on. I could see us working together, and I could even see us dating. But that was a ridiculous thought.

  The girl had enough problems without me in her life, and even if I could convince her to let me help her out financially to save this place, it wouldn’t mean she’d want sex to be a part of that bargain.

  I cleared my mind and focused on how good I felt and forced my thoughts to bring me over the edge. I grabbed a tissue from the box near the bed and cleaned myself up, and then I got up and flushed them down the toilet, hoping I wouldn’t wake her. With any luck, she was in her warm bed, doing the same to thoughts of me.

  Chapter 8

  Mattie

  The next morning, I tossed and turned in bed for a while, and then I got up to wash and dry Tyler’s clothes. He’d left the pink robe in the bathroom, and I wondered if he was one of those men who was so weirded out by the color pink that he’d rather be dead than wear it, but maybe he’d brought enough clothes in his overnight bag.

  I wondered how late he got to sleep in New York City, and if he even realized how late in the morning it was. I knocked on the door, and when he didn’t answer, I turned the knob and peeked inside.

  His body was limp, but for one part, which was so broad and thick that it tented the sheets, which barely cov
ered his lower half. He was impressive, for sure, and I had never seen anyone who was packing such a big instrument.

  He stirred, and I could see the thick cord of muscles flex as his head turned and his eyes fluttered open.

  “I’m so sorry to wake you. I just thought I’d come in and bring your clothes. I noticed you left the robe, but I didn’t know what all you’d have packed.” He glanced down and tugged the covers up to his chest. “Yeah, I guess you forgot to pack your jammies.”

  And couldn’t you have worn some undies, at least, I’d wanted to say.

  “Sorry, I always sleep like this, and I usually pack light, with just a fresh shirt and an extra pair of boxers.”

  “I see.” I turned my head and was about to walk out.

  “What time is it?” His voice was gruff and even sexier than normal.

  “It’s eight-thirty. I’ve been up for hours.”

  “I’m sorry, you should have woken me sooner.” He sat up, keeping the covers around him, but I turned sharply in case he stood.

  He breathed a short laugh. “I’m not getting up, but could you bring me my clothes?”

  I looked down and realized I still held on to his clothes. I had gripped them tightly and pulled them close to me as if I’d forgotten where I was and what I was holding.

  As I stepped over and placed the small stack on his bed, he reached out, caught my arm, and met my eyes. “Thanks so much for doing my laundry.”

  “No problem.” His hand felt warm on mine, and I wondered if by touching me, he was trying to test the waters. “I made you breakfast.”

  “Oh? I’m surprised the smoke alarms didn’t wake me; perhaps we should check the batteries.”

  “I can make eggs with very little problems,” I said. “You might even like them.” My cooking wasn’t as bad as Hunter had let on. I knew how to scramble eggs, and I knew how to make toast and bacon, too. He could warm them up himself.

  “I’m sure they’re wonderful.” He let out a soft breath and let me go. “Do you mind giving me a minute?”

  “Of course.” I hurried out and headed down to the kitchen where the food was covered. I turned on the oven to warm it, and by the time he came down, everything was perfect.

  “This looks great. I think your friend doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

  “You haven’t tasted it.” I watched as he took a forkful of eggs and brought it to his mouth. His mouth stilled, and he met my eyes.

  “Did you salt these?” He swallowed slowly and picked at his plate with his fork.

  I crossed my arms in front of me. “Aren’t they any good?”

  He made a face, and it seemed as though he didn’t have the heart to tell me.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me?” I asked, my heart sinking. “They’re that bad?”

  Tyler belted out a laugh and then pointed his fork toward me. “I’m just kidding. You should have seen your face.”

  “Not funny,” I said. “And just so you know, tomorrow you’re getting a box of Morton’s for breakfast.” I gave him a teasing look.

  He slid out the chair beside him with his foot. “Sit with me. I want some company.”

  “I will, but help me listen for customers. If they sense I’m having a good time, they’ll show up. It’s the way it always works.”

  “My sister is the same way, so if my phone rings, we’ll know it’s her.”

  “So, you own Premier Palace,” I said. “What’s that like? I looked it up on my phone, and that place is gorgeous.”

  “You Googled me?”

  My cheeks reddened. “I didn’t Google you. I looked up your business to see where the tree might be going.”

  “The guys are supposed to come and take it today,” he said. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take a smaller tree?”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “Yeah, and I’d even take the heat from my sisterbecause I know how much all of this means to you.”

  “No, you take the tree,” I said. “I want you to. It makes me feel like I’m not such a failure, and the money for it made up for what I didn’t sell on Black Friday.”

  “Glad I can help. And speaking of help.” He took out his credit card. “What’s the going rate for a night here?”

  “I wouldn’t know where to begin with something like that.”

  “Well, we’ll settle it when I leave, then,” Tyler said. “I’m sure we can come to some agreement.” He was really a nice guy.

  “I’m so sorry I showed my temper. Grams used to say a lady never shows her temper.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I shouldn’t have pried. I just think this place is really fabulous.”

  “I know it is, too; I just wish I had the money to keep it.”

  “What if you did?” he asked.

  “I’d fix it up and make it into a bed and breakfast. I’ve always imagined it full of people. Even though I’ve never seen it that way before. It has just always seemed like how it was supposed to be. The bank isn’t going to give me any more extensions.” I let out a long breath. “I don’t want to burden you with that.” I went to the coffee maker and poured the drink into my pink mug. “Want some?”

  I turned around, and Tyler had a dreamy look in his eyes. “Yes, please.”

  “If it weren’t for Hunter and Clara, I don’t know where I’d be. It’s been a hell of a year around here.” I brought his cup over and sat beside him as he continued eating.

  He swallowed a big bite and took a sip of his coffee. “I know what you mean. It’s been tough on my end, too. If it weren’t for Bex, I’d have had to face it alone. Having a sister is pretty special, but a twin sister is a bit trickier. She knows me so well; it’s eerie at times. And I know she can tell I don’t want to spend my life working the Palace.”

  “What do you want to do?” I asked.

  “Well, the first thing I’d like to do is meet someone who has the same dreams as I do, and then I’d like to pursue them together. All I’ve ever really wanted was to have a nice home and a family of my own. You know, a son to take camping and a daughter to spoil. I’d like to start my own business and watch it grow.”

  “That sounds nice.” Hearing him talk about a family made my heart tingle. “I hope I’m a better mother than mine was. She was in over her head, so she wasn’t around. But you know, I never really felt like I was missing anything. Not until after my grandfather was gone. My grandparents were my parents, and Hunter was a sibling in every sense of the word. Clara’s been my best friend since I moved down here for good, and it’s been a pretty amazing life so far. I guess I’m just afraid of where I’ll end up.”

  “I think we’re all afraid of that, in a way,” Tyler said.

  “Well, Clara and Hunter will be married soon, when she stops playing hard to get, so things are going to change whether I like it or not.”

  “Forgive me for saying, but she didn’t seem to be playing too hard to get last night. She didn’t leave until well after midnight.” He gave a little chuckle and finished the last bite of his toast.

  “Yeah, well, that was more about giving me and you a little time alone.” I was unsure if I should say anything or not, but then I thought what the hell. “They have this idea that you and I would be cute together.” I met his eyes, and his gaze bored into mine with his super-sexy smoldering look.

  “I disagree,” he said.

  My smile faded as my cheeks reddened and my heart plummeted to my feet, sinking like a stone in a well.

  He smiled. “I think cute is inaccurate; smoking hot is probably closer to the right words.” I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. Then my cheeks reddened for another reason.

  Chapter 9

  Tyler

  Her smile warmed me, and I was glad she’d taken the remark as a compliment. I was just about to tell her my idea, but then the sound of a truck had her standing to her feet.

  “Looks like the first customer of the day,” she said. “I’ll just be out there with t
hem if you need anything.”

  I got to my feet. “Do you need any help?”

  “No, I got it.”

  “Do you mind if I look around the place?” I asked.

  She stopped at the door and shrugged on her boots. “Knock yourself out.”

  I watched as she greeted the couple, who were smiling and holding hands. Then he looked into her eyes. The fact that they were very much in love was written all over their faces. I was envious. It had been a long time since I’d had that kind of relationship. The last girl I’d been serious about turned out to be a shallow child, and once I realized she was only with me for my money, I cut the purse strings. She was gone less than a week after that, and my sister gave me a big, fat “I told you so.”

  Since then, it had been a parade of more of the same, and I had started to believe that there weren’t any good girls left until I met Mattie.

  I went upstairs after Mattie and the couple disappeared into the trees, riding together on a golf cart, and I busied myself peeking into every room. They were all spacious, and a few of them were empty. The front rooms were set up so that two rooms had a shared bath between them, and the ones across the hall shared a bathroom with hallway access, making eight rooms and three baths total. The downstairs was comprised of the kitchen, a large living area, a formal dining room, and what I supposed used to be her grandfather’s room, because it looked to be a large den and was untouched. There was also a large laundry room and a pantry with plenty of space to accommodate food for a large group.

  I walked inside one of the rooms at the end of the house and noticed a creek in the distance on the property, as well as a large barn and the apartment where Hunter stayed. The possibilities were endless, and even though the home needed a little touch of paint here and there, some floor polish, and the tile a good scrubbing, there weren’t really any major issues on the surface.

  Out the window, I saw the couple and Mattie walking back up to the cart and climbing on. She brought them back up to the front, and I met up with them as she stopped the cart.