by V. Vaughn
“After you untie me?”
“Hum…”
“Ugh!” She turned her head to one side, but watched him out of the corner of her eye. The edges of her mouth turned up as if she were trying to suppress a smile. “I guess you expect me to like this?”
“Don’t you?” He pressed a kiss against the inside of her knee. “All you have to do is tell me to stop, and I will.”
She swallowed, but didn’t say a word.
“If you don’t want me to kiss you here, I won’t.”
He licked the tender flesh on the inside of her thigh before kissing it. He pulled back to blow on the spot, loving the way she whimpered. She watched him through lowered lashes.
“And I definitely won’t kiss you here.” He stroked the inside of her thigh, just south of her already damp pussy. “Unless you want me to. Do you want me to?”
Her breath came in short spurts. An internal struggle played across her features until she ultimately made her decision.
“Yes.”
He never realized one word could be the sexiest word in the world.
He crawled up to kiss her lips. Warm and sweet, the taste of minty toothpaste lingered. She couldn’t have brushed her teeth this morning, unless she’d tied herself up afterward. Wait a minute… Did she do this on purpose?
He broke the kiss long enough to study her expression. There wasn’t a hint of mischief, but maybe he’d never know for sure. He was okay with it as long as he could keep kissing her.
As he returned to nibble on her neck, she let out a big sigh.
“I don’t know how I could ever resist you,” she said.
“You’re worrying about the future too much. Worry about where my lips are headed next. The future can wait.”
“Yes, it can.”
He captured her bottom lip and gave it a nip. She crushed her mouth against his, devouring him as if she hadn’t been kissed in years. He leaned into her. Pressed chest to chest, he swore he could feel her heartbeat join his in perfect harmony. His bear pranced around near his ribcage. The beast went wild every time she was near. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she might be his mate.
He didn’t know what to think about that possibility. She’d already pointed out an inherent conflict of interest because he was her boss. But what if something more developed between them? What would happen then? Maybe she’d been right. Maybe sleeping together wasn’t the best idea. But she was naked and wet, and he was filled with impossible yearning.
He decided to take his own advice and not worry about any of it right now. All he wanted to do was focus every bit of his attention on making her purr.
With renewed precision, he trickled wispy kisses down the edge of her jaw. When he reached her neck, he opened his lips wider, lightly sucking until her skin turned petal pink. He eased lower, kissing the tops of her breasts before swirling his tongue around each nipple. A gentle bite later, he brushed his nose across her belly, inhaling the subtle scent on lavender on her skin.
When he reached the apex of her thighs, he lightly nuzzled the sparse hair there. She giggled.
“That tickles.”
“Then let me soothe it.”
He flattened his tongue and pressed it against her pussy. The taste of her coated his lips. He dragged his tongue across her soft folds, nudging her open. She moaned and spread wider.
“I want to touch you,” she said.
“Not yet. I like you tied up.”
“I still can’t believe I messed up the knots.”
“Did you?” He smiled from between her thighs.
“You think I did this on purpose?” She tossed her head back and laughed. Her entire body jiggled with mirth. His cock thickened at the sight. She really had no idea how beautiful she really was, and that made her even more stunning.
“I think you did,” he teased. “But it’s okay. If you want to pretend you didn’t want me to tie you up and lick you from head to toe, we can pretend.”
“You’re terr—Oh, God!”
He flicked his tongue across her clit. She shivered and arched to meet his mouth. Whether she’d planned this or not didn’t matter now. He was ready to fulfil every one of her fantasies, starting with licking her until she begged for mercy.
With long, lingering licks, he teased her into a state of pure ecstasy. She came so hard that she kneed him in the side of the head. Temporarily dazed, he fell forward to press against her clit even harder. She shrieked as fresh shivers raked her body. He leaned back out of the line of fire and watched her come undone. She rolled to one side and pressed her legs together as if she couldn’t take another second of pleasure.
But he wasn’t done yet.
He slipped out of his pants and tossed them onto the dresser. He briefly considered removing the ties around her wrists, but having her bound and breathless was too good to give up. He’d never tied up anyone in the past, so it was a totally new, totally welcome experience.
As he moved between her thighs, her knees dropped open.
“Sorry I almost knocked you out,” she said sheepishly.
“You can make it up to me.”
“Is that right?” She arched a brow.
“Damn straight.”
He knelt between her thighs and rubbed the head of his cock against her pussy. She lifted her hips as if to impale herself on him. But he wasn’t done teasing her. He pushed just the tip inside.
“Give me more,” she begged.
“All of it?”
“Every last inch!”
He drove into her, pushing her hips off the bed. She jerked against the ropes and released a shriek. For a second, he worried that he might have been too rough, but then she began to move beneath him as if trying to ride him from below.
Screw the ties.
He quickly untied her. She growled and flipped him onto his back. She straddled his thighs and sat on his cock. He pushed up to the hilt. Right where he belonged.
As she rode him, her hair alternately billowed back before falling toward to frame her face. Her mouth hung open. Eyes closed tight. Guttural moans burst from her lips. She swirled her hips and worked his cock until he couldn’t hold back, but he had to. She always came first.
He rubbed the calloused pad of his thumb across her clit in tight circles. Her pussy tightened around him. So tight. So wet. So perfect.
Prickles of tension tightened his balls. He bit the edge of his lip and held on for dear life. With renewed gusto, he vibrated his thumb. She went crazy, thrashing and screaming as she pulsed around him.
When she fell forward, he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her tight as he came. It wasn’t until he’d finished that he’d realized a huge mistake. He’d completely forgotten a condom.
“Shit.”
“What?”
“I forgot the condom.”
“I’m clean and on birth control.”
“Same here.”
“You’re on birth control?”
“No, I meant the clean part.” Chagrinned, he eased onto his side next to her. He pulled her close and kissed her. “I’ll be careful next time.”
“Next time?”
“Oh, please not this again,” he said softly. “Can we just enjoy it for a few minutes before you drag us back to reality?”
“Okay, but I want you to know something.”
“What?”
“I didn’t tie myself up on purpose. I mean, I did, but not to seduce you.”
“Mm…” He smiled. “I’m not sure that I believe you.”
He snuggled against her, reveling in post-sex bliss. When she tried to speak again, he put a finger to her lips and replaced it with a kiss. She was right that this was wrong, but he couldn’t resist her. Employee or not, he’d find a way to keep this going as long as he could. Maybe it wouldn’t last, but he didn’t want it to end. Not yet. Maybe never.
5
Jessica woke to the scent of breakfast sausage and coffee. After slipping out of rumpled sheets from thei
r endless sex romp the night before, she pushed aside her fears about the future. She’d spent two days, and nights, in Toby’s arms. Two glorious days of mind-blowing sex—and it wasn’t over yet. Christmas was still several days away. Then, they’d have a few days after the holiday alone. But after that… she shook her head. It didn’t matter. What mattered now was finding him so that she could get her morning kisses.
She slipped into a plush white robe before heading out into the living room. Toby stood in the center of the kitchen, naked, except for a candy cane striped apron. He had his back to her, so he didn’t see her coming. It gave her a few extra seconds to admire his butt. She couldn’t decide whether she liked it better in jeans, or out of them. Probably out because that meant he’d be crawling into bed with her.
“Don’t think I don’t know you’re staring at my ass again,” he said.
“It’s hanging out, why wouldn’t I stare?”
She stood on tiptoes so she could kiss him. He tasted like a peppermint mocha. Her gaze darted around the kitchen.
“Where did you get an espresso maker?” she asked.
“I found it in the attic when I was looking for Christmas decorations.”
“I thought you didn’t want to decorate, Mr. Scrooge.”
“I didn’t, but now I do.”
“Why?” she leaned a hip against the granite-covered island.
He handed her a steaming mug of peppermint mocha.
“I didn’t have a reason to bring them out before. I was supposed to be alone for Christmas. No sense in trying to cheer the place up when it’s only me. But now you’re here.”
A smile spread across her face. She felt it all the way to her heart.
“Besides, I can only come so many times before I need a break,” he said wryly.
She laughed so hard she spurted coffee out of her nose. Choking and laughing, she grabbed a dishtowel from off the counter. She wiped up the coffee before it could stain the robe.
“I haven’t laughed like that in years.”
“I’m glad my lack of stamina can make you giddy.”
“Lack of stamina?” She arched a brow. “I’m bow-legged from your stamina.”
She slid onto a stool so she could watch him flip pancakes. He’d made enough food for a whole den of bears, which was good because she was ready to eat a house.
“I’ll bring the pancakes over in a minute,” he said. “Do you mind taking the rest of it to the table?”
“Oh, we’re going to be civilized today and not eat breakfast in bed?” She carried a bowl of fluffy scrambled eggs and crisp bacon to the table.
“I love breakfast in bed with you, but I don’t like picking crumbs out of hard to reach places.”
Love. Every time he said the word, her bear jumped for joy. The beast didn’t understand that he was using it casually and instead, thought he meant he was in love with her. Impossible. He couldn’t possibly be in love. Although, when he gazed at her with his gray-blue eyes, she wondered if it could be possible.
After he’d set the pancakes on the table, he slid into his chair. She took hers. She couldn’t help but dream about doing this every morning with him. After everyone came back to the ranch, they wouldn’t be able to eat together without everyone talking. She would have to enjoy it while she could.
“I’m thinking we should start with the random decorations first,” he said. “Then later we can cut down a Christmas tree.”
“When I was a kid, my dad would take me to a Christmas Tree farm. He’d let me pick out the tree, within reason. One year I tried to get a ten-foot-tall spruce. He’d vetoed that right away.”
“What did you end up with?”
“A six foot tall fir tree.”
“Still tall.”
“I think Christmas trees should touch the ceiling.”
“How will you fit a star on top? There won’t be any room.”
“I always find a way to make it fit.”
“That you do.” A wicked grin spread across his face. “I like that about you.”
“I bet you do.”
After breakfast, she helped him clean the kitchen before joining him in the living room. Several large plastic bins labeled “Christmas” sat next to the sofa.
“That box is full of stuff for the fireplace,” he said. “I’ll work on the other boxes while you do that. Okay?”
“Sounds great.”
She opened the bin to find a large poinsettia garland. She hung it from hooks on either side of the mantle. On the shelf above it, she added deer figurines. A miniature Christmas tree joined the figurines. She pulled five stockings out of the bin.
“Clara, June, Bridgett, Thad, and Toby.” She read the names as she attached them to hooks on the underside of the shelf.
“I wish we had one for you,” Toby said.
“Are the others ex-girlfriends?” she asked in a joking tone.
“No.” He chuckled. “Ex-family.”
“Oh.” She glanced at the stockings. Maybe she should have asked him before putting them up.
“It’s okay. Thad was my dad and June was my mom. They passed away years ago. My sisters, Bridgett and Clara, stopped talking to me right after my father’s lawyer read his will. He left the ranch to me. They were furious. I offered to split it three ways, but they refused. They wanted to sell it. I couldn’t believe it. It’s been in our family for generations, but they didn’t care. They only wanted money. So I saved up and bought them out.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said.
“I know. And in the end, it didn’t matter. They stopped communicating. I don’t even know where Bridgett’s living anymore.”
“That sucks.” Her heart broke for him. She knew exactly what it felt like to be alone.
“But, I have you this year, so I don’t need anyone else.”
What about next year? The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t get them past her lips. She’d decided to take this one day at a time, so asking about the future wasn’t an option. Not now. Maybe later, after Christmas, when everyone else was about to come back.
They spent the next hour arranging and re-arranging huge wreaths, holly-covered pillows, and other festive decorations. By the time they were done, the house looked like something out of a Hallmark movie.
“I’m glad we did this.” He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m glad we could spend this time together.”
She turned in his arms and gave him a slow, sexy kiss. As he pulled her closer, his erection poked against the apron he was still wearing. She laughed into the kiss.
“You’d better put some clothes on before we go looking for a tree.”
“Why?” he asked. “No one’s around for miles.”
“You’ll freeze your ass off.”
“Maybe.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“Seriously, put some pants on at least.” She put her hands on her hips.
“Okay, Mom.”
“Oh, no you didn’t!”
He grinned before disappearing down the hall. She shook her head and smiled. She hadn’t been Christmas tree “shopping” in years. With the amount of moving she did, it didn’t make sense to drag a bunch of crap with her. She hadn’t set down roots anywhere, so she didn’t have anywhere to store things like decorations. Most of the time she shared accommodations with other ranch hands, so even if she was given a storage area, she’d only be able to keep the basics. There wasn’t room in her nomadic life for holiday decorations.
She sighed.
“What’s wrong?” he walked back into the room wearing jeans, a flannel shirt, and a thick jacket.
“Nothing.”
“Come on, tell me.”
“I was just thinking about how I don’t really celebrate anything anymore.”
“It’s less of a hassle. I get it.”
“No, I mean, I want to celebrate things like Christmas, but I move so much.”
“Are you planning on leaving
?” His face fell. “I hired you on permanently.”
“I know. But one day I’d love to have a ranch of my own.”
“Really?”
“I’d have a summer garden and horses. A ranch-style house with a big porch where I could watch the sunrise while sipping coffee.”
“That sounds like a good plan.”
“One day.”
“If you put your mind to it, it will happen. Of course, I’d hate to lose you.” He set a Stetson on his head and strolled toward the front door.
“You won’t lose me.”
As she followed him out into the snow, she couldn’t help but picture living on the ranch full time. Technically, she already did it, but it didn’t feel like home. The last few days, staying with him in the main house felt more like living in a place she could call her own. Even though it was impossible, she couldn’t deny the yearning growing in her heart. But, she couldn’t fall in love with her boss. Nothing good would come of it, and she’d be out of a job. So for now, she’d just have to enjoy the time she had with him until it was over.
Toby gazed up at the tallest spruce in the thick corpse of trees. It had to be ten feet tall. He wasn’t convinced it would fit in the living room, but he couldn’t get over the joy in her eyes. She’d fallen in love with the tree, so he was hard pressed to deny giving her what she truly wanted.
“What if it doesn’t fit?” he asked.
“You’ll make it fit.”
Her sly grin sent blood coursing through his veins. He couldn’t get enough of her. Even though they’d made love more than he’d ever thought possible, he still wanted more. He wanted the last few days to keep going forever. As long as she worked for him, it wouldn’t be possible. But they were together now, so that was all that mattered.
“Okay, but if it doesn’t fit, I’m not castrating it.”
“You want me to do the snipping if it doesn’t fit?” she asked innocently.
“Remind me to hide the knives when we get home.”
He froze. We. Home. Uh oh. He hadn’t meant to make it sound like they were together and that they were going back to their home.
A flash of something he couldn’t decipher crossed her face. Longing? Could he have imagined it?
