Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2012 Vanessa Devereaux
ISBN: 978-1-77130-221-0
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: JS Cook
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
For Edgar Devereaux
NAUGHTY NOELLE
Romance on the Go
Vanessa Devereaux
Copyright © 2012
Chapter One
Shaun flipped the switch on the office Christmas tree. Apart from the two overhead security lights, the fourth floor was now cast into almost total darkness. He made his way toward the elevators, glancing at his watch as he did so. Four p.m. on Christmas Eve and he was the last person left in the building. Maybe his New Year resolution would be to work less and play harder.
One of the drawbacks to being the CEO. Becoming one had been his dream and resolution five years ago. He hit the elevator button with his knuckle. At least being the only person left at Billingham Corporation headquarters meant you didn’t have to wait more than a few seconds before the elevator arrived. He got into the car and pushed for the first floor.
Not that he was in any hurry to get home. Last year’s resolution had been to find someone special to share his life. He’d been serious about doing just that until midway through January. It was on the fifteenth day that he’d given up and realized he probably wouldn’t find anyone mostly because he was getting too picky.
The elevator doors opened and he stepped into the lobby, glancing toward the main floor offices as he did so. Someone had left a light on in there. He knew the cleaning staff had finished their work and left two hours ago. Maybe one of them had been in the festive spirit a bit too much and forgotten about it. It would be two days before the office staff returned, and he didn’t want to waste electricity. Shaun headed in there and walked by the employees’ holiday decorated desks decked out with tinsel, balloons and miniature Santas. He was about to flick the main light switch when he noticed a sheet of red paper had fallen from one of the desks. He picked it up, not planning to pay any attention to what was written on it, but the fancy penmanship caught his eye. It was a letter to Santa. Maybe someone’s child had written it and the employee had forgotten to take it home with them. Should he read it to try and find out who that person was, just in case a child was waiting for a certain gift under the tree tomorrow morning?
Pulling out the chair from the desk, he sat and placed the paper on his lap. He switched on the desk lamp and began reading.
Dear Santa,
Last year I was very good, but this year, well that’s another story. I’ve been a naughty employee. I lost a bet with the girls in my department which meant I had to photocopy my pussy. We had a new temp start in March and he was too much for me to resist. During work hours I gave him a blow job in the supply cupboard. The following day he gave me a hand job under the table while we were in a meeting with the boss, Shaun Cullen. And speaking of which, I’ve had erotic thoughts about him all year. I was tempted to anonymously send him the photocopy and use it as a way to introduce myself to him.
When we went on the staff retreat in the summer I fucked one of the guys from marketing, but all the time I imagined it was Mr. Cullen who was pounding away inside me. I even stole a few things from the company hoping he’d catch me, call me up to his office where he’d bend me over his knee and spank me before doing more erotic things to me.
I know this all sounds very bad, and it is. So Santa I’ll quite understand that when you stop by on Christmas Eve, if you find the need to punish me in the only way you know how.
Yours always, Naughty Noelle.
Shaun pulled his tie down from his shirt collar because right now it felt like it was choking him. He popped open the top button. It had helped, but he doubted anything besides an ice cold shower would take away his sudden erection. Tugging on the front of his pants, he wiggled in the seat, hoping that would ease some of the heaviness in his groin. He took a deep breath while glancing at the letter again. Definitely not a child’s letter to Santa, but written by a woman who obviously had sex on her mind all year, and who had also broken lots of rules at work, too.
He looked at the name plate on the cubicle. Ellen Nelson. He picked up the photo she had in a frame on her desk. It was of her holding a beagle puppy. At first reading he’d wondered if all her exploits were fabricated. Now, however, after putting a face to the name, he knew they had to be true. She had been at the meeting with him and was seated next to Mike Westin who’d been a temp worker at the time. No wonder she’d had a big smile on her face. Company facts and figures didn’t usually produce that sort of look, but getting a hand job certainly did.
Shaun had remembered that smile for days. The cute little dimples, the blue eyes, and freckles. He looked at her photo again. And she’d had erotic thoughts about him. He’d had a few too, when she’d left his office that day.
Biting his thumbnail, he wondered what he should do about this. She was an employee and she’d admitted that she’d stolen things from the company. She’d played around, in the storage cupboard no less, which were both grounds for dismissal. On the other hand, she’d declared her lust for him. Should he wait until after the holidays, call her to his office and simply fire her? Or should he do as she’d asked and get Santa to punish her for the crimes of the year?
He pulled on his pants again, knowing his hard-on wasn’t going away anytime soon. Well, not while he was recalling all the sexy things Naughty Noelle had revealed. Shaun glanced at her photo one more time.
He’d made his decision.
Chapter Two
Ellen took the Cornish hen out of the freezer. At least it wouldn’t take days to defrost like a twelve pound turkey. This would be the first Christmas she wouldn’t be spending the holidays with her parents. She’d taken a job in Chicago in February, and she had to be back at work the day after Christmas so she hadn’t seen the point in traveling all that way to Boston for less than twenty four hours. But now looking at the pathetic small frozen bird sitting on the large oval platter made her think about calling the airlines to see if she could book a last minute flight home.
Nope, I’ll be fine.
She’d make herself some hot chocolate, smother it with lots of whipped cream, and stir it with a candy cane. While she enjoyed that, she’d sit on the couch with her blanket wearing her fluffy pink slippers, and watch It’s a Wonderful Life. This year hers wasn’t so wonderful, but there was always next year.
She headed to the kitchen and on her way there heard the phone ringing. Thinking it was probably her mother who’d already called three times to see if she was okay, she picked it up.
“Hi Mom.”
“Is this Naughty Noelle?”
Definitely not my mother. Well, not unless her voice had suddenly got a lot deeper. And shit, Naughty Noelle that was the name she’d given herself in the game they’d played during the department’s holiday party. Things had gotten a little crazy and someone had smuggled in a bottle of tequila to make strawberry margaritas. Neil had even dropped his pants and tied tinsel around his dick as they’d all sat down and written dirty letters to Santa. Hers was still in her…
Ellen reached for her bag, rummaging through it, desperately looking for the sheet of red
paper.
It wasn’t there.
She was sure she’d stuffed it in her purse, knowing that once she was sober, she’d be mortified that she’d even written such things.
Shit, it wasn’t there and now…
“Is this Naughty Noelle?” the man’s voice asked again.
“Yes, this is she.”
It’s probably Neil or one of the other guys playing a joke on me.
“Did you really mean it when you said you have a crush on Mr. Cullen?”
That had been the only bit that had been true. The booze made her feel uninhibited so she’d felt compelled to reveal something she’d kept hidden from everyone. Since the first time she’d seen her new boss she’d fantasized about him. Him and her together. Dating and making love. How stupid was that?
Whoever was on the other end of the line had obviously read the letter. They now knew about her thing for the boss, so there was little point in denying it.
“Yes, yes I did.”
“Are you ready for Santa to stop by and issue you his punishment as you requested?
”
Ellen swallowed.
She’d forgotten all about that bit. Margery had gotten a little heavy-handed with the tequila as the afternoon drew on, and things had flowed from Naughty Noelle’s pen much too freely.
“I guess so.”
Ellen smiled. This had to be Neil messing around with her.
“Then look out for him around midnight.”
There was a purring sound in her ear and Ellen realized whoever was at the other end had terminated the call.
Yeah Santa, I’m all ready for you.
Chapter Three
It was his lucky night.
The guy he’d seen in the Santa suit who’d stood outside the local supermarket collecting money all month long was still there. He was about the same size as Shaun. Well, maybe a bit shorter, but it was doable.
“I know this is going to sound strange,” said Shaun. “But if I write a check for a very nice donation to the food shelf, could I have your Santa outfit?”
“Depends on what you call a nice donation.”
“How does $1,000 sound?”
“It’s yours and Happy Holidays, sir.”
Shaun wrote the check while Santa went into the store and changed out of his costume and brought it back out on a hanger.
“Sorry I don’t have the gloves or Santa boots.”
“That’s fine. And here’s your check,” said Shaun.
The man took it and held it to his chest. “This is going to feed lots of families. God bless you, sir.”
“Glad I could be of some help.”
Shaun carried it to his car and placed it in the trunk. The supermarket was still open which meant he could run in and grab some supplies. Food and wine for a start. He glanced at his watch. He had fifteen minutes before they closed.
He grabbed a cart and headed down the aisles, suddenly wondering if he had condoms at home. It had been a long time since he’d had time for a date, let alone had sex, so if he did, they were probably out of date.
Better get myself some new ones.
He guessed this was all wishful thinking on his part. That Ellen would invite him in and…
Shit, what if she slapped his face? Called the police…got him fired?
Nope, she would have protested on the phone, right?
Shaun pulled down a bottle of white wine from the shelf, and then decided to go with a red one too, just in case Ellen preferred it.
Chocolates. He should take her those. All women loved them, especially during the holidays.
He wheeled the cart to the only remaining open register just as the security guard shut the door at front of the store.
“Doing some last minute shopping?” asked the clerk.
“Yes, forgot all about it.”
She passed the box of condoms over the scanner and grinned at him.
He’d turned red. He knew he had because he felt the skin on his neck and face tingle.
Glancing outside he noticed it was starting to snow.
“Shit.”
He hadn’t realized he’d said that out loud until the clerk looked up at him.
“Sorry.”
Shaun had jotted down Ellen’s number when he’d looked in the personnel directory, but in his excitement at hearing her voice, he’d forgotten her address. He’d have to stop by the office again.
****
Ellen’s head jerked up. She’d fallen asleep on the couch and woken up not realizing where she was. That’s right, it’s Christmas Eve. She stood up and peeked through the gap in the drapes. When had it started snowing? She guessed she’d been asleep longer than she’d thought.
Santa hadn’t put in an appearance, but then again it wasn’t midnight. Ellen guessed that the call had been a hoax and that it had been Neil. She hoped he’d keep the secret about her having the hots for their boss. If Mr. Cullen ever knew about her erotic thoughts she’d never be able to look him in the eye ever again.
Yawning, she decided to make herself that hot chocolate. She opened the fridge door to get out the carton of milk and noticed the Cornish hen looked successfully defrosted. She pulled out the milk and set it on the counter top just as the doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She headed out to the hallway and stopped in her tracks.
Santa.
What if this was the Santa caller?
It had to be Neil. He knew she was alone for the holidays and he was doing this to cheer her up.
She walked the rest of the way down the hallway and opened the door. Her heartbeat quickened when there on the doorstep stood Santa bearing gifts and a shopping bag.
“Good evening, Naughty Noelle.”
It wasn’t Neil’s voice. Neil wasn’t this tall. Neil didn’t have broad shoulders like this man. Neil didn’t have gorgeous hazel eyes like…
Ellen swallowed. It couldn’t be. I’m dreaming.
Then she got a whiff of his aftershave. She’d smelled it before. In the conference room that day in March when she done some role playing with Mr. Cullen. He’d sat next to her and she’d been almost pleasantly intoxicated by the spicy masculine scent. She’d never experienced that particular fragrance before and hadn’t since.
It couldn’t be. I’m dreaming.
“Are you going to invite Santa inside or are you going to make him stand and catch his death as the snow gathers on his shoulders?”
It was him. She wasn’t dreaming.
****
In the subdued lighting of her hallway, she looked so pretty. In fact, at work, he hadn’t realized just how attractive Ellen really was. And her perfume. It had made its way toward him as soon as he’d stepped inside her town home. He’d smelled it when she’d sat next to him on the day of the conference. He’d liked it then, but he liked it even more now. They stood looking at one another. He hadn’t realized this would be so awkward, but then again what did he expect?
They both attempted to say something at the same time and laughed. And then the uncomfortable silence fell again.
Thinking on the spur of the moment, Shaun set down the gifts and bag on the floor and pulled out the mistletoe he’d found in the supermarket produce section. It hadn’t been for sale but he’d offered to take it off their hands for them. It was dried out, curled slightly, and probably wouldn’t last another day, but tonight it would serve its purpose.
Holding it over their heads, he leaned in and kissed her. Shaun had every intention of it being a short one but once his lips made contact with hers, he was a goner.
Letting the mistletoe fall to the floor, he pulled her in closer to his body, not taking his lips from hers and then feeling her arms go around his shoulders.
Christmas Eve wasn’t turning out at all like he’d planned. By now he thought he’d be all alone at home watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and wrapping the two gifts he’d bought for himself. He hadn’t even bothered to buy a tree this year.
She swirled h
er fingers through the hair on the nape of his neck. It felt good. Her fingers were soft and yeah, it almost tickled. His erection pushed into her belly as she opened her mouth and allowed his tongue to glide over her lower lips.
They finally pulled away.
“Merry Christmas Naughty Noelle.”
“Merry Christmas Mr…”
He put his finger on her lip.
“Shaun,” she said.
He shook his head. “For now I’m Santa.” He winked at her.
He picked up the bag and gifts and followed her into her living room. The main lights were off, but the tiny tree’s lights twinkled. He put the gifts underneath it and turned around to look at her.
“I suppose you know that I read your letter.”
“Yes, about that.”
He held up his hand.
“Santa is very understanding, but you know he has to issue a little punishment before you get any gifts.”
She was blushing. He loved it.
Ellen nodded and he realized another thing about her that he’d never seen before. She had the most wonderful long eyelashes that curled up slightly.
“And what is Santa planning to do to me?”
“I thought you wanted a spanking.” It was his turn to blush. He had that familiar burning heat in his cheeks. He’d never spanked anyone before, let alone a stranger. Okay, Ellen was hardly a stranger. He was overthinking this, and she was now walking toward him.
“Will you use your hand or have you brought something like a crop you use to keep your reindeers in line?”
She put her arms around him. He swallowed. Could he get any harder? He doubted it. She ran her fingers through his white beard and stopped at his lips.
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