by Hazel Kelly
Towards the end of the night, I lost sight of him and began scanning the room like a lifeguard.
Then I heard a voice behind me. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
I turned over my shoulder and was greeted by his smiling face. “You think so?”
“And not just with the dress,” he said, stepping up to me. “The party’s all right, too.”
I laughed. “I’m delighted that you think so.”
“I wasn’t expecting the reindeer.”
“Good.”
Suddenly, a body shoved between us at the bar. “A whiskey sour, please,” Emily said before turning her glassy eyes towards me. “Ella!” She threw her hands in the air. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
I laughed at her enthusiastic lie.
Will raised his eyebrows behind her.
She smacked him in the chest without turning around. “First of all,” she slurred, pointing a boney finger in the air. “Will did a good thing picking you. This is one hell of a party.”
“Thank you, Emily. That means a lot coming fro-”
“Second of all, thank you so much for the thoughtful gift.”
“Do you think that’s something you can use?”
“Are you kidding? That was so kind of you.” She touched me on the shoulder and leaned against the bar. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“You deserve it, Emily,” I said, suddenly noticing how much fake snow was in her hair. “I never could’ve pulled this off without you.”
“Well I can’t argue with that,” she said.
The bartender put a whiskey sour down.
“What’s that?” Emily asked.
“A whiskey sour,” the nutcracker said.
“That’s not what I ordered.” She looked at it with disgust. “I ordered a mimosa.”
“Apologies, Ma’am.” The bartender reached for her drink.
“I can take that off your hands,” I said, sliding the short glass towards me.
The bartender nodded.
Despite the ballroom being a visual feast, Will still had his eyes on me.
A moment later, Emily had her fingers wrapped around her Mimosa and was looking back and forth between me and Will with what seemed like suspicion. “See you kids around.”
As soon as she was gone, I took a sip of the whiskey sour. “Oh my god I’ve never seen her like that.”
“She only drinks during religious festivals.”
“What?”
“You know. Christmas. Easter. All Souls’ Day.”
“Seriously?”
“You could write a book on that woman’s quirks.”
“So I’m beginning to understand.”
He stepped so close to me my chest tightened. “You got her a Christmas present, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Nice touch. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. I wanted to.”
“What did you get her?”
“A spa day at Cleo’s.”
“Wow.”
I felt one side of my mouth curl up. “I thought it might be good for both of us.”
He smiled. “Did you get me something?”
I rested an elbow on the bar. “I suppose I could’ve, but what do you get a guy who has everything?”
“Mmm.” He took a sip of my drink. “How about a dance?”
“I don’t have anything prepared,” I joked.
“Choreography won’t be necessary.”
I drained the rest of the whiskey sour until my face puckered. “Okay.”
He extended a hand and I took it. Then he led me onto the dance floor with such purpose I knew I was in for a treat. Finally, he spun around to face me and pulled me towards him until there was no space for anything besides our breath between us. I put one hand on his shoulder and he dropped his free hand to my hip.
For the first time in my life, I knew what Cinderella must have felt like.
“I want to congratulate you again on the party,” he said. “You should be really proud of yourself.”
“Thanks. I’m really pleased with how it turned out.”
He looked into my eyes.
“And I was under budget, too.”
He smiled and shook his head. “You’re unbelievable, Ella.”
I felt his fingertips touch lightly against my lower back, but I couldn’t tell whether it was intentional or not so I said nothing and just tried not to faint.
“I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t bring a guest tonight,” he said, leading me around the floor.
I furrowed my brow. “Who should I have brought?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Someone you wanted to catch under the mistletoe?”
I pursed my lips and reminded myself to breathe, but he was so close I could only take shallow breaths.
“Isn’t there anyone you want this Christmas?”
I couldn’t answer him. My throat was closing up and the truth was inappropriate. “You didn’t bring a guest either. Isn’t there anyone you want this Christmas?”
“There is actually,” he said, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “But I knew she would be here tonight.” He pulled me closer and I closed my eyes. I could feel the shape of him, the strength of him all around me. I’d never felt more safe or scared.
When I opened my eyes again, I was facing the door. I watched as the last few guests left and the cleaning crew arrived, dragging vacuums and garbage bags.
“Looks like the parties over,” I said softly. But I wished the night would never end. I just wanted to dance with Will like that forever. I was happy there- out of my comfort zone- but not in too deep.
“Why don’t we go up to one of the suites for a nightcap,” he suggested. “We can make one more toast to your success.”
My head was saying no, but my body was saying yes. I leaned back and looked up into his handsome face. “One drink,” I said.
“Anything you want,” he answered.
Chapter 18: Will
I took her to a suite instead of my room because I wanted her to let go. I wanted her to forget that I was her boss. It was everything I could do to keep my hands to myself in the elevator, but she seemed so nervous. Like a wary kitten. So I gave her some space to breathe. Plus, it was easier to admire her from a far.
I held the door open for her when we reached the room and she took two steps inside and then bolted toward the window, assuring me that I had chosen well. The suite’s main feature was the floor to ceiling windows that offered a sweeping view of the city. It was a stark contrast to the finished party. After all, the city was still very much awake at this time, and I hoped Ella and I wouldn’t be falling asleep anytime soon either.
“What an incredible view,” she said.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it?” She looked over her shoulder. “It’s like a postcard.”
There was already a bottle of champagne on ice in the room, and I stepped up to the trolley where it was, but I was momentarily distracted by the way the window framed her silhouette. The curve of her hips in her floor length dress and the way I could follow her bare neck all the way down to her lower back made me want her so bad I could feel my heart beating in my cock.
I slid the bottle of champagne out of the ice bucket and dried it. Then I unscrewed the wire hood and kept pressure on the cork until I heard the subtle popping sound. “Champagne okay?” I asked, looking her up and down and licking my lips.
“Lovely,” she said, turning to face me.
Her shape in the dim room was the most tantalizing thing I’d ever seen.
“I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity, Will. I can’t even begin to tell you what an amazing time I’ve had these last few months.”
“It’s me that should be thanking you,” I said, tipping the bottle over two champagne glasses. “You made me look good tonight.”
“You always look good,” she said, turning back around and looking towards Central Park.
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It wasn’t even close to the first compliment I’d ever received, but it meant so much more coming from her. And something about the way she said it made me feel like I wasn’t wrong to want her the way I did. If she was attracted to me, there was no problem with us taking things further. I would happily put my body in her capable hands.
I walked up beside her with the two glasses.
The city lights sparkled off her clear skin as she smiled and took a glass.
I raised mine towards her. “Merry Christmas.”
She clinked her glass against mine. “Merry Christmas.”
I watched the gulp of champagne travel the length of her swan like neck before taking a sip myself. It was hard to pretend to be relaxed and make her feel at ease when all I wanted to do was tear her sexy dress off her and pretend to be caught under the mistletoe beside all her most secret places. But at the same time, she looked so elegant, so breakable. I feared I wouldn’t be able to treat her gently once I put my hands on her, that I’d transfer the pain of my restraint into how I touched her.
I took a deep breath. “How did it feel to be the most beautiful woman at the party tonight?”
“That’s very nice of you to say.”
“I didn’t say it to be nice. I never say anything just to be nice.”
She tilted her head towards me. “Why say it then?”
“Cause it’s the truth.”
She looked down at her glass. “Maybe I should go.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
She took a few steps toward the door.
“Ella.” I moved to catch up with her. “What’s wrong?”
She put her drink down next to the champagne bucket. “I shouldn’t-”
“Shouldn’t what?” I took another step forward.
She took a step back. “I shouldn’t be here like this-”
“Like what?”
“Like this when…” Her chest was rising and falling quickly with her breath. Her back was against the wall. “When you’re my boss.”
“But I’m not really your boss right now.” I put my hand on the wall above her shoulder. “Not really.”
“What?” Her eyes bounced back and forth between mine.
“You had a contract through the end of the party.”
Her wet bottom lip was right in my face.
“And the party’s over.”
“But I want a permanent position-”
“Done.” I said. “I’d be crazy to let you go after the job you did. We can talk about it on Monday.”
“So right now you’re not my boss?”
“No.”
“So what are you?”
“I’m just a guy who couldn’t take my eyes off you all night.”
She brought her hand to her chest. “I can’t-”
“Can’t what?”
“I can’t-”
“Think of any reason why I shouldn’t kiss you?”
She inhaled sharply and I pressed my lips against hers. She tasted like sweet champagne and her full lips were so deliciously kissable I never wanted to come up for air. Her tongue moved around mine with a passionate hunger that made my lower body burn for her.
I pulled her lithe body against me and felt my desire for her intensifying as I held myself against her. It felt so good to finally have her in my arms. I couldn’t wait to find out what it would be like to have her in my bed.
I reached down and hiked her dress off the floor so I could slide my hands up and over her smooth curves. When I moved to kiss her soft neck, she let her head fall back and put her arms over my shoulders.
I’d wanted to touch her for so long I couldn’t keep my hand from going straight to the warmth between her thighs. She spread her legs for me and when I felt that her panties were already wet, I slid them over and dragged the tips of my fingers along her hot little slit. Then I pressed them deep inside her until she moaned and gave into me.
I listened to the sound of her shallow breathing and fucked her with my fingers until her wetness dripped down the back of my hand. Then I moved my lips to her collarbone and reached up to peel her dress down so I could finally see her gorgeous tits.
“Stop,” she panted.
“What?” I asked, putting my hands on her shoulders.
“Just stop.”
“Why?” I pulled my face back so I could look at her.
She brought her palms to her cheeks.
“What’s going on?”
“I can’t do this.” She shook her head. “I thought I could, but I can’t.”
“Was I doing something wrong?”
“No.” Her wide eyes looked at me. “It’s not you. It’s m-”
“Don’t feed me a fucking line. Tell me what’s wrong.”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
I had no idea what was going on.
“I just don’t trust myself.” She smoothed her dress down. “Not with you.”
It was the worst thing she could have said.
“Why? What have I ever done t-”
“Nothing. It’s just-”
I put a hand under her chin and tilted it up. “It’s just what?”
“I’m sick of getting hurt.” She shook her head and pulled her dress back up over her shoulders. “And no one’s ever had more power to hurt me than you do.”
“But hurting you is the last thing I want to do.”
“I’m sorry, Will.” She pushed past me towards the door. When she turned around, her eyes were dark and desperate. “I’m so so sorry.”
And then she was gone.
Thanks
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To find out what’s next for Will and Ella, check out the second book in the Tempted Series, Touched by the Boss http://amzn.to/1EjNNLk
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Xo Hazel
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