by Jisa Dean
But of course, he doesn't want to. Men like him don't have to kidnap women to have them follow him home. My mouth goes even drier when I realize I'm talking to someone who makes more in a year than my mom and I will make our whole lives. I roll my lips in between my teeth and bite down, just staring at him. There is no way I can talk to this man, or take him up on his offer to take me and my little sister home.
"So now that you know I'm not a serial killer/stalker are you ready to go home with me?"
"We can't." I blurt it out before I can think of an excuse to go along with it. A dark eyebrow cocks up in question. Fuck, I wish I was more social so I could lie and say we have someone else to take us or somewhere to be other than our tiny apartment. "I mean, um..." Damn!
"You know I'm not going to kill you, or that I'm not too busy or put out by taking you, so give me one good reason why I couldn't take you home." He gets closer, so close our sweaters almost touch. I can't tell if he's still talking about taking me home to my house or if he's asking me to come to his house. Why the hell do I have to be so socially awkward?
Mel picks that moment to pop back over. Her little eyes are shining so bright. She takes my hand in one of hers and then holds her hand up to Liam who doesn't hesitate to give her his. "Ready, Princess."
He walks with us to the parking garage and hits a button on his key chain to open the doors on a sporty little red car that looks like it should be flying down a California highway instead of parked in a concrete garage. I wince at Mel who puts her feet on the console to climb into the back before I can push the seat down and let her in that way. I offer an apology for her but Liam just laughs and tells me not to worry about it.
Once we're both in I give him the address and try to think of something to say that will help the time go by without any awkward silence but again I can't think of anything.
"Maybe I could wait around for your mom to come home and then take you out for dinner."
Oh my God, he's doing this because of what Mel asked him for. Heat and color rush into my face. He really is a sweet man. There is no way I can go out with him just so he can make my sister feel better. God, I'm such a social loser.
"I can't, I have school tomorrow." At least I have a ready excuse this time.
"Are you in college?" he takes his eyes off the road for just a second to look at me. There's a worried look on his face that has me confused.
"No, I'm in high school." I watch as his eyes go wide but he doesn't look away from the road.
"How old are you?"
I can't tell if he's just making conversation or if he's upset over something I said. He's very intense all of a sudden. "Um, I'm eighteen. I turned eighteen six months ago."
He is still frowning when I tell him. "I want to go to college in the fall next year but, um, I'll probably take some time off so I can help mom and not be so distracted when Mel needs me." I finish and turn towards the window so he can't tell I have no idea what I am going to do once I walk across the stage. I could start babysitting full time, that way I would be home for Mel every day. Maybe take a job at night after she goes to sleep.
"What school do you go to?"
I turn my gaze back to him. His jaw is hard like he's clinching it and I swear I see the pulse beat at his temples where salt and pepper hair is brushed back from his ears. For the rest of the ride he asks me and Mel all about things that make up polite conversation, where do we go to school, what time do we usually get out, how do I go about picking Mel up if I'm in school too, do I have a boyfriend or anyone at school I like or have a crush on. Mel actually embarrasses me once again by telling him I'm a lonely, antisocial, recluse who stays at home with her, watching cartoons, and eating mac and cheese.
By the time we reach home he knows a lot more about us than we do about him but I guess that's okay. I mean he might just be a naturally curious person. Mel is like that. She is so social it's a little scary. We've been over stranger danger for three years in a roll now and she still managed to invite someone home with us.
"I could walk you guys in."
I already have the door open and the seat pulled up for Mel to hop out, "No, that's really not necessary. Thank you for the ride."
This is the last time I'll see him and that shouldn't make me so sad but it does. Still, I also feel like we've taken up enough of his time. I am sure he is a busy man. I give him one last wave and take one last glance before I take Mel by the hand and go inside. That had to be the nicest, and the sexiest, Santa I have ever met.
Chapter Two
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Liam
So I'm a fucking dog. I just hit on an eighteen-year-old girl who screams innocent. And I'm not going to stay away from her either. Yeah, I've got about twenty years on her but damn she made me think about something other than work and that hasn't happened in a long damned time, probably too long to be healthy if I'm being honest. I have never been so thankful that I volunteer every year to be the Santa for my company as I have tonight.
All of my employees are asked to volunteer in some way during the holidays. Some of the ladies in accounting go to the local food banks and do drives and fundraisers for the homeless and hungry in the city. Others can be found in the hospitals giving their time to sick kids that may not able to go home for Christmas. I usually do that one but this year one of my loyal employees couldn't make it to the mall where he did the Santa thing because he and his wife just had twins. So I sent someone else in my place and took his, and I have never been so glad of a coincidence in my life. In fact, Jerry might get a raise this year for no other reason than he couldn't show up to play Santa this year.
When our eyes met while she stood in line, I was already cursing whatever god or fate put her in my world when she was already taken. The little girl beside her was so serious and solemn and they had just enough family resemblance that I knew they belonged together. The way she would look down at the child, or hold tight to her hand so she wouldn't get scared while waiting, let me know what kind of mother she was. I started praying that she was divorced or maybe the dad wasn't in the picture as horrible as that sounded. Maybe if the dad ran off I could slide into his place and be in her bed in no time flat.
Then her sister tells me she isn't her mom after all and what's more, she's single and I could have bought the kid a fucking city block just for giving me the heads up. Hell, I had asked again about a boyfriend or crush and the sweet little angel came through again, telling me her sister didn't like boys her age because they only think about sex and drugs. The girl, Paige, turned the sweetest, sexiest shade of red I have ever seen.
As soon as I knew she wasn't taken, my dick got hard and hasn't been right ever since. I let them go inside and even left but I couldn't stay away. I gave her an hour or so and then I was right back outside her apartment watching for any sign of her. It might make me a creeper to be sitting here waiting and watching for her, but I am okay with that.
God, I got so fucking mad when I found out she was still in high school around so many horny boys that want nothing more than to get at her young, tender flesh. But my girl is a good girl. I don't think she's been with anyone before. I have to rearrange my junk so the blood flow isn't cut off or something.
The thought of her being pure and innocent, as innocent as she appears to be, gives me such a hard-/on. I struggle with the thought of going to her, taking her out of the apartment and back to my home. This part of the city isn't the greatest. It's not so bad I wouldn't leave my car sitting in the parking lot but I wouldn't leave something as precious as Paige no matter where I was. We could be in my neighborhood and I wouldn't leave her for a second, worrying someone might take her from me.
I understand how close she is to her little sister and her mother. They can come too as long as they understood she's mine at night. I have all the sweet smiles and the big heart and the tiny little body that she tries to cover up with floppy sweaters. I own the building I live in at the top in the penthouse suite, I could move her m
om and sister in one floor below us and she can still see them every day. They can come to visit with her anytime she wanted them to. Me and her can have the entire top floor to find new places to fuck and not have to worry about being interrupted by an untimely visit.
I need to know if she's alright. If she is safe. If she has enough to eat and she's warm enough. I need to take care of this girl like my own comfort and happiness depends on it. It does, because if she's safe and happy I will be happy.
How the hell do I talk her into coming with me though? How do I tell her she is my world, that she is MINE? She was so cautious about even taking a ride and she should be. I could tell she was more concerned about her sister than herself. That's not something I'm okay with and we will be having many discussions in the future about her safety being just as important as her sister's I can already tell.
Is it really impossible to just kidnap her and take her back to my place? I was joking about it with her but if I thought I might be able to get away with it I would. I would love nothing more than the chance to tie her to the bed until she agreed to be mine. I would work for her trust and love too, knocking down her defenses one orgasm at a time.
I wonder what she's thinking and doing. She's probably getting ready to go to bed so she can go to school the next day, and all those little shits in class with her can look at her and sit next to her and have her attention on them. I hit my hands on the steering wheel, so mad that she's going to be out of my sight for so long. I bet the teachers are even worse than the little fuck-'o's that walk the halls with her. I bet they sit with her in their class and dream of running their hands up her smooth creamy skin. I hit the wheel again. God damn it, I am torturing myself with images that I can't do a damned thing about - yet.
The lights go out in the apartment finally and I have fifteen hours to figure out how I am going to tell her how I feel and not scare the hell out of her. Yet somehow stake my claim loud enough that others will know to stay the fuck away from her. I reach for my phone, I have an idea but I don't know if I have enough time to set everything up the perfect way for her and nothing less than perfect is ever going to be good enough for my angel.
Chapter Three
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Paige
I have been a space cadet all day. My mind has been a million miles away from where it needs to be. I dreamed about him last night. I dreamed about Liam. In my dreams, he snuck into my room and did naughty things to me while I slept and I liked every one of them. My cheeks turn red thinking about all the things I dreamed he would do to me.
And none of them can come true. One, I share a room with Mel so the chances of me having a hot late-night visitor who gives me untold pleasure are null. Two, I'll never see him again. That's the saddest one too. It breaks my heart knowing I got so close to the kind of man I want for my very own and I can't have him.
Too many things stand in my way of having him. He's rich and I'm not. He's a mature, well-established adult with a flourishing career and I'm...not. I sigh for what must be the hundredth time today. Mr. Dubois has asked me to stay over today too so I am going to have to really run to catch the train in time to pick Mel up. Mr. Dubois might be my favorite teacher ever. He's smart and funny and doesn't give me the creepy teacher pedo feel that a lot of the male teachers have. He's about Liam's age and rumor has it he married one of his former students and they are madly in love.
I like Mr. Dubois but I don't want to listen to what he's going to say to me. He's been after me to fill out college entrance papers for months now and I've put him off and put him off. Soon I'm just going to have to tell him I can't go next year. I am not looking forward to the look of disappointment on his face when I tell him too.
The final bell rings and all of the kids make a run for the door. I grab my stuff and trudge to the front of the classroom where I plop down in one of the front desks closest to Mr. Dubois desk. He comes around to the front and leans back against it so he can talk to me.
"Paige, have you thought any more about college?"
I don't meet his eyes. How can I when he's going to be so let down by me?
"I really think you should think about your future and what you want out of it. I understand being caregiver to your little sister is something you take very seriously but you have to step back and think about what is best for you."
I raise my eyes to him now, gasping at what he just said. I have never felt so betrayed. He knows how important my little sister is to me. How can he tell me to put myself ahead of her?
"You didn't have a child, Paige. You're mother did. And she is perfectly capable of taking care of her without you being there."
His words hurt bad enough to bring tears to my eyes. Suddenly the door of the room bangs open and both me and Mr. Dubois turn to look at the person barging in on our conversation. My mouth falls open when I see Liam standing there looking mad as hell. His sweater is red today and I have never seen a man look so good in a sweater before. If he can make a sweater look this good I bet he can make sweats look hotter than hell. He stomps over and bends down in front of me, cutting my thoughts off. I try to hide the fact I've been so upset. I don't think I'm doing a very good job though because the next words out of Liam's mouth are directed at Mr. Dubois.
"What did you do to her? Why is she upset?"
Mr. Dubois looks from me to Liam and back again. I chose not to look up anymore so I don't have to see either of their expressions. Long moments pass until I can't stand it anymore and have to so I can find out what is going on. Both men are looking at one another like they are trying to decide if they're going to beat the other one up. Finally, Mr. Dubois is the first to speak.
"I was talking to Paige about college and the benefits of going in the fall." That has me casting my eyes back down. Damn it. That's personal and something Hot Santa doesn't need to know about. Both sets of eyes turn to me now. God, it's like having two dads and both of them are disappointed in you at the same time.
"Paige, what do you want to do where college is concerned?" Oh my God, not Liam too. I can't take any more people trying to tell me what's best for me. I don't even speak. I just knock the stupid application for college assistance Mr. Dubois gave me into the floor and stand to leave. I make it to the door before Liam has me wrapped up in his arms.
I suck in a quick breath at the fact that he is touching me; he basically has his arms around me. "Don't run, angel. Tell me what's wrong so I can fix it."
"I have to go pick my sister up. I don't have any more time to talk today." I wait for his arms to fall away but they don't. I look at the clock on the wall and start to panic a little bit. If I'm not out of here and on the bus in the next ten minutes I'm going to be late picking Mel up. She stays in an afterschool program which gives me time to get out of class, take the bus, and be there for her when she gets out.
One time the bus broke down and I had to run the rest of the way. I was ten minutes late and Mel was the last kid left at the school. The pinched faced principal told me if I was late again she would kick Mel out of the program, which is the last thing I want to happen.
"Thank you, Mr. Dubois, for thinking of me and trying to help me but I really think I need to take the next year off."
Mr. Dubois sighs and puts the application in the top drawer of his desk. We both know he'll try to talk me into filling it out again after the winter break. Liam is the wild card that I can't predict. So when he stops me from going any further out the door I'm not sure how to shake him off of me so I can leave. I'm not even sure why he's here.
"What do you want to do, Paige? Do you want to go to college or take the time off? Don't worry about your sister." Hurt flashes in my eyes; I can tell by the way Liam looks at me. This is the second man who I’ve looked up to tell me to ditch my sister. He moves in closer and cups my face in his large hands. For someone with a lot of money, his hands are rough. "If you could go and still take care of her would you? If you knew everything would be taken care of where she was concerne
d would you want to go to college?"
I don't know. I don't know what I want to do. I can't see how I can go to college, work, and be there for Mel. I bite down on my bottom lip hard. Liam's eyes track my face and takes in the sight of my abused lip.
"You don't have to answer right now. But think about it. Come on, I'll take you to go pick Mel up."
I'm about to turn him down when I glance at the clock. Shit, I missed the bus. My eyes widen. I have no other choice than to take him up on his offer if I stand a chance of getting there on time. "Give me a minute and we'll leave. Can you wait on me over by the door?"
I nod and walk away before I can question why I'm doing what he asked me to do. He turns around to talk to Mr. Dubois again. I can't hear what they are saying but both men look at me a lot which makes me nervous. Why would Liam be talking about me to Mr. Dubois? Both men finally shake hands and Liam comes jogging over to me.
