Crashing Christmas: A Billionaire Office Romance Page 6

  Reaching down, I turn off the water and lift her up to carry her to my bed. “You have all my respect,” I whisper in her ear right before I lay her down.

  I kiss her ear and lick my way down her neck, then to her nipple, sucking it into my mouth. She moans and I realize I’ve been imagining her making that noise since the last time we were together.

  Blood pumps fast from my heart all through my body, making my dick harden. I need to know if she’s as turned on as I am. Plunging a finger inside her, she’s so wet. So ready.

  She lets out a soft groan as I thrust my fingers in and out. I suck her bottom lip into my mouth and say, “Fuck. I wanted to take my time with you this time, but if you keep making those sounds, I’m not going to last another few minutes.”

  “You told me we’re snowed in. This doesn’t have to be the last time tonight. I’m not going anywhere.” Her gaze is full of longing and desire.

  Thank fuck. I’m not sure I could’ve endured it if she didn’t want me.

  Running my hands down the smooth skin of her chest, her ribs, her waist, she writhes under my touch. My mouth follows the trail of my hands and comes to rest between her legs, pushing them all the way apart.

  “I can’t wait to taste you again.” My voice is hoarse and ragged. There’s no greater turn-on than seeing her come apart for me. Settling in, I lie on my stomach. Slowly, I lick from her slit to her clit.

  Her hands come down and twist into my hair, tugging and pulling on it, sending jolts of electricity through my spine. She lets out another sexy noise while I lick and tease her.

  Her back arches and hips move in rhythm with my tongue. She starts panting and her movements get erratic. “Oh my God. Please, don’t stop,” she begs, her breath shaky and shallow.

  I dip one finger inside her, then two and stroke her clit with my tongue. Her muscles tighten and she lets go, writhing and pulsing with her release.

  Fire blazes through my body as I watch her go for me. I can’t wait another second to be inside her.

  Easing up off the bed, I go to the nightstand and get a condom. I rip it open and put it on.

  Her eyes track my every movement and she drags her teeth over her bottom lip. “How often do you go to the gym?”

  Working out is one of my vices. It helps keep my mind clear, especially when I’m under a great deal of stress, which is pretty often. Some weeks, I go everyday to keep my head on straight. It looks like it’s been time well-spent by the look of desire in her half-lidded gaze. “As much as I can.”

  She whispers something sounding like “thank you.”

  Easing back down, I lay on top of her, claiming her lips. My tongue goes inside her mouth and she slides hers against mine. Jillian speeds up the pace and carnal need throbs through every last cell in my body.

  Unable to delay the anticipation any longer, I hold my breath as I ease my cock inside her. A moan falls from her lips and I capture it with my mouth.

  My hands come up to frame her face and we stare into each other’s eyes. Her sapphire blues are intense with passion and desire. For me. My heart pounds loud in my chest and chills break out over my back.

  Jillian’s gorgeous body is beautiful to watch underneath me. Her nipples are hard, but the peaks and valleys of her chest, abdomen, and hips have my cock pressing harder, working faster for release.

  Easy, Jack.

  I want to take this slow. So slow.

  Pulling out of her, I trail kisses over her collarbone to her nipple, creating suction, tasting and teasing her.

  “Jack,” she exhales on a long breath. Her hands grip my biceps and her pelvis presses up to meet my erection. “Why did you pull out?”

  I can’t help but smirk at her. “You feel too good, Red,” I murmur, my face inches from hers.

  “Isn’t that the point?” she hisses out.

  “Mmm hmm.” I angle myself toward her apex and sink back in. Placing my head in the crook of her shoulder, my mouth facing her neck, I lick and taste her skin.

  “Oh, God,” she pants out, her shuddering breaths skimming my back.

  “Tell me this feels as good to you as it does to me.” I already know the answer. I can tell by how responsive her body is to my touch, the noises she’s making, how wet she is, but I need to hear her say it.

  “Yes,” she rasps.

  I nip at her shoulder with my teeth and increase the pace with my hips.

  Her nails skim up my back, only to come up and grip the back of my hair. She hooks her legs around me, and in that moment, I can feel her walls tighten around me. Christ, that feels good.

  Our kiss is frenzied now, intense and driving me wild. We’re both close. I slow down my thrusts and bury myself as deep as I can go. My muscles tense seconds before my release surges out of me, sending pleasure radiating through my entire body.

  Jillian cries out and pulses around me, quivering and calling my name.

  Collapsing next to her, I pull her into my arms and we lie this way until our breathing returns to normal.

  Sex with this woman is beyond my expectations. I thought it was amazing the last time when she had had a few drinks. It was nothing compared to tonight. Physically she doesn’t hold anything back, which I fucking love. The chemistry between us is off the charts. But it was more than that. The look in her eyes when I was inside her was intense with feeling and emotion, like there was more there. Like she wants to be with me for more than my money or to get her employees’ jobs back. It felt like it meant something.

  I can’t remember the last time I’ve been with a woman and felt this close and connected afterward. It’s new to me. It’s like I’m on cloud nine.

  Jillian’s eyes are closed and her facial features are relaxed. Her smooth skin is warm against mine. It isn’t long before her breathing becomes even and her mouth falls open. She’s asleep.

  My heart swells in my chest. I’m snuggling with a woman and I like it. The alpha male in me wants to take care of her, meet all her needs, and give her everything she wants. The practical man in me knows that I need to be cautious with myself. A woman like Jillian could break me if I let her in too close.

  How messed up is it that I don’t even care?

  Fifteen

  Jillian

  I wake with a start.

  Jack yanks the covers off us, springs out of bed, and says, “Do you smell that?” And he throws on his boxer briefs and runs out of the room.

  Yes. Something is burning. Oh, no, it must be the turducken. He’s talked about the thing since I got here. He’ll be crushed if it’s ruined.

  I’m cold now without the covers on my naked body. I better get up and see if I can help anyway. It’s better to keep my mind busy instead of replaying everything that happened in his bed today. My body is still tingling from the aftershocks. Sex with him is the best I’ve ever had.

  Jack Morgan knows how to make love.

  I shiver and this time it’s not the temperature; it’s the memories of him with his hands and mouth all over me. My cheeks flush with heat thinking about how aroused I was for him. He made me feel beautiful and worshipped. I’ve never been so turned on before.

  Getting out of bed, I find the robe I’d been wearing in the bathroom. As I walk closer to the kitchen, the acrid smell of burnt food gets stronger.

  My mind races with ways I can fix this. My mother used to say, “Some things can’t be fixed.” Only I never believed that. What I’ve found to be true is that everything is a learning experience. I wander into the kitchen to assess the damage.

  “It’s ruined. Everything is ruined.” Jack’s shoulders are rounded, and he tosses the pot holders down on the island. He leans his back against the counter and says, “We might as well call off Christmas.”

  I go to where he’s standing and grab his arms. “Christmas isn’t ruined. This is a speed bump. Have you never had to handle one of those in your life?” Studying his reaction, I suspect maybe he hasn’t.

  “I research and plan and have people to insu
late me from the shitty stuff,” he says with a scowl.

  Rubbing his shoulders, I go up on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “I get it. That’s nice, but it’s not real life. Real life is messy.” I walk to the oven and assess the bird. “Dinner is completely salvageable. Let me go clean up and…”

  “No, I’ll fix it. I messed it up.” He has that controlling tone again, but this time it’s not as forceful or bold.

  The perfect idea springs to mind. I know exactly what will put him in a better mood. Turning, I stand in front of him. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? Some things in life are better when shared, like cooking, baking, eating…and cleaning up. Wait for me. Better yet, come join me in the shower. I have so many ideas; you can tell me what you like.”

  He stands up taller and a smirk plays on his face. “I like you naked in my shower.”

  I giggle, content to see him happy again. Deep down, I have a feeling I’m going to want to be the reason he’s in a good mood all the time. “That’s a start.”

  Leaning down, he brings his face inches from mine. His breath is warm and smells like coffee. “And I like you naked in my bed.”

  “Tonight I won’t have to sleep alone?” I ask in a playful tone.

  He lifts me up in his arms and my feet come off the floor. He gives me feather-light kisses all along my neck. “Red, if I have it my way, you’ll never sleep alone again.”

  Butterflies erupt in my belly. Could he mean that? It’d mean the world to me if he did. “We have some negotiating to do first. Come on.”

  In the shower, while I’m lathering my hair with a thick luxurious shampoo, I announce, “I’m the leftover queen.”

  Jack is scrubbing his leg with a washcloth loaded with masculine-smelling body wash. “Are you now?”

  “Yup. I live alone. And the recipes I have make a meal for a family of four, so I end up repurposing the food for several meals.”

  He lets out a throaty laugh that I love and says, “So you’re going to Bubba Gump the turducken?”

  Lathering up my washcloth, I get to washing my body. “Something like that.”

  His stomach makes a loud growling noise. “We better get to work. I’m starving.”

  “Me, too. Turn around. I’ll wash your back if you wash mine,” I say.

  I lather him up and he does the same for me. It’s intimate even though nothing about the shower is sexual. Sure, I’m turned on by running the cloth over his muscled shoulders and back, and I know he’s checking out my ass when he’s washing me, but there’s a tenderness to his touch. After we had sex earlier, I feel bonded to him. Like it isn’t just a casual thing and it isn’t just to get my employees’ jobs back. I want more. I want to explore what we could be together. The realization sends shivers all along my back.

  Soon my hair is in a wet ponytail and I’m in a pair of Jack’s pajama pants with a long-sleeved shirt rolled up at the cuffs. My feet are still bare despite the cold.

  “You’re going to freeze.” Jack puts on a pair of blue plaid pajama pants.

  “This is how I cook at home. Gives me a sense of freedom.”

  He’s biting his lip and smirking.

  “Yes. Barefoot in the kitchen. Don’t even think about it.”

  The man chuckles. He’s lucky I’m feeling kind on Christmas or I’d wind up my towel sitting on the floor and whack him with it.

  We make our way back to the kitchen. “Okay. You think you can make something out of this mess, let’s hear it,” I tease.

  “Surprise. I ruined the turducken. Haven’t we had enough surprises today?” he says, staring at his charred bird.

  I go to the cupboards and get out the oil and flour and set them down on the counter. “You think you can peel potatoes for me?” I ask, cocking a brow at him.

  He’s already making his way to the pantry. “On it.”

  For the next hour we cut, roll, and prepare what looks like a mighty fine turducken pot pie. I was able to salvage some meat from the center of the bird. He mashed up the potatoes and I chopped carrots, celery, and onions for the center. Last, I made gravy from a can of stock he had in the cupboard.

  Jack pours us each a glass of scotch and he watches me as I prepare my mom’s famous apple pie recipe. I love the feeling of his eyes following me.

  What I thought was going to be another boring Christmas at home is becoming one of the best I’ve ever had. Our banter is easy and our conversations are always seamless. And the way he looks at me. Like I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on.

  He sets the table in the dining room.

  I follow him and set my hand on his as he’s placing a fork on a cloth napkin. “Were you going to eat alone in the dining room?” The serious expression on his face tells me this is exactly what he was going to do.

  He averts his eyes. “This is where Christmas dinner is supposed to be eaten.”

  Picking up the dishes he’s set, I tell him, “Come on. We’re having a low-key informal mountain Christmas.” I motion for him to follow me.

  We set up dinner on the coffee table and eat on the floor in front of the fireplace.

  It feels good to sit with him and enjoy a meal in front of the crackling fire. It’s casual and Jack’s guard that he normally has firmly in place is now nonexistent.

  “You’ve made this Christmas special, Red.” He’s clutching his glass of scotch, swirling the whiskey stones around. His other hand is on mine, fingers splayed over my own. The gesture makes me feel protected and warms my insides. “I feel a little guilty that I didn’t get you anything.” There’s a cute wink.

  Here’s my cue, given to me on a silver platter. “What about you let me keep my staff at the agency?” I skim my finger along his forearm.

  Groaning, he says, “Couldn’t I get you something cheaper, like a Bentley, or something useful, like the Hope diamond?” There’s a note of resignation in his voice.

  I get what he’s saying, but now I need him to see it from my perspective. “It’s not about cost. And most of them are very useful. Now, there are some of them that it might make sense not to rehire, but for the most part it’s a good team. Do you know how long it takes to assemble a good team?”

  He rubs his hand over his face. “I’ve been at this for ten years and I’m still working on mine. Obviously, I need to fire whoever told you I was here.”

  “Or maybe you should give them a promotion.” I giggle. “It is amazing what you can find on the Internet.”

  He reaches out and hauls me onto his lap. The clean masculine scent of his skin overwhelms me, making my mouth water. “Will this make you very happy?”

  I run my hand through his hair, loving the feel of his strands slipping between my fingers and the way it makes his hazel eyes flutter. “Ecstatic,” I say, not quite believing this is real.

  “And will you show your gratitude by…”

  Stiffening, I squeeze my eyes closed, bracing for the worst.

  “…dating me?”

  I open both eyes in disbelief. Am I dreaming? Nope. This feels pretty real. “You want to date me?”

  “Yeah.” His mouth slants over mine, deep and unhurried. A pulse begins between my legs. He pulls back, eyes blazing with desire. “I’m actually glad you crashed Christmas. I told you before that I want you to be my Jiminy Cricket.”

  There’s nothing I’d like more than to date Jack Morgan and to see where this could go. He’s shown me nothing but warmth and kindness since I showed up here at his cabin. And he’s compromising by rehiring my staff. When I showed up here, I didn’t know what to expect, but this man has exceeded my expectations and demolished all the preconceived notions I had of him.

  “As your girlfriend, that sounds like a lot of work. As your employee, it sounds like I deserve a raise.”

  “Keep talking like that and I’ll be making you my wife.” He lets out a contented sigh and squeezes me close. “I swear I’ve met my match.”

  Epilogue

  Jillian

  “My
legs are sore.” I plop down on the couch next to Jack in the great room and swing my legs onto his lap. The heat from the fire warms my chilly feet.

  I’m not a seasoned skier like him. In fact, I prefer to sit in the lodge and watch my handsome boyfriend come down the slopes in his fashionable black pants and jacket combo. He’s an expert at traversing down black diamond runs, never shying away from skiing around the moguls or small jumps. I, on the other hand, prefer the bunny hills.

  It was the perfect day to be outside. It’d snowed last night, leaving a beautiful blanket of white powder on the mountain and a dusting over the pine trees. A clear blue sky vaulted above the Adirondack Mountains. The air temperature was warm by December standards and there wasn’t even a trace of wind. Being a fair weather skier, today was an open invitation from Mother Nature.

  He takes my calf in his hand and squeezes the tender muscle. “You did excellent today on the blue runs. I’m proud of you. White Face Mountain is no joke.”

  Jack is being kind. Sure, I attempted the intermediate run. Once. And my heart was in my throat the entire run down. “You’ve only been asking me to join you for two years now. I thought I’d finally give in.”

  A low chuckle escapes him and he rubs his thumb down the arch of my foot. “I love when you give in. It doesn’t happen every day.”

  It’s my turn to laugh. Since Jack took over the ad agency, I’ve kept my position, and I’ve never been given any special privileges. My staff still doesn’t know that Jack and I are dating. He isn’t in the office all that often since he has responsibilities at his other businesses, which is probably good. Despite the contradiction, I still believe it’s better to not mix business with pleasure.

  “I know you’d like to take advantage of me in your office, but it’s never going to happen.” I lift my glass of red wine and take a sip.

  “Come on. Nobody would ever know we’re doing it in there if we go in and lock the door.” He wiggles his brows at me.

  Jack and I have a wonderful sex life and I love bringing his fantasies to life, but having sex at work is a hard limit for me. “Keep dreaming, buddy.”