Page 22 of Naughty or Nice?
I scrub a hand over my grizzled beard, damn near cringing. “Don’t tell me my boy wasn’t doing the bare minimum. I have to ask, darling. Why were you putting up with him?”
“I’m asking myself that more and more since this holiday trip from hell began. It’s not that Nate was bad. He was good… but he just… got stuck in his ways. It was always howhewanted it.”
“And what about you and your needs?” I place my mug of mulled wine down and lean over to press a kiss to her bare shoulder. “Are you unfilled, darling? Say the word and I’ll happily make up for it.”
She smirks. “We really can’t do this, Nicholas.”
“Nick. Call me Nick.”
“Nicholas. Nick. St. Nick. Does it matter? You’re still my ex-fiancé’s father!”
“Darling, can we get off the you’re-my-ex’s-father topic for more than five seconds? Tell me what else it is about me that’s a dealbreaker. My age?”
“What?” she squeaks, then gives a vehement shake of her head. “Age doesn’t matter to me.”
“I’m not your type? Not handsome enough? Not attracted to me?”
“You’re kidding, right? You look like a fine-ass Santa Claus without all the pudge, only muscle.”
I draw her to me for a quick peck on the lips. “Then what the hell’s the problem?”
“I just told you?—”
“We agreed he doesn’t have to know,” I interrupt. “I’m aware how this looks. Anybody would say I’m an asshole for pursuing my son’s ex-fiancée. I’m too old for you and you’re too good for me. But hell… given the circumstances… what he did and how irresistible I find you… can you really blame me?”
“You find me irresistible?” Both of her brows jump higher, her eyes full of surprise.
“From the first moment I met you last Thanksgiving. But you were taken. You were off-limits. I respected that. I was proud of my son for bringing home such a catch.”
“And now that he’s dumped me?”
My fingers skim the curve of her cheek as I peer into her curious brown eyes. “It’s simple, darling. You’re free game now.”
Kendall doesn’t put up a fight for the next kiss I give her. She more than welcomes it, a small little moan slipping out of her.
This woman’s affection starved and it couldn’t be clearer.
Nate’s failed her in so many ways.
We get up off the bearskin rug to get half-dressed. Kendall in her sweater and panties. Me shirtless in my jeans.
“It’s Christmas Eve,” she says as if she hadn’t pointed it out earlier. “You should be with your family right now.”
“I’m where I want to be. They’ll survive without me for a few hours.”
“Weather forecast says we’re getting snow any minute.”
“Still where I want to be. How about you stop resisting this and go with the flow?” I slap her ass as I pass her by on the way to the kitchen.
She squeals but scurries after me anyway. “What does going with the flow entail?”
“How about dinner? You hungry?”
“Um… wedidwork up a sweat,” she says, a bashful softness about her face.
“Good thing I keep the fridge stocked. You ready to tag team it? We’ll make dinner together.”
She’s so taken aback by my suggestion that it takes her a second to answer. The surprise flickers in and out of her expression before she nods and then smiles. “Alright, St. Nick. We’ll try things your way.”