Page 20 of Jingle Ball

She broke away and gasped for air. “You’re still my boss.”

“I don’t care about that. It won’t change anything.” His palms came up to frame her cheeks, and when his face dipped to hers, she realized he was shaking. They both were. “Just let me love you.”

; He didn’t mean it the way it sounded. That wasn’t possible. But her body already missed his. So what if the word “love” from Des’s mouth for any reason made her long foolishly for more? She was a pragmatist, and she didn’t expect miracles.

Her rundown apartment and her job suddenly didn’t factor in the decision. This wasn’t about any of that. He didn’t feel sorry for her. It also wasn’t about Cole or quick office fucks with thick ripple icicles from the tree, as amazing as that had been.

There was a world of secrets in his eyes and she wanted to learn them all.

“Come with me,” she murmured.

Chapter Seven

Her bedroom matched the rest of the house. It was sparsely decorated and the overhead light left the corners in shadows. Not counting her desk. That was bathed in a purple and yellow shimmering glow.

He grinned. “You have a lava lamp. You didn’t even live through the sixties.”

“No, but I loved them just the same. You should’ve seen my room back in Tennessee. I had a black light and fuzzy posters.” Biting her lip, she walked to the full bed. “Sorry, it’s kind of small.”

“That’s okay. We’ll just stack up double-decker.”

She laughed and flipped one of her ponytails over her shoulder. “Do you want a drink first? I have soda and eggnog. Coffee too.”

“I’m fine, thanks.” He came up behind her and snagged her full hips in his hands. She was rounded in all the right ways, and his cock wasn’t the least bit bashful about showing its appreciation. “I just want you.”

She slipped away and opened the nightstand drawer. “I don’t think I have any condoms. I haven’t bought any since—” She sighed.

“Since when?”

“Since I came here. I thought I might’ve had some stashed from home, but they’d probably be duds anyway.” She sat down heavily on the bed. “I’ve never had a guy in this room.”

“Am I supposed to be disappointed about any of these things? Because I’m not.” He sat down beside her and rubbed her thigh. “I have some.”

“Of course you do. You and Cole are always prepared.”

He didn’t miss the note of dejection in her voice. He turned toward her, waiting until she did the same. “I’d like to not use them tonight. I’ve never…” He exhaled. “I’ve never gone raw with a woman.”

“What about with a man?”

“No. There’s only been Cole and some dude in college. I just tried it with him to see if I was really bi.” He glanced down at his hands. “The experience sucked, so I decided it was just about Cole for me. And only when we’re with a woman.”

“You’ve known Cole a long time.”

“Yeah. We met in high school in Maine. We came to New York for college and stayed.”

“Was he born in England or something?”

“You mean because he uses the word ‘love’ as an endearment?” At her nod, he chuckled. “He was an exchange student in London for one semester. I think he tries to sound British to get women going.”

“It works for Van. She swoons every time he starts that ‘love’ stuff.” Wendy picked at a loose thread on her comforter. “When did you and he, you know? Start doing it?”

Considering everything she’d done with them, he found it incredibly charming that she could still be shy. “We didn’t have sex until we shared a girl at our prom senior year. We’ve been together sporadically since then. If you’re wondering about my sexual history, I’ve been tested recently. I’m clean.”

Wordlessly, she crawled into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her tongue parted his lips, tasting. Exploring. Giving him back something he hadn’t felt for way too long.

Hope.