“I’m sorry, Kim. I shouldn’t have touched you that way.”

  She looked up to see that he’d dropped the napkin and was pushed as far back against the booth seat as he could manage. It was only then that she realized she’d been staring at where he’d been touching her. Blake assumed she’d been upset. Oh baby, I’m the furthest thing from.

  “It’s fine. You were trying to help.” There were many more ways she wanted him to help her. Taking her shirt off was a start.

  “No that wasn’t acceptable.”

  “Blake, it’s fine. I didn’t mind.”

  “I can’t go around touching—”

  “I really didn’t mind.”

  He picked up his burger and took a large bite, effectively ending any further conversation. God, at this rate she was going to end up pushing him further away rather than encouraging him to make a move. Great date, Kim. Way to make an impression.

  They continued on in silence for a few minutes longer before her nerves got the better of her. “I don’t think I’ll be able to eat all this. I’m going to get a takeout box.”

  Blake nodded, though for a moment she thought she saw disappointment flash across his face. “Probably a good idea.” Before he said anything else, his cell rang. “Shit.”

  “Get it. I’ll get the boxes.”

  Their impromptu lunch was over, and she could tell from his end of the conversation that they needed to get back to the office. She packed up their food while he talked to whoever it was on the other end. Blake had slipped back into work mode and she was left feeling like an idiot.

  It was probably for the best lunch ended early, given how craptastically things had been going. What the hell had she been thinking anyway? She didn’t even know if he was actually interested in her. It was nothing but vibes, and she could be way off base.

  Bullshit. He wants you and you know it.

  Blake’s phone conversation lasted the full way back to Nicks and he stepped into his office, his phone still fixed to his ear. And that was it. Well, she’d made the attempt, but it couldn’t have gone any worse had she tried.

  “Jerry, one second.” Blake stepped back out into the main area. “Kim.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry I screwed up lunch.” Then the most wonderful thing happened. He winked at her. “You should try and get that stain out before it sets.”

  “Yeah. I’ll do that.”

  * * *

  The rest of the afternoon passed quickly enough. Blake’s call ended and they both seemed to have gotten over the awkwardness of lunch. Maybe it was the security of being at Nicks, but Kim saw him relax once again. Next time maybe she’d bring takeout and they could have a picnic on the floor.

  The phone rang and she picked it up, making sure to smile as she spoke. “Naughty Nicks Frosted Fantasies. Where one of Santa’s helpers will bring you a special present from the not-so-frozen North. My name is Elf Kim, how may I help you?”

  “Are you like their pimp? What the fuck is a chick pimp called anyway? A pimpette?” Laugher rang in her ears as she slammed the receiver down.

  “Asshole.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Crank call.” She got up from behind the counter and went to fill up her water bottle at the cooler. “Someone just being a jerk.”

  “Do you get a lot of those?”

  Blake closed the distance between them, reached out and cupped her cheek. The gentleness of his touch made her want to weep. This was her attraction to the man, not his good looks, or his humor—although those things certainly didn’t detract—his ability to be real. Most guys she knew would have freaked out when she stood up and crowded in, or else they’d assume she was about to jump their bones—which she wanted to, but no, not here—but not Blake.

  The concern in his eyes was clear and sincere.

  Kim somehow resisted the urge to get up on her tip-toes and kiss the end of his nose. “I get a few a day. I’m used to dealing with them by now.”

  “You seem upset though.”

  “I’ve just been a bit stressed out the past little while. Too much on my plate.” And too many thoughts of him on her mind.

  “If you need some time off, I don’t mind.” He let his hand drop, but he didn’t move back. “I can ask one of the guys to come in and run the office.”

  “No!” Her heartbeat raced and her hands trembled. There was no way she was going to leave for even a day. She wanted, no needed to soak in every minute of time she had to spend with him. It was the only thing that would keep her going as the year moved forward. “I’m good. It’s just...don’t send me away.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  Silence fell between them again, but this time it wasn’t awkward or strained. There was a weight behind it, as though they both wanted to say something more, but neither were willing to risk the consequences.

  “Blake, I think we should—”

  He held up his hand. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t say that you think we should talk about this. I don’t have a good track record with words that come after that phrase near Christmas.”

  Shit. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You gave me a lot of good memories to help me counter the bad ones.” He smiled then, barely a quirk of his lips, but it lit up his eyes. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t mean to overreact at lunch. And I shouldn’t have pawed at you the way I did. I was just...impulse.”

  Kim blinked, no longer certain about how to proceed, or even what to say next. Maybe rather than talking she needed to simply cut to the chase and show him what she wanted. Going up high on her toes, she placed a kiss to his cheek. Her lips were prickled by the start of his stubble, the sensation sending chills through her. Dragging her mouth across his jawline and down to his chin, she kissed him again.

  “Kim?” His voice shook and she felt him swallow.

  Ignoring his mouth, she moved over and kissed his other cheek, before finally making the stretch for the tip of his nose. He sucked in a little breath, but he made no move to kiss her back. That was fine. She’d thrown the gauntlet and he now knew where she stood. She looked up to see that the color of his irises had been nearly swallowed by the blacks of his pupils. For the first time since she’d met him, Kim didn’t have a clue how he would react.

  Oh, she knew what she wanted him to do, she simply wasn’t certain he was ready to get there.

  Blake let out a stuttered breath. “Kim, I—”

  The electronic door chime went off and she stepped away from him in a flash and turned to face the big fat jerk who’d interrupted them. “Welcome to Naughty Nicks.”

  The two women both looked to be in their seventies, hell, maybe even their eighties. The taller of the two looked between Kim and Blake, tapped her nose and gave them a grin. “Hello my dear. Would one of your naked Santas come to a retirement home?”

  * * *

  Blake couldn’t stand there and listen to the two elderly women talk to Kim. He’d hoped they would be in and out quickly, but the pair must have picked up on what had been going on between them and were dragging their feet, while they continuously shot Blake curious glances. If he didn’t know any better, he’d suspect they were mentally undressing him.

  At least Kim would have a mark she could add to the naughty list.

  His cock throbbed, showing absolutely no sign of going back to its less-than-rock-hard state. Even stepping into his office and pressing the heel of his hand against it did little to help alleviate the pressure.

  She’d kissed him.

  It still didn’t change the fact that he was nearly ten years older than she was, way too big a gap for them to have a shot at a lasting relationship. The last thing he wanted was to be one of those guys who hooked up with a woman in her twenties just to get back at an ex. This wasn’t about them having some meaningless fling, a chance to have mindless sex with a hottie who he could walk away from.

  It wouldn’t be like that. He’d never seen Kim that way even that night in the bar. Kim had it together—she was smart, confident, and far surer of herself than he’d been at that age. It wasn’t any one particular thing that attracted him to her, but rather it was the complete package.

  “Oh I know just the guy! Chris has this thing he can do with his butt cheeks. The girls will love it!” Even though she was in the next room, her voice was taking its toll on him.

  He pressed down again on his cock, willing the hard-on to go away. There was only one way he’d be able to deal with this—and the thought of jerking off in the bathroom was wrong.

  Necessary, but wrong.

  Snatching a file folder off his desk, he strategically placed it in front of his groin and strode from the office. “Everything okay, ladies?”

  “Oh, we’re just peachy.” The shorter of the two women winked at him. “Is he one of the Santas?”

  He could feel their eyes on his ass as he kept going. “Sorry to disappoint. I just sign the paychecks.”

  Their giggles followed him down the hallway and into the small bathroom where he turned and quickly shut and locked the door, and undid the front of his pants. His hand was down his underwear and around his cock before the breath left his lungs. God, what would Kim think of him if she saw him like this—jerking off like a teen in a public place?

  She’d probably smile as she toyed with one of her curls. She might even bite down on her bottom lip while she watched him stroke his cock with shorter and faster strokes. If Blake was really lucky, she might saunter over to him in that flirty way that she did, and drop down to her knees.

  He pressed his head back against the door at that particular image and squeezed his eyes shut. In his mind she didn’t suck him, didn’t reach for him at all—she simply stared at his hand, his cock, and smiled. Maybe she’d tease him a bit. Oh yeah, he could see her doing that.

  Come on, Blake. Show me your little elf. Slow down a bit, I want to get a good look at you. I need to see if you’re going to be man enough for me. I could lick up the length of your shaft, tease the tip with my tongue, see if I get a Christmas treat. Would you like that? Want me to suck your balls into my mouth and scratch my nails down your thighs?

  That’s it. Harder now. God, your cock is so red. You better come for me.

  In a flash he was back on the floor of Kim’s apartment. He could taste her come on his tongue, could remember how wet her pussy got when he’d slipped his fingers inside her. He squeezed his shaft the way her muscles had clenched around him. If he were to do things again, he’d press a finger into her ass as he fucked her. He’d need both his hands to torment every sensitive spot on her body. There’d be teasing on his end as well.

  I want to fuck your ass, baby. I’ll pinch your nipples nice and hard until you’re begging me to let you come. Maybe I’ll let you sit on my face so I can eat you out while I finger you. I bet you’d like that.

  Kim’s phantom moans filled his head. He pictured her riding him, her hands braced against his chest as she drove her body down. Her pussy would be tight, wet as she ground her body hard against him. She’d scratch her nails along his chest, raking them over his nipples and causing him to gasp. He’d do his best to hold on, to keep from tipping over until she came first. He needed her to come first, wanting to have her come apart around him.

  Every muscle in her body would clench, her face would flush and her nipples would be hard and red. She’d gasp and throw her head back as her pussy squeezed his cock hard, her voice filling the room as she screamed out in pleasure.

  He clenched his teeth together as his orgasm slammed into him hard and fast. He couldn’t open his eyes, didn’t want the mental picture of Kim to be wiped away as pleasure roared through him. The way she’d look down at him, so beautiful, perfect. He wanted to touch her, caress her breasts, kiss her, fuck her again—no, that wasn’t an option.

  As the last ripples of his release subsided, Blake let his body relax back against the door and did his best to get his breathing under control. Shit, what the hell had he done? He’d jerked off in the bathroom to the thought of his friend and employee.

  Kim didn’t deserve to be treated like some sort of cheap sex object. She was an intelligent, funny woman who helped others on a daily basis. She didn’t deserve to be reduced to nothing more than a masturbation fantasy for him. And as much as he would love the idea of the two of them getting together, he couldn’t do that to her. He knew from their conversations that she wasn’t ready for family and commitment yet, and he wasn’t into the party scene anymore. A relationship between them wouldn’t work, and he wasn’t prepared to offer her anything less.

  Moving to the sink, he flicked on the water and cleaned himself up. With a quick look around to make sure there wasn’t any evidence remaining of his moment of weakness, he dried his hands, zipped up and opened the door.

  To come face to face with Kim.

  “Hey.” Her smile made her eyes sparkle. It always did. “You okay? You were in there a long time.”

  His heart renewed the too-quick beating in his chest. “Yeah, I’m good.”

  “You know, Mrs. McKenzie was checking you out. She tried for five minutes after you left to convince me to put you on the stripper list. I’m telling you, you could totally make a killing if you come over to this side of the business.”

  Blake wanted to wrap her up in his arms and kiss her senseless. Christ, what was the matter with him? “A man needs to be able to dance first. It’s best for all involved if I stay away from the stripping. I might kill someone.”

  Before he was able to walk past her, Kim reached out and brushed her fingers against his forearm. That simple touch was enough to stop him in his tracks and look into her eyes.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” She swayed closer, but pulled back before they came into contact. “You seem off.”

  “It’s this time of year.” Still, when she opened her mouth to say something, something inside him broke. Memories of their night together. The softness in her voice when she’d teased him, kissed him. If she’d been planning to speak, the words evaporated as he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

  An honest-to-God proper kiss.

  The feeling was electric, although brief, as she parted her lips and let him in. His cock twitched, threatening to come back to life, a stark reminder of what he’d just done. Guilt gnawed at his belly and he broke the kiss, pulling away quickly. Kim still had her eyes closed, but she didn’t look the least bit upset by what he’d done. Still, he’d crossed a line he shouldn’t have.

  “I’m sorry.” His voice was ragged and his hands shook. “I’m heading out.”

  “What?” Kim blinked rapidly and gave her head a small shake. “You just kissed me and now you’re leaving?”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Without another look back, Blake bolted for the door. What a colossal fuckup he was. He’d kissed Kim. At work. A woman who not only was his junior but his employee. He snatched his coat from the office, thankful that Kim didn’t follow him out, and stepped outside. The cold December air blasted against his face, a thankful punishment for his actions. Without bothering to do up his coat, he turned and started walking, hoping it would knock some sense into him.

  Chapter Four

  It was strange for Kim to be attending a party where one of her Naughty Nicks was giving a performance, but she wasn’t about to walk away. Not when she knew it was Greg who’d be stripping down to his more-than-revealing red underwear. Plus, she needed something to take her mind off of Blake and whatever the hell had happened between them for him to kiss her and run.

  She kissed him. He kissed her. Then he “had to work from his other office” for two days.

  Bastard Blake and his fucking mixed signals.

  No, no, no, not Blake. Greg. She came here to focus on Greg with those abs, and that ass...

  Yes, she was going to have so much fun teasing him the next time he came into the office. Because with Greg she knew exactly where she stood.

  “Oh my God, Kimmie, I can’t believe you set all this up for me!” Sarah tackle-hugged her from behind, squeezing her so much, air refused to enter her lungs. Her Amazonian friend was far too touchy-feely for a woman of her height and size. She could practically swallow someone up in her arms, especially Kim given how tiny she was.

  “Can’t. Breathe.”

  “Shit, sorry.” Sarah stepped back, but somehow still managed to keep bouncing. “I’m freaking out about this. Best Christmas party ever!”

  “All of your parties are the best. You didn’t need a Naughty Nick for that, sweetie.”

  Despite her book smarts, Sarah was more than a little paranoid when it came to her ability to handle social situations. She’d been taken advantage of more than a few times in university, though that hadn’t dampened her natural enthusiasm for life. She loved making people happy, and in turn, Kim loved seeing her happy. If only Sarah had a guy who would treat her right and not break her heart.

  Maybe she should introduce her to Clark...

  “Oh no, this one will be talked about for ages. I have the rum punch flowing and the rum cake cut and served.” Sarah’s ponytail swished behind her head as though it had come to life. “And after our naked Santa goes, I have It’s a Wonderful Life ready to go. It will be perfect!”

  God, they’d be drunk, horny and bawling all at once. “I can’t wait.”

  “When’s he going to get here?” Sarah spun in a circle, looking more than a little like a dog trying to locate her tail. Yeah, tomorrow I’m finding out if Clark is single or not.

  “He’s late, right? He should have been here twenty minutes ago.”

  Frowning, Kim checked her watch again. “Actually, he is.” Greg was one of the first men she’d hired for this gig three years ago, one of the few who returned year after year. He was super anal about being punctual, almost as much as he was about his appearance. For him to be late meant there was a problem. “I’m going to give him a call—”

 

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