“First and last.” I dot each of her lids with a kiss. “I like the idea of it being a private show.”
“Personal invite only.” She runs her hands over my bare ass and gives a squeeze.
I gaze down at her, admiring the glow that’s rising to her cheeks. “Did you pack your bags?”
She nods with her lips pressed tight. “We can put them in your trunk before the show, that way we can go straight to your place after your mom’s.”
My stomach grinds for a moment. “That’s a great plan.” Not so much the part about going to my mother’s. I’m not too sold on the idea she’ll mind her P’s and Q’s. My mother isn’t one to go down quietly. If she’s got a beef with someone she pretty much likes to hold onto it, and God knows she has a beef with Laney over just about everything.
Last Christmas Eve comes to mind, and I’m quick to push it away. Going back to that night is like stepping in front of an oncoming train, time and time again, and expecting different results. It doesn’t do any good. But I know Laney and I should go there at least one more time just to make sure we’ve sealed that door shut tight. Damn Meg—and my mother—for everything that went down.
I rub my eyes for a moment as I lie next to Laney on the unforgivably cold, hard desk.
“Aww,” she coos, kissing the side of my face with a tenderness I don’t remember ever seeing from her before. “Do you need a little nap?” She wraps her arm over my waist, and I cinch her in close.
“You know what I need?” I bury a kiss in her neck. She’s adjusted her bra back into position, and her skin glows from under the red lace. Her Santa hat is still firmly in place, and she looks adorable as hell. “I need a couch in here so we can do this all the fucking time.”
She bubbles out a laugh.
“You’re lewd and crude, you know that? And I wholeheartedly agree about the couch. In fact, we should shop for it together—test it out, right there on the showroom.”
“Sounds like a repeat performance might be necessary.”
“We can practice later tonight.”
“Every night,” I counter.
“Every single night.” Her lips fall over mine. Laney and I love each other with our mouths fused together until the sun goes down.
This is shaping up to be the best damn Christmas ever.
Later that night, Laney shines on stage. Her performance is stunning, as is Laney, herself. Once it’s through, I jump to my feet and clap the loudest and longest. The stage may be filled with the entire ensemble, but I can’t take my eyes off the girl who stole my heart. Her hair is ratted out, her dress is torn and disheveled, and she’s covered with soot from head to toe, but, God almighty, Laney Sawyer outshines every person in this room.
Afterwards, I wait outside the theater with a bouquet of two-dozen bright red roses. My trunk is already locked and loaded with her things, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of winter break with her in my penthouse—with me—right where she belongs. And, if I get my way, she’ll be a permanent resident.
“Hey!” She squeals as she treks over in her killer high heels, her down to there and up to here little black dress. Her hair is smoothed out in perfect waves, and there’s not a trace of soot over her porcelain features.
“These are for you.” I hold out the flowers as she jumps into my arms.
“They’re beautiful.”
I lean back and take her in. “Wow.” It’s the only word that can accurately describe how sublime she looks right now.
“Wow, yourself.” She pulls me in by the collar. “Have I ever told you how much I love you in a suit?”
A lazy smile slopes up my cheek. “Have I ever told you how much I love you naked in my bed?”
“Mmm,” she purrs into me with kiss. “By the way, as much as I do love you in a monkey suit, I love your naked penis a whole lot better. That felt incredible this afternoon.”
“That did feel incredible.” I pull her in and grind my hips over hers so she gets the full effect of the attention my lower half so desperately wants to give her. “And is the naked penis a thing now?”
“Hellyes.” A tiny dimple goes off in her cheek. I swear, Laney gets cuter by the minute. “I think it’s always been a thing. Your thing.” She reaches down and rubs her hand over me. “And now it’s sort of my thing, too.”
I narrow my gaze into hers while bringing my hands up to her nipples and rubbing my thumbs over them. “I like sharing things with you.”
“What’s mine is yours.” She laughs into her kiss. “Let’s get to your parent’s house so we can wrap this night up. I’m already looking forward to the big finish starring the Big N.P.” She gives my crotch a gentle squeeze.
I huff a laugh. “I won’t lie, my ego likes that you put the word ‘big’ in front of N.P.” Laney’s dirty mouth coupled with her wit and charm are what drew me to her in the first place.
