“You know our names?” Charlie asked, her tone laced with awe.
“Of course, I do. You all are on the very tippity top of my nice list,” he announced. I smothered a giggle with my hand. He was being over-the-top, and the kids were eating it up.
“We are?” Harper asked, yanking on his sleeve.
“I’m Santa,” he proclaimed. “I cannot tell a lie.” Snickers broke out among the adults, and I shook my head. He was playing Santa, not George Washington.
Donovan crossed the living room and took his seat next to the fireplace, resting the bag at his feet. “I have a special treat for each of you, and since you’ve been such good boys and girls, you get your Christmas presents early this year.” Cheers erupted from the audience, and the little ones bounced on their toes in anticipation. “But first,” he continued, holding up one finger, “I need my helper.”
That was my cue. I stepped out from my hiding spot, and everyone followed his gaze as it locked on mine. My knees went weak, and I almost tripped at the heat in Donovan’s eyes. They raked over my body, sending a shiver of delight coursing down my spine.
“Aunt Emily!” Charlie ran to me and threw her arms around my waist, tilting her face up to me. “You work for Santa?”
“Who do you think reports to him about how good you’ve been all year?” I lifted a brow, and a sly grin pulled across my lips as I waited for that info to sink in. The way she regarded me with wonder sparkling in her cool blue eyes filled me with warmth.
She released me and bolted toward Donovan, joining the rest of the kids clambering around him. I stepped up next to Donovan, his magnetic pull drawing me in. “Emily,” he greeted, forgetting for a moment to mask his voice. The deep timbre heated my skin, and a flush crept up my neck.
“Santa,” I replied, my voice breathier than I intended.
He cleared his throat and straightened his spine, slipping back into character. “Thank you so much for being my helper. Are you ready to pass out the presents?”
“Yes, I am!” I replied excitedly, clapping my hands together. We were really selling it.
As I bent to open the bag and retrieve the first present, Donovan addressed the children. “I received all your letters and have brought something special for each of you.” I straightened and handed him the first festively wrapped box. When his palm grazed my knuckles, a zing of electricity ran up my arm, and I nearly dropped the gift. His breath hitched, and his eyes flashed to mine. He felt it too.
His gaze dropped to the name tag, and I breathed a sigh of relief. If he’d looked at me any longer, he would have seen how affected I was by him. He would’ve seen that lingering crush I never truly got over.
We dispersed the rest of the presents, and the kids tore into them. Wrapping paper and ribbons went flying as shouts of excitement filled the air.
“This is just what I wanted!” Elijah announced, springing to his feet, a skateboard gripped in his hand. Harper and Charlie echoed his sentiments as their gifts were revealed. Hudson and Josiah were more interested in the wrapping paper and cardboard boxes than the actual toys inside, and Ellie was fast asleep in her mother’s arms.
Once the kids had unwrapped all the gifts, they thanked Santa and tackled him in a hug. The force of their collective embrace nearly knocked him out of his chair. A deliciously low chuckle left his lips, and the sound settled in my lower belly. I never knew a laugh could be so sexy. I needed to get a grip before anyone noticed Santa’s little helper was ready to help him right out of his jolly red suit.
4
DONOVAN
Laughter and squeals of excitement filled the living room as the children released me to play with their new toys. They bounced around impatiently as their parents helped them open the packaging, which seemed much more difficult than it needed to be.
“You did great!” Emily proclaimed from beside me, leaning forward to speak into my ear. “You made their night.” Her sweet vanilla scent enveloped me as her breath tickled my ear. My cock jerked to life, and my hands fisted atop my thighs. I wanted to reach out and pull her onto my lap and ask her what she wanted for Christmas before making her beg for my…
I cleared my throat, not allowing myself to revel in that fantasy.
“Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without my good little helper.” The praise came out much more salacious than I intended, and her eyes flared.Shit. I was treading in dangerous territory. I needed to get away from her before I did something stupid. Standing abruptly, the legs of my chair scraped against the floor, but nobody seemed to notice. The kids kept everyone distracted.
“I need a drink,” I muttered, glancing up to see Emily scowling at her phone, the color slowly draining from her face. Gone was the joyful smile and warmth that filled her eyes as she’d watched the kids open presents a moment ago.
Something like anger flashed across her features as she stuffed the device back into her pocket. “Apparently, I do too.” Without another word, she turned on her heel and strode toward the kitchen. I followed, wondering what had upset her. My protective instincts flared to life, and I was ready to pummel someone by the time she pulled the bottle of cinnamon whiskey from the cabinet. She twisted off the lid, poured a little into a plastic cup, and took a large gulp. She screwed up her face and shuddered before slamming it down on the counter and wiping the back of her hand over her mouth.
“Want one?” she asked. I nodded, unsure if I should partake while in disguise, but unwilling to let her drink alone.
“Everything okay?” I asked as she poured a shot for each of us, and she snorted.
“Just peachy,” she replied cynically as she downed her drink in one gulp. I didn’t believe her, but I wouldn’t push. I tipped back my cup, eyeing her over the rim.
She added another shot’s worth to our cups before replacing the lid and returning the bottle to the cabinet. “Better not drink it all, or Mom won’t be able to make her famous hot toddies for everyone.”
She leaned against the counter and took a small sip, wincing as the alcohol went down. My eyes fell to her throat as she swallowed, imagining what it would feel like to have her swallowing me down instead. I suppressed a groan and shifted on my feet, hoping my costume would hide my thickening arousal.
