Chapter One
Lumi
Istare at the numbers on the houses as I drive by slowly. All of the houses are so big and spread out so far that it seems unreal. I definitely don’t fit in here. Hell, it feels like I shouldn’t even be on this road. And if we’re just being honest…I’m waiting to get pulled over at any moment and told to leave or be arrested.
While being surrounded by huge, old houses with huge lawns, encircled by walking gardens, has me feeling a little more than out-of-place, I do have a purpose here, a job to do. So even if I do end up pulled over by some overzealous cop, I do at least have a reason to be here. And for being dressed the way I am.
Don’t even get me started on that. It’s so outlandish that even I don’t understand it, let alone being able to explain it to someone else.
The sight of the address I was looking for pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn down the driveway. I’m doing this.
I’m doing this!
Because I have to do it or else I’m out on the street!
This year has been…tough. I thought I had it all figured out, that I was on the way to becoming who I was supposed to be. Then everything just fell apart in the matter of a couple of days.
I trusted the wrong person and left myself open in a way I shouldn’t have, and I got hurt for it. Ain’t that just the way it goes. Now, I’m on my own, and that is why I am in this rich neighborhood, driving this stupid piece of shit car, and why…I’m dressed as an elf!
Yes, I’m dressed as a fucking elf!
I quickly punch in the code I was given for the gate as the guard looks at me like I might be here to rob the place. Or worse, as he gets a look at what I am wearing under my coat. I drive down the long driveway lined by trees on both sides of it. It’s like something out of a freakin’ story book.
I wobble on the gravel as I step out of the car and carefully make my way up the stairs to a porch that looks perfect for lying and reading on, perhaps in that big ass porch swing that I would love to curl up in. I take a deep breath and fight down the shiver that threatens to make its way up my back before ringing the doorbell.
I shuffle a little and think about maybe going back to grab my coat. I can at least leave it on the porch to grab it afterwards. I tug the hem of the skirt down, but all it does is pull the top down too low. I suppose I’d rather someone see my panties than my boobs.
I shuffle some more and press the doorbell one more time. If no one answers the door in the next minute or so, I’ll run to the car, find my phone, and figure out what I am supposed todo if no one is home. Maybe I was supposed to go to the second address they gave the agency. Or maybe this whole thing is going to fall through, and I’m going to have to find someone else in need of an elf.
Just as I’m about to turn around, the door opens, and I’m standing in front of the most devastatingly handsome man I have ever laid eyes on. Holy Christmas balls, Batman!
I stand there stunned for half a second as I take in the man standing in front of me. I can’t help thinking he wouldn’t be a half-bad Santa if he wanted to dye his hair white and put on some fur. The man is…huge. Broad-shouldered, tall -so freakin’ tall- and his eyes….wow! Just wow!
I never realized eyes could be so…electric. Or so blue. A woman could fall in love with those eyes before the man ever even opened his mouth.
Not that I’m a great judge of character or anything. If I were, I wouldn’t be standing here right now looking at this god of a man who resembles a lumberjacked Saint Nick. Nor would I be remembering why I have to do the next thing I have to do.
“Merry Christmas! Santa says you’ve been busy.” I make an exaggerated wave of my hand and widen my eyes when I say the word busy. “So don’t you worry and don’t you pout.”
I wipe my hand across my forehead before putting it on my hips and pout my lips in what I can only hope is a suitably pretty pout.
“Because this year, Santa has sent his favorite elf to help you out. So don’t stress out or cry.”
I make the crying sign with my hands before holding my hands up above my head and saying a quick, silent prayer that my tits stay in my top.
“I’m here to do anything and everything you might need to make your Christmas special. I’m your personal elf!”
The guy looks so confused, and for just a moment I think he’s going to slam the door in my face, but he surprises me by taking me by the hand…and yanking me into his house!
Chapter Two
Luka
What the hell am I looking at?!
I’ve opened my door to find the sexiest woman on the other side…wearing an elf costume! Did I drink too much last night? Is this a hangover hallucination? Maybe it’s a delusion brought on by working too hard. I do that a lot. Work too much, not have delusions. This is actually my first, if it is in fact a delusion.
When I reach out to take her by the hand, she feels real enough. I have to fight down the sudden wave of anger that rushes through me as I think of her doing this for another man. The green velvet dress she is in is too short, too tight, too everything that makes my heart begin to thud faster, not unlike how it did when I opened my door to find her standing there.
