Ignore her hand. Do not get hard.
Ignore her hand.
It’s not working. Goddamn, it’s not working.
My heartbeat thunders in my ears as she smirks up at me, that inch of smooth cleavage snagging my attention again. I want to dip a finger into it. I want to slide my tongue—
“You okay, Santa?” she murmurs, her low, raspy tone making me anythingbutokay.
Cameraman forgotten, I visually trace the outline of her sensual lips. Her tongue slides over them, and I have to stifle a groan.
She’s trying to kill me. That’s what this is. She’s trying to drown me in her caramel eyes in front of all these people, and I’m helplessly falling into them.
“You’re a little menace,” I whisper, shaking my head.
“That’s perfect,” calls the cameraman. “Now both of you look this way.”
Reluctantly dragging my eyes away from hers, I focus on the lens, giving the best smile I can muster while wanting none of these people to look at me. I want my focus to be on how perfectly Lena fits under my arm like a missing puzzle piece slid into place.
“How about a kiss for Santa?”
When I flick my eyes to Joe at the sound of his voice, his hands are clasped under a radiant smile.
I shoot him a death glare, but Lena doesn’t hesitate. She leans toward me, and her sweet, citrusy scent floods my senses. I stay perfectly still as her lush lips land high on my cheekbone, above the fake beard lining my jaw.
I wish I could see her. I wish I could have an out-of-body experience right now to watch us together. Does she have her eyes closed? Does she look annoyed to be doing this?
But I can’t see her, and in my search for something to focus on to keep myself from floating away, my eyes land on Bea and Luci. They’re standing at the back of the group watching us, and they’re both …smiling.
Not running to stop Lena from pressing her lips to me. Not shaking their heads in dismay. No, they’re full-on smiling like this is the most adorable thing they’ve ever seen.
Lena stays glued to my cheek for a few moments, long enough to let the cameraman snap a few photos before she pulls away, sauntering toward her mom.
Joe snaps a picture on his phone, then he steps closer, breaking my view of Lena’s swaying hips as she walks away. With a knowing grin, he holds his phone up for me to see the screen.
There I am, filling the frame with a dazed expression, a scraggly white beard, and a perfect imprint of Lena’s red lips on my cheekbone.
15
GAVIN
My rolling suitcase catches on the railing with athudthat echoes through the silent house, drawing Lena’s attention away from the couch she’s preparing for the night. She crosses her arms and cocks her hip, sass pouring from her in waves as she watches me descend the stairs. Her sleep shorts are so small that they’re almost invisible beneath her baggy long-sleeve shirt, and I’m so busy devouring the sight of her bare legs in the lamplight that I almost trip down the last step.
“Running away again?” She tilts her head, sending her messy bun flopping to the side.
“Sleeping on this other couch tonight.” I shoot her a grin as I drop my bags and sit down on the middle cushion.
As I was heading upstairs a few minutes ago, listening to her preparing her couch for the night, I knew I couldn’t do it anymore.
I had to give up that room, even if Bea scolds me about it tomorrow.
“No you’re not.” Lena bends to spread her blanket out, and my gaze drags over her thighs again like it can’t stay away.
I have to force myself to stare at a candle on the coffee table instead. “Yes I am. That bed was doing something weird to my back,” I lie.
“That’s the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in.”
“You need to sleep in better beds, then.”
