* * *
“How’s it going, sprout?” Noel asks as we take a break.
I peer up at him. "You know, if you're going to continue to call me that childish nickname, I think it's only fitting that I call you by yours.”
He stares at me, confused.
Right. He doesn't know his nickname because, thankfully, he never saw the words ‘McHottie’ doodled all over my school notepad.
"And what would that be?" he asks.
Do not say it. He can never know. “Okay. You caught me. I don't have one, but it's never too late, hotshot.” I give him a wink.
He smiles in a devastatingly sexy way that makes my knees shake. "You can call me whatever you want... sprout."
My stomach groans again and I place my hands over my belly as if to silence it, but it’s no use. “My stomach keeps making all kinds of weird noises.”
“Yeah, I heard. You hungry?”
“Starving.” Standing near the festive banquet, I grab a Christmas tree shaped cookie covered in sprinkles that I’ve had my eye on all morning. I doubt they’ll miss one.
Just as I bite down, Noel shouts, “Don’t eat that!”
I pinch my eyebrows, then almost break a tooth on the rock in my mouth. Rubbing the side of my jaw, I stare at the cookie that looks so realistic.
“They’re fake. They only put a few real items out for the actors to nibble on during the scene.” Noel chuckles. “Are you okay?”
He takes my hand, leading me into the kitchen of the town hall. “There are some snacks in here for the actors. Josh doesn’t work on set unless they have a supply of his favourite candy.” Noel opens a luxurious box of chocolates and holds it out to me with a smile.
I take one between my finger and thumb, examining the dusting of gold sugar before popping it into my mouth.
A moan leaves my mouth and I close my eyes, enjoying the creamy centre melting on my tongue. I can only imagine what it must be like to demand such luxuries at work. Josh may be a douche, but he has exquisite taste.
Noel extends another chocolate my way. “Open up, sprout.”
I open my mouth and he places another chocolate on my tongue. “Are you feeding me now?”
“Let me hear you moan—” His breath halts as he realises what he said. “I mean, don’t let me hear you moan that you’re hungry.”
I know exactly what he meant, and I let out another seductive moan on purpose as I swallow the chocolate down. “So good, Noel.”
He has another one ready. As he places it on my tongue, I bite down on his finger before sucking the melted chocolate from his pad. “You’re so good at filling me up, Noel.”
His eyes widen like saucers and he coughs to clear his throat, wiping his fingers on his palm-tree-patterned shorts.
The excitement shines in his blue crystal eyes. His breath fans my neck. “You’re such a tease.”
I can’t stop the giggle building in my belly. I’m not usually like this; it must be the Christmas in July season bringing it out of me. Or is it Noel? Maybe it’s the fact that I feel comfortable with him after my initial clumsiness. Even though I’ve wanted him since I was a teenager, nobody makes me feel more at ease.
Even after I kissed him yesterday, he never made me feel awkward like boys have in the past. But Noel isn’t like the boys I’m used to. He’s a man.
Staring into his eyes, goose bumps coat my skin. Hairs prickle on the back of my neck and it’s not from the air blowing down on me.
He moves a lock of hair from my face. “If you weren’t Gray’s little sister, I’d spank you for teasing me like this.”
A squeak escapes from my throat, as though he has me in a chokehold. The words I long to speak stick in the back of my mouth. Words like, ‘please spank me.’ I’ve only read about it in books. Do guys actually do that for real? Noel Carole could make all my dreams come true. If only Christmas wishes were possible in July.
I take another one of the delicious chocolates from the box, then close the lid before bending over the counter to put them away in the cupboard. My bottom sticks out, inviting him to spank me. I tilt my head with a bite of my bottom lip, my core clenched and drenched, hoping he’ll take the bait.
