I flick the switch to the electric fire, designed to look like a wooden log burner with fake dancing flames and an orange glow. Heat blows from the vent at the bottom, warming my hands.
The team went all out with the grotto, making this space warm and inviting. Joy flicks another switch for the tree lights. Colours dance across her face, making her more beautiful than ever.
We both sit in front of the artificial fire, the blower fanning away the chill. It’s eerily quiet in the store this time of night, but being in the grotto with Joy warms something in my chest.
The heat from the fireplace glows on her cheeks. My little star’s radiant tonight. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. Why ever she wanted to help me out tonight, I’ll never know. Guilt claws at my throat, making me itch around my neck. I need to tell her the truth about my plans. She doesn’t know this stock check is an inventory for when I put the place on the market.
My shoulders sag. I’m going to let so many people down come January. But this was my last shot at making a go of it. If I can’t even make a profit during December at the busiest time of the year, there really isn’t any point keeping the place running. The Santa bookings have helped, but it’s not near enough to pay the debt I’m in.
“Why have we never done this before?” Joy asks before biting into her thick crust.
“We never had a grotto before.” I shrug and lift out a slice of pepperoni.
She swallows the food in her mouth. “I mean a stock check with pizza. If I knew there was free food, I’d have stayed behind more often.”
“I think hanging out with you here on a Friday night is better than going out, right?”
Her cardigan hangs open now that the space has warmed through. The lace from her bra shows under her white shirt. My mind drifts to all the things I want to do to her. All the ways I could make her mine.
“Section four of the code of conduct. Eyes up here, Santa.” She smiles, biting into her food, a satisfied grin on her face as she chews.
I can’t look away from her. Her curves are my poison, but her mouth is all the medicine I need. I can't take it anymore. Every touch, every breath from her is scraping on my last nerve. I have to have her. Business and section four be damned.
I throw the crust in the box and wipe my mouth on the back of my hand. “I’m going to re-evaluate section four.”
“Oh?” She wipes her mouth, smudging the sauce from her lips.
I lick my pad and reach over to swipe the red smear with my thumb. “Looking at someone’s chest should be perfectly acceptable in the workplace.” I lean over, let my gaze wander down her cleavage and back to her open mouth. “Especially when that chest is as beautiful as yours. Do you agree?”
I hold my breath, waiting for the green light. Orange and red lights dance across her face, then a flash of green and blue as she nods with an open mouth.
A faint, “Yes,” whimpers out of her.
My lips brush against her mouth. I wish she’d kept the costume on, but it’s a good thing she hasn’t. I’m losing control as it is. Hanging on by a thread to any patience I have. If I’ve read the signs wrong and this all goes to hell, I’ve got nothing to lose. I won’t be here once this place is sold.
My heart thumps against my chest. Joy grips the pizza crust between her fingers. I take it from her and toss it in the box.
She holds her hands up, not wanting to touch me. “My hands are greasy. I…I don’t want to ruin your shirt.”
“I best take it off then.” With trembling fingers, I unknot my tie.
Her chest rises and falls, making the lace imprint against her blouse with each deep breath. Her eyes widen as my buttons pop open. Once free of the shirt, I lean over her, coaxing her to lie back on the rug.
My head dips, brushing against her lips once more, hoping she reciprocates and I haven’t just made a complete fool of myself. I never wanted to lose my star employee, but come January, it’s all over, anyway. She’ll probably hate me, along with the rest of them. My only wish is the buyer will keep the staff on. It’s selfish of me, but I need to have her before everything goes to shit.
Her hands press against my abs. She sucks in a breath, but I suck it right back out as I claim her mouth. She roams my body like a blind woman exploring her home. Damn, I want to be her home.
I break the kiss, coming up for air. Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling me back to her lips. She’s everything I knew she’d be. Something bursts in my chest. Stars twinkle above me like my star beneath me, feeding on this burst of energy that’s just come from nowhere. My heart’s been dormant for the last six years, and now she’s brought me back to life.
With one hand resting at the side of her head, my other hand hovers over her breast, desperate to feel her in my palm. Gently, I glide my hand over her blouse. Her hard nipple grazes against my palm, making my dick grow another inch. “Is this okay?”
She nods and pulls me back for another kiss, like she can’t get enough of my lips. The pizza was the starter, I’m the main course, but her pussy can be dessert.
I grind my pelvis against her, letting her know I’m as hard as the fake logs on the electric stove.
She gasps. I deepen the kiss, moving my hand between us to rub between her thighs. I’m desperate to feel how wet she is, to slip my fingers inside her heat just to see if I’m having the same effect on her as she is on me.
She whimpers as I stroke between her thighs.
