Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
ATLAS
W ell, there’s a full-on raging blizzard outside and only one puppy left in need of a home tonight. This one is going to be easy. I’ve officially secured my date with Isadora. They’re so damn cute together. Clarice snuggles in a ball in the dog bed sitting on top of the reception desk. Isadora is sitting on the counter, tracing her fingers over the tiny little puppy’s head. The two of them are adorable together. Christmas magic, unlocked. I wonder if I can trick her into a kiss under some mistletoe. There’s some in the photo prop box for adoptees to have their photo taken with their new best friend. I would just need enough time to climb up on the desk and plant it on the ceiling. An idea hits me and it’s fucking brilliant. I know exactly how to get rid of her for a few minutes.
“You can go pick out a blanket for her if you’d like from the supply closet.” I dangle a key in front of her. “Down the hall, third door on the left.”
She smiles at me and stands up, stretching, which is also fucking adorable. Damn, she’s got me obsessed. I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen for her all over again today.
“I don’t think it’s looking good for you, Santa.” She winks, jumping down from the top of the reception desk.
If only you knew the winning move I have planned, little elf. I watch eagerly as she backs away slowly before turning around and heading further down the hall. I sprint across the room as quietly as possible to the box of props and snatch the mistletoe, then slide behind the desk to grab a roll of tape. I place the items on the smooth surface and climb up next to them to hang the mistletoe. Thank god it’s an easy mission and I finish with enough time to lean against the desk, casually stroking Clarice’s little velveteen head the same way Isadora was before I sent her to the supply closet.
She returns with a blanket and tucks it around the little furball, knocking into my hand by accident.
“Hey, get your own puppy, this one’s mine,” I tease.
She rolls her eyes. “Well, you’re going to have to share custody because she’s too cute, and you promised me all the puppy cuddles if I helped you, so right now, it’s my turn.”
“Touché. I see your ‘I was promised, we had a deal’ card, and I raise you an ‘only if you look up—because I think you’ll find you owe me something, too.’” I smirk at Isadora, knowing this could go entirely the wrong way. I maintain a steely facade while I stare her down, waiting for her to look up and realize exactly what I am asking for.
She narrows her eyes at me before glancing up slowly. I swear I catch a fleeting smile on her lips but by the time I blink, she’s staring at me, ready to strike.
“You think you’re real smooth, Atlas Buchanan. That’s fine. I’ll give you a kiss, but only so you can think about the way you won’t be kissing these lips on a date.”
“Well then, I guess I’m going to have to make you regret saying that. No pressure, huh?” I say, leaning in closer and running my finger beneath her chin to tilt up to meet my lips.
I can feel her throat muscles restrict against the pad of my finger as she swallows a lump.
“What’s wrong, Isadora? Are you afraid I’ll kiss you so good that you’ll wish you were mine. Maybe beg me to take you on that date?”
“And that’s exactly why a kiss won’t change my mind. I don’t beg, Mr. Buchanan.” Her tone is dangerous, daring me to continue our edgy banter, hinging somewhere between flirty and threatening.
“Mr. Buccanon? Those are some fighting words, Ms. Moretti.”
“Are you going to shut up and kiss me, or are you too chicken?”
I yank her lips to mine, sending my palm around her neck to slip into her hair so I can pull on it to deepen the kiss which is exactly what I do as I glide my tongue against her lips but she denies me.
“Careful, or I’m going to demand a do-over,” I warn in a husky voice as I pull my mouth just barely from hers.
I return my lips to Isadora’s mouth, holding her by the hair, just in case, but she’s not fighting me. Instead, her mouth melts open for me this time and she kisses me like she just realized there’s a way she can beat me at my own game. All she has to do is out-kiss me, and this girl is giving it her all. Her hands land against my chest, pulling me until our bodies are pressed together. Our tongues tangle together for a few more moments and then she pulls away, and it damn-near makes me groan in protest.
“What’s wrong, Atlas? Are you realizing I’m a better kisser than you?”
She’s fucking taunting me. Oh my god, I think I might have come in my pants a bit. She’s giving me her best performance, and it’s definitely making me question if she’s a better kisser.
“I can be a gentleman and concede on one condition,” I negotiate.
“That particular proposition is still a ‘you didn’t uphold your end of the deal’ thing,” she gloats.
“I haven’t done it yet, but I will,” I retort. “This just means it’s time to bring in the big guns and beat you at Christmas magic, which I believe will leave us tied one point each. Start thinking of a tiebreaker for when I win here in a second,” I challenge, taking her hands off my chest.
I take a step back and look toward the tired little puppy.
“All of Santa’s little helpers deserve a little something for their hard work. Looks like it’s going to be me, you, and are we keeping the name Clarice?” I wink.
“Oh no. You are not giving the puppy to me. I work way too much. I can’t be there for her the way she deserves.”
This girl’s melting my heart, sexy and responsible.
“Ah well, I see. That is a problem.” I run my hands down my beard and watch her come undone for me. “I guess as Santa’s number one elf this year—truly the holliest and the jolliest—I have no choice but to throw in free doggy daycare in exchange for one drink every morning waiting for me at pick-up. You know, so I have an excuse to see you every day.” I smile at her, then grab the can of whipped cream from the cocoa table and squeeze some onto my finger. I know exactly what I’m doing as I suck my finger clean while staring her down. “You wouldn’t want to disappoint Santa, would you? As the number one elf, I thought that made you a good girl.”
Yup, there it is, exactly the reaction I was looking for. Isadora’s mouth gapes open while lust clouds her green eyes. They’ve turned so dark with desire, they’re nearly black. I keep going. “And if you refuse, I believe you mentioned we have shared custody earlier, so I think you already claimed this one. Why do you think I told everyone she was already adopted? By the way, the blanket you selected is going to keep her nice and cozy.”
She’s speechless, just staring at me, and then she’s clearing the space between us and landing in my arms, which instinctively wrap around her. She looks into my mischievous eyes. “Shut up and kiss me. ”
Holy shit! I think I just melted the ice queen’s heart—and we adopted a puppy together.
”I told you I would win,” I whisper before devouring her mouth once more.