9 Ho, Ho, Ho
HO, HO, HO
Justin
“ M erry Christmas Eve,” I say the moment Lucy’s eyes blink open. I’ve been watching her sleep for the last fifteen minutes, remembering how nice it was to have her in my arms for most of yesterday. Having staff bring food to the room is a nice perk of the Alcott residence. After our late afternoon nap, we ended up staying in bed the rest of the night watching movies.
“Merry Christmas Eve.” She smiles softly.
“Should we celebrate?” I raise my eyebrows in question.
“No. We should get our last-minute shopping done. The stores close early today, and it’s your fault we didn’t go yesterday.”
“I’m not taking the blame for that. It was your brother’s fault for plying me with drinks, and then yours for being so damn irresistible.” I pull her into me and start tickling her sides—one of my favorite things to do—so I can hear her laugh.
The next thing I know, her mouth is on mine, taking me off guard, but it doesn’t stop me from taking advantage of the moment. Within seconds, we’re moaning and grinding into each other before she abruptly pushes me away.
“Don’t distract me. Seriously, we need to get going.” She looks at the clock on the nightstand. “We’re leaving in thirty minutes.”
“I can be ready in five. Let’s use the other twenty-five wisely.” Reaching for her, I’m met with another shove.
“Well, I need all thirty, so you’re on your own,” she retorts as she climbs out of bed.
“You’re going to make me use my hand again?” I call out while she’s in the closet.
As she exits, Lucy pauses with a hand on her jutted hip and smirks. “Hate to break it to you, but that’s all you’ll be using while you’re here.”
“Come closer and say that again,” I challenge.
“Not a chance. See you in”—she looks at her bare wrist
—“twenty-five.” Then she walks into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
I roll onto my back and groan.
“You never did tell me how yesterday went.” Her hand covers her mouth to muffle the full bite of burger she just took, garbling her speech. We’ve been shopping for a few hours and decided to break for lunch.
I can’t keep from laughing. “Geez, didn’t your parents teach you manners?”
She swallows dramatically. “Oh please, they shoved them down my throat so much, I was done for.”
I chuckle at her response. “Good to know.” She’s the complete opposite of what you would expect to come from this family.
“Now spill, how’d it go?” she asks while stuffing a fry into her mouth.
“Well, your dad insisted I ride in his cart and continued to drill me about my business aspirations throughout the day. He asked about my intentions with you. I mean, I thought that was obvious, but it seems he was referring to getting my hands on your money. Which was interesting, since I didn’t know you had any.” I narrow my eyes in accusation.
“Hmm… yeah. I figured it was bound to come up eventually. He likes to hold that over my head.”
“It wouldn’t have anything to do with why you asked me to do this, would it?” The funny thing is it wouldn’t matter. I can tell she doesn’t have a pretentious bone in her body, but who wouldn’t want to ensure their trust fund is secure?
“No, it didn’t, I swear. I don’t care about any of it. I don’t want this lifestyle. I’d give it all up in a heartbeat if it meant I didn’t have to answer to them anymore. That’s why I asked you to do this. They shouldn’t be dictating who I can and can’t be with. Why do you think I moved across the country and took a job as a receptionist?”
I wouldn’t know because she’s never spoken about her family life. Not that I have any room to talk. I suppose we all have our hang-ups.
“Looks like they’re still doing a pretty good job of it regardless of your address.” She’s delusional if she thinks otherwise.
“I don’t care. I’m done with all that.” Delusional it is.
“Nice try.” I chuckle. “If that were true, I wouldn’t be here.”
Lucy
Damn him and his single eyebrow raise. He’s right, but he doesn’t have to be so smug about it. So instead of responding, I take another huge bite of burger and point to my mouth, indicating the inability to speak. See? I have manners.
“Lucy?” My name comes from an oddly familiar voice, and I snap my head to the right, mouth still full, to see my ex-boyfriend from high school. Oh my God.
My eyes widen as I gulp down the unfinished bite so I can speak. “Richard?”
“Holy shit. I thought that was you. Wow. It’s been like, what—eight years?” he asks, reaching me and holding his arms out for a hug.
I stand to do so, only to hear a distinctly loud throat clear behind me. I step back right away to see Justin standing, looking every bit his six foot four.
“Justin, this is Richard, an old friend from high school. Richard, this is Justin.”
“Her fiancé,” Justin adds, sizing Richard up. Crap.
“You’re engaged. That’s… great. Congratulations are in order, I guess,” Richard says as he leans forward for another hug, but Justin sticks his hand out to shake before he makes it.
“Nice to meet an old friend of Lucy’s. Sorry, she didn’t mention you. You went to school together?” Oh, he’s so sly.
Trying to prevent an answer, I laugh awkwardly to interrupt. “It’s crazy running into you like this. Are you home for the holidays?” I ask Richard, effectively changing the subject.
“I am. It’s about the only time I can get away from the office these days,” Richard answers.
“Did you become an attorney like you always wanted?”
“Yeah, in fact, I just became the youngest partner in our firm,” he boasts.
“That’s amazing. You always were driven. I knew you’d make it big,” I say genuinely.
“Thanks, Lucy. How about you? Where did you end up with your MBA from Harvard?”
“How did you know I got my MBA?”
“Lucy, our parents are friends. I ask about you occasionally.”
I look at Justin, who seems pretty interested in where the conversation is going. He doesn’t know any of this, and I’m pretty sure I’m in too deep to stop now.
“I wanted a change of scenery, so I ended up moving to California.” No need to elaborate and tell him I’m just an assistant.
“No shit. Where at? I’m in Oceanside,” he says hopeful.
“That’s wild. I’m in San Diego.”
“What are the odds we live within an hour of each other?” Richard asks.
“What are the odds?” Justin adds sarcastically.
All right, looks like it’s time to wrap this up. What’s the deal anyway? It’s not like we’re really engaged…
“It was good to see you, Richard. Congratulations on becoming partner. Tell your parents I said hi and Merry Christmas.” That should be sufficient. I feel like I’ve covered all the bases.
“Yeah, same. Let me get your number, and if I’m in the area, the three of us can grab a drink or something,” he says, handing me his phone to add my contact.
“Sounds good.” For some reason, my palms are sweating, and guilt starts creeping up. After I’m done, I hand the phone back with a forced smile.
“I’ll text you so you’ll have my information. It was so great to see you, Lucy. Justin, it was nice to meet you. You’ve got an amazing girl here. Take care of this one,” Richard says.
“Don’t worry, I plan on it,” comes his gruff reply.
Waving as Richard walks away, I sit back down to a scowling Justin. I’m not sure what his problem is, so I plop another fry in my mouth and wait.
“I take it ‘old friend’ means boyfriend. How long did you two date?”
“Does it matter? It was eight years ago.”
“I’m just curious. You know, most people who get engaged talk about their past relationships at some point while they’re dating.”
“See, that’s the thing about us. We never had the chance to get that far since someone here disappeared, so don’t lecture me on what people do while they’re dating. By the way—we’re not actually engaged. You only have a few more days until none of this matters anyway.”
“Have you not realized that it does matter? If you haven’t guessed, I’m not only here to help you out, Lucy. I’m here because I want a second chance.” He grabs my hand and holds it on the table, but I don’t respond, unsure what to say.
Things have been heating up between us, but it didn’t occur to me that he was in it for more than sex at this point. I figured there was some reason he didn’t want to be with me all those months ago, and nothing has changed since then, not to mention my family would send anyone running for the hills. I’m reasonably sure Justin doesn’t need money, so that’s not it.
“Why?” It’s all I’ve got.
He drops his head and shakes it. “I hate that you even have to ask, but I get it. Lucy, you’re amazing, and I’m sorry I made you feel differently. You weren’t the reason I walked away. If I could go back and change how that all went down, I’d do it in a heartbeat. What I need you to know is that you are the complete package, and everything I could ever want by my side. Will you give me the chance to redeem myself?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know if I can trust you again. I won’t rule out a friends-with-benefits arrangement, but I’m not ready to commit to a relationship.”
He smiles. “I can accept that. I’ll keep working toward the latter, but I’ll ensure you’re satisfied with the benefits in the meantime.” He wiggles his brows. “But for now, why don’t you tell me about this MBA from Harvard.”
“Wow, these are…” Instead of finishing his thought, Justin laughs as he holds up the pair of pajamas he just opened, which have a picture of Santa saying, “I do it for the hos.”
My parents included him in our Christmas Eve tradition of gifting everyone a new pair. The problem is my brother handled the shopping this year since my parents were too busy—yeah, right. He bought Mom and Dad basic holiday-themed ones while humbly buying himself a pair that says, “Might as well sleep under the tree, ’cause we all know I’m the gift in the family.”
“Nice one, Trevor. Are you calling me a ho?” I ask, referring to Justin’s while laughing.
“I don’t know… You’re last, so go ahead and open yours,” he answers cryptically.
I tear into mine and immediately start laughing. Since Trevor knew Justin would be here, it makes sense that he had ours tie in together. Mine say, “Santa’s favorite ho.”
Holding them up to show everyone, Justin loses it, practically crying from laughing so hard, which sets me off too, followed by everyone else. Soon, we’re all wiping tears from our eyes. I haven’t seen my parents laugh like this in a long time—it’s nice.
After we calm down, my brother says, “All right, let’s all change into them before the movie. We’ll meet in the theater in twenty.”
Justin rises and grabs my hand to help me up from the couch before leading us to our room.
I’m halfway to the closet when Justin swiftly tackles me to the bed, making me squeal. He lays me flat on my back, straddling me, trapping my arms above my head, my new pajamas thrown to the side.
“How’s my favorite ho feeling?” He nips my ear.
I giggle. “Much better now,” I respond while he works my neck with his mouth, turning my giggles into moans.
“Good. We have twenty minutes… Whatever shall we do?”
“What you’re doing is good.” My neck is straining to give him more room to roam.
“Oh, we can do better than this. Why don’t I help you get changed?” His hands reach for the hem of my shirt, slowly lifting it while skimming his thumbs along my skin, leaving behind a trail of goose bumps.
I hum in agreement. “Okay.”
“I love you being so agreeable.” He scoots down and grazes my belly with featherlight kisses as he removes my shirt.
Eager for more, I reach back to undo my bra, flinging it to the floor. “I don’t wear a bra with pajamas.”
“Is that so? Good thing you took it off then.” His mouth immediately engulfs my breast while circling my nipple with his tongue.
“I could stay here all night and suck these beautiful tits, but we’re short on time, so I better finish getting you ready for your pajamas.”
“Mm-hmm. You should, for sure.”
His mouth moves back down my stomach as he undoes my pants and pulls them down, leaving my panties in place, but then he pauses and glances up.
“Maybe you should put some fresh panties on to go with your new pajamas?”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Justin winks. “Great minds think alike.”
Within seconds, all my clothes are on the floor, and Justin’s face is between my legs, his hands spreading me wide open for him.
“Fuck, Lucy, you smell like heaven.” He licks up my center. “And you taste like dessert. Goddamn, baby, I need to feast on you.”
Before I know what’s happening, he rolls us over so he’s flat on his back, me on top of him, then drags me up so I’m sitting on his torso, my core inches from his mouth.
“Justin, what are you doing?”
“I want you to sit on my face and let me eat that pussy while you get yourself off. Scoot yourself on up here.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Get your pussy up here right now, Lucy. If I have to ask you again, you won’t like the consequences.” He slaps my ass, causing me to jerk forward on my knees.
Taking advantage of my movement, he pulls me right down over his face, making me grab onto the headboard for support. And oh God… his tongue rams into my hole and starts flicking vigorously while he cups my ass, pulling me tighter against him. I can’t stop the moans from escaping.
My pelvis starts rocking over his mouth of its own accord. His thumb finds my clit and begins circling it while he continues lavishing me with his tongue. I’m seconds from coming when his other hand squeezes my breast and pinches my nipple.
“Justin, oh God, I’m coming. Fuck—oh God, oh God.” He pinches harder. “JUSTIN!” I flood his mouth with my release while his moans assure me he’s enjoying this as much as I am as I ride it out, continuing to slide back and forth until the very last pulse. A moment later, I collapse, letting myself slump to the bed beside him.
“That was fucking hot,” he says with a sigh. He almost sounds as content as I am.
“Damn, I forgot how good at that you are.”
“That was all you, baby. All I did was enjoy my dessert.”
“We do have a few minutes left, maybe—”
“Nope. Time to head to the theater.”
“But—”
“Don’t worry, Lucy. Tomorrow’s Christmas, and I know exactly what I want.”