Chapter Nine
A lthough the threat to Merry’s safety died with Johnny Reynolds, his death didn’t erase the haunting memories of that night. She couldn’t bear the notion of going back into the house, let alone sleeping in her bedroom. Reese, ever-understanding, came to her rescue again. He packed a bag and moved her in with him. Living in a new space, sleeping in his arms every night, she could breathe again, and the fear that spiked at every creaking floorboard or slamming car door outside slowly lifted.
By taking her in, Reese not only sought to ease her torment but his own. As one week passed and another began, his heightened vigilance and need to protect her didn’t change. It was in part because the nightmares that plagued her each night showed no sign of stopping. After the night when she awoke screaming and shaking, reliving when she’d looked over and seen him bleeding out on her bedroom floor, she’d tried to move to another room.
“Don’t even think about it,” he warned, pulling her back into his arms when she’d tried to get up.
“But you need your sleep. You have to work in the morning.”
“So do you. Besides, I’m more concerned about what you need. Is tossing and turning in a bed alone going to chase away the nightmares better than lying in my arms?”
She didn’t reply because the answer was hell no.
“What do you need, baby?” Reese persisted, his fingertips lightly brushing her cheek.
“I need you,” she admitted even though she felt selfish doing so.
“Then that’s that end of this discussion,” he’d declared firmly. After he kissed her, soft and warm with just a taste of his tongue, he pulled her back into his arms, her cheek pillowed on his bare chest, and held her until sleep claimed her again.
That’s how she’d spent the last eight nights. And when the shadows crossed her face during the day, he held her until the horrible, intrusive memories passed. He had even taken the time off work and arranged for her to see one of the trauma counselors he knew through the department. After her parents died, she’d seen a grief counselor and knew how beneficial it could be, so she scheduled additional sessions with Judy. She advised Merry that the flashbacks and nightmares might persist for a while, so sleeping the entire night through gave her hope.
She awoke rested and spent the day preparing for the Annual Police and Firemen’s Christmas Ball. Reese worried she might not be up to it, but she convinced him it would be a good distraction and that she couldn’t be any safer than being surrounded by a hundred policemen. Never having been to a prom or formal ball before, she was dying to go, if for no other reason than to dance with her hot new boyfriend. She could only imagine what it would do when she saw him in his tuxedo.
He’d surprised her with a spa package: hair, makeup, Mani-Pedi—the works.
“You deserve a little pampering,” he’d declared, and Merry couldn’t agree more.
The spa was located just a few doors down from her shop, so Merry brought her gown to work to change afterward. They were closing early, something that had shocked her staff. It was the week before Christmas and the last-minute frenzy was in full swing, but she hadn’t been out on a real date in forever—she refused to count the impromptu dinner and grope session on her porch with whacko Johnny—and couldn’t care less about three hours of lost revenue. With everyone gone for the day, she’d have the place to herself to get ready. All that day, she bounced excitedly around the store, eagerly anticipating a night of dining, dancing, and meeting his friends and colleagues, all for a good cause.
Her four o’clock appointment ran longer than expected. This left her rushing into her store fifteen minutes before Reese was supposed to pick her up. As she hurried toward the staff locker room with its full-length mirror, she reminded herself to calm down and breathe. But it wasn’t easy, faced with the challenge of getting into her form-fitting dress without messing up her meticulously styled hair and flawless makeup, a look she’ didn’t have a snowball’s chance of recreating. Not in this lifetime.
***
R EESE PULLED INTO THE parking lot at seven on the dot. He’d brought his car, thinking it would be easier for Merry to get into while wearing a floor-length gown and heels. He whistled quietly as he walked toward her shop. She’d slept the night through last night, the first time in a week, which meant he did, too. He’d never tell her, but it had wiped him out and he was glad for a solid eight hours.
In time, he was hopeful both of them could put this horrifying incident behind them. But that didn’t mean he’d let his guard down. He knew better than anyone of the multitude of criminals and would-be felons lurking in the shadows, poised to prey on someone as na?ve and trusting as his lovely elf.
With the closed sign clearly in place, he headed to the employee entrance in back. There was a doorbell, but out of curiosity and a sixth sense that his scatterbrained girlfriend was still not as safety conscious as he’d like, he tried the knob. It turned easily in his hand and opened.
Dammit!
“Merry!” he bellowed, his good mood evaporated.
Her faint response came from the other side of the shop. “I’ll be right out. I’m almost ready.”
Closing the door, he flipped the lock and walked down a long hallway through the employees’ only area for the first time. Coming to a stop at the first door, he glanced inside what looked like a break room with tables and chairs and a vending machine. With no sign of her, he continued his search, peering into room after room filled with floor-to-ceiling shelves jam-packed with boxes. It was like a warehouse, and there was no curvy little redhead in sight.
Where the hell was she?
“Merry,” he called again.
“I’m in the locker room.”
“Keep talking so I can find you?”
“About what?” she asked, her voice getting louder the farther down the hall he went.
“You can start by explaining why your back door was unlocked?”
Her silence was answer enough. She’d forgotten to lock up and set the alarm, and charity ball or not, was her butt in trouble.
He’d reached the last door when it opened and a vision in an emerald-green velvet gown appeared. He almost forgot why he was incensed with her—but not quite.
“Did you forget to lock it? Be honest.”
“Yes, I was in a hurry, but I was expecting you any minute.”
“Unacceptable. You have a doorbell for a reason.” His hand rose to her cheek. He came close to rubbing his thumb along her plump lower lip, but her scarlet lipstick looked perfect and he didn’t want to smear it. “You look stunning.”
“Thank you,” she replied, as more color than the blush she wore tinted her cheeks. Her hands came up to smooth his lapels. “You look very handsome in your tux.”
Looking down from his superior height, his gaze keyed in on her neckline, which revealed the upper curves of her rounded breasts and tantalizing amount of cleavage.
“Your dress is lower cut than I’d like. If you bend even a little or breathe, you’ll come out of it.”
“Silly man.” She grinned at him before turning. “It’s not zipped yet. Could you?”
He slid his hands under the soft material and around to the front. Then he bent and kissed a creamy shoulder exposed by the strapless gown. “For what I have in mind, it needs to come off.”
She sucked in a breath before angling her head to look up at him.
“Now? But, Reese, we’ll be late.”
“I don’t care. This is more important.” He pulled her dress down and held her arm to steady her. “Step out. This will only take a minute.”
She stumbled and would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her around the middle. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, but I thought you didn’t want to rush our first time.”
He frowned. “I’ve paddled your sweet ass before, elf.”
She blinked. “Wait. You’re going to spank me? Now.”
“No time like the present. I’ve explained how I feel about delays.”
“If this is about the door. I got here fifteen minutes ago and knew you would be right here, honey. I swear.”
“It would only take a few seconds for a criminal to get inside to rob you or do a helluva lot worse. You know that better than anyone. The rear door stays locked at all times, and you lock the front door after hours and anytime you’re alone in the shop. If I have to spank you every time you forget, then so be it.”
He laid her dress over the bench in front of the lockers then remaining standing, crooked a finger at her. She hesitated a fraction of a second, which was better than the last time then walked over.
“Since we’re going out, I won’t take you over my lap. Put your hands flat on the bench. You won’t get mussed that way.”
“But I’ll ruin my makeup.” She looked at him pleadingly.
“We’ll have to risk it. Bend over the bench.”
When she was in position, he stopped to admire her lacy green panties that matched the strapless bra. He couldn’t decide which was sexier, half-dressed or spilling provocatively out of her gown. Either way, he was hard in seconds.
Hell, who was he kidding? He’d been hard for Merry since he’d first laid eyes on her. Although she had shared his bed all week, they still hadn’t made love yet. A lot of cuddling and kissing had gone on, but after what had happened, Reese held back, waiting until she was ready. He didn’t want her mixing up gratitude and hero worship with genuine affection.
Merry also needed time to grow to trust him. He knew she had reservations after watching the parade of women cross his doorstep early on. But it had been a while since he’d been with anyone else because his little elf had worked her way under his skin and into his heart.
Now, to hear her beg for his lovemaking was a balm to his soul. She was more than ready. They had a bit of business to take care of first because he didn’t want her thinking he wasn’t serious about following his safety precautions, or that she could manipulate him with sex. Although, in his position right now—hard, aching, and ready to make her his woman—it was going to be the shortest punishment on record.
He smoothed his hand over her lace-covered bottom, asking her sternly, “Instead of heading off to the ball as planned, you’re about to be punished. How could you have prevented this, Merry?”
“By locking the door and setting the alarm, sir.”
“And being proactive about your safety. I’ve taken every precaution here at the store and at home, but none of the technology or safeguards will work it you don’t use them.” He took down her panties, revealing her perfect round cheeks.
His hand came down swiftly. The loud crack resonated in the tiled room, echoing through the door and down the empty hallway. “My hand is apparently not getting through.”
“But it is!” she exclaimed.
“Too late. But that argument might convince me if this doesn’t happen again.” He could use a belt, like he’d threatened the last time, but his tuxedo pants were adjustable and he wasn’t wearing one. Reese glanced around the room for something to use as a paddle. “Stand up.”
“What?”
“We’re going out into the shop to find something to help your memory in the future.”
“You can’t be serious. The shop has windows on three sides.”
“I’ll be careful and make sure no one sees.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him. After a few steps, with her scurrying to keep up, she exclaimed, “Reese, slow down. I can’t run in these heels.”
He stopped immediately and turned back to her. “Sorry, honey. I forget how much shorter your legs are than mine, even in those sexy heels.” Seeing her panties in a twist at her knees, he crouched and pulled them down to her ankles, repeating, “Step out.”
When she did, it left her in only her thigh-high stockings and four-inch silver heels.
“That’s much better,” he murmured, his hungry gaze tracking up her shapely legs to the triangle of red curls at eye level. Reese knew from tasting her on the hood of her car that the warm, sweet haven between her thighs was silky smooth. He couldn’t resist gliding his hands up the backs of her legs to cup the full globes of her backside, and he nuzzled her belly, inhaling her spicy womanly scent.
“Make love to me instead? Please, Reese.”
He groaned, sorely tempted as he spread kisses over her smooth, fragrant skin. Moving down slowly to her sultry mound, he flicked his tongue out to tease just the top of her slit.
“I plan to,” he groaned, his voice thick with desire. But contradictory to his words, because down deep he must be a masochist, Reese rose to his feet, his fingertips grazing her soft curves. He gazed down at her, captivated by her beauty, while noting her justifiable disappointment. “We’ll take care of this little lesson first. Afterward, I intend to worship every inch of you. But the lace stockings and heels stay because you look sexy as hell in them.”
“Spank me, Reese, but hurry,” she pleaded urgently, her hands clutching his lapels as she pressed her body against his. “Because this endless waiting is killing me.”
His fingers threaded in her hair, pulling her head back so he could taste the fullness of her scarlet lips. She opened readily for his tongue, pulling him down as she rose on tiptoe, fully engaged in the steamy kiss.
Reese forced himself to end it and turned them both to her showroom. They were just a few feet away from her centerpiece, the huge two-story Christmas tree. Surrounding it was a split-rail fence decorated with evergreen garland and lights; it was the perfect height for his purpose.
He dipped his head, lips brushing her ear, and quietly issued his orders. “Grab the rail and bend over. I want that naughty behind high and ready for your punishment.”
Her eager compliance both surprised and delighted him. Once she was in position, he searched for something light and flexible. He saw wooden wall art, which was the right length and width, but too thick. And there was a lot of glass; that was definitely out. As he picked up one item and discarded another, she cast a quick glance over her shoulder, her teeth worrying her plump lower lip, a mix of anticipation and impatience enveloping her.
“Eyes forward. I’m looking for the perfect pervertible to use on your glorious backside.”
“The perfect what?”
“Pervertible. An everyday object I can use in lieu of a paddle.” With a raised finger, he motioned her to turn around then continued his search. “Ah, here we are,” he said a moment later.
He was beside her in a blink. One hand swept up her spine until it settled on her upper back, pushing her gently until she was in the desired position. “Spread your legs a bit and we’ll be ready to begin.”
She shifted her feet, rising on her toes out of necessity to maintain contact with the rail, which angled her bottom exactly how he wanted it. When the first swat landed, she jumped and let out a little yelp.
“Easy. That was just my hand. I’m going to warm you up a little first.” Although he offered his words as reassurance, she trembled, and her hands gripped the top rail tighter. “You’ll feel warmth and sting from me, Merry. Maybe a little tenderness, but nothing more. You trust me, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she gasped. “I’m just afraid I might...”
Come.
That explained the tremor. A spanking, or the thought of one, at least, turned her on. Was there ever a woman more perfect for him?
“Back in position,” he urged then continued until her upthrust bottom was warm and blushing with a hint of pink. Afterward, he smoothed his hand over her sensitive skin, surprising a moan from her when he dipped between her thighs and tested his theory. His fingers gliding through her wetness, one finger sliding easily inside her, made them both groan.
“Quit torturing me please, Reese.”
“Sorry, baby, but you don’t get to dictate how fast or slow we go about this. I’m in charge of the punishment, the sex, and the relationship. You get that now, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir. But I want you inside of me so bad.”
“I want that, too. But we can’t let your recklessness go unchecked. The unlocked door tonight, leaving your purse and keys in your car last week, opening doors without checking, climbing broken down ladders, are all actions that threaten your safety. I mean to put an end to this, before something worse happens. That would be unacceptable.”
Merry didn’t like the sound of any of that. And he usually spoke with more passion. “Merely unacceptable?” she challenged.
“I misspoke,” he corrected, his voice turning husky with emotion. “I refuse to lose you after only just finding you. In a word, it would devastate me.”
Suddenly, a whooshing noise sounded, followed by the crack of a firm object landing against bare skin. Fire blazed across Merry’s right cheek. Whoosh. Another swath of heat ignited her other cheek.
“Ow! Reese!”
“I warned you. If it takes a daily paddling, I will do it to keep you safe.”
A half dozen resounding smacks rained down unimpeded. The sting and burn were ferocious, and she couldn’t help but wiggle beneath the warm, supporting hand on her back.
“I swear I’ll do better.”
Another six, three on each side stole her breath.
“I’ll lock everything, keep up with my keys, and set alarms and reminders on my phone. Whatever it takes. I promise.”
Four more landed, lower this time and from side to side across her sit spots. Her yelps and moans turned to raspy indrawn breaths. She was desperately trying to keep from crying and ruining her face, but tears welled and threatened to fall from the ungodly sting of...whatever it was.
“That’s it. You’re done,” he announced, lightly stroking her inflamed skin as she slumped over the railing. “I went easy on you, elf. Any more incidents and I won’t be nearly as gentle.”
“Our definitions of gentle are a wee bit different, sir.”
When he helped her stand, she searched for the source of the uncomfortable burning on her butt and homed in on the thin yardstick in his hand. She carried them in a variety of styles, each decorated with a different holiday character. They were one of her bestsellers, meant for measuring snowfall, not for spanking. Reese had selected Frosty on a Stick. Merry wouldn’t be able to look at the cute little snowman in quite the same manner ever again.
With her curiosity satisfied, both hands flew to her burning bottom as she buried her face in his chest. Rubbing didn’t help, and she was badly in need of a hug, so she slid her arms around his lean waist and hung on tight.
“I’ll do better, Reese. I promise. It’s not fair of me to worry you with my forgetfulness. I think I’ll install one of those self-closing doohickeys on the door so I never forget again.”
“Good idea, honey. I’ll even install it myself.” Angling her face up to his, he lowered his mouth for a sweet, soulful kiss. When he broke away, his words made her heart turn over. “I love you, Merry.”
She hadn’t shed a tear from the sting of the spanking. Now, they overflowed.
Seeing them, he brushed them away. “You’ll ruin your makeup. And I was so careful, too.”
“I don’t care. Will you love me now, Reese?”
“I plan to, elf. Now and forever.”
Walking her backward, he laid her down on the blanket of white, fluffy fake snow under the tree. Popping open her front hook bra, he eased back the lace until she lay naked before him. Then he sat back on his heels and simply looked at her—and looked.
She squirmed a bit, self-conscious. “Is something wrong?”
“No. Just drinking you in. With the lights of the tree gleaming on your flawless skin, your mass of burnished curls against the white batting, and all of your tempting curves, I’ve never seen a prettier Christmas present.”
Deciding to swoon at her man waxing poetic over her later, Merry sat up and pushed his black jacket off his shoulder. Next, she attacked the buttons on his pristine white shirt while he ripped at his tie.
“Advance warning,” he said as he stripped off his shirt. “This is going to be quick. We’ll make it slow and romantic next time. I promise.”
“We’ve got our whole lives to go slow. I need you inside me now, Reese. I crave it.”
“Elf,” he growled huskily as his hasty fingers tore at his fly. “Have I mentioned how perfect you are for me?”
“No, but I’ll remind you to tell me later.”
With fervent eyes, she watched as he revealed his hard length and slipped on a condom. With a good dose of apprehension as well. It had been a while for her, and Reese was proportionate in all of his above-average body parts—big hands, feet, chest...
Her concern must have shown on her face because he slowed down and stretched out next to her. Propped on an elbow, he gently kissed her. “Relax, I’ll go easy.”
His mouth returned for a deeper kiss, his tongue tangling with her own until she couldn’t think, much less worry. At the same time, his hand caressed her everywhere—jaw, throat, chest, breasts, and belly—returning her to her prior state of urgency. When he parted her thighs and stroked the freshly waxed skin—it was a full-service spa, after all—he groaned. “I love the little tuft of curls in front and how smooth you are in between. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Merry smiled, relieved at her gamble. “I was hoping you would. I had it done at the spa for the first time today. It was embarrassing and hurt like the dickens.”
“Thank you for that. But how did you know we’d be... intimate tonight?”
“Wishful thinking. I was counting on you being unable to resist the dress.”
“The dress is definitely hot. Your undies hotter. And these stockings and heels... Just be careful not to poke anything vital.”
She giggled again at the unintentional pun in his words.
“But what’s underneath?” he continued, desire blazing in his eyes. “Fucking gorgeous.”
He reclaimed her mouth as his finger slipped inside her pussy, mimicking the thrust and slow swirls of his tongue in her mouth.
She was quickly on the edge of coming when he moved above her and guided the head of his thick shaft to her entrance. She held her breath as he sank slowly into her, stretching and filling her like never before.
He stopped, eased back, and checked in. “Doing okay, baby?”
“Yes. More. Please. I ache to feel all of you.”
The next thrust was equally slow, but he didn’t stop until seated fully inside her drenched passage. Then he settled on top of her.
“Wrap me up,” he ordered right before claiming her lips.
When she wound her legs around his hips and locked her ankles behind him, she only thought he had nothing more to give. Opening up allowed him to sink deeper. He claimed her lips, smothering her bliss-filled cry.
He moved, slowly at first, every inch of him awakening long, dormant nerve endings, his body rubbing and nudging her clit each time he stroked deep. But she needed more.
“Faster, Reese. Don’t tease me.”
“I’m just trying to make it last longer than two seconds. You are very wet and incredibly tight.” Sliding one big hand beneath her, he palmed her still-tingling bottom and pulled her tighter against him. “But your Christmas wish is my command. Hold on to me while I make it come true.”
He plunged into her hard and deep, grinding against her every few strokes. And he buried his face in her neck, his open mouth licking and nibbling at her skin. She clung to him, matching his motions, expressing her pleasure with a throaty groan.
Just as she was about to come apart, he paused, but only long enough to slide a hand in between them. His thumb found her clit, circling it as he resumed his driving possession of her body, until she threw her head back, her climax within reach.
“Come, baby. I want to feel it when you shatter for me.”
Her throaty groans echoed through the shop as her body convulsed and her muscles rippled around him. With a last surge of energy, he thrust into her again and again, until he, too, found his pleasure with a husky groan of completion.
They lay there afterward, still connected and intertwined, until their labored breathing and racing hearts returned to normal and paced steadfastly together. Merry still clutched him as if she’d never let go. And Reese didn’t seem to want her to and had said as much. Specifically, he said she was his—forever. That made her sigh happily.
He immediately rolled them to their sides and propped on a forearm. “I’m too heavy.”
“No, you weren’t. That was a sigh of contentment.”
He gave her an equally serene smile. “I’ll remember for next time, because I didn’t want to move.” Suddenly, his face lit up like a child at Christmas. “I have a gift for you. Would you like it now?”
She nodded, now as eager as him. “I love presents. I could never stand the waiting for Christmas morning, but I learned to enjoy the anticipation.”
“Okay,” he teased, “if you’d rather wait...”
“You can’t change your mind. I’ll drive you crazy now that I know you’ve gotten me something.”
“I’m not changing my mind. Ever.” Fumbling with his inside-out pants, that he had kicked off sometime in the last fifteen minutes, he produced a black velvet box.
A thrill of excitement raced through her, and her breath caught in her throat.
“I know this is fast, Merry, but you have captured my heart. If you want a long engagement, that’s fine. I just want the world to know that you are mine, now and forever.” He raised the lid to reveal a stunning diamond solitaire. “Will you marry me?”
Reeling with a flood of emotions, she could only nod her assent. Tears overflowed and trailed down her cheeks, totally ruining the makeup the beautician had taken a half hour to do. But at this moment, she didn’t care. The man of her dreams wanted her forever.
Her breath came out in a shuddering release as he slipped the ring on her finger.
“Give me the words. I need to hear them.”
“I love you, Reese.”
“I love you, too, elf, but I meant different words.”
Looking up from the gorgeous ring to her fiancé’s even more gorgeous face, she wondered what he was talking about. Then it dawned on her.
“Yes, of course. Didn’t I say yes? Yes! Yes! Yes!” Bursting with happiness, she framed his face with her hands and punctuated each word with enthusiastic kisses, concentrating on his lips that were now upturned in a wide, satisfied grin.
Little pecks weren’t enough for him, however. His mouth found hers in a long, thorough, smoldering kiss—their first as an engaged couple.
Afterward, he whispered words of love and devotion. “I am the luckiest man on earth to have found you. Every day, for the rest of my life, I’ll get to enjoy my very own Merry Christmas.”