Chapter 24
24
Holly
“Come with me.” Aaron takes my hand and leads me out of the now-spotless dining room. Mary put up a beautiful spread for Christmas Eve, and I managed to convince her to let us clean up. It definitely is Christmas.
“Where are we going?”
“Do you always have to be so nosy?”
He boops me on the nose. It used to bug me when he did that when I was younger because it made me think he was treating me like a child, but now I know it’s a sign of affection.
“I do, I absolutely do.”
He leads me to the pub and stands behind me to cover my eyes. “Open the door.”
“But I can’t see.”
“You have no trouble feeling your way under the covers. I think you can manage this.”
“Fair point sir.” I fumble around and finally touch the cold, brass handle. I push open the door, and Aaron nudges me forward. I smell the fire, which I didn’t expect since we’re closed for the night and feel the warmth. The scent of old beer, lemon furniture polish, and fire will forever bring a flood of warm, happy memories to me. I’ve spent countless hours in this pub laughing with Aaron and the regulars and having the time of my life. I will always be grateful to Aaron and Mary for giving me this opportunity. Not only has it inspired my writing, but it also almost demolished the bad childhood memories of pubs.
“Okay, Trouble. Take off your shoes and lower yourself to the blanket.”
I do as I’m told, the whole time with Aaron covering my eyes but also offering support. I feel him bend behind me, and then he uncovers my eyes.
The blanket is in front of the fireplace, and the heat from the fire flushes over my skin. On the blanket is a bottle of champagne, some fruit and cheese—although I’m not sure how much more food I can eat—and a large gold box tied with a red bow. “Merry Christmas, Trouble.”
“You did all this for me?”
“I did.” He sits next to me on the blanket and nods to the gift. “Open it.”
“I thought we were only exchanging gifts tomorrow?”
“We are. This is for now.”
You never need to ask me twice to open a gift, so I tug at the satin ribbon and lift the lid. When I see what’s inside, I burst into laughter. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Like I said, Merry Christmas.”
I launch across the blanket into his arms, narrowly avoiding knocking over the platter of fruit and cheese. “Thank you so much.”
“Put it on.”
I scrabble back over the food and start extracting the gifts from the box. Knee-high green-and-white striped socks, an elf hat, and a Santa’s hat.
“That one’s for me.”
“Where’s the rest of your suit, Santa?” I toss the hat at Aaron.
“There is no way I’m dressing up as a fat old dude to seduce you. The hat will have to do.”
I smirk. “Only the hat.”
“If that’s how you want it. But that means it’s only the hat and socks for you.”
I grin. “Deal.”
I stand and slowly strip out of my red wool dress. When Aaron sees my underwear, he sucks in a breath. I’d bought the set and a few others when I went into town the other day to pick up the gift I ordered for Aaron for Christmas—a Springbok jersey. “Oh, I guess I did get you another present. Surprise.”
Aaron rakes his teeth over his lip. “Keep the underwear on, add the socks and the hat.”
“Anything else?”
“Nope, just that.”
“And what about you?”
Aaron stands, never taking his eyes off me as he undresses. When he’s naked, I suck in a sharp breath. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen Aaron like this, I will never get used to how incredibly sexy he is, and how giddy it makes me feel to see him hard for me. He slowly picks up the hat and places it on his head. “Happy?”
Very, very happy. Thank you very much. But I don’t say that. Then I remember I hid a gag gift I got him in the storeroom. Right at the back of the peach schnapps that doesn’t seem to sell. I tap my finger on my lip. “Not quite.”
He smirks. “Yeah? What’s missing?
I hold up a finger. “Two seconds.”
I make a mad dash into the storeroom, hoping no one decides to come into the pub. No one should, since everyone is aware that it’s closed and most of the guests should be turned in. It was nearly eleven when we finished cleaning. Technically, it’ll be Christmas in about forty-five minutes. I suppose this is the perfect time to give Aaron one of his gifts.
Giggling, I grab the box. It’s a dick dress-up kit. There were a few options on the online sex store. When I saw it in one of my social media groups, I knew I had to get it for Aaron.
This one happens to be the cutest of them all. It’s a snowman condom, and there’s a big warning on the box that states the condom should not be used during sex. It’s for foreplay purposes only. Inside the kit is also a tube of icing to make the “snowman” a hat and scarf. Aaron is going to hate this, and I can’t stop giggling.
When I get back, Aaron is grinning at me. “I nearly started this party without you.”
“But then you would’ve missed out on all the fun.”
He cocks his head. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Now, we’ve established that I’m always making you lie on your back. So, please assume your regular position, sir.”
“Far be it for me to deny my beautiful elf anything.” He lies back and puts his arms behind his head.
“Why, thank you, Santa.”
“This is fuckin’ weird.”
I giggle. “It is, but it’s also fun. Maybe next time we’ll try teacher and student. I’ll be the teacher, and you could get a spanking for tardy behaviour?”
Aaron’s lips twitch at the corner. “You can definitely put me down for that.”
“This first. You’re so greedy,” I tease.
“I’ll always be greedy for you, Trouble. What’s next?”
I kneel beside him and show him the box.
He raises an eyebrow. “You want to decorate my cock like a snowman?”
“Unless you want to do it,” I say, biting my lip.
He shakes his head. “Only because I love you.”
I tear into the box before he can change his mind. When I open the condom and roll it onto him, he groans when he sees the snowman face on the condom.
“Okay, now for the hat and scarf.” I show him the tube of icing.
Aaron holds up his hands. “I draw the line at having icing from a kit on my dick. Who knows what’s in that stuff?”
I stick my lower lip and flutter my eyelashes.
“I do have a better idea,” he says. “Why don’t you come over here and frost my snowman.”
And that is it. I laugh so hard I’m doubled over. When I finally get myself under control, I look up at Aaron. He’s staring at me with an amused look on his face. “You done?”
I wipe the tears from my eyes. “Way to end my schoolgirl crush.”
One minute I am laughing all over again, the next I’m on my back with Aaron leaning over me. “Trouble, are you laughing at me?”
“I mean, wouldn’t you? ‘Come here and frost my snowman’.” I can hardly get the words out in between the snorts of laughter.
“I don’t take kindly to being laughed at, so I’m going to count to five and you are going to start running.”
I literally cannot stop laughing. The more intense his stare gets, the harder I laugh.
“I’m not fucking playing, Holly. When I say run, you better run.”
I’m confused at first, but then the penny drops. “I thought you said we weren’t going to do primal play? Or role play, for that matter.”
“One.”
He moves off me and stands, peeling off the snowman condom. He throws it in the fire. The smell of latex permeates the room as he starts pulling on his jeans, leaving the top button open. My brain nearly short-circuits.
“Two.”
“Aaron, I’m practically naked,” I say, waving my hand over my body.
“Three. Wherever I catch you, I’m going to fuck you, so you better make sure you find a good place with a semblance of privacy.”
My heart is pounding, and I’m so turned on right now. When I put this on the list, I thought I’d have way more clothes on than I do now and there would be less guests. Holy shit.
“Four. Tick tock, Holly. Time’s running out.”
I look at the pile of clothes, then at Aaron. He wags his finger. “Uh uh, Holly. Clothes are not an option. Five. Run, little elf.”
Oh my god, this is happening. Holy shit, my pretty panties are soaked.
I make a run for it, out the pub door and into the lobby. I dash into the kitchen, and frantically scan for a place to hide. God, why is this place open plan? He’ll find me right away. Even if I hide in the pantry, he’ll find me.
That’s when I remember the storage space under the stairs on the second floor. That’s where they kept the Christmas decorations, so it’s empty now.
“Where are you, my little elf? I have a situation I need your help with. And aren’t you supposed to be Santa’s little helper?” His voice sounds sinister as he chases me, and my heartbeat increases. He sounds so scary and sexy at the same time. Hmmm, Scary Santa might be a good book title.
I creep as quietly up the stairs as I can, but Aaron isn’t being quiet about his pursuit. He taps his fingers on the large island in the middle of the kitchen, then the brass skillets against the wall. Suddenly, silence. He’s gaining on me. I open the storage space and climb in, quietly shutting the door behind me. The storage room goes from smaller to bigger due to the stairs, and I race to the back corner where I can stand, even though my shaking legs are protesting.
I hear scratching on the wood right by my head. Oh my god, he found me. I put my hand over my mouth, so I don’t scream and wake up the whole inn. This is only a game, but Aaron is playing his part really well. I feel like I did when I played hide-and-seek as a kid. Only, this is way more fun.
The door flies open, and Aaron switches on the light. “You didn’t think you could really hide from me, did you?”