Chapter 3
THREE
JADE
Remington clears his throat and shifts underneath me. The slight movement only heightens the warm fluttering that has been present between my thighs ever since I saw him earlier this evening.
The pom on his Santa hat tickles my chin, and it’s all I can do not to giggle. Or moan.
“Jade,” he clears his throat. “What are you doing?“
Taking a deep breath, I push aside my nerves and try to recall all the advice my friends gave me. “Just sitting in the best seat in the house.”
His lips part in surprise. “What?”
“Well,” I swallow hard, determined to keep my courage now that I’m resolved on my course. “Seeing as how you’re Santa, and all, I thought
He shifts again. His hand briefly tightens on my waist, sending a fresh ripple pleasure through me. What this man does to me with the simplest touch. I can’t wait to find out what he can do when there’s nothing standing between us and we’re all alone.
Because I’m going to do this. I’m going to hand in my V-card before the year is over. And this Santa Claus right here is the perfect guy to do the job.
“Um, Jade?“
“Yeah?“ I cringe inwardly. I hope that sounded sexy breathy and not ridiculous breathy.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be sitting here.“
My brow knits. “Am I too heavy for you or something? “
“No, that isn’t it.“ His Adam’s apple bobs up and down “I just don’t think your brother would be too happy to see where you’re sitting.“
A slow grin spreads across my lips. “But isn’t that part of the fun?”
He swallows again. His gaze briefly drops to my décolletage. I nearly sigh in relief. Good. Apparently he isn’t completely immune to me either. That’ll make seducing him all the easier.
At least, that’s what Piper said to me when she and Paisley pulled me aside to offer tips before I staged my first wave of this battle.
Ears turning pink, Remington raises his dark gaze to mine and clears his throat again. God, that’s so sexy. So gravelly. I’ve really chosen well. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…”—I rub my freshly painted lips together, pleased when I capture his attention— “isn’t the taboo nature of all of us part of what makes it so sexy?“
“Jade.” He stares at my lips. “Please?“
The poor man keeps glancing at the door as if he expects my brother to come in, battle ax swinging .
I have to admit, this is even more fun than I expected. Not just the whole stepping out of my comfort zone and flirting part, but this. Making Remington—a man who ordinarily is the definition of swagger—nervous.
It’s… empowering and powerful.
I glance over his shoulder to my friends. Piper gives me a thumbs up. Maxine watches with mouth and eyes wide open. Piper looks like a proud mama bird watching her baby take flight.
As for Mabel and Astrid… I can’t quite tell what they are doing. Mabel is stroking the side of Astrid‘s neck with two fingers. And Astrid is panting.
I frown at them, and they only carry on with more accentuated movements. Then it hits me. They want me to do what they’re doing. Following my guides’ directions, I lift my fingers toward Remington’s neck.
“Seriously.” His eyes widen and he grabs my hands. “What the hell are you doing?”
So much for seducing him with touch. “You, uh, have something on your shirt.”
I pull my hand free, pick an invisible piece of fuzz from the lapel of his flannel shirt, and toss it aside. “All better now.”
“Thanks.” He eyes me suspiciously. “Jade, there’s a perfectly good chair right next to me.”
“I’m comfortable where I am.”
He shifts. “I’m not.”
I don’t know whether to be hurt or offended. But when I move, I feel an unmistakable hard bulge at the front of his jeans.
“Oh.” My cheeks flush. Remington is uncomfortable, just not in a rude way.
Maybe I’m better at this whole seduction thing than I thought. It’s almost a shame I didn’t figure it out sooner. Then again, if I had, maybe I would have wasted my powers on someone way less sexy than Remington.
Taking pity on the poor guy, I slide into the next seat. “Where did your friends go?”
He shifts again in his chair, and it’s all I can do not to smirk at his discomfort. He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobs up and down.
“They had some calls to make,” he says at last. “To wives. Partners. That sort of thing.”
“Oh, and you didn’t have any calls of your own to make?” I ask innocently. “No girlfriend or hot date waiting for you.”
His dark eyes flash. The heat in them sets my pulse racing.
“No. No girlfriend. No hot date. No one is waiting.”
Each word, said in his deep timbre, seems to stoke the growing desire inside me.
“Well…” I slide the tip of my tongue along my lip, just the way Piper is pantomiming right now.
“I swear, Jade.” He groans. “I don’t know whether to kiss or spank you.”
Ooh, this is it. A perfect opportunity to be flirty. “Seeing as how I’m on your lap, it seems like we can go either way.”
The humor slips from his face. “What did you say?”
“Kissing or spanking.” I shrug. “I’m fine with whatever you decide. I’m not picky.”
He opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. I lean toward him, ready to place a hand on his knee and then who knows where next. But as the tips of my fingers touch his jeans, he jumps to his feet.
“Shit, I just remembered.”
I pull back. “Remembered what?”
“I… have to go do some shopping.”
My brow knits. “What?”
“You know, ‘tis the season and all.”
I shake my head. “But it’s after nine.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll do it online. Or something.” He pulls out several bills and throws them on the table. It’s enough to cover all of the drinks and still leave a healthy tip for the server. He races toward the door before I can fully register what’s happened. He’s walking stiffly, as if he’s just gotten off a horse.
I stare at the wad of cash. Ordinarily, I’d appreciate seeing a man be so generous, but not right now. Right now, I have just one question.
I turn to Mabel who has just made her way across the room with a smirk. “What the hell just happened? Did I come on too strong? Did I gross him out?”
“No way.” She gives me an encouraging nudge. “You have him right where you want him.”
“And where exactly is that?”
“Running to take a cold shower, no doubt.” Her eyes sparkle. “That man was hot and bothered. He’s as good as yours.”
“I don’t know.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. “What if he really isn’t into me?”
“I’m not even going to answer that, it’s so ridiculous. Now.” She leans toward me and whispers. “I have a plan about what you can do next.”
“I feel ridiculous,” I say, staring at my reflection.
“Well, you look hot,” Mabel says with a satisfied nod. “Hot enough to set that firefighter of yours on fire.”
I smooth the skirt of my green velvet dress down. “Really?”
“Seriously. You’re gorgeous. Look at those gams of yours.”
As if anyone will be able to look at anything else. They are covered in candy cane-striped tights at the moment. If that wasn’t enough, I’m wearing a pair of green shoes with absolutely giant buckles on them. But, as Mabel has reminded me over and over, at least it matches the green buckled hat on my head.
I don’t know how “sexy elf” translated into wearing something from a pilgrim’s wardrobe. I also don’t know how it’s going to get Remington to sweep me off my feet and have his way with me.
But, considering how well my friends’ advice went on the first day of Project: Seduce Remington, who am I to question their methods now?
Especially when I stopped by the Firth Mountain Smokejumpers office with some donuts yesterday and Remington couldn’t keep his eyes off me. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I was wearing a sweater with a V deep enough to have my brother scowling.
I also might have “accidentally” brushed my breasts against his arm a handful of times while I reached for things. But that happens when you need to refill your copy. Or you need to grab a napkin. Or another napkin.
The point is, while I may have wondered whether or not I had any clue to go after a guy like Remington, considering my lack of experience, so far, I seem to be doing okay.
“Okay.” I take a deep breath and nod at my elfin reflection in the mirror. “If you’re sure about this?—”
“I’m positive,” Mabel insists.
I release my breath. “Then I suppose we better head to the party.”
Mabel only has to give me three more pep talks on our drive to the Firth Mountain Smokejumpers training center. Today’s the day of the holiday party they host for the community. While it’s mostly geared toward children, all of the activities and treats give grown-ups a chance to be children at heart.
On our walk to the training center, I catch more than a few stares. Not that I blame people. It’s not every day you see an elf. But as we enter the party, I lock eyes on the man dressed in a red crushed velvet suit of his own.
Remington’s jaw, which has been sprayed white to cover the natural dark color of his beard, falls slack. Then his gaze roves down my body and his ears grow pink.
“See.” Mabel nudges me in the ribs. “I told you. Now go play Santa’s little helper and see if you can’t get him to help you out later. Preferably in your bedroom after the party.”