Chapter 19
Cora was sure she’d seen the movie before but it had blended in with all the ones she’d watched to prepare for her interview to take over running the Winter Wonderland. She’d really homed in on Netflix and Hallmark movies because they were modern.
But, nestled against Nick’s side, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade play out in the movie, she was engrossed.
“She should have vetted that Santa. I make all of ours fill in an extensive questionnaire and go to this Santa training workshop. I might not believe in him but he’s the cornerstone of every holiday event. ”
“Glad to hear you say that. I was afraid you were going to phase him out,” Nick teased.
“Oh, I want to, but even I know there’s no positive spin I can put on it,” she said.
“Your childhood experiences without Santa are the reason for that, I’m sure, but for a lot of kids and parents, Santa is their way of making a season special.”
“I suppose I’m slowly coming to see your side of it. Also, as I said, no one would go for me axing the big red one.”
Nick had his arm draped over her shoulder and they were sharing a big bowl of popcorn so their fingers brushed a lot. She wanted him more than she wanted to watch his movie.
Her emotions were tied in knots but her body thrummed with certainty. She picked up a few popped kernels and turned to him. “Open up.”
He opened his mouth and she dropped the popcorn in. He licked her finger as she took her hand back. They fed each other popcorn; Cora wasn’t paying any attention to the movie at all.
Movies like this made her … feel. Too much. She didn’t like it. Nick might have won the bet, and the movie was playing, but that didn’t mean she had to watch it. Had to watch a little realistic girl search for answers about magic and the meaning of Christmas.
Cora had never allowed herself to do that. She’d stuck to realism because it was safer. Safety was a bigger deal for her than Nick. He’d grown up in this big house that was really more of a castle now that she was in it. Surrounded by his large family and love.
She wasn’t envious of his upbringing, she’d made peace with her own long ago.
But it did make her wonder how she was going to ever have anything permanent with Nick.
He was used to showing his emotions. He had bowls that had been made for him by his deceased sister.
He had friends who had been with him for most if not all of his life.
She had … herself.
Was she trying to carve a place for herself in his world? Was that even possible? Ugh. Tonight she just wanted to forget all of this and just enjoy her time with the hot toymaker. When the bowl was empty, she set it on the coffee table.
This time, when she settled back next to him, she curved her body toward him. She reached for the bottom of his shirt and tugged it out so she could touch her fingers to his skin.
She drew circles over his belly and sides, eventually letting the back of her hand brush his growing erection as she undid the buttons of his flannel shirt.
He didn’t have a six-pack but his stomach was taut.
She came up onto her knees so she could push his shirt down his arms. Resting on her heels, she lifted his left arm up, leaning down to study his tattoos.
The workmanship was similar to what she’d seen on the carved banisters on the way up.
She traced the design motifs on his arm as well as the words and phrases, coming to a stop when she arrived at a sleigh and reindeer along with a dark figure.
“What’s this?”
Nick paused the movie. “That’s Krampus.”
“Not your cousin, obviously. Do you mean the mythical figure?”
“Hm-mmm.”
“I get that your family is, like, really into Christmas but how does Krampus fit in? I thought he scared kids.”
“Krampus is the other side of Santa. They both function to keep the world in balance, rewarding anyone on the Nice List and punishing those on the Naughty List with the goal of making the world a better place and getting everyone onto the Nice List eventually. One can’t exist without the other.”
“That’s a big ask in the modern world. I think most people exist in a gray area. Not totally good all the time but certainly not bad,” she said.
“You don’t have to be perfect to get on the Nice List, just broadly better than not,” he said. She placed his hand on her thigh and his fingers spread wide, squeezing it as she lifted his other arm. This one had the phrase Traditions and Time and an hourglass with sand falling through it.
“This one?”
“Just a reminder that what I do isn’t only for myself but for the future of all mankind,” he said.
“Modest much?”
He shrugged. She liked the play of muscles in his body. He was so ripped and hot. How had she ever dismissed him as simply a grumpy toymaker. “Do you have any tattoos?”
She shivered. She’d almost gotten a tattoo once, had even gone into the shop and talked to an artist and designed one. But she couldn’t deal with the needle. “Nope. I don’t like needles.”
“Really?”
“Truly. I’ve fainted more times than I should admit when I’ve been to the doctor’s.”
“Interesting. You know what else is interesting?”
She loved it when he teased her like this. It made her feel … well cared for. That, though, immediately made her want to scoot off his lap and run back to Pine Falls. “What?”
“Me half-clothed and you fully dressed.”
Ah, that’s more like it. The physical chemistry between them was going to be her saving grace. She could fool herself into thinking everything was okay when he flirted with her. “I don’t think it’s odd,” she said with a big grin.
“Care to even things up?” he asked her.
“It’s chilly in here,” she said.
“I’ll keep you warm. I promise.”
“Show me,” she said, her voice had turned husky. He drew her onto his lap and ran his hands up and under the shirt and sweater she wore. One large hand sprawled over her back, urging her toward him.
His pecs were firm under her hands and she licked her lips, hungry for his kiss but also needing to take this slow. The last two times they’d been together had gone by in a flash. She wanted this one to last.
She wanted to make a memory that she’d be able to revisit forever. There weren’t that many good ones but Nick was starting to feature prominently in many of them. How would she cope when he moved on and she went back to her normal life?
She begun to understand how deep her feelings went for him.
She’d rather have all the good times she could, no matter the price she paid later.
This time, she knew how she felt about Nick.
She wasn’t trying to get out of working with him, or just thankful for a holiday that was actually nice.
This time she wanted to make love with Nick. To have sex be something more.
It scared her but, frankly, everything with this man did. He forced her to examine parts of herself she had never acknowledged were there. It had thrown her at first, but now she didn’t hate it.
She took a deep breath, needing to shut off the thoughts running around her head like a garland around a tree. Could he be with her purely because he liked her? Was there no other reason that he’d invited her to his ridiculously large but comfy home?
Her heart wanted it to be true, but how could she be certain?
What did Nick Bari really want from her?
Cora’s hands roamed over his torso, making him burn for her.
He’d already decided that this time she wouldn’t mess with his self-control.
He was taking his time with her. He wanted to explore every curve of her long legs.
But his cock was already hard and it took all his willpower not to lower his zipper and take her here on the couch.
He pushed her top up further, until he could see her bra.
She rocked back on his thighs, pulling it over her head and tossing it on the couch next to him.
She unhooked her bra and took it off. He ran his finger down the center, past the valley between her breasts but he couldn’t take his eyes off her boobs.
He cupped them, rubbing his palms over her nipples.
She gasped and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she reached between them to undo his jeans and lower the zipper.
Wrapping her hand around his shaft, she stroked him and leaned forward to push her breasts into his hands.
She rested her forehead against his and tried to steady her shaky breathing.
Their eyes met and something clenched in Nick’s heart.
There it was again. The hint of vulnerability from her.
That tease that he wasn’t seeing the full woman.
But she was right there. So close he could almost make her out.
But she shimmered like a mirage, tempting him with the truth of who she was.
But before he could form a solid picture, she thrust her breast in his face, her hand in his hair guiding his mouth to her nipple. He suckled and teased, tightening and releasing the pressure while she rocked herself against his naked cock.
He was so hard now and so desperate to be inside her. Sensations were running up and down his spine. Chestnuts. He pulled away from her, setting her on the couch next to him.
“Nick?”
“I need a condom,” he said.
“I’m on the pill,” she told him. “Seems foolish to take a chance on getting pregnant.”
Given what had happened to her parents, he understood her need to be cautious about procreating.
He admired her there for a moment, on the edge of the couch, her long legs folded underneath her, her torso bare, her nipples hard, and her blonde hair tousled around her head. He’d never seen anyone more beautiful.
Then he was in her arms, sprawling on the couch and pulling her on top of him. She wriggled until her legs were on either side of his hips and the feeling of her pants rubbing against his dick made him harden.
“Are you going to take your pants off?” he asked, trying to sound casual but very aware that the tightness in his voice was apparent.