The Christmas Virgin: A Filthy Dirty Christmas

“Surely, Ubers are still working.” I grasp at straws. Warren walks me backwards until we’re near his balcony before spinning me around, his voice whispering in my ear.

“Not likely. The streets aren’t cleared, and the only reason we have power is because of the backup generators in the building. You’re stuck here with me, which seems to be a great fucking combination seeing as how I’m going to need to talk you off the cliff you’re teetering on.” I wish like hell his smokey tone didn’t cause goosebumps to pebble all over my skin, yet it does.

“I don’t think you understand. You’re Warren. I’m Halo, the lowly girl on the totem pole trying to make a name for herself.” My forehead meets the cool class as I try to get my riotous emotions in check.

“Sweetness, I may be the Vice President, but there’s other shit we’re going to talk about after you get a hot meal and a cup of coffee inside you. We’ll hash this out. If you still don’t like what you’re hearing, we’ll go from there, okay?” Warren spins me around, his body surrounding me, making it hard to even fathom saying that two-letter word no.

“Okay,” I tell him. He kisses my forehead, grabs my hand, and pulls me back to the kitchen, where he resumes cooking, this time with me sitting on top of the Carrera marble countertop while doing so.

CHAPTER 14

Warren

There’s no doubt about it, we talked all throughout the night in between spurts of lovemaking, but we never got down to what we each did for a living. It was nice not having to go into the background of what I do. Some people realize that I co-own a multi-million-dollar company and see nothing but dollar signs. Halo didn’t see that when we first met, or even after she found out I was the Vice President, though the quietness she’s giving me as I cook the remainder of our breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, and pancakes unsettles me. I figure she’s going to need to talk. A part of me dreads it, the other part welcomes it if it means Halo will stop being so damn quiet.

I could have used two plates, moved us to sit at the bar or even the table off the kitchen. That isn’t happening.

“You ready to eat?” I ask her. She’s chewing on her thumbnail like it’s her lifeline.

“Sure.” I watch as she gathers herself to slide down the counter.

“Sit still, sweetness.” My hands grasp the outside of her thighs, holding her steady.

“Aren’t we going to eat at a table?” she asks.

“Nah, I’m going to feed you right here. Not giving you any more time to sink inside yourself.” I plate the food, grab a fork, and proceed to start feeding us.

“I can feed myself, Warren,” she blusters out. Her coffee is sitting to her left, she grabs it after taking a bite of eggs.

“I know that. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to take care of you.” We go back and forth—a bit of eggs, some pancake, her taking a bite of bacon and me finishing it. She doesn’t say anything else. I swear to God if I have to fuck the words out of her, I will.

“Thank you. I know I threw a lot your way. Part of that was the hunger talking, but a big part is worried about what others will think. I don’t want anyone to think I slept my way to the top, Warren.” Words finally leave her mouth.

“I get that. It’s why I let you have your moment. It sucked, serious as shit, did it suck, but this thing we have between the two us, I’m not letting it go to waste.” I watch as she takes a sip of her coffee, a sparkle returning to her eyes after it dimmed earlier.

“I’m sorry.” I position myself between her thighs, my hands sliding up the outside of her legs.

“There’s nothing you need to apologize for. We didn’t talk about our jobs. In fact, it was fucking refreshing not having to think about work. I will tell you this: just because I’m the VP, that doesn’t mean I’m at headquarters all that often. Unless Ash has a meeting he demands I attend, you’ll find me in the warehouse or working on making the newest fishing lure. I’d be shocked if anyone knew it was me who walked in with you, anyway. Ash likes the limelight. I’m just the money and brains behind the scenes. Even so, if people did notice us together and they give you shit, I’m not hiding that we’re building an us.” I watch as Halo lets it all sink in, that I’m not going anywhere, and from the looks of it, she seems to be catching on to the idea of us making a future together.