One Night with a Nutcracker (Reindeer Falls)

I’m dying to take him in my mouth but determined to wait. Let him suffer a little. Besides, I’m not done enjoying him. I move back up to his mouth, sliding my chest against his so that we’re skin to skin, pressed against each other.

I press my lips to his and he slides his tongue into my mouth. I meet the motion with my own, our tongues tangling as his cock lies heavy between us.

But I still want to do something else while I have the chance, I remind myself. So I pull back, moving back down until, finally, I take him into my mouth.

Jake’s groans are worth breaking our one-night-only deal. I didn’t get to this last night, I didn’t get to feel the hard, heavy weight of him between my lips. I didn’t get to see the expressions that Jake makes while enjoying this particular ecstasy.

But he won’t let me finish him off with my mouth. No, instead, he pushes me off, grabs a condom from his jeans and slides it on. Before I know it, he’s flipped me onto my knees and he’s inside of me. The pleasure is even greater than before, robbing me of anything resembling rationality.

Tomorrow, I’ll deal with the reality of this situation. Tomorrow, I’ll follow the rules and go right back to hating him.

But right now? Right now, I plan to spend the rest of the day enjoying this man.

Thankfully, the feeling seems mutual.

Chapter Eight

I’m no mathematician, but even I have to admit that our “just this once” deal is starting to fall apart at the seams, considering the other morning. And again that afternoon. And the next day, and yeah, yeah, the one after that too. Ugh, I hate to say it, but sexually, it’s like we were made for each other. There’s really no other explanation for how good his body feels against mine, or how his fingers know exactly where and how to touch me. Or how he kisses me. How is it plausible or even legal for him to kiss like that?

It’s ridiculous.

Yet here I am. Living in a snow globe of sexy times with Jake freaking Sheppard.

I swear, I’m not hallucinating any of this. Jake is evolving from Lawyer Dick to Sexy Farm Hand right before my eyes. I haven’t seen another suit or a fancy loafer since he showed up. Somehow he’s come up with a flannel shirt that he wears—slightly unbuttoned to drive me insane—and his jeans are torn now, but he doesn’t seem to care at all as he changes out hay and brushes the goats.

I’ll admit it. Watching Jake work with his hands is hot as hell.

He’s been pointing out the barn issues that can’t be fixed with some scrubbing or a fresh coat of paint.

“Tom was an ass, but he was right about these structural concerns,” he says, gesturing to one of the beams. “I know Joe didn’t exactly pay attention to this place, but damn.”

“Good thing I wasn’t paying rent, am I right?” I shrug, hands on my hips.

Jake shakes his head a little, and does a partial eye roll, but I catch that he’s fighting a smile.

“I did what I could to fix it up,” I tell him. Because I’m really proud of the work I’ve done here to improve it and make it my own. Even if it wasn’t ever mine.

“Yeah.” Jake nods, looking around. You’re good with power tools, huh?”

“Oh, gosh, no.” I laugh. “I lured my ex and his friends over with promises of beer and pizza. I got some salvaged lumber from a barn that was getting torn down over in Saginaw and ta-da!” I wave a hand around the interior of the barn.

Jake shakes his head. “I don’t specialize in construction law, but every part of that sounds like a code violation.”

“I’m pretty sure your face is a code violation,” I mutter, and he grins.

“Say, speaking of violations,” Jake says. “Tell me about your Christmas cop friend.”

I perk up. “Maggie?”

“Yeah,” he says. “I saw her the other day at Ryan’s house.”

“You did?” I gasp, a little delighted. “As in, in a compromising position?”

“Hey”—he smirks, offering a little shrug—“I shouldn’t say.”

I swat at him, and he ducks behind some hay.

“Well, well, well.” I grin at the idea of this. “I never thought I’d see Maggie hooking up with a certified Christmas Grinch.”

Jake grimaces at that. “Well, she won’t be hooking up with him for long. He’s heading back to Chicago as soon as he sells the house.”

Now that gets my attention. Because something about it rings my alarm bells. Maggie’s the kind of girl who falls headfirst for something, whether it’s Christmas or guys. And if she’s sleeping with the guy…

“Are you sure?”

Jake nods. “Yeah, he’s been chasing a promotion at work for a long time.”

The whole barn seems to get quiet, even the goats feeling the vibe and not offering a single bleat. I don’t know what to say about this.