Father Christmas (Kringle & Co #4)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

M indy stepped through the frosted doors of the grand ballroom. Her elf costume clung to her like ivy on an ancient oak, leaving little to the imagination of those admiring from afar. It was not just the outfit's snug fit or the way it highlighted the gentle swell of her hips; it was Mindy herself, a vision of holiday cheer with her bright green eyes sparkling and rosy cheeks flushed from the winter chill.

The temperature was scorching in this room. It was a riot of festive colors and twinkling lights, with decorations adorning every corner. But it was the costumes worn by the other partygoers that were a sight to behold.

To her left, a group of half-dressed Santas were dancing merrily, their red suits unbuttoned to reveal bare chests and jolly bellies; some six-packs, others six-packs of beer. They hoisted their glasses in the air, shouting “Ho, ho, ho!” at a group of Mrs. Clauses who were just as scantily clad.

Across the room, a trio of bare-chested reindeer had a woman cornered. One deer held a rope in his hand, the other handcuffs. The cornered woman was shaking, but not in a cowering kind of way. She was clearly aroused by the impending assault.

A group of women dressed as snow angels watched. Their outfits consisted of barely there white lingerie that shimmered under the soft glow of twinkling fairy lights. Feathery wings adorned their backs, and halos perched delicately atop perfectly coiffed hair.

Suddenly, Mindy’s naughty elf costume felt quite tame in comparison to the other guests. But every nearly nude Santa, every naughty angel, and those playing reindeer games paled in comparison to the man at her side.

Mindy knew she was going to have candy cane dreams about Noel Kringle for the rest of her life.

With his silver beard and eyes that seemed to twinkle with secrets of the North Pole itself, he watched Mindy as he approached. His gaze, warm and inviting, was like a fireside beckoning on a snowy eve.

Their eyes met, and a current charged the air between them, electric and undeniable. Well, he might deny it. Mindy was sure this crush was entirely one-sided. She had to get over it or risk losing her dream job.

"Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas to all our naughty guests tonight." Noel's deep voice boomed through the room. "Elf Mindy and I have come bearing gifts from Knotty or Nice Intimates for each and every one of you."

A sultry cheer went up through the crowd as they came forward. Mindy took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension as she clutched her bag of gifts from the adult toy store. Of course she knew about the company—what single woman in this day and age didn't know about the innovative pleasure toys, especially the line of vibrators designed by women for women?

Was that the bag shaking now? No, it was her hands.

"Relax," Noel whispered in her ear. "They won't bite. Well, they will. But no one would dare touch someone who was mine."

Mindy tilted her head back to stare up at him. She was his? Oh man, did she want to belong to this man.

"I mean, my employee," Noel corrected, not quite meeting her gaze.

Of course, that's what he meant. Because once again, this was a one-sided, inappropriate crush. One Mindy had to get over. She pulled on a brilliant smile and got to work.

The first guest to receive a gift was a blushing Mrs. Claus, who eagerly tore into the wrapping paper to reveal a sleek silver vibrator. Her cheeks flushed even deeper as she held it up for all to see, eliciting wolf whistles and cheers from the crowd.

Next up was a group of giggling snow angels, who unwrapped their gifts to find sets of luxurious silk restraints and feathered ticklers. They exchanged knowing looks before disappearing into a secluded corner, their laughter turning into hushed whispers of excitement.

As Mindy and Noel continued around the room, the atmosphere grew increasingly heated and electrifying. The guests eagerly unwrapped their gifts, revealing a variety of sensual items from Knotty or Nice Intimates.

A group of naughty elves squealed with delight as they received sets of matching lingerie, complete with thigh-high stockings and strappy garter belts. They immediately slipped into the outfits, giggling as they caught each other's eye.

A pair of gingerbread men were next in line, grinning from ear to ear as they unwrapped their present—a set of edible body paints. They wasted no time in using them on each other, creating a deliciously erotic scene that had everyone watching in awe.

One particularly bold guest unwrapped a gift to find a vibrating cock ring. He quickly made his way over to his partner and whispered something in their ear, causing them to blush and follow him to the center of the room, where they prepared to put on a show.

Yup, Mindy was definitely getting overheated. She wasn't a prude, but she'd never been to a sex show. And that's pretty much what she was getting right now.

Noel continued handing out gifts with ease and charm, clearly enjoying himself. Sinful Santa , that's what the women were calling him. A few of the men, too. The name fit.

As they reached the end of their gift-giving rounds, there was no one left waiting on the man with the bag. Santa's bag wasn't empty. There were plenty of gifts left. But the guests were happily playing with their toys.

"Our work here is done," Noel said directly into her ear.

He had to speak up close to her. There was music going, but the sounds of carnal pleasure were drowning them out from people using their new toys. One woman's back arched up off a low settee as a man pumped a vibrator in and out of her.

"You ready to come?" he asked.