Holding Out For A Holiday Hero

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

“Oh, I can jingle all the way, all night long.”

– Jake Hale

I will make it so better that you will be screaming for more.

Somehow, Jake had arranged for her clothes and toiletries to be brought to his place. Maybe his assistant, Perry, had brought them over while they’d been at the museum? However the magic had happened, True was extremely grateful. When she exited the shower—feeling semi-normal once again—she slid into the blue silk pajamas that waited for her.

Then she kind of froze in the bedroom because…

How exactly did she go about collecting on Jake’s promise? Did she just walk up to the man, stare into his deep, dark eyes and say something like, “I’m ready to scream now, please.”

Yes, so, that didn’t feel right. Felt far too bold for her. Far too out of her comfort zone. But everything she was doing with Jake was beyond her comfort zone. Maybe that was a good thing.

She crept toward the bedroom door. She’d rushed down the hallway and into the bedroom after they arrived. He’d stayed in the den. And…

Just go find the man. Kiss him. You don’t have to say a word.

Her hand curled around the doorknob. She yanked the door open, and, not giving herself time to think any longer or hesitate, she hurried toward the den. Only when she was halfway to her goal, True paused because she was sure she heard the sound of…Christmas music? In Jake’s home?

With slower steps, she continued on her mission. True followed the music into the den. Flames flickered and danced in the fireplace. Two glasses of wine waited on the coffee table, and, as soft, instrumental Christmas music played in the air, Jake stood with his back to her. He seemed to be focusing very, very hard on the dancing flames.

“Feel better?” he asked without looking back.

She jumped at the rumble of his voice. Settle down. Ha. That was an impossibility. “Well, I no longer feel like I’m trapped in a three-thousand-year-old coffin, so there’s that.” Though she was sure a new fear had been unlocked that would haunt her forever. Hello, claustrophobia. “I didn’t thank you, earlier. I should have.” Apparently, talking was necessary. No running straight to the man and kissing him as if her life depended on it.

“You don’t need to thank me for anything.” He kept staring at the fire.

“You saved my life.” She took one quick step toward him. “That’s definitely worth a thank you.”

His hand lifted and curled around the mantel. As she stared at him, his grip tightened. “I’ve never been the good guy.”

Another step. “Um, did you miss the part where you saved me? That definitely counts as good. Hate to break it to you, but I suspect your naughty streak is over. I think you’re making the nice list for sure this year.” Why was she trying to joke?

He looked over his shoulder at her. “You have no idea what I want to do to you.”

Say again? Her feet became rooted to the spot. Tell me. Tell me everything.

“I’ll never be on the nice list, sweets. Never in a million years. And the things running through my mind…the way I want to make you come screaming for me…” A shake of his head. “Not nice.”

Her heartbeat raced in her chest. It had raced when she’d been trapped in the sarcophagus, but fear had fueled her during those horrible moments. She wasn’t afraid now. Quite the opposite.

His dark eyes glittered. “Are you fucking me because you’re grateful?” Low. Dark. Dangerous.

Her arms wrapped around her body. “I actually don’t think we’re fucking yet.”

He whirled toward her. “We’re about to be. And I want to know… why. ” A demand.

He’d ditched the rest of the Santa suit. He wore a black t-shirt that stretched across his powerful chest. Jeans that hung low on his hips. His hair was disheveled. His eyes intense. And he was—far and away—the sexiest man she’d ever seen in her life.

Okay, not on the nice list. That wasn’t the worst thing in the world. In fact…

Let me be on the naughty list with you.

“I want you,” True blurted. Did that cover the why part of the equation well enough for him?

Jake stalked toward her. His movements were so predatory that she almost retreated. At the last moment, True held her ground and lifted her chin.

“I thought I’d take you, and just be grateful to finally have my fantasy.” He stopped right in front of her. “But I want more.”

“You can have everything.” A whisper. Oh, damn. She probably shouldn’t have said that. Did she look too eager? She felt too eager. But the thing was…

A woman could get a whole lot of perspective on life when she was suddenly trapped in an ancient coffin. In my own hell. She could realize that playing by the rules just got you a broken heart and broken dreams. She could realize that maybe you should reach out for what you wanted. Take it. Enjoy the wild ride.

His hand rose. Then, before he touched her, that hand fisted and fell back to his side. Disappointment rolled through her.

Jake shook his head. “I can’t take advantage when you’re scared out of your mind.”

Was that what he thought he was doing? Taking advantage?

“I tried to set the scene.” His gaze darted around the room. “Got you wine. Played music I thought you’d like.”

Warmth spread inside of her. “The music is nice.”

“But you don’t…you don’t want to cross this line with me. Hell, last night, you were saying we were going to date. Date, not fuck. You’re scared now and you’re acting out, and I don’t want you hating me tomorrow.”

She couldn’t hate him. Utter impossibility.

“You’re safe.” His gaze came back to her. “And for once, I will not be the bastard the world thinks I am.”

So he was rejecting her? And looking all stoic about it, as if he’d just made some major sacrifice? What did the man want, a cookie for turning her down?

Not happening. “You made a promise.”

“I will keep you safe.”

“Not talking about that promise. I’m talking about how I’d scream because things would be so good.” She yanked up her pajama shirt and tossed it behind her. She hadn’t put on a bra, and she stood there, with her nipples getting a wee bit cold and pebbling.

His gaze fell to her chest. “ True. ”

“Everyone has always gone on and on about how good I am. Sounds boring as hell, frankly.” She shoved down her pajama shorts—and her panties—and kicked them away. “And, honestly, can’t someone be nice and naughty at the same time? Because I think it is possible.”

“You’re naked.” Savage.

“Thank you for noticing.” She was naked and nervous, but she would not back down. This was too important. He was too important. “I think you want me.” Her gaze dropped to the front of his jeans. She swallowed. “You definitely want me.”

“True. ”

“And I want you. When I was trapped, do you know what I thought?”

His gaze rose to her face. And, again, she almost retreated. No one had ever looked at her with such burning lust before.

But she stood her ground. Her naked ground. “I thought… I wish I’d been with Jake last night . I wish I had more than just fantasies of him. I wish I hadn’t been scared for so long and that I’d just taken what I wanted.”

Both of his hands were tight fists at his sides. “I’m trying to be good, ” he gritted out.

“I don’t want that. I want the man who promised me that I’d scream for him.” A quick breath. “See, I’ve never done that for a man. Never come so hard that I screamed. But I have very, very high hopes for you. With you. I?—”

His hands weren’t at his sides any longer. They were on her. His mouth was on hers. He was pulling her against him, her body flush against his, and she kissed him with all the passion she had.

No fear.

No doubt.

Just lust.

Make me scream. Make me.

His hands tightened on her waist, and he lifted her up against him. She gasped, and the sound was swallowed by his mouth. He carried her a few steps, then he lowered her down onto the lush rug near the fire. Jake knelt beside her, still fully dressed, and the flames sent shadows—then light—chasing over his body. “You never screamed for the ex-husband?”

She shook her head.

“Never screamed for anyone?”

Another negative shake.

“You will for me.”

Then he settled between her legs.

“Jake, I?—”

His fingers went straight to her core. She was tense and way too nervous, and she flinched.

“Trust me,” he breathed.

Then he lowered his head. His mouth—it went…

On her.

“Jake!” Her hands flew out. Up. All around as they grabbed for the rug and held on tightly.

His tongue dipped into her. His fingers teased her clit. Her hips shot eagerly toward him.

She’d, ah, thought they might work up to this part. Slowly. Like, start with kisses. Some touches. Then they’d get to?—

He strummed her clit relentlessly, and a desperate moan broke from her. Then his mouth replaced his fingers on her clit. He licked her. Again and again and again, and her head thrashed against the rug. Her hips strained against him. He’d locked his hands around her waist so that he could easily force her closer to his mouth. There was no retreat. There was just need and pleasure.

Her eyes flew open. She didn’t remember squeezing them shut. She looked down and saw Jake going down on her. Lapping her up like she was the best thing that he’d ever tasted in his entire life. The rest of the world didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but this moment.

One of his long, strong fingers was inside her. He pushed another in. Stretched her. And lapped at her clit as she— came. True came on a sudden orgasm so powerful and sharp that there was no way she could hold back the cry that burst from her lips.

A scream. For him.

He kept his promise.

Jake kept licking her. Feasting. Driving her wild as she trembled and broke beneath him. When the climax finally eased, when the aftershock pulses still shook her core but she could actually think coherently again, Jake slowly raised his head.

“Always knew you’d taste that sweet.” He licked his lips. “New favorite treat.”

Her body was lax. Replete. The orgasm had rocked straight through her. It had obliterated her.

“Now I think you’re ready.”

He hauled his shirt over his head. Threw it across the room. The shadows and light rippled over his chest. She reached for him instantly.

His hands shoved down on either side of her head. “I want to be gentle with you.”

He had been gentle.

“But I’ve been holding onto this need for a long time. Once I get in you…” His jaw hardened. “If I get too rough, if I do anything that makes you uncomfortable, you tell me.”

He wasn’t going to do anything she didn’t want. “You need to get the jeans off.” They were in the way. Her hand flew down as she tried to open the snap.

His fingers immediately covered hers. “I’m not like your other lovers, sweets.”

“All two of them?”

His hand tightened on hers. “I will own you.”

What did that even mean? “Do I get to own you, too?”

“You already do.” A growl. “You need a safe word with me. It’s been too long for you. I’m too big. And I don’t want you hurt. ”

“No, I don’t think that’s necessary?—”

“You say the word if anything hurts you. Pick something, now.”

Couldn’t she just say… Go slower? Was that not happening? Fine, fine…anything to get the man’s jeans off. “Sleigh bells.”

He blinked.

“Sleigh bells if you need to slow down.” Her breath shuddered out. She wasn’t worried about him slowing down. She needed the man to speed the heck up. “And jingle for when you need to go harder.” She kissed him on the neck. Bit lightly. “Faster. Jingle. ”

He pulled away.

She was the one blinking in confusion. But he just ditched his jeans and boxers.

Oh, wow. He was certainly built along way bigger lines than her ex. So, okay, yep, maybe she would need that sleigh bells bit if things got uncomfortable because he was absolutely going to wreck her if he wasn’t careful.

He shoved on a condom that he’d hauled from his wallet, and Jake pushed her thighs apart as he came back to her. “Don’t be afraid of me.”

She hadn’t been. Until she’d seen the full size of his dick. “Uh…”

The tip of his cock pushed into her. True couldn’t help tensing.

His eyes remained locked on hers. “You’re going to take me, and you’re going to tell me if anything hurts.”

A nod. Her hands reached for his shoulders.

His hand slid between their bodies. Worked her clit and a fast spasm of pleasure shot through her. Oh, yes, she liked that. The nervous tension transformed into fast need. Jingle. Jingle. Jingle!

He kissed his way down her neck, stopping to drop little bites along the way. His mouth felt incredible. Who would have known that her neck was so sensitive? It hadn’t been before. But, honestly, with Jake, every part of her body felt hyperaware and sensitive. Primed.

She needed more.

“Jingle!” True called out.

His head shot up.

“That was the one that meant more. Faster. Harder.” She squirmed beneath him. “I want more, Jake. I want everything.” She wanted him fully in her.

But he went back to kissing her, to feathering his mouth over her as he slowly moved his head down. He continued to just have the broad tip of his dick inside of her. Finally, his mouth took her breast. Her body shivered as need cascaded through her. He licked and sucked her nipple and had her thrashing beneath him. But he didn’t thrust deep into her. Why not?

Was he torturing her? This felt like torture. Her legs locked around his hips as she tried to take more of him inside of her. She wanted more. “Jake, please!”

He drove into her.

He stretched every single inch of her. For a moment, she was caught between pleasure and pain because his size was no joke. He’d warned her. She probably should have paid more attention.

He stilled. Rose up. Stared into her eyes.

Sleigh bells. That was what she was supposed to say if it was too much.

She clamped her lips together.

His fingers went to her clit. Rubbed. Rubbed. Her body unlocked for him. Desire spiraled.

Her head tipped back. He withdrew. Plunged into her. Withdrew. When he plunged deep once more, her hips slammed up to meet him. The rhythm became savage. Brutal. Absolutely beyond everything she’d known before. This wasn’t some tame lovemaking. Some quick thrusts in the dark.

She grabbed for his shoulders. Held on tight. “Jingle,” she whispered.

He growled. His hands slid beneath her. Curled around her ass as he lifted her up against him so that Jake could thrust relentlessly. Her climax ripped straight through True as her nails raked over his skin. Once more, she screamed for him.

And he seemed to let go of his control. A snarl broke from him. His thrusts pistoned against her in a fast fury. His hands skimmed over her body. Seeming to touch—no, to brand and mark every single inch of her. His mouth was on her throat. Pressing. Licking. Biting. Her core spasmed around him as aftershocks from her climax pulsed through her. Sweat slickened their bodies as they tangled before the fire, and she didn’t care.

This was perfect.

This was passion.

This was?—

He stiffened against her. Slammed hard once more. Then he roared her name.

He’d planned to fuck her in a bed. Like a normal person. Like a gentleman. In a soft bed. Not on the hard floor of his den. Shit. There had been steps involved in his master plan.

Step one—get the fireplace going. Step two—turn on the Christmas music that he knew True loved. Step three—give her a glass of the wine she’d enjoyed the night before. Step four—talk to her. Charm her. He could be charming, dammit. Then he’d planned to take her into his bedroom. To not rush her.

To not fuck her on the floor.

His hands shoved against the rug as he heaved up. He’d been keeping his body off hers because he hadn’t wanted to crush True with his weight. She shivered beneath him, and her long lashes lifted as she opened her eyes and stared at him.

She didn’t say a word.

But she screamed for me earlier. Just as he’d wanted. She’d screamed twice. Because she’d come twice. And she’d raked her nails down his body. She’d left marks on him.

And he’d left marks on her. His gaze dropped to her neck. He could see the faint redness from his mouth.

She still hadn’t spoken.

He should say something. Or get her sweet ass off the floor, you jerk. Yeah, yeah, that was what he should do. And he needed to do that fast because his eager dick was getting hard for her again. As if he hadn’t just exploded inside of her and lost his ever-loving mind.

Clenching his back teeth, he began to withdraw. Fuck but she feels good. His own paradise. “True, I’m sorry that I?—”

“That was amazing.”

He blinked.

She smiled. The warm smile that reached her eyes and made his chest feel funny. Her hand reached up and her fingers skimmed down his cheek. “Can we do that again?”

Jake felt a big smile curve his own lips. “All night long.” But first he had to ditch the condom. There were more condoms, though. In his bedroom. Where his bed was. Because he would not be taking her on the floor again. He could be civilized.

Maybe. Possibly. Potentially?

With True, his best-laid plans tended to get shot to hell and back.

He withdrew. Ditched the condom in the trash, then returned to her. True had sat up before the fireplace, and her head tilted back as he approached. As he stared at her, he stumbled. Jake never stumbled.

But this time, he did.

The fire was behind her, flickering and dancing, and True—naked True, his absolute dream—stared back at him with a warm, sweet smile on her face. A smile for him. She wanted him. She was happy and naked and waiting for him.

Who said Christmas miracles didn’t happen?

Her smile flickered. “Jake?” She rose to her feet. Her beautiful breasts did a little jiggle that made his dick salute. “Is everything all right?”

He closed the distance between them. Stared down at her. “No.”

Her brows rose.

“I’m not inside of you.” His hand slid down her body. Moved between her legs.

She sucked in a quick breath and rose onto her toes. Her hands clamped around his arms as she steadied herself against him.

“I don’t feel this tight, hot heaven squeezing my dick.” But she was squeezing his fingers. “And I need my dick to be in you right now.” He needed her climaxing around his cock. Shuddering and bucking as she went wild for him. “You going to take me again?”

Her hands tightened on him even as her cute little tongue snaked out to lick across her lower lip. “Thought we already agreed…”

His thumb brushed over her clit.

She gasped, then finished, “All…night long?”

One night wasn’t going to cut it. Not for him. But it was probably better not to scare her and tell her that truth. Not yet. So they’d start with a night. His hand pulled away from the sweet heat he craved.

“Jake?”

He scooped her into his arms. Carried her down the hallway. Kissed her. And didn’t let her go, not until he had her exactly where he wanted her.

In his bed.

Where I want her to stay.

Where he would make her come, again and again, as she screamed for him.

Jingle all night long.