Monsters Under Mistletoe

4. Kat

Chapter 4

Kat

M r. Kvalt’s mouth drops open and I wish I could call back the reckless stupid words. Only, no. I’m not being that person for the rest of my life, hiding in corners and imagining the worst in every social situation.

I came here to shoot my shot and if he’s not interested, that’s OK, because right after this, I walk out of here and never have to see him again.

My palms are sweating like crazy, though.

I let out a little gasp as Mr. Kvalt closes the distance between us pulling me against his chest. In my shock, I drop the bunch of mistletoe I snatched from the boardroom, but it doesn’t matter apparently.

My hands brace awkwardly against his chest. Where am I supposed to put them? What am I supposed to do with my lips? Do I pout? No, I’ll look stupid. But a manic grin is not the look I want to go for either.

The frantic buzzing of my thoughts cuts off when he lowers his head and stops a heartbeat from my lips.

“Kat?”

“Mmm?”

His big lips curve into a smile. “Please let me kiss you again.”

“Yes!” It comes out in a little squeak.

Then his lips are on mine and I’m floating again, noticing one thing languidly after another as if in a dream. His hands are so big, splayed against my back, holding me up on the tips of my toes.

His breath is warm and sweet.

He tastes like wood-fired pizza dough and melted marshmallows.

He feels hard, everywhere he’s pressed against me, but he kisses me so softly.

Oh no! I’m supposed to do something with my lips now!

Hesitantly I part them. Instantly he groans into my mouth. I think I’ve done something right. His lips move against mine with more passion, sliding, stoking heat and desire and a glow right down in my belly.

Oh god, his pecs are so large and firm and his kiss feels so good. When he pulls away, my hands curl, bunching fistfuls of his shirt before I can stop myself.

He chuckles. “Better?”

I nod, mutely.

“Then, would it be OK if I use my tongue this time?”

I can only giggle. Only the softness in his glowing eyes makes me able to stay clinging to him rather than run away to hide. We’re still so close, lips almost touching. I tip my chin up, but he hesitates. “Wait.”

Oh no!

I’ve stuffed this up.

“Can I take off those glasses too?”

I gulp. “Are you sure you want to do that? What if…?” I can’t even bring myself to finish the sentence.

He reaches for them, pausing with a thumb and forefinger around the frame. “I’m sure.”

He still waits for me to give him another breathless, “Yes.”

The shock of cool against my skin makes me realize how much I’ve been sweating under the glasses. And oh! I didn’t put any eye makeup on. I didn’t think anyone would see my eyes.

Mr. Kvalt smiles. He sets the glasses carefully aside on his desk. His hand returns to my lower back.

Tingles slide all the way down the backs of my legs and I shiver, despite the warmth of his body.

“Now, let’s see to this kiss. A good proper kiss this time. You have some makeup to do and I intend to see that you’ve been thoroughly kissed by the time the day is done.”

I wish I had the courage to tell him I’d like him to see to other things too. The touching and holding and intimacy of sex that I’ve dreamed about all my life. But one thing at a time.

When his lips descend on mine again, I think I could be happy only doing this for the rest of my life. Surely there is nothing better than the way his tongue gently slides against mine. Warm and moist and playful. There could be nothing better than the way I taste his breath and feel his hand tighten a fraction, as if he’s leashed all that power in his huge body and is holding it back for me.

But after a while, I can’t stand the teasing brushes of tender lips anymore, I stretch higher on my toes and fling my arms around his neck. I push my mouth against his, devouring instead of tasting, sucking on his lips instead of the polite motions of a few moments ago.

When I regain my senses, I pull back a little to make sure it’s OK, but my snakes have other ideas. They stretch out, rubbing tiny faces against his brows and cheeks and giving tiny snakey kisses in outstretched forked tongues. We both laugh. I don’t dare brush them away in case they bite him.

“Sorry. They kinda have a mind of their own.”

“I can see that.” The warmth of his laugh penetrates his speech and makes his eyes crinkle at the corners.

He lifts one big finger. The nearest snake lifts its chin for a pat. My god! I’ve never seen them so well behaved!

“Was that OK?”

He laughs. “Oh, Kat. Better than OK. Are you sure you haven’t done that before? You have my lava boiling!”

“And that’s a good thing?”

He tugs at his collar. “Ah, well. You could say that. Only the longer we do this, the harder it’s going to be for me to um… to hold back, if you catch my drift.”

My eyes widen. “Oh!”

He gives me an apologetic smile. “Yeah. Surely you noticed you’ve got me a little excited here.”

My chin drops automatically as if I can see between us to the place a very hard bulge presses against my belly. Oh that makes me all warm inside, knowing that he’s hard over me. That is what he’s implying, I’m almost sure of it. “Oh, well I don’t mind.”

I flush. I’d very, very much like to slide my hand down his firm abs to see for myself how big that bulge is. To explore the rest of him in the way I explored his mouth.

Mr. Kvalt’s laugh is pained. “Ha! Well, you will if you have me spill in my trousers and burn a hole through my clothing and yours!”

“Oh, right. Troll lava. But how do you…?” I glance away, embarrassed.

If he thinks I’m being too forward, he says nothing about it.

“Let’s not get carried away. I take it you’re a virgin?”

I nod, scuffing a foot on the floor. My snakes droop. Is he about to reject me? To tell me that while it was fun, playing at first kisses, the thought of teaching a thirty-year-old virgin about sex is too boring for words.

“Me too.” I look up astonished. He’s watching me. “How much do you know about troll biology and culture?”

“Not much.” I wish I knew more. Why didn’t I google instead of spending long hours daydreaming about him?

Mr. Kvalt tugs at his collar again. “Listen, there’s a lot to talk about here. Why don’t we get out of here and go grab something to eat. I know this quiet little Italian with the best pizza you’ve ever tasted.”

My relieved smile might be bordering on manic. “Yes! I mean I’d love to.”

He chuckles. “Great. Do you need to say goodbye to anyone first? I’m not interrupting your plans for tonight?”

I laugh. “Plans!” Then I cough and regulate my tone. “Ah no. No plans. I’m all yours.” I flush at how it sounds, but his smile only grows wider.

“Great. Let’s go out the back way or someone will try to stop me and I don’t want to be stopped right now. I’ve wanted this for a very long time.”

As he holds the door open for me and I tuck my jacket around myself a little tighter, I’m still glowing with the warmth of his words. And when my boss slings a huge arm around me and tucks me into his side, I can’t keep the stupid grin off my face a moment longer.