Holiday for HIre(18)
Ian’s lips tickled at her ear. “Jane. I didn’t—. Do you have…something ?”
“Top drawer!” She’d exclaimed it maybe a little louder than she’d needed do, but she was worked up and desperate to have him inside her. She was also impressed that he’d been the one to mention a condom. She couldn’t remember the last time she wasn’t the one insisting that her partner suit up .
She’d praise him on that. Later .
Now, though, her mouth was busy suckling on Ian’s shoulder while he donned a raincoat. Then he was pushing at her entrance. Gliding in with one long stroke .
They groaned together in unison .
He felt big inside her. Big and wonderful as he rocked in and out. Did sex always feel this good? She couldn’t remember it ever feeling like this. Like, perfect. As though they were made to be wrapped around each other. If this were a test for compatibility, Ian would pass with flying colors .
If only they were this compatible in other areas of their lives .
She didn’t want to think about that. She wouldn’t think about it. She’d only think about him, above her, inside her .
She brought her knees up around his waist, allowing him to sink deeper. They moved together like that, in sync, until she came again .
Ian followed soon after, his whole body shuddering as he rode out his release. When he’d finished, he kissed her again, lazily now .
As her breath and heartbeat returned to normal, even as her hair was still damp from the snow she’d been half-buried in, Jane laughed a little to herself .
Apparently there were other ways to warm up besides hot chocolate .
7
O n a normal year, Jane was nearly breathless with anticipation about her Christmas décor dinner party .
The party followed the same standard pattern each year—champagne cocktails and carols while everyone admired the greenery. Next, a beet and spinach salad, chosen for the perfect holiday colors it displayed. The entrée was a seafood risotto. After some chitchat around the table, Jane turned off all the lights, leaving nothing but the candles lit, and then turned on all the Christmas lights .
With the place suitably lit for Santa, everyone enjoyed another round of drinks and a dessert buffet. The food was catered, but Jane would never dream of giving up the Christmas baking .
Cut and frosted cookies, various rolls and pastries, mincemeat mini-pies and spiced cupcakes—visions of those beat out sugarplums any day .
So as she piped the final touches on a batch of snowman cookies, yes, she was anticipating the beloved tradition of food and wine with friends, and the inevitable compliments about her interior. But this year, she could admit, her stomach was extra fluttery, not just because her house looked better than ever, but because of the added component—one delicious Ian Brooks .
Her nerves at how they would be received as a couple and her anxiety over seeing him again now that they had slept together layered together like the famous baumkuchen she’d spent the entire morning baking a quarter cup at a time .
And she was as eager to pull this off as she was to eat the almond-flavored cake .
A dollop of buttercream dripped off the end of the tip of the pastry bag, and Jane smiled. It reminded her of the look on Ian’s face when he told her about the buttercream on her lips when they met—intense, and a little charmed. Which basically summed up how she felt about him, too .
She’d be disappointed once this whole charade was over, she realized as she licked a smudge of frosting off her little finger. Gutted, actually. Maybe they could still have a relationship after the job ended, but, really, how would that work? How would Ian ever fit into her life on a permanent basis? He couldn’t lie about who he was forever, and she’d never come clean about this ruse .
The truth was simple–this was temporary and she had to face that. It was probably for the best anyway. Her thoughts strayed to him and what they had shared in bed far too often since he’d left the evening before. As the New Year came in she’d have so much to occupy her time. Jane had promised to spearhead a committee to help fundraise for new seat upholstery at the symphony. It was a cause close to her heart for its connection to music, and close to her rear for the number of times she had uncomfortably perched there. She simply would not have time to moon around when there was work to be done .
So that was that. No matter how painful it felt to think about now .
And she really shouldn’t be thinking about it now. Not today. She had a party to put on .
A final dusting of sprinkles, and she’d have exactly enough time to freshen her makeup and pour a glass of wine before Ian showed up .
Except the buzzer rang before she even had a chance to remove her apron, something she had not noticed until she’d answered the door and Ian’s eyes strayed to her ruffled waist as he held up a bottle of wine. How very embarrassing, to be caught like that. Her mother was likely spinning in her grave right now. With a silent apology to Mother and one smooth motion, she removed it and invited Ian in .
With the door still open, he said, “You look beautiful.” He leaned in and she thought he might kiss her, kiss her for real and not for show, but just before their lips brushed, her eternal frenemy Parker came trilling “hellooooo” up the steps .
“Parker, so lovely to see you,” she said, noting with great satisfaction that her rival’s skirt was wrinkled. Clearly Parker was slipping. Jane wouldn’t be caught dead in public looking rumpled .