Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
He turned his hand and beckoned to her with one white glove covered finger. She gulped hard even as she listened to his unspoken command.
“Nice of you to finally join me.”
She frowned at him briefly before smoothing out her expression. “Excuse me? We have like three minutes before the doors open. I was busy.”
“You could have been, but you’ve been avoiding me.”
“I didn’t avoid you because I wasn’t watching for you. I have no reason to do either.”
He reached for her arm and directed her closer to him. “Stand here and hand me a present when a child is up on my lap. Bartenders more your speed then?”
She saw the wisdom of his positioning her where he did but then his words registered.
“Are you talking about Cole?”
“Oh, is that his name?” The words were delivered in a low growl.
“Doors opening!” The overhead speaker shattered the growing tension between them. The music switched to holiday music.
He lasered her once more with his gaze.
Then again, perhaps it hadn’t.
* * *
Anger pulsed through him like electricity through a live wire. It popped and sizzled. All he longed to do was scoop her up, toss her over his shoulder and take her somewhere they would be away from prying eyes. Including those of the fucking bartender who dared brush his hands alone her skin.
My fucking privilege.
And she was about to learn that.
He’d almost lost his shit when he, from his corner of putting on the rest of his costume, saw the man approach and talk to her. Did he like it? Fuck no. But it was fury that blew to life when the man touched her.
When she tipped her head back and laughed it gutted him. All that saved the man was the conversation was short and sweet. Although he swore the man knew he watched for when he leaned forward a tiny bit and spoke to her, his eyes were on Ryker.
It wasn’t some college boy, the man carried himself with an air of confidence. Doesn’t matter. I will fucking gut him.
“Santa should be smiling and not scaring the children.”
Her soft drawl penetrated the angry bubble he had around himself and he pulled it together as the first child walked up with his mother at her side, holding his hand. Mom’s eyes offered something he only wanted from the adorable elf at his side.
Wish she was Mrs. Claus.
There was still time.
Rayla knew the job and was damn good at it. She kept the line moving, took photos, and handed out gifts. If children were scared or crying, she had a knack for getting them out of their head and smiling.
Two hours later, they took a short break and he had her to himself in the breakroom, where they were getting some much needed water.
Ryker uncapped a bottle and handed it over to her, jutting his chin in her direction when she opened her mouth, he knew to refuse.
Lips flattening she took a drink. “Thank you.”
“Wasn’t so hard was it?”
“Guess not.”
Two others pushed in and gave hellos. “What are you two talking about?” Lisa Marie asked as she smiled up at Ryker.
He noticed the dampening of joy in her—incorrectly both brown—eyes. “Nothing,” she replied. “He was simply filling me in on how it wasn’t hard.” A sickly sweet smile and she walked out of the room.
Lisa Marie glanced at him with both blonde eyebrows reaching to her hairline. Pouty lips that before Rayla, he would have been interested in seeing wrapped around his cock, twitched.
“Somehow I doubt that,” she murmured. Tone low and inviting. “Perhaps you simply need something worth getting hard over.”
Biting back his initial response, and instinctive if he cared to think about it, Ryker merely toasted her with his bottle of water and exited out the door. Not entirely sure what to expect, he paused at the edge of chaos to watch Rayla interact with the waiting children.
Her laughter covered him in pleasure. He longed to walk up behind her and press against her, nestle his hard cock between the full globes of her ass. Wrap his arms around her and tug her to rest against his chest while he allowed her natural, and intoxicating, scent to surround him.
Almost like she felt him there, her head pivoted and she ran a cool, yet assessing, look over him before dismissing him and clapping her hands.
“Breaks over,” she announced. “Who’s next to sit on Santa’s lap?”
Ryker walked up close to her and dipped his head enough to whisper in her ear, “I would love for you to sit on Santa’s lap next.”
Instead of ignoring him, which he thought she may do, she turned and held his gaze, her back to the waiting children. He got it, sort of made it appear they were having a last minute discussion.
“I’m sure Lisa Marie or Krissy Mae would be happy to take you up on that.” She plucked his water bottle from his hand. “I’ll set this over there for you.” A slow blink. “Santa.”