Page 13 of Auctioned to the Mountain Man
In the span of only a few hours, my family has fallen in love with her. Grandma Lola promised to share her highly coveted family recipe for cherry muffins. Mom’s convinced her to help wrap Christmas presents later today. Jazzy’s been bugging me about picking out a fucking ring while were in the most romantic Christmas town ever.Wouldn’t this be the perfect place to propose?My niece and nephew begged her to ice skate with them. Even Grandpa Eddie’s been smiling every time she cracks a joke or lets out an f-bomb around the littles.
“I’d break Santa’s lap.”
She leans back for a moment before saying, “That’s probably true.”
“Did you just look at my ass?”
“What?” she says unapologetically. “Just because I kind of hate you doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a nice ass when I see one.”
“Thank you?”
“It’s much nicer without clothes, though.”
“How—”
“Most people get undressed in the bathroom when they’re sharing a room with their pretend girlfriend.”
“You two lovebirds coming?” Grandma Lola hollers from across the street, waving at us like she’s flagging down a taxi.She stands in front of a horse drawn sleigh that doesn’t look big enough to accommodate everyone. If we weren’t planning to stay in town for dinner and the evening tree lighting, I’d use the excuse to head back to the cabin.
This whole place is too people-y for me. It’s why I live in the woods. Alone.
“I’ve always wanted to ride in a sleigh!” Alida gushes.
“You’re laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?” I grumble as we cross the street to meet the rest of the Hansen gang.
“I’ve never been,” she says, sounding genuine. “But maybe there’s not enough room for all of us?”
At first, I thought her love of Christmas was an act. But now I’m beginning to think she’s been harboring a secret love for the holidays she hasn’t allowed herself to experience. My plans for evading the sleigh ride suddenly flip, my new mission brief comprised of a single bullet point: Make sure the woman with the sparkling blue eyes and oh-so-kissable lips gets to fulfill her Christmas wish. “You can sit on my lap,” I offer.
“Great idea!” Grandma Lola says, clapping her gloved hands.
“If you want,” I add quietly. “I don’t want you to feel pressured?—”
“Worried you’ll like it too much?” Alida teases.
Before I can defend myself, Jazzy corrals everyone like the elementary teacher she is. In under two minutes, the Hansen clan is loaded into the sleigh, and Alida’s cushy ass is nestled in my lap. She presses her back into my chest, and I wrap my arms around her middle.
I brush my lips against her ear and ask, “What do you want for Christmas, baby girl?”
Alida shudders, letting out a laugh.
“Too soon?”
“Too creepy,” she laughs. She turns her head, meeting my gaze. Her breath warms my cheek as she says, “But I can’t tell you what I want for Christmas anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’d put me straight on Santa’s naughty list if I did, and I’m pretty sure I just narrowly escaped it. Don’t want to tempt fate.”
“Alida,” I growl in a low warning. Never mind that I’d happily write another six-figure check if she’d just confess whatever dirty secret she’s holding back. I know I’m supposed to keep my hands off her, but in this moment with her ass nestled in my lap, half an inch from a hardening cock, I can’t seem to remember why she’s off limits. This pain in the ass, stubborn, sexy woman is thawing my icy interior one outrageous comment at a time.
“Alida, I’m just so glad you could join us!” Jazzy says. “Fox must really like you. Heneverbrings anyone home for the holidays.”
“This isn’t exactly home,” I remind her.
Jazzy waves a hand, brushing me off. “You know what I mean.”
“I’m happy to be included,” she says, sounding like she means it. With Kayleigh away at college, who was she planning to spend the holidays with?