Chapter One

Stuart

This happens every Christmas.

Rose Parsons comes strolling through this office, blond curls bouncing, all buttoned up in a big hound’s-tooth coat and some tragically modest dress. Mm. Wool tights the color of cream. And yet, I can still almost taste her through all those layers. I know her flavor… and it’s vanilla.

She shrugs off the bulky coat, revealing high, round breasts and a slim, girlish figure in a clingy sweater dress. I’m too old for her—the president of a charity run through her university—but hell, I feel young. Especially for someone who's going to be fifty. In nine years, but still.

I doubt my circulation has ever been better than it is when Rose comes to visit.

This is her third year coming to me, pleading with those big doe eyes. I take one look, and I'm gone. The checkbook is out.

"Stuart," Rose greets me breathlessly, as she settles into a chair across from my desk and crosses her legs. The wool tights make them only more shapely and mysterious. Besides, there's something so sexy about a woman whose undergarment can be made into restraints with the perfect amount of give... "Merry Christmas."

A thin golden cross necklace catches the light, and I scowl at it before my eyes flick back to hers.

"Probably not," I reply with a charming smile and a wink, "but we'll see." I loosen my jacket and shrug it off, never removing my eyes from hers. "Have you been naughty or nice this year?"

I'm rewarded with a good, deep blush, and her eyes focus on the floor at her feet. "Nice, of course," she says, and her fingers clasp that crucifix. She dares look at me and offers a meek smile. "After the relief effort in Cuba, I just see the world differently. There's so much need. And we have such an opportunity to give, Mr. Goldman." A premature pitch. She must be nervous.

"Stuart," I correct her. She used to call me Mr. Goldman but I conditioned that out of her. Still, every now and then, it pops up.

"Right. Stuart." I love her sexy voice wrapped around my name like that. Her gaze tilts down to my mouth, and then up again. "Your contribution alone built over twenty hospitals in South America. My chapter got to build one."

I smirk at her and shake my head. Why does she do this to me? She knows she's going to get the money. I know I'm going to give it to her. Not only have I caved to United for Global Health every year but I've given her more each year. But she still insists on going through her spiel about all their accomplishments.

I just want to flirt with her.

"How about you, Rose?" I ask. "How has your year been? You must be close to graduating."

"This spring." She nods and purses her lips to stifle a proud smile. "Then I'm going to be the one needing a charity fund."

She laughs at herself but I don't laugh with her. I know the details of every person who walks into my office. It's part of my security. Rose can only afford to attend college because of all the scholarships she earned. She's been an excellent student and will hopefully get an amazing job after all this but she's developed most of her experience with the charity work. Launching herself into the job market will be the true test, and my heart aches for her.

It's a cold world out there.

I’d give to United for Global Health no matter who they sent to make their case but sending this little cream puff is unfair. No man could say no to those eyes.

I’m soft for worrying about her but I do. I can’t help that.

"Maybe you'll get lucky," I say. "I'm going to give you a number here, and you let me know if it's enough." I snatch my checkbook from my desk and scribble down a number in the top corner. "Have any plans for the holidays?"

Rose's mouth turns down into a pout. How much of this "good girl" thing is all an act? She’s a vixen to me… but maybe even she doesn’t know that yet. "I always just stay on campus. I love Christmas but..." Her eyes go distant and soft. "I'm not close with my family anymore."

I rip the check from the book and slide it across the table. Rose leans forward to take it, and her creamy fingertips brush mine.

A rush of blood surges down to my dick, jolting him awake, and I'm thankful for the desk between us. I want her savagely but I'll never take that which doesn’t belong to me. If I ever have her, it will be because she lays herself down in front of me.

After that, I can't make any promises of gentility.

Rose looks down and yelps, shooting out of her seat as if electrocuted. "Oh, Stuart!" she cries, eyelashes fluttering, and my eyelashes flutter a little, too. The stiffness in my cock maddens me. "This is so generous!"

"It's nothing," I tell her. Her petite frame is highlighted in the sunlight pouring in from the window behind my desk. Her hair is a goddamn cloud of gold. "Staying on campus seems like such a lonely way to spend Christmas." I can't believe I've never asked her before, even knowing about the family she came from: drug charges, jail time, then adoptive parents who were just gaming the welfare system. Maybe especially because I knew about the family that she came from, I've never asked about those holiday plans.

"It's fine," she says. "Thank you again for your donation, Stuart." I love hearing her thank me. I wish I could give her more than money to remember me by. "This blows my donation out of the water by a long shot!"

"I didn't know you donated as well." I raise and button my jacket again, reaching forward to take her hand and give it a shake. This is our custom but I completely forgot that I've also got a raging boner.

Rose's hand slides into mine, and her eyes drift down to the turgid member poking at my trousers. They cloud with lust, maybe even curiosity, and then her gaze flicks up to my face and clears.

"Of course," she answers with a swallow. "I probably sank too much money into United for Global Health but... I just can't stop."

I love hearing her say those words: I just can't stop.

"Oh, Rose," I murmur to her, slinging my arm around the curvaceous small of her back. I guide her toward the exit. She's so small in my embrace but it's also a perfect fit. "How could any one woman—a college student, for God's sake—be so damn good?"

"For God's sake, I guess," she answers. Her eyes turn up to mine as we reach the door, and I suddenly feel the danger I couldn't feel before. It's in those eyes. Touching is okay... as long as we don't make eye contact. My rager stirs again. "Every time I think that I want something..." she goes on, eyes mercilessly glued to mine, "I remember how much other people need."

My finger sweeps under her chin, tilting her face. So close. So vulnerable. If I crushed my lips against hers right here, would she pull away? "They're not the only ones in need. You can want something and take it, Rose. Take it. There's nothing wrong with that. Taking is how I got into the position where I can give."

"Right," Rose croaks. "Just take it."

Are we still talking about money?

“Don’t tell me this is going to be the last time I see you.” I’m certain that it will be. United for Global Health is ran through the college, and she won’t be a student anymore.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Rose begins, her eyelashes flashing down. A shock of hair falls into her face and she pushes her spring-like locks of gold hair back out of her face.

There’s a sharp knock at my office door, and Rose jolts. The connection of my finger on her chin is broken, and the spell with it. Damn it.

"Yes?" I hiss.

My secretary's meek voice bleeds through the door. "Your two o'clock is here, sir," she informs me.

I glower at the door and then smile down at Rose. "As always," I say, almost whispering. "It's lovely to see you. I wish Christmas came more than once a year."

"Me, too," she breathes.

I wish you could come more often, too.

"Merry Christmas, Stuart."

"Merry Christmas."

I open the door for her and watch her go, saddened. Then my eyes light across Leo di Reyes, one of the other billionaires in my network. He's one of the most powerful men I know—the owner of Mystique Island—and he watches Rose with the same hunger I have as she strolls through the office and into the elevator.

"Leo," I greet him, giving his hand a vigorous shake. I'm also trying to get his eyes off my Rose. "Shouldn't you be insanely busy right now?"

Mystique Island always throws elaborate holiday events for its guests, and Christmas is only a few days away.

"I am but I was in the neighborhood," he allows. "I have an offer to make you, Stu, and I doubt you're going to turn it down."

"Oh?"

"Oh, yeah. This year at Mystique Island... the guests have wish lists. And I bet I can guess who is on the top of yours."