Nine

Harley

It was eight o’clock in the morning after the single hottest night of my life and, instead of sleeping, I was packing. For two fucking weeks in Aspen! With Nick. Of all the things that had happened to me since sliding into that green dress—losing my virginity, witnessing Shannon banging the IT guy, showering with Nick—his invitation to spend the holiday with him had been the most surprising.

And now I was faced with a bigger dilemma. What to pack for a romantic two-week getaway to Aspen? Not that I had a lot of choices, so I loaded a big suitcase with sweaters and jeans, and of course sexy lingerie. I would have to dip into my meager savings if he really wanted to go skiing because I didn’t have anything fit for barreling down a mountain. It took less than twenty minutes to fill the suitcase and one carryon bag, now all I had to do was wait.

And that’s when the doubts crept in. What if Nick changed his mind and didn’t show up? How long would I sit and wait like some sad, desperate woman? I let out a sigh and fell onto the sofa, wishing Shannon was home so I had someone to talk this over with. I mean, what in the hell was I doing going away with my billionaire boss? Shit like this doesn’t happen in my life, or to girls like me. This would all end with me broken, unemployed and very likely heartbroken.

So the fuck what? Shannon’s ever present voice sounded in my head and I could pretty much fill in the blanks from there. You’re fucking awesome and he’d be lucky to have a body like yours to snuggle up against. If he doesn’t see it, fuck him and the Mercedes he rode in on.

“Thanks Shan,” I whispered to the universe and hoped, for both their sakes, that Brandon had made her night memorable. I had a feeling that my crazy best friend had finally met her match.

With a renewed confidence, I stood, sent Shannon a text letting her know why I wouldn’t be home and where I would be. And with whom, because if you can’t brag to your best friend, who could you brag to. Then I walked out the door with my bags; I could call a cab and meet him at the airport. Waiting was too hard. Made me feel too pathetic. I rushed outside, suddenly feeling good about my decision as I awkwardly maneuvered my bags down the cement steps.

There was Nick, wearing jeans and a smile as he leaned against a sleek black limo. “You didn’t think I’d let you hitch another ride when we have this whole limo, specifically the back of it, all to ourselves did you?”

I grinned as heat swamped my skin. “I was trying to be helpful. It’s kind of my thing.”

“Like the cookies?”

“Yeah,” I said, though it was barely audible even on a deserted New York street just days before Christmas. “Like the cookies.”

His smile brightened and he held open the door, motioning me inside. “Max will take care of the bags.”

With his assurance, I slipped inside the limo and Nick followed, staring and smiling.

“What?”

“It seems someone has been bitten with the holiday spirit,” he offered cryptically but then pointed to the ceiling above us and grinned.

My gaze followed his finger and delighted laughter bubbled up out of me. “You bought a mistletoe for the limo? There are easier ways to get me to kiss you.”

“Perhaps,” he whispered and leaned in, brushing his lips over the corner of my mouth. “But this is way more fun.” His lips brushed the other corner then landed softly full on, at first sweet and chaste, then tender and tense before finally the kiss set my body ablaze. A few hours without his body and my own starved for it, trembled with need. My fingers tangled in his hair while he devoured my mouth, made love to it and made sure that no other man, no other kiss, would ever be as incredible.

“Wow.” That was all my brain could come up with after a kiss like that.

He chuckled. “Now you’re starting to see a fraction of what you do to me.” One hand sat on my thigh and the other buried in my hair as he looked at me. “You look beautiful like this, natural and fresh. Aroused.”

I blushed and looked away at his words. I looked poor and cheap but if he liked it, well I just might keep this man forever. Fitted jeans and an ugly sweater featuring a bikini clad snow woman weren’t exactly seduction material but underneath, I was ready for him. “You mean like I’ve been up all night making love? That kind of refreshed?”

“Since I’m the one who made you look like that, fuck yeah, it looks gorgeous to me.”

“Sir, we’ve arrived.” The driver’s voice sounded in the speakers and moments later the front door slammed shut and the back door opened.

“We’re here.” He grinned and helped me out of the limo.

I turned and gasped like the middle class girl I was raised to be. “That’s a private jet. With your name on it!” In tall blue letters as tall as a building, the tail clearly said Steele.

He grinned. “You do know I’m rich, right?”

I tapped my chin with my index finger, pretending to think. “I may have heard that somewhere before. I wasn’t expecting this, though in hindsight, I should have.”

“Is that a problem?” He looked worried, like I might actually object to traveling in luxury.

“No, just feeling momentarily overwhelmed.” More like completely out of my fucking depth, but I couldn’t say that. I wouldn’t ruin this chance. How often does a girl get an honest to goodness chance with the man of her dreams?

“By the jet? It’ll be just you and me, one attendant and the pilots.” His hand settled on my back, rubbing it in soothing circles, like he was really concerned.

“No, the jet is beautiful. I’ve never been on a private plane before, but it just brings home all the differences between us. Are we fooling ourselves, Nick?”

“Explain, please,” he said very diplomatically.

“Look at all this, Nick. You have everything and I have nothing. People will see us together and they’ll get it wrong. They won’t know how amazing you are, they’ll automatically assume I’m with you for your money.” I hung my head, anticipating his reluctant acceptance of my words. Instead I heard laughter and looked up. Scowling. “Is that funny?”

He wrapped an arm around me and guided me up the stairs into the most spectacular airplane I’d ever seen. There were creamy leather seats with royal blue accents in the form of buttons, logos and piping around the seats. I didn’t get to look around fully because a big, blond Adonis blocked out everything. “It’s not funny, but it is. For years I thought dating women with some kind of wealth of their own would help me find the right woman but it turns out they were greedier than most. But you, Harley, you’re so different.”

“I think the word you’re looking for is poor.”

He gave me a stern look and continued. “You’re not even worried that people will think you’re a gold digger, but that they won’t see what I am other than rich. You’re incredible and now I’m more convinced than ever this trip is the right thing for us.”

Us. He said it so simply. The words just rolled off his tongue like he’d been saying it for years. “Thank you for inviting me, Nick. I’m looking forward to it but I should let you in on a little secret. I’ve never skied.”

He laughed. “That’s okay. I happen to be an excellent teacher.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course you are, because you’re good at everything.”

“Not everything. Brandon gets mad because I ignore my software updates.”

I laughed and shook my head, taking my time to look around the jet but with Nick to look at, the rest wasn’t quite as pretty. “I stand corrected then.”

“We have two uninterrupted weeks together, Harley. You’ll find out my flaws soon enough.”

Why did that promise sound so amazing? “I look forward to it.” I tilted my head back and smiled as his head lowered to mine, claiming my mouth in a kiss filled with hope and happiness, expectation and ecstasy. And pure sex. It didn’t last long enough but soon we were seated beside each other, cuddling while the plane taxied and then took off.

A uniformed flight attendant appeared wearing a professional smile on her beautiful face. “Can I get either of you anything to drink? Perhaps a snack?”

Nick looked at me for an answer. “I could go for some water, I feel a little dehydrated.”

“Two waters please, Gretchen. Thanks.”

The plane climbed the sky until we reached cruising altitude. “It feels weird to be alone on a plane.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you ever tried to work on a commercial flight. Even first class.”

I slumped in my seat. “Yeah, I don’t have that problem.” I dreamed of having problems like that.

“You will and then you’ll long for this day when all you had to do was sit here and enjoy the company of a handsome man.” His strong hand held my chin so I couldn’t look away. “You’ll get there, Harley.”

I wanted to believe him but he didn’t know me well enough yet. Maybe I was just a slacker. Maybe I could have worked harder to reach my goals. “Maybe.”

“No, you will. Now stop worrying or I’ll be forced to distract you properly.”

My body heated, flushed with arousal at his threat. “Hey, do you think I could join the mile high club since we have this thing to ourselves?”

Nick wore a smug grin as he stood and reached for my hand. I stood and let him guide me down a narrow hall with a few different doors. He stopped and pulled me in front of him, which put me in front of a closed door. “Open it.”

I looked over my shoulder and spied that lazy grin of his that made my knees buckle. “Okay.” I twisted the handle and pushed, gasping when I saw what it was. “A bedroom! Seriously? Way to bury the lead, Nick!”

He laughed and nudged me forward. It wasn’t large but hey, it was a fucking bedroom on a fucking private jet! I wouldn’t complain. Nope. Not at all.

“I took it for granted, I suppose.”

“Blasphemy! This is the reason to get rich right here, bedroom on a plane,” I mumbled and crawled across the bed. “Fantastic.”

“I’m glad you approve,” he replied and leaned against the doorframe. “To make the most of our entry into this prestigious club, I’m going to let you take the lead until we land.”

I swallowed and nodded, loving the sound of that. “And when we land?”

“You’re mine to command.”

“Week two is mine, then.”

He smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Then we have a deal. Want to shake on it?”

“Yes,” he said as his shook my hand.

I kept my gaze on his and grabbed the hem of my sweater, tugging it up over my head until I stood there in my Christmas themed bra, complete with two tiny silver bells instead of a bow. I did a little shimmy so the bell rang out and Nick laughed. “Merry Christmas, Nick.”

“Merry. . .Christmas,” he groaned when I slid my jeans down my legs and revealed the holiday panties I wore.

“Mistletoe?”

I nodded and hopped on the bed. “Yep. Someone really smart told me they made kisses more fun.”

“Yeah? They must be fucking brilliant, then.”

I laughed, feeling light and free. Festive. Horny. “Nick.”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Let’s have a kiss under the mistletoe.”

* * * *

~ T H E ~ E N D ~

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