“Now that’s how a woman should bend over for a man,” Stone said with his mouth dry. He couldn’t seem to pull his eyes from the curvy female’s ass, which looked sinfully sexy, molded in tight black jeans. He could envision holding onto those hips while he buried his cock balls deep inside her pussy.

He regretted talking when her body stiffened and she slowly straightened from the bend-over position in front of the oven, where she’d been peeking through the double plated glass.

She tossed her dark-red tresses over her shoulders. His eyes followed the luxurious auburn strands, which cascaded in mesmerizing waves down her back. His lips curved upward at the way she squared her shoulders before she pivoted to face him. Her hair was feathered from below her chin to accentuate her perfect elfin features.

His gaze moved over her face which blatantly took his breath away. Her beauty hit him with a punch in the gut that send a hot shard of lust straight to his cock and of course, that rowdy bastard rose to slow attention. When she dragged her tongue slowly over her lower lip, Junior did a double salute and pressed hard against the loose-fitting Santa pants.

He didn’t miss a thing. Not the crease of her lovely brow or the down-curve of her full lips. And then he felt like drowning in her eyes; deep pools of restless gold, an ocean filled with sheer beauty, and the one telling thing he detected in their depths that he couldn’t resist. Passion. It turned her eyes into orbs of the brightest fire.

“Don’t work too hard, little chef,” he said in a deep voice, glancing at the white chef’s jacket with Divine Catering embroidered in bright purple above her left breast.

The frown deepened as she stared reproachfully at him, reminding him of his grade ten teacher—and he had the hots for her too. But not to the extend as he did for this little elf.

“And why shouldn’t I?” she quipped in a sharp reprimand.

“Because, my little sweetheart, as soon as I’ve done my duty to the kids, this Santa is going to demand his own present.”

Avery didn’t have to ask what he meant. The lewd expression in those dark blue eyes said it all. The only section of his face that was visible, apart from his full lips which were pulled in an amused curve. He was fully geared up as Santa Clause.

“Dream on, Santa. I’m not on the gift register,” she snapped.

“Everything in my house is mine to command, sweetie, especially a little elf tempting me with her enticing ass stuck up in the air.”

“That wasn’t intentional,” she hissed, looking around at her staff who eyed them with interest.

“Maybe not but you’ve caused an itch and you, sweetheart, are the only one who’s going to scratch it.”

“Look, Mr. . . .” Avery faltered. It would be a mistake to acknowledge that she knew who he was. A big mistake. She swallowed. “Santa. I’m not here as your entertainment. Got it?”

He sauntered closer and crowded her against the kitchen counter. He was unperturbed that they were putting on a show to her staff.

Stone enjoyed the flare of heat in her eyes and the way her lips flattened in annoyance but what he reacted to, what Junior responded on, was the little catch of her breath when he pressed his hips against hers. A trickle of remembrance flashed in his mind. He shook it off as he rolled them in a slow orbit, teasing her with the hardness of his cock against her softness.

“You might deny it all you want, but you know as much as I do, it’s going to happen.”

“Wh-what’s going to happen,” she stammered, desperately trying to gain some sense of control over her trembling body. The way he pushed his hard cock against her clit caused it to throb in time with her pussy that had been pulsing since she’d heard his deep voice behind her.

“I am going to fuck you, sweetheart. I’m going to bury my cock balls-deep inside your pussy and I’m going to make you purr. After you beg me to fuck you.”

Avery dragged a deep breath into her lungs. She tried her best not to become lost in the vision his words brought to mind.

He took a step back, satisfied he’d made his intention known. He was very selective with his lovers, always had been and he never brought any of them to his house but this redhead nymph . . . Oh, hell yeah. I have to have her.

Then she shot him a smile that could light up the night and he was completely smitten. He didn’t even try to hide the effect she had on him.

“Dream on, Santa. I don’t purr and I never beg—for anything.”

She was yanked into his arms so fast, she didn’t have time to blink. Then the world fell away as he kissed her. Avery didn’t think to deny him and kissed him back with equal fervor.

His groan was loud, feral and evocative. Avery would remember that sound and the way it vibrated against her lips, echoing into her mouth, for the rest of her life. It caused her nerves to tingle with excitement. She felt the blood cascade through her, hot and thick, as her skin blossomed under his touch.

Stone’s lips encircled hers, owning every puffy inch of them. Sparks set off inside as their bodies moved together, soft curves against his inflexible one. His fingers spread over the curve of her buttocks, pulling her firmly between his legs; he caressed the soft roundness and buried it in his memory banks―the feel of her softness that yielded beneath his hard hands, her lips that felt like it bled into his.

Why does it seem so familiar?

He dragged his lips away. He couldn’t shake the vague sense of familiarity that washed over him. His gaze searched her face.

“Why do I get the feeling that I know you?”

Avery did her best to keep her face emotionless but her body went numb.

“Do you?” She tried to keep her voice low and finally managed to push away from his all too tempting body. “Look . . . er . . . Santa, you’re in the way. We’re trying to finish the food. Please—”

His fingers on her lips quieted her. She stared into his eyes, feeling the furious beating of her heart thump against her chest.

“Remember what I said, sweetie. You are going to purr for me. All night long. By tomorrow morning, you’ll be crawling to your car.”

With another quick kiss on her gaping lips, he pivoted around and sauntered out of the kitchen.

Stone still couldn’t shake the feeling. Not a memory per se, but echoes that called to his intuition. Somewhere, somehow, he had kissed the little redhead chef.

“And before the chimes ring twelve, she will tell me where.”

* * * * * * * *

Avery chewed on her lip as she sagged against the kitchen counter.

Way to go, Avery. One touch of his lips and you completely forget the little pep talk you had with yourself on the way here.

And look where it had brought her. Straight into his firing range.

Oh, shit! What am I gonna do?

“Boss? I think the dessert is about ready to come out of the oven. Wanna take a look?” Jesse’s voice yanked her from her thoughts.

“Oh, yeah, sure.”

She followed him to the chef’s baking ovens in the corner of the massive kitchen. Someone in this household must like baking and cooking if all the equipment was anything to go by. She’d drooled like a little girl over her first Barbie doll when they’d walked in earlier. What she wouldn’t give to have such an extraordinary kitchen at her home.

Jesse opened the oven and pulled out one of the baking dishes. Avery pressed her finger on the sponges to test their readiness. “Hm. Not yet, Jesse. Give them another five minutes.”

“You’re one lucky, girl, Boss,” Suzie, one of the younger chefs, beamed from where she was standing with a couple of junior helpers they’d employed for the festive season.

“And why is that, Suzie?”

“Well, I would’ve paid good money for such a Santa’s kiss. Damn, my toes curled in my shoes and I was only watching!”

Avery could feel the blush bloom over her cheeks. She busied herself with decorating the salad platters with some greenery.

“He was just being . . . well, he was too forward. That’s what,” she grunted.

“But you enjoyed it! Come on. Be honest. How did it feel to be devoured by Santa?” Suzie bleated on.

“Yes, little chef, do tell. How did it feel?”

Avery spun around at the deep voice behind her.

“Ah, fuck. Not another one!” She felt her cheeks heat up when he burst out laughing, realizing belatedly she’d blurted it out loud.

“Hm. It seems you met my Santa friend.” He stalked closer. Avery skipped to the side in an attempt to avoid being crowded amidst her staff.

It didn’t deter him and he followed her with a wicked smile.

“No need to be so jumpy, little one. I only want to introduce myself to you.”

“Well, you can do it from a distance. Stop!” She ordered with her hand held out in front of her.

What is it with these damn big shots? Don’t they have any sense of decorum?

“But that is just so boring, little one and besides, it’s Christmas. Don’t you have a boon to ask from Santa?”

Avery didn’t miss the amused flicker in his amber colored eyes. He seemed alive, like he would be the one bringing a dead party to life.

“Yes, I have one.”

“Now, that’s more like it,” he said, lowering his voice as he stepped into her. Avery’s meager attempts to push him back was met by rippling muscles under her palms. He nuzzled her cheek. “I’m waiting, little one.”

“Go away,” she whispered in his ear, and then couldn’t stop herself even though a little voice screamed a warning at her. She turned her head and bit into his earlobe—hard—and when he sucked in his breath, she gave it a soothing lick.

“Now, you’ve done it,” he warned just before he palmed her cheeks and tilted her head back for a deep, lustful kiss. One intended to tease which quickly turned to instant arousal. Avery felt another flush of heat fill her loins adding to the already throbbing pressure that Stone Jenning had awakened.

Holy shit! What the devil is going on?

He pulled away, just a hairbreadth and whispered against her lips. “You are going to pay for that later. Just to be sure you know what to expect, I intent to fuck the living daylights out of you later. By the time I’m done with you, you won’t be able to walk.”

Avery was left to stare after him, the promise swirling inside her mind. She began to giggle, then burst into a stomach belching laugh. She curled forward with mirth that shook her body.

One promises me I’m gonna purr and crawl to my car, the other that I won’t be able to walk.

She noticed how her staff stared at her. They must think she was off her rocker. She fought back her laughter and cleared her throat.

“Well, don’t just stand there. Get to work.”

She watched them scurrying back to their stations.

Avery took a deep breath and said sotto voce, “Let’s see how they make me purr or fuck me to kingdom come when I disappear while they’re handing out gifts.”

But hot damn. What a way to enjoy Christmas eve. With not just one, but two searing Santa kisses.