Page 17 of Big Mistletoe

She crosses her arms over her chest. “That’s sort of what it sounds like, Nick.”

I rub my hand over my face. “Joy.”

She steps toward me. We’re toe to toe, and her breasts brush against my abdomen. “I may be younger than you, but I’m not a child.”

I shake my head. “Trust me, I know you’re an adult.”

She points at herself. “I own my own business, and I make my own decisions.”

I nod again. “I know.”

She points at me this time. “Then stop using my age as an excuse.” She puts her hand against my chest again. “I know what I want.”

My entire body goes still. The only movement is the slight twitch of my dick.

Her voice is softer when she says, “I want you.”

Fuck. I close my eyes for a second because looking into her bright blue ones is enough to make me lose all sense of responsibility. I’m trying to hold on here. “Joy.”

“I mean it.”

I open my eyes, and she’s looking straight at me.

I slide my hand around the back of her neck. “You think I don’t want you?”

She swallows. “That’s what it feels like.”

A rough laugh comes out of me. “Baby, you have no idea.”

I’ve had to deal with the buildup of sexual frustration this whole week. Hell, Joy has completely invaded my house and my work with her blond hair, big blue eyes, and smile. I drop my hands from her shoulders and fist them at my side. “I haven’t kissed you because I’m trying to do the right thing.”

She blinks up at me and whispers, “Maybe I don’t want you to.”

My control snaps, and I pull her against me. “Are you sure about this?” I murmur.

She goes to her tiptoes, wanting to get closer, and grabs the front of my shirt. “Yes. I’m sure.”

I’ve kissed her before, but this is different. The days of holding back are over because now that she says this is what she wants, there’s nothing that is going to stop me from having her. Joy presses closer, and the feel of her curvy body against mine is the best feeling in the world. I force myself to stop kissing her, but I don’t loosen my hold. Her lips are swollen from my kiss, and her cheeks are flushed. I stare into her eyes. “Tell me again.”

She blinks. “What?”

I hold her tighter. “That you want this.”

Her eyes soften, and she smiles up at me. “I want you, Nick.”

I kiss her again, and it’s like she wraps herself around me. She tilts her head to the side, giving me better access. When we finally break apart, I rest my forehead against hers. “Don’t ever think I don’t want you.”

She’s practically panting. “I didn’t know what else to think.”

I take her hand and press it against my hard length, letting her feel exactly what being this close to her does to me. Her breath catches, and she stares up at me.

I release her hand, but she continues palming me. I lift my hips to meet her hand. “This is what happens just thinking about you.”

Her eyes lift to mine, and I kiss her lips again and whisper, “Every damn day, Joy.” I cup her face. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”

She rises onto her toes and kisses me. I lift her up, and she wraps her arms and legs around me.

The Christmas tree glows behind her, lights reflecting across the room while the music she turned on earlier still plays quietly in the background. There’s a part of me that thinks about how ridiculous this all is. Me, Nicholas Winters, the one person that has never celebrated Christmas, is surrounded by Christmas decorations and music and completely obsessed by a woman that loves the holiday.