STORY EXCERPT

When everyone on her floor went off to change for the evening, or collect their plus one, Simi used the ladies’ restroom to refresh her makeup and put on her dress. She brushed her hair out of its chignon and checked herself in the long wall mirror. Satisfied that she looked the part, Simi rolled up her business suit skirt and popped it into her shoulder bag with her makeup bag. She hung her jacket up with her overcoat. Everything looked ready. Simi took the call from the lobby. The catering had arrived. She rode the elevator to bring the delivery people to the office suite where the party was to be held.

They crammed into the car and rode back up to the venue, telling Simi it wasn’t going to be a white Christmas in their opinion, despite the weather forecasters saying otherwise. The two women set out the plates of food on the trestle and left, calling, “Merry Christmas,” to Simi as she watched the elevator car doors close on them.

Simi looked the food over and tasted a tiny sausage wrapped in crispy bacon. That’s nice. She replaced the insulated cover and glanced at the row of clocks high on a wall. Each one displayed the time from a different time zone, but where she stood in the world, it was six forty-five on Christmas Eve. One side of the big glass door opened and people began to arrive.

The party rolled along, food and drink disappearing as conversations grew louder against the backdrop of low music Simi had set up to play from CDs on one of the sound systems that might ordinarily be used in an event. Simi wasn’t short of things to keep her busy, but she sighed as she watched couples holding hands. The longed-for dishy man brought along by one of her colleagues didn’t materialize. As the CEO made her speech and then department heads congratulated their teams, Simi stood by the Christmas tree ready to hand out the gifts from under it.

She slid the one addressed to her to one side. She wanted to take it home. She knew who’d placed it under the tree, having accidently seen James from advertising drop it there before he dashed off to an event earlier that week. James had stayed at the party for an hour and then left. Simi knew he would be leaving and so she’d brought the slim box addressed to him from under the tree. James rattled it next to his ear, grinned, and left with a, “Thanks, Simi, Happy Christmas.”

At around ten, the party guests started to thin out. Simi cleared away some empty dishes and bottles. She was bent over the table when someone came up behind her and grabbed her around the waist. Surprised, Simi gasped and squirmed around to find it was Carl.

His beery breath hit her full in the face. “Hi, Simi. Christmas kiss?”

Simi wanted a Christmas kiss, but not from Carl. “Where’s Angie, your girlfriend?” She eased out of Carl’s grasp.

He let her go. His eyes filled with sadness and he shrugged his shoulders. “We broke up. Sorry, Simi, didn’t mean to be obnoxious. You looked so inviting bent over the table. Nice dress, lovely stockings. Where’s your man of the moment?”

Simi felt sorry for Carl. “Sorry to hear about the split. I thought you two were a done deal.” She didn’t remind Carl there hadn’t been a man of the moment for the three years she’d been at the firm.

A huge sigh escaped him before he answered. His voice dripped sorrow. “I thought so, too. I love her. She said I was a flake and so untidy it was driving her mad. She stormed off on Monday and won’t answer my calls.”

Simi didn’t know what to say as his eyes filled with tears. He was untidy, but he wasn’t a flake at work. She gazed at him sympathetically, her own eyes spiking with tears in response.

He blinked. “I’ll help you clear up a little.”

Simi nodded, relieved to see he was attempting to cheer up.

A shout of laughter came from the group in one corner and Simi glanced over to see Jerry from the mailroom doing a little dance to the music that was playing. A couple stood and joined in the dance. Soon the group gyrated to the strains of an old Christmas disco track.

Simi looked around at Carl with a wistful expression. “Thought we might get home soon, but it looks like they’ve started over.”

Carl gave a watery smile.

Simi saw kindness in his eyes.

“I’ll carry the punch away. The bowl’s still half-full.” He picked it up and trailed off to the kitchen.

Simi watched him go. Poor Carl, I’ve never seen him so distressed. She picked up the little stack of empty dishes and followed after him.

He’d poured the punch away and was cursing as he fished fruit slices out of the sink.

Simi grinned. “Stuff them down the garbage disposal.”

He rinsed out the bowl and put it on the drainer.

Simi took a fresh trash bag, intending to sweep empty glasses and discarded paper napkins into it. She heard the sound of the garbage disposal as she left the kitchen.

ADULT EXCERPT

Jason lost his battle with the lust that weighed heavy in his balls and trickled into his heart when Simi shifted in her sleep and her breasts displayed for him. He kissed by the side of her mouth softly. He traced the curve of her hipbone to rest his fingers between her legs.

Simi responded to him. She opened her legs and her arm came up to hold around his head. She turned her face and found his mouth, searching for a kiss.

Her folds were damp. Her lips on his sent every thought about not disturbing her fleeing. He stroked her pussy and murmured her name against her lips. “Simi, I want you so much.” His stomach flipped deliciously as he said it. The warmth of desire played between his legs behind his sac, and where the skin met his ass, he felt dissolved. His heart pounded out the message. Not just for now. Not just to fuck, but forever, to love and hold, forever mine.

Her arm tightened around his neck and she traced her tongue along his lips.

He opened to have the spike of desire flash through his cock when his tongue slid on hers. He throbbed with need. He took a breath, leaving his nose pressed on hers.

“I was dreaming about you. I dreamed we weren’t just a one-night stand, that we were always lovers.”

Her whispered words sent a jolt through him. He didn’t know if it was fear or sadness. “I’m staying tomorrow. We’re not a one-night stand. It only counts if a guy leaves before dawn.” His voice low with emotion, he almost told her, told her that if she loved him, he might be able to stay, but that was cheating. That wasn’t the way it worked, and it might not work. It might have the opposite effect and his wish might never be granted, if it stood a chance at all.

Her fingers trailed a blaze of fire down his hip and across the bottom of his stomach.

Emotion flew away to be replaced by pure lust as she grasped his cock. Wetness slipped along the hand he’d left between her legs. The lure of plunging his fingers into that warm, wet welcome overwhelmed him and he pushed two fingers into her.

She bucked to his hand with a gasp. Her mouth met his in a kiss so deep he couldn’t let it end. He lingered in the kiss, prolonging it, drifting in a haze of melting in his stomach and throbbing in his cock as she stroked the length with her fingertips.

He curled his fingers, searching for the sensitive spot that would give her more pleasure.

She bit down on his bottom lip and her hips jerked.

Jason finger-fucked her until his cock leaked and every nerve in his body tightened, threatening to send his seed spurting. “Fucking hell, Simi, this is killing me. I’m so hard for you.”

She left off stroking his cock and gently pulled his hand from her pussy.

Jason watched mesmerized as she pushed away from him and then shuffled to kneel. The invitation was so plain he rushed to take her from behind. He opened her pussy with his fingers, slipped the leaking head of his cock along her folds, and then slowly filled her.

Her moan of pleasure, muffled against her arm, still sent tingles through him.

He withdrew until just the tip of his huge, hard cock was inside her and then rammed into her right to the hilt. The sensation was exquisite. He pounded, lifting her by the hips to fuck her clit, her pussy, and reach the sensitive spot in her with his thrusts. Her moans filled him with emotion. She’s mine, mine. His thought vibrated in his mind as he fucked her hard. He was close to coming. He slowed and brought his hand around her stomach to find the swollen nub of her clit and nip there. He stroked and teased as he filled her over and over.