Sold to Santa (SinSity Stories) (3 page)

“Oh,
yes.”

“Turn
around.”

Licking
her lips, Belle held her breath and turned. She kept her eyes lowered, almost
fearful of what she might see. Normal feet in polished shoes. Strong legs—well,
she knew that already— and what looked to be a firm, flat stomach in a pretty
sexy suit. And then…

“Shit!”
Her knees threatened to drop out from underneath her as the face of her best
friend—and flatmate—greeted her.

Nick put
his hands on her shoulders to hold her up. “Hi, Belle,” he said, a sheepish
smile on his handsome face, the gruff voice gone.

“Nick,
what the hell?”

Oh God,
she’d just been rubbing herself against Nick! The man who had seen her at her
worse, who knew her better than anyone. They’d lived together for four years
after a friend had told her she knew someone who had a room for rent. Belle had
misheard and thought her friend had said Nicola, so she was surprised when it
turned out Nick was letting the room. But they’d got on instantly so she’d
decided to go for it. Nick had been her rock throughout her years of balancing
college and work. He knew her inside out.

And now
that rock had crumbled.

“Don’t
freak out.” His green eyes were imploring.

“Don’t
freak out? Of course I’m freaking out! You… I… I just came on your knee!”

“Yeah,”
he gave a half shrug, “that was pretty hot.”

“Pretty
hot? I thought you were a stranger. Some rich businessman.”

“I’m not
exactly a businessman but…”

“What?
You’re rich?” She found the strength to tear away from him and swiped a hand
across her face. They both went to the same college though Nick was studying
veterinary science while she was studying horticulture. He’d told her his flat in
central London had been his inheritance which was why he didn’t have to work.
He planned to set up a veterinary clinic as soon as he qualified.

“Look,
let’s just say I come from money. A lot of money. I’ve never really said
anything because I’m not really comfortable with it. But occasionally, a lot of
money can come in handy…”

“Oh
yeah, really handy,” she replied bitterly. “Great for buying a date with your
best friend!”

“I had
to, Belle. You have no idea how hard it’s been for me, trying to get you to wake
up and see me as something else. See me as a man. You wander around in your
little pyjamas and towels, and it’s like fucking torture.” He dragged a hand
through his short, dark hair—a move of frustration that she recognised.

Belle
paused and took a good look at Nick. A really good look. She loved Nick to
death. They’d always just clicked. And she knew he was handsome. Girls fought
over him. His chiselled jaw, slightly quirky nose and eyes that could charm you
with a puppy dog look just drew women to him. But she’d never even considered
him for herself. As soon as she’d met him, she’d thought him way out of her
league. Even if sharing a flat meant sometimes she had to suffer seeing him
shirtless and that made her mouth dry…

“You
know…” Her voice came out breathy as if the thought of Nick shirtless stole the
air from her lungs. “You could have just tried talking to me.”

“I
tried, Belle, believe me I did, but you’re so quick to put yourself down. You
just never got it and I didn’t want to ruin things. It felt like it was better
to have you as a friend than not have you at all.”

“So why
now? Why all this ruse?”

“I came
to pick you up, to surprise you after your shift. I had thoughts of taking you out
for breakfast and maybe seeing if I could persuade you to think about us—to
think really seriously about us. I couldn’t stand the thought of another
Christmas just pretending I wanted to be your friend. But then the security
guys told me you were going to be part of the auction. For one, the thought of
someone else buying you made me so fucking mad, and two, I saw it as a perfect
opportunity. They leant me the Santa outfit and the rest…” he shoved his hands
in his pockets and glanced at her from under his brow, “is history.”

“I… I
don’t think I can take this. This is too much, Nick.” Belle tugged her coat
tight. “I need to think.”

“Won’t
you even give us a chance?”

“It’s
just a shock. Please, I can’t…”

“I get
it. You don’t feel the same.” Nick’s shoulders slumped. He looked thoroughly
defeated. Almost broken hearted. But he’d turned everything on its head. She
didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t now. “I’ll go to the hotel room I’ve
got booked. Give you some space. It’s only around the corner,” he said quietly.
“Be sure to get a taxi. I don’t want you walking home on your own.”

Her
heart sank slightly, in spite of herself. She’d almost hoped he’d fight for her
and force her to change her mind. “Okay,” she replied softly.

He cast
his gaze down and nodded. “Night, Belle.” He turned and she watched him leave,
the slight flurry of snow dusting his shoulders.

Belle’s
chest ached as she watched him go. She almost thought to beg him to turn around
but she couldn’t bring herself too. He disappeared around the corner and she
made her way to a bus stop and sank onto the bench. She’d said she’d get a taxi
but she didn’t really have enough money for that so the bus would do.

God,
what an evening. She’d gone from nervous, to exhilarated, to—what?—heartbroken?
Because that’s what it felt like. She thought she was going to have one night
of unadulterated passion with a stranger and it turned out to be her closest
friend. A friend she cared for very much. But did she really want to ruin
everything by having sex with him?

He
wanted her. It was a weird thought because she’d always believed she was way
out of Nick’s league. She’d seen the kind of girls he dated. Skinny blondes or
brunettes who always looked perfect in the morning unlike her. It never
occurred to her Nick found her attractive.

But he
did. God, that excited her. And scared her.

Belle
stared at the slowly increasing build of snow on the ground and kicked it
around with her shoe. Had she just made a mistake? She’d always said she liked
surprises. Nick knew that and probably never thought she’d be angry about the
way he’d gone about trying to get her on a date. Something spontaneous and
crazy was more like something she’d do. So maybe he was trying to play things
her way?

Nerves
built in her chest and she twined her hands together. Should she take a chance?
Nick was an amazing, sexy man. Potentially they could have an amazing, sexy
time together. And they wouldn’t have to worry about getting to know each
other’s flaws, because they already knew them all.

Belle
stood and drew her shoulders straight. She’d learnt a lot about Nick tonight
that she didn’t know though. He was richer than she’d realised, but clearly
didn’t feel comfortable with the idea, which made him humble. And he liked to
be a little dominant, which really excited her. If anything, tonight had shown
her that, regardless of whether he was Nick or Nicholas, she really, really
loved him, and probably not just as a friend. If her orgasm was anything to go
by, he could blow her mind and have her fall head over heels in an instant.

Was she
willing to take the risk?

She
glanced at the Christmas decorations lighting the streets of London and the
beautiful displays in the shop windows. Bright colours were everywhere,
creating a magical feel in the snow dusted streets. If there was ever a time to
take a chance, it was at Christmas, right?

Gripping
her coat, she turned away from the bus stop and hurried down the street. She
had no idea which hotel he was going to so she needed to be quick. Running in
heels wasn’t easy though and she nearly snapped her ankle. Cursing, she paused
and whipped them off, holding them by the heels. The snow nearly froze her
toes, making her black stockings wet but she didn’t care.

Able to
run more easily now, her heart leapt every time she saw a smart jacket but none
of them turned out to be Nick. She paused at the end of South Street and
glanced around. Most of the hotels in this area were along Park Lane, so she
decided to head that way.

Almost
out of breath, she scanned the street ahead but saw no sign of him. As she ran,
she glanced in the doors of each hotel, anxious to spot him. Then as she ran
past the Hilton, someone came out of the door and almost stumbled into her.

“Oh,
sorry… Belle?”

Belle
bent double, trying to catch her breath and then straightened to see Nick’s
bemused expression.

“I—I
just needed to…” She struggled to draw in air. “Oh God, I haven’t run like that
in years.”

He
scowled as he noted her bare feet and he took her heels from her. “Come inside.
You’re going to catch a cold if you’re not careful.”

Before
she could answer, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her into the
hotel. His room was on the ground floor thankfully and it didn’t take long
until they were in his hotel room. It was beautiful. A luxurious bed awaited
them. Champagne sat in a bucket on the side and everything was elegant and
tasteful with luxurious fabrics. A large wooden desk lined one wall and two
padded chairs sat around a walnut coffee table.

“Did
you… did you book this for me?” she asked as he guided her into one of the
chairs.

“Yes.”

“Oh.”
She couldn’t think of anything else to say. Not when he was now kneeling at her
feet and working his fingers up her skirt to find the hem of her stockings.

Really
it was a very romantic gesture. How many other men would go to so much effort?

“Why
were you running barefoot, Belle?” he asked, his green gaze clashing with hers as
his slightly cold fingers found the soft skin of her thigh. “Your stockings are
soaked.”

“I
needed to find you.” She shivered but not from cold. Dampness gathered between
her legs again. “I-I think I made a mistake.”

An
eyebrow arched while his fingers curled over the lace of her hold-up stockings.
With deliberate slowness, he peeled it down, revealing her pale thigh. When the
silk was down to her knee, Nick leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss to her
inner thigh. Belle gasped, scalded by the heat of his mouth and the sight of
his dark hair between her legs. How had she not seen how much she wanted him
before? Nick had to be the hottest, kindest, sexiest man she knew, and yet it
had never even occurred to her something could happen between them.

But, oh
God, did she want something to happen now.

He drew
his head up again and continued working the silk down her leg, taking his time
to brush and massage her calves. She was fairly sure she might shimmer and
burst into flames if he didn’t hurry up. She wriggled and fidgeted even as she
savoured every moment.

“I’m
glad you changed your mind, Belle.” He kissed her thigh again and murmured
against her skin, “You taste and smell like… like fucking Christmas. I can’t
wait to unwrap you.”

“Oh God,
yes,” she moaned, thrusting her fingers through his short hair.

Nick
turned his attention to her other thigh, licking the skin just below her
panties. His tongue was so unbearably close that she couldn’t help arching her
hips slightly, but he kept up the same infuriatingly slow pace, as if he wanted
to relish every second.

Carefully,
he inched down her second stocking and drew if off. “Spread your legs,” he
commanded softly.

Her
pussy pulsed in response. This was a side of Nick she’d never seen before. Nick
had visited the club because she worked there, but not as a client. Yes, he
liked to do things a certain way but he’d never tried to command her before.
The fact he revealed this side of himself to her made her stomach dance with
delight. Had she found what she’d been looking for? A man who could play Dom as
easily as he could play the attentive lover? Was Nick the perfect balance of
both? What a Christmas gift!

Rough
fingers traced their way up her thighs and skimmed the lace of her panties. How
she could feel so vulnerable and submissive when he was the one between her
thighs, she didn’t know, but it was insanely exciting being spread for him.

“Show me
your pussy.”

Reaching
down without hesitation, Belle tugged the red lace aside. His words surprised
her—shocked her even—but she was powerless to do anything but what he asked.
Her best friend was going to see her wet, hot cunt. Her cheeks blazed with heat
as his gaze landed between her legs.

“Wider,”
Nick ordered.

Belle
held her legs further apart, feeling the arousal gathered there. Her scent
lingered in the air, no doubt assuring Nick of her need for him.

“Christ,
Belle, you are so damned hot.”

She knew
her cheeks probably reddened further at his words while he stared at her folds.
He glanced up and said forcefully, “So damned hot. I swear to God, Belle, you
are the hottest woman on the planet.”

“Thank
you,” she said meekly. When he said it like that, she actually felt it. It was
a pretty heady sensation.