Christmas Wishes (novella) Read Free

thick thighs and narrow hips. And that’s when it hit her.
    No panty line.
    As a woman she was intimately acquainted with panty lines. Talli glanced at his jeans and back again. She sucked in a breath as a shudder racked her, quickly followed by a wave of heat.
    “Are you commando?” she whispered.
    “Shit.” His hands covered his groin, but not before she saw the large bulge twitch and move up a size. “I forgot to pick up my laundry.”
    It was typical Dean. What wasn’t typical was Talli’s desire to place her hands over his, to push his aside and cup that extra large – and growing larger – appendage in her palm. Her skin tingled and more heat flushed her from head to toe. Moisture soaked her panties as her inner walls filled with blood and want. She was lusting after her best friend. Not a new thing, but it had never blindsided her like this before. The man was drop dead gorgeous and always had been. She’d be a liar if she said she’d never thought about him in a sexual way. But her desire had never been this blatant – this sharp.
    She cleared her throat. Opened her mouth to speak, but couldn’t think of what to say. He was naked under those tights. He’d been naked under his jeans. Talli closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Dean’s scent filled her nose. The familiar smell of wood and soap calmed her nerves. This was Dean. Her best friend. Their friendship spanned a lifetime and she didn’t want to muddy it by adding sex into the equation. Sex and friend never went together in the same sentence, not without complicated and disaster.
    With her mind a little clearer Talli was able to stamp out the arousal buzzing in her veins. Not completely out but enough to focus on the most important thing – their friendship meant the world to her and she couldn’t jeopardize it even for what she was one hundred percent certain would be mind-blowing sex. She opened her eyes and avoided looking directly at him. Her control was too thin to risk seeing the heat in his gaze again.
    “Okay, put your clothes back on, but wear the hat.” Talli stepped around him, making sure not to brush against him. Hard in the close confines of the storeroom, but she managed. “I’ll wait outside.”
    Before he could say a word she’d slipped out the door, closed it behind her, and collided with Santa.
    Santa’s big belly bumped hers. “Sorry. You popped up out of nowhere.” Wade’s voice sounded muffled beneath his fake beard.
    “No, my fault.” Talli put a hand on the wall to steady herself. “I should have looked before I came charging out.”
    “There you are.” Em came rushing over. “Are you ready?”
    “Yep. Just a small problem with Dean’s costume, but it’s sorted now,” Talli said.
    “Good, good.” Em grabbed Santa’s arm. “Santa, you need to get in place now. I’m bringing the parents in as soon as you’re seated.”
    The door behind Talli opened and she could feel the heat radiating off Dean’s body as he stepped up behind her.
    “All right, we’re all here now. Let’s get this show on the road.” Em hustled off, tugging Santa with her.
    “Is she always this bossy?” Dean asked.
    “Yes.” Talli smiled. “It comes with the job. If the kids for one second thought she wasn’t the boss they’d run amuck.”
    “I guess, but does she have to do it with a scowl on her face?”
    Talli laughed. “No, that’s reserved just for Santa.”
    “There’s a story there.”
    “Yep, but we don’t have time. C’mon, I’ll show you what I need you to do.” Talli headed over to the video camera.
    Dean followed close behind and she couldn’t remember ever being this aware of him. Either she needed to find a boyfriend – and not the battery operated kind – and get laid soon or she’d do something monumentally stupid and jump her best friend. Giving herself a mental shake she got down to work.
    “I set it up already. You just have to hit this button here once everyone is seated and stand