Secrets to Hide 2: Naughty Little Christmas (28 page)

Without waiting for a reply, he turned to Harley, wrapped his arms around her waist, and led her away. His broad chest sheltering her, his hands gripping her hips, made her feel safer than anything ever had, safe enough that reaction hit and she turned to a shivering leaf in his arms. Damien stopped immediately, pulling her to face him.

“Hey, Wonder Girl,” he whispered, tucking down to nuzzle her face. Comfort her. Very few people had ever taken the time to comfort her. “It’s all right. We’re good. Nothing’s gonna hurt you now.”

No, nothing would. Damien was there; he was all she needed. Except there was something else she needed desperately, she realized. Something she had to say. Raising her hands to his face, her lips to his, she forced the words out around the lump in her throat and the fear suddenly swamping her. “I love you. I love you, Damien.”

A glow lit inside Damien’s gaze. That glow transferred to her as he crowded her, pushing forward until she bumped into a table and his body melded to every crack and crevice of hers. A wry smile touched his lips. “You think I don’t know that?” he asked.

Harley smacked his chest, a little girlie hit that had him laughing aloud, tension melting like snow in July.

“You arrogant, asinine…dickhead—”

“Hey,” he growled, bending her backward, “you like my dickhead.”

Laughter ambushed her, flowing out to mingle with his. “I do.” She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck. “I love your dick, but I love you more.”

Damien pulled back to stare into her eyes, all teasing gone. “And I love you. I do, Harley. I mean it, and it has nothing to do with Klio or Thrice or my two stupid bro—”

Harley fused their mouths together, cutting off his words. As if she cared about his two stupid brothers. They’d have a lifetime to deal with those assholes. Right now she wanted Damien’s tongue in her mouth and nothing on his mind but her. When he delved deep into her heat, his erection grinding against her pelvis, she knew she’d gotten her wish.

Applause broke out around them. It took a moment for both of them to surface. Damien had Harley dipped backward across a table in the bar, a table now surrounded by their staff, Ryan, and Jace. Harley blushed at the attention; Damien just hmphed good-naturedly and pulled her to her feet. A hasty hand through her hair was the best she could do at composure.

Ryan took pity on her. “Yeah yeah yeah, give ’em some space, people,” he said, ushering the staff back.

“Sure thing, Wonder Boy!” someone called out.

“You can’t call him that anymore,” Harley protested. “That’s my name. Well, sort of.”

Damien laughed. “My Wonder Girl. It’s a good thing someone likes being a ‘wonder’ something.”

“I’m definitely no Wonder Girl,” Ryan said.

“It’s a good thing Ryan already gave out our bonuses, or we’d probably all be in trouble,” Valentine said.

Damien just laughed. Ryan sent the offenders a smirk. “I have other ways of making you pay,” he told the crowd.

“Apparently so does Damien,” Brad said with a chuckle, right at the front of the group. “Congratulations, Harley. And, Boss, no one deserves it more.”

Damien blushed, actually blushed, and ducked his head toward Harley. She met him with a kiss. Wolf whistles rent the air.

Damien broke off the kiss, laughing. “All right, time for you all to go home—or wherever,” he told them.

“Don’t matter where you go, but you can’t stay here.” Ryan smirked.

“Exactly. We’ll see you all next shift.”

As the crowd filtered away, Damien looked down at her once more, and the emotion so transparent on his face—hope, love, hunger—took Harley’s breath away. “I love you, Damien.” Such inadequate words, but all she could think to say.

“I love you, Harley. And Klio.” He brought a hand up to delve into her wild hair. “But really, even before I knew she existed, I knew you were the best Christmas present for me. She was made for us, but you…” His words choked off as he blinked hard. “You were made just for me. You fit me in a way no one else ever could. Always. Forever.”

Her heart clenched, and instead of answering with words, she pulled him down for another hot, hungry kiss. Since she’d been a little girl with that tiny Christmas tree on her nightstand, she’d wanted the perfect Christmas gift. Now, all these years later, she knew that gift wasn’t a what but a who. Two whos.

Klio, her sweet, sweet baby.

And Damien.

Merry Christmas to me.

Loose Id Titles by Ella Sheridan

The SECRETS TO HIDE Series

Dirty Little Secret

Naughty Little Christmas

Ella Sheridan

Ella Sheridan grew up in the middle of nowhere, otherwise known as the Deep South. Books provided her with adventures, friends, and her first forays into romance. To this day she explores the world through the words of her favorite authors, whether that’s the worlds across space and time or the worlds of love and passion. When she’s not writing or working or reading, she is corralling her two active teenagers, snuggling on the couch with her husband, working out her stress in a martial arts class, or sleeping. But no matter what she’s doing, the voices in her head just won’t let her go.

Find out more about Ella at
http://ellasheridan.wordpress.com
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