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CHAPTER 4
***
Hailey
The evening progresses nicely. By all appearances, Adrian’s having a good time. He’s more reserved than most people in the room, but he’s been cordial, even when people mention how surprised they are to see him at the party. His reputation as the building Grinch is widely known. Though, I’d love to know why he feels the way he does about Christmas. Something awful must have happened for him to have such a strong negative reaction to the holiday.
That being the case, it speaks volumes about his character that he’d stay so long tonight. For someone so dead set on avoiding tonight’s mixer, he’s being a good sport. I like that in a person. Someone who can roll with the punches and make the best of the situation is considerate and kind. It would be a miracle and freakin’ boring if everyone thought and felt the same way about everything. Diversity of thought is good for the world.
A slow song begins to play over the speakers. I reach across the table and curl my fingers around Adrian’s hand. If I wait for him to make a move, I’ll never make it to the dance floor.
“Dance with me?” I grin and tug at his hand. “I’ll let you lead.”
“Promise?” He chuckles, and the sound resonates through my body.
“Maybe.” I squeeze his hand and lean in so only he can hear me. “You don’t like a take-charge kind of woman?”
He eyes me with his sharp blue eyes, then lowers his gaze to my lips. A thrilling zing ripples through my body as he closes the distance between us. But he moves past my lips to my ear. My pulse quickens as his warm breath cascades over my neck and shoulder.
“I like a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it.” His lips graze the cuff of my ear, sending a shiver throughout my body. “Anything you want, Hailey. Just ask.”
My heart pounds a million miles a minute. The pact I made with my friends is daring on the surface, but how far am I prepared to go to prove to myself that I am the one in control? I have the power? There’s a difference between daring to be a little naughty and throwing caution to the wind on a possible one-night stand with my neighbor. We’re too different for something between us to go farther than that, right? But that’s the point of the Naughty Elves Club pact. I’m reclaiming my power, guilt-free, without the risk of heartbreak.
“Then, I want to dance.” Horizontal dance between the sheets, but for now, this will suffice. “Spin me around the dance floor?”
Adrian leads us to the dance floor with my arm crooked in his. He takes my hand when we step on the tiled floor, then places a possessive hand low on my waist. He guides me close, and our bodies fit perfectly together, chest to chest, hip to hip, heart to heart. His steps are easy to follow, effortless, and natural, as if we’ve practiced each step a thousand times.
Our eyes lock, and the rest of the room fades away. I lose myself in his eyes, scent, and touch. A thousand thoughts race through my mind, carried away on a heartbeat and unspoken promise. Heat emanates between us as our hearts beat in sync with one another. A surge of euphoria swirls inside me, pooling low in my tummy. My knees weaken, and I’m a bit lightheaded as he holds me close while leading me around the floor.
My thoughts spin out of control, picking apart the happiness and contentment in the here and now, followed by alarm bells warning me against losing myself so ridiculously soon.
“Mistletoe.” Adrian’s deep voice cuts through my runaway thoughts.
He glances upward as a mischievous grin spreads across his face. I follow his gaze to the single ball of mistletoe hanging over the center of the dance floor. I’ve wanted his lips on mine ever since I nibbled frosting off his jaw. But now, second thoughts drown out my rationale. Is this wise? Is it just a kiss or something more.
Adrian leans toward me, and my lashes flutter closed, anticipating the softness of his lips on mine. I melt into him as he hovers over me so close, I can almost taste him. Butterflies take flight inside me, lifting my heart and lungs, and lightening the doubts swirling in my brain.
His lips brush mine ever so soft, discreet, and tender. A flash of heat skitters across my body, tickling and humming as sensory overload settles low at my core. The music slows until all that’s between us is a low buzz.
“Attention, everyone.” The speaker overhead crackles.
The gentle tap of metal on glass pulls me from the moment. My eyes pop open, and I’m suddenly aware that Adrian and I are the only two people still on the dance floor. The music has stopped, and someone’s speaking, but I can’t quite make out the words. Adrian pulls away quickly, his blue eyes darkened and dilated. His face flushes with a tinge of pink as he loosens his collar.
“Don’t forget to sign up and add your name to the hopper. We’ll choose names for Secret Santa in ten minutes.” The microphone crackles as the condo association president finishes her brief announcement, and music resumes.
Adrian leads us from the dance floor to the table we occupied when we arrived. I squeeze his hand gently, urging him to switch directions.
“We haven’t signed up for Secret Santa yet.” We’ve been busy chatting, wrapped up in each other all evening. I’d know if Adrian had dropped his name in the hopper. “C’mon, before it’s too late. This is so exciting. I can’t wait to see who I get.”
Adrian follows as I lead us to the signup table. The table’s busy with people signing up at the last minute. I grab two blank entry forms and step away from the table.
“We have a Secret Santa exchange at work. We usually buy gag gifts or something funny.” I open my bag and search for a pen, continuing to prattle on about the shenanigans we play at work. “We used to play a game called Whore in the Drawer. It's kind of like Elf on a Shelf but naughtier. It’s so much fun. But Aster nixed that game a couple of years ago when someone complained about it being inappropriate. It was fun while it lasted, but I understand why he put a stop to it.”
I scribble my name and apartment number on one of the entry forms, then offer the pen and a blank entry to Adrian. I glance at him when he doesn’t take them.
