Chapter Two

Candy

When the homeless shelter I’ve been living in asked for volunteers to help out at a charity event that a local tech billionaire was putting on, I jumped at the opportunity. I love helping out and giving back. If it weren’t for the shelter, I’d be out on the street. I wouldn’t have the resources to start getting myself back on my feet.

Now that I’m sitting on the steps of the mansion, shivering in the frigid cold after getting kicked out for a misunderstanding, I’m starting to regret my decision. I could have spent a quiet evening inside, studying for the computer class I’ve been taking at the community center. Instead, I’m stewing in my embarrassment, fighting back tears while I wait for the event to end. The shelter feels too far away to walk, and I don’t have a car.

At least I’ll only be out here for another two hours.

I sigh, pulling my legs up to my chest, tucking my dress under my thighs in an effort to maintain my dignity and keep out the icy wind. I fall back on an old tactic, immersing myself in my mind in an effort to get some comfort. I’ve withstood worse than a little chill before, so I know I’ll be fine.

I’m going over the plans I’ve meticulously made for the rest of my life when I feel a hand on my shoulder. The sudden touch makes me jump. I was so sure that there wasn’t anyone else outside. Plus, it’s so cold that I can’t imagine anyone would come out here voluntarily.

“Didn’t mean to scare you,” a man says, his voice warm like a hearth. His big, strong hand doesn’t move from where it rests. “It’s cold out here, would you like to come inside?”

“I–” I start, staring up at him. He’s handsome, maybe the most good-looking man I’ve ever seen. If I had to guess, he’s at least twice my age, but he wears it well. His jawline is mature and clean-shaven, and I think I might see a gray hair or two within his black waves.

It dawns on me that this isn’t just any man. When we had our volunteer briefing, we were shown a picture of our benefactor. The man standing in front of me, touching my shoulder, and inviting me inside is Ethan Frost.

Oh my god. Does he think I was stealing, too? This night just couldn’t get any worse.

“If it’s okay, I’ll just wait out here,” I say, deciding I don’t need whatever lecture he’s about to give me. “I’ll be leaving when the rest of the volunteers do.”

“Leaving?” he asks, and it sounds almost like he isn’t going to let me. His hand tightens on my shoulder slightly. “You don’t have to do that. I want to get to know you better. How about you come inside and warm up? We don’t have to go back to the party. Between you and me, it’s just a waste of money anyway.”

Ethan sounds so genuine that my hesitancy melts. I look into his blue-green eyes, and I see nothing but kindness. There’s a connection between us, something so strong that I can’t ignore it. There isn’t any explanation for it. We’ve barely spoken, and I think if he knew about my background, he wouldn’t be talking to me. But, I figure that I should be allowed to be selfish for once in my life.

“Okay,” I say, smiling when he comes around in front of me to pull me to my feet.

“So,” Ethan says as he walks me back into the mansion, “what’s your name?”

“Candy,” I say, averting my eyes when he pulls me past the security guards that threw me out just a few minutes ago. “And you’re Ethan.”

“I guess my reputation precedes me, then,” he laughs. We go up the stairs in the center of the room, and I can feel the gaze of most of the people in this room on my back. I think I’d stare if I were in their position, too.

“This place is beautiful,” I say, choosing to compliment the house to get my mind off of the prying eyes of Ethan’s guests.

“Thanks,” he says as we walk into a bedroom – it must be his. “My team did all of the decorations. I don’t really like Christmas, so I don’t see the point in decorating for it.”

“You don’t like Christmas?!” I exclaim, dumbfounded. People in our tiny town of Snowbrook love the holiday. “It’s the best time of year. There’s the parade and the festival and all the lights. What’s not to love?”

“I guess I never really got it,” he says with a shrug, motioning for me to sit on the edge of his bed. Once I’m settled in, he parks himself right next to me, our thighs flush against one another. Electricity crawls through my body from the place that we’re connected. “It’s always seemed frivolous to me. Just another excuse to spend money on something pointless.”

“Well, I don’t know about that,” I say, furrowing my brow. “I think if it’s something that makes people happy, it’s worth the expense.”

Ethan hums, but he doesn’t sound convinced. He doesn’t rebuke me, though. Instead, he reaches over to tuck a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. I’m unable to suppress the shudder that overtakes my entire body.

“I could–” I begin, stopping to clear my throat. Just being in Ethan’s presence is doing something to my brain. “I could show you.”

“Mm,” he hums, letting his hand linger on my cheek. He radiates warmth. “I might take you up on that offer.”

I nod, realizing just how close the two of us have drifted together. My eyes dart down to his lips – so inviting, I want to feel them on every inch of my body. Then, before I know what’s happening, he’s leaning in. I meet him halfway.

He kisses confidently, like a man who knows exactly what he wants. I don’t really have much to compare it to, though. The most I’ve ever done with another man is a chaste peck. And this is anything but that.

Still, I do my best to give him just as good as he’s giving me. My lips move instinctively, meeting each of his movements. The slide is warm, indulgent. I want to be kissed like this always.

Then, he nips at my bottom lip, and I gasp. He takes advantage of the opening, dragging his tongue along my teeth. I moan, the noise coming out of me without my permission, and he drags me into his lap.

With this new angle, he can reach even deeper. His hands roam down my body, landing on my hips. Each point of content of his fingertips drives me wild. And, when he pushes me down on his lap and I feel his hard on through his pants, I throw my head back and suck in a sharp breath.

“What is it?” he asks, and I can hear the smirk in his voice even though I’m staring at the ceiling.

“I– I’ve never done anything like this before,” I say, closing my eyes, embarrassed at my admission.

“That’s not a problem, baby girl,” he says, the pet name making me feel fuzzy. “I’ll take care of you. You’ll let me take care of you, right?”

“Yes,” I say. I don’t even have to think about my answer.

A dark chuckle comes out of him, and his mouth is back on mine in an instant. He kisses me hard, practically eating me alive. I can’t keep up. He overwhelms all of my senses, and I can’t help but think that this is bliss. Then, I realize that his hands are hiking up my dress, crawling up my thighs.

The first touch of his knuckles against the sensitive skin between my legs makes me yelp. It’s so foreign to the way my own touch feels, and I’m so warm that I forget about the cold weather outside. My reaction seems to spur him on, and his hands drift up even higher.

When he brushes the gusset of my panties, he makes a satisfied sound and pulls back. “You’re already so wet for me,” he says, his touch teasing and light.

“I–” I begin, unsure of how to explain myself.

“Don’t worry, baby,” he says, his lips kissing my jawline. “I like it. It means you’re into me.”

“Uh huh,” I agree, tilting my head back so he can have better access to my neck.

That seems to please him, and he attaches his mouth to my skin. My hips twitch forward, pressing against his fingers even harder. Shocks radiate through my being at the contact. It’s so good that stars threaten to dot the edges of my vision. Then, Ethan makes it even better.

He pulls the fabric to the side, exposing my dripping sex to the warm air of his bedroom. I quiver with anticipation, my attention torn between his mouth on my neck and his fingers slowly creeping closer. My eyes roll into the back of my head when he drags his knuckle through my folds.

“Oh– Oh!” I gasp, grinding down against the delicious and previously unknown friction.

“You like that?” he asks, dragging his teeth down the column of my neck. “Does that feel good, baby girl?”

“So good,” I say before blushing furiously at the word that came out.

“Oh, you like it when I touch you here?” he says, his voice dripping with arousal.

“Yes!” I practically scream.

Ethan growls as he shifts his touch up further. It’s like he’s pressing a button that delivers instant pleasure to my body. My stomach tightens and my thighs shake. I can feel the beginnings of my orgasm starting to creep in. I think he can tell, too.

The attention he gives me is steady and unrelenting. He rubs circles around my clit, and each touch of his skilled hand empties my brain even further. He’s all I can think about, the only thing that matters.

I buck into his touch, chasing the pleasure that he’s freely giving to me. It’s intoxicating, world-changing. I feel like he knows exactly how to play my body. The fact that someone with so much skill wants me drives me even closer to the edge.

“Oh my god,” I whimper, my body pitching forward.

I wrap my arms around his neck, holding onto him tightly. My climax builds in me, expanding like a balloon. It’s only a matter of seconds before I pop, and Ethan seems determined to make me burst.

“Go on, baby,” he coos, his mouth right next to my ear, filling me up even further. “Come for me. I know you want to.”

His encouragement is all I need. Pleasure crashes over me. My lungs constrict, and my breath stutters. I squeeze him harder, holding onto him as I ride out wave after wave. He doesn’t stop his motions, coaxing more out of me than I thought possible.

Eventually, my orgasm starts to subside. My grip on Ethan starts to loosen, but he still holds me close. I shiver when his hand moves away from my sex and replaces the fabric.

I feel boneless and happier than I have in a long time. Actually, the last time I felt this happy, I was nothing more than a child, experiencing the first Christmas I can remember. I can’t believe how this night has turned around.

Then, it all comes crashing down.

“You know, I came to find you earlier,” Ethan tells me, pushing me back so he can look me in the eye. “But then my men threw you out for stealing.”

My blood runs cold. The relaxation I felt just seconds ago fizzles out. Now, he’s going to accuse me of theft just like those security guys did. I push myself off of his lap so quickly that he doesn’t have a chance to grab onto me and keep me there.

“Wait, Candy,” he says as he rises from the bed.

I don’t give him the chance to catch up to me. Suddenly, the walk back to the shelter in the cold doesn’t seem all that bad. In fact, it’ll be a great way to process everything that just happened and clear my head.