Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

MIKAYLA

I 've officially found my new favorite thing.

Making Ryan Bennington blush. Then glare at me. Maybe take his shirt off after, but that's only if the first two happen. I'm lying. I'd like all three. And then sit on his lap and tell him what I want for Christmas. See what pops up.

As I followed him to Sweet Sin, the bakery and booze shop on Main Street (yep, fucking MAIN STREET. Hello Hallmark Movies Channel set!). My eyes strayed from the window display to Ryan's amazing ass.

God, how that man filled out a pair of jeans. The Naughty Elf swooned with pleasure, while the Nice Elf kept telling me to avert my eyes while also sneaking a peek.

The door jingled as he opened it, and my view shifted. He held the door open and stepped back. "After you."

"Such manners, Mr. Bennington."

As I passed he leaned and, breath tickling my ear, as he murmured, "I always treat a lady right."

We'd danced around each other for the past two hours, hitting five of the seven things on the to-do list. Stolen glances and not-so-subtle innuendos. I had to hand it to our mothers, even if they were meddlesome and matchmaking. I figured they'd send us on errands that were more date than actual to-do . Behind me, Ryan let out a low moan, and I joined him, sounding like we were adding one more thing to the Naughty List. Vanilla, chocolate, spice, and all types of delicious goodness filled the air, and of course, our stomachs decided to boisterously voice their opinions on the need to try at least one or two of the confectionary delights in the brightly lit case.

"Welcome to Sweet Sin! What brings you in today?"

I hated peeling my eyes away from all the sugary delectableness, but we were on a mission.

"We're here to place an order for the-"

The woman behind the counter smiled at Ryan, her green eyes twinkling. Blonde and statuesque in a way I most definitely wasn't. She didn't look like she even licked a damn bowl in her entire life. She checked him out, overtly, but I noticed the appreciation that flitted across her face for the briefest of moments. The Naughty Elf on my shoulder hissed, and I squelched the little green-eyed monster attempting to join in. "You must be Ryan! Tina called earlier to let me know you were doing the tasting in their place. And you," she smiled. Fuck if I didn't feel guilty, because it was warm and sincere and all the things welcoming and not at all competitive. I loved the Windy City, but sometimes the people were pretty harsh. Especially if the women saw you as competition. "Must be Mikayla! I have the tasting set up in one of the private rooms in the back we use for the pop ups. If you'll follow me. I hope you're hungry, though I wouldn't suggest anything more than a few bites of each one unless you love a good sugar rush. The crash, though? Not so fun."

"Thank you…"

"Oh, god, my manners! Please don't tell my grandma. She'd die of mortification! Isla. Isla Monroe. I've heard so much about the two of you at book club!"

"Book club?" Ryan asked as we weaved through the cute pub height tables with pink and purple flowers. Inwardly, I groaned, because I knew what book club she referred to.

My Nana and her two besties had started the book club a few years back after two of their husbands passed. Since she moved back, mom joined in, though there were only a few people going or reading the books. I had a sneaking suspicion they did more drinking than book discussing.

Isla stopped before a room that looked more like a solarium than a tasting room. Flowers and plants hung from the ceiling, where skylights and a wall of windows let in soft sunlight. A small couch and a few chairs dotted the room. She grinned and pointed to the table in the center. "Sometimes we meet back here after hours or if it's not being used for a special occasion. I think your Nana just likes to have the excuse to eat an extra boozy cupcake. She says it's too ‘soak up the wine', but I always send one home with her."

"Sounds like her. She always loved a good romance novel, though she tried to hide them from me growing up. Wine and cupcakes? Not so much."

"She's amazing, and I love book club. Though, no one read the book Frannie Huff picked two months ago. I think she scared off a few people." Isla rolled her eyes with a laugh. "That woman has a thing for pineapple martinis and I think she threw darts at a board to pick hers after a few too many. Who wants to read about a sad mouse who can't get along with the hare living on the moon? I'm sure there's something worthwhile in that book somewhere, but I couldn't find it. But, enough silliness about book club. I'll be right back with the tasting tray. Each flavor features either a boozy filling or frosting. Not enough to get you tipsy, but perfect for a Christmas errand afternoon. Coffee?"

"Please."

Ryan, who had been silent the entire time Isla had been rambling, nodded. Amusement danced in his blue depths as she left us. Alone.

Because now I was thinking about my Nana's romance novels, and how I found one in the pool house, just lying on the coffee table. She might be in her eighties, but Nana was not even close to being forgetful.

And, of course, I couldn't help but thumb through after Ryan left. His scent still on the sheets. I may have had a little extra alone time.

The Nice Elf thought I was thinking about the MMC of the book.

The Naughty Elf knew better. Because the man licking and pulling my hair wasn't some random book boyfriend.

It was Ryan ‘Clark Kent' Bennington. With his glasses, growling all the dirty things he was going to do to me once he made me come over and over with his mouth, then his fingers. After he bound my wrists together with his belt. Oh, god, when I thought about that belt being pulled off, his forearm muscles rippling?

The orgasm hit me hard, fast, and with an intensity so strong, I couldn't move for ten minutes after.

Forty-five minutes, twelve rejected cupcake flavors, and three winning flavor combos later, I licked the extra Irish cream frosting off a finger while Ryan watched me. I canted my head to the side and pointed at the list. "So pros and cons of each flavor help with your decision-making process, Mr. Analyze the options before deciding?" I teased.

"You have your methods. I have mine," he said, eyes transfixed on my lips.

Silence filled the air until I broke it. "Ever have a spontaneous moment, Ryan? Let go and just feel instead of weighing the options?"

His gaze fixed on my lips until he looked up, trapping me in his blue depths. "Once in a while. If the feeling strikes me, I can be…spontaneous."

I snorted. "Sure you can."

"I might surprise you."

The air crackled with tension, and god, I wanted to let the Naughty Elf win. Darn mistletoe, the things running through my sex addled brain, surprises I imagined if he had that control focused on me. The moment he lost control and did what his heated gaze promised. "I bet you never played Truth or Dare. Not the fun version, anyway."

"And that would be?"

"The kind that makes you get all hot and bothered. Makes you feel things in places you didn't know existed before you said them out loud. Or did them."

Ryan leaned in, and the desire to taste his lips distracted me, dizzying and potent. God, what was it about this man? The glasses, the sweet smile, the lists…and underneath it all, a man who knew what he wanted, if last night was any sign.

That damn Naughty List sent me over the edge.

"So, play with me."

"Here?" I asked, surprised by his request.

He nodded, eyes daring me. He might not remember last night, but that didn't mean I didn't.

Mr. Analyze Everything wanted to play?

DECK MY HALLS, PLEASE, DADDY, Naughty Elf screamed while Nice Elf merely rolled her eyes but didn't disagree or protest.

Oh, it was on.

"Truth or Dare?"

"Truth."

I rolled my eyes. "Easy out."

"Only if you let it be," he murmured.

Holy sleigh ride, the booze was stronger in those damn cupcakes than I thought. I eyed the tasting tray, with all the leftover crumbs and frostings, with a grin. We picked the dark chocolate Irish cream, gingerbread rum, and white chocolate amaretto cherry. "If you had to lick one off of any body part, which one and where?"

"Ah, taking a page from the Naughty List. Trying to get two answers with one question. A dare disguised as a truth."

"I didn't say lick one off my body, CK. Answer the question."

"White chocolate cherry. Your tits. First one, then the other. And I wouldn't just lick, sweetheart. I'd bite and tease until I had my fill. Then I'd never look at a cherry the same ever again. It would be all Mikayla and no one else."

Well, fuck me.

Agreed , Naughty Elf chimed in.

"Your turn, unless you can't take the heat."

So. On. "Dare."

Ryan's eyes crinkled, like he knew I'd say it. "I dare you, Mikayla Jayne, to…"

Am I still breathing? Because holy hell, whatever he's about to say is stealing the air from my lungs.

My tongue darted out to wet my lips, and his eyes followed the movement, then moved to the tasting tray, where there were still plenty of delicious samples left. Cake, filling, and frosting. One finger dipped into a dark chocolate one I loved, but Ryan overruled me on the gingerbread rum.

"Lick this off my finger. And you can't leave a single…drop."

Holy fuck. Never one to back down, I leaned forward. Closer. Cleavage on full display. Two could play at this game. An electrical current sparked between us as my tongue licked up one side of his finger, then down the other. A shiver worked its way down my spine as Ryan watched. Midnight blue eyes tracked every movement. His finger slid into my mouth, and I sucked. Slowly. Each movement was deliberate. But he didn't break or look away from me. Didn't even blush or bat an eye. One glance down to his lap, however, told me I wasn't the only one enjoying our little game.

Ryan's ‘Elf in his Pants' took Holly Jolly to an entirely new level.

Achingly slow, I swirled my tongue around his finger. My soft whimper whispered in the air. Damn Naughty List. My panties, useless and soaked with my arousal, only served to remind me of what I wanted. Ryan. There. Taking them off. Wearing his glasses before he took them off and devoured or fucked me. Hopefully both.

No men. Just the holidays. And Family , the Nice Elf said doubtfully.

Great . The last vestiges of my resolve were crumbling like a damn sugar cookie.

His finger slid from my mouth with a small pop as a satisfied growl escaped him. "I have to say, CK, I'm impressed."

"You haven't seen anything yet. And I'm saving our last two turns for later," he chuckled darkly as he rose and extended his hand. Electricity jumped between us as he jerked his head toward the list on the table. "Let's finish this before phase two begins."

You haven't seen anything yet. Promise or threat?

Yep, so on the naughty list.