Christmas Miracle (7 page)

“You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen,” he mused, before he hastily unzipped his pants and pushed them down along with his boxers.

He moved toward her and spun her around, pressing her torso on her desk.

Melanie gasped upon realizing that her blinds were open. Granted, her office was on one of the higher floors, but the lights were on, and what if someone—

Another gasp left her lips as his finger traced her slit through the thong.

“Cameron,” she began, thinking to at least get those blinds closed.

He pulled the thong to the side, and his tongue took a long lick of her slit.

“Oh my God—Cameron—t-t-the wind—blin—blinds—oh...”

She heard rustling and looked behind her. He was standing once more, and from the concentration on his face as he looked down, she knew he was applying protection.

“Cameron.” She tried again. “The blinds are open.” There! She’d said it.

She waited for the curse, and then for him to run around and close them, since she had only strength to hold herself against this desk and let him do to her what she anticipated. The curse didn’t come. Instead, she felt him come down over her back.

“You secretly want them to stay open, don’t you?” he murmured at her ear, pulling her lobe into his mouth. His hands moved up her stomach to her bra and pushed the straps down.

“N-no. Camer—”

“Someone could easily be watching us, watching you,” he said softly, kissing her neck as his fingers found her stiff nipples. “You’d like that, won’t you?”

Her breathing deepened and she shook her head. The thought of someone watching them, seeing him take her in her office, was both scary and arousing. Still, she didn’t have to admit that to him.

“Liar.”

She felt the thick head of his cock at her entrance and whimpered when instead of entering her, he held it there. His hands continued their intoxicating caress of her breasts.

“Stop teasing me.”

“Tell me the truth.”

“About what?” she snapped, frustrated.

“You like being watched,” he murmured, sliding his cock along her slit.

She moaned. “I like being with you. Now shut up and fuck me.”

He stilled for the briefest second, and then he thrust deep, impaling her on his length. Gripping the table, Melanie threw her head back and closed her eyes. Cameron released a stream of curses near her ear, and she smiled, knowing exactly how he felt. One hand left her breast and gripped her hip, anchoring her for his long but slow thrusts.

“Cameron!” she whined, clenching against him. “Faster...please.”

He ignored her, and then he pulled completely from her body. Before she could protest, he turned her around and lifted her onto the edge of the desk.

“Open your legs,” he murmured, stepping between them as soon as she did and entering her.

She gasped as he went deep in one smooth thrust. Wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips, she held on for dear life as he began thrusting.

The desk rattled, and she prayed it held. It was supposed to be oak, for crying out loud.

She forgot that concern as he angled himself to hit her spot and simultaneously caress her clit. Every thrust was an assault on her senses. With each one, her cries grew higher. He pushed her back until she was lying on the desk before attaching his lips to hers.

Moaning, she continued to lift her hips for his thrusts.

Her orgasm burst upon her. She’d just turned her lips away from his when her body seized, arching against him, as he continued his fast pace. With her body clenching around him, he came moments later.

***

Fiona was on hold with the temp agency when she heard what appeared to be the distinct sound of laughter coming from Melanie Samuels’ office. Eyes narrowing, she pulled the phone away from her ear and listened again. A giggle came next, but it was cut short. Her eyes narrowed further and then widened as she stared in that direction.

Did she just hear a masculine chuckle? Mr. Mackintosh and Ms. Samuels—were they…? Feeling her cheeks heat as a smile touched her lips, Fiona placed the phone down and looked at the time. It was a few minutes after one. It was definitely time for her lunch break.

Chapter Six

“You’ve what?”

At only eighteen years old and with nothing but a string of broken hearts and unpaid parking tickets to her name, Adeline Mackintosh was the baby of the family. She was also the one to be reckoned with. As such, it was in the interest of all to tell Addy who was coming to the Christmas celebration ahead of time, unless one wanted to be the guest star in a dramatic movie unfurled on Christmas Day.

Cameron lifted a brow at his seated sister and restated, “I invited a guest over for Christmas.”

“A guest? But it’s only for family. You didn’t invite one of those old stiffs you work with, did you? That’s why you have the Christmas Eve party, to appease the old stiffs and the whor—
erm
, other guests.”

He shook his head. “It’s another kind of guest.”

“Oh.” Adeline seemed relieved for all of five seconds before she tensed, blue eyes flashing at him, and asked, “A female kind of guest?”

“Yes.”

“Cammy!” He cringed at the name she’d happily given him when she was a baby and refused to give up now that she was, at least age-wise, an adult. “How could you invite one of them? It’s only supposed to be our family, not our family plus your side-piece of the

week—”

“Melanie is not a
side-piece
, Adeline,” Cameron stated, his firm tone one that he rarely used with his sister.

She blinked large blue eyes at him and cocked her head to the side. “No?”

“No.”

“Melanie, huh?” Adeline repeated, running a hand over her dark locks and then using a finger to twirl one around. She looked around the living room, staring at the Christmas tree she’d assembled days ago. His home in Long Island was where all the Christmas celebrations took place, and it was decorated by professionals. Still, Addy had seemed saddened that her job as the “Christmas tree decorator” was taken away, so he usually allowed her to put up and decorate one in his apartment. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

Cameron’s eyes narrowed about the same time that his sister’s widened. Maybe he shouldn’t have said her name.

“Not Melanie Samuels, the publicist?” Adeline pushed off the couch and began pacing. “It is her, isn’t it? How could you? Now I’ll have to find you another publicist after you break her heart. CAMMY!”

“Adeline! Stop being so dramatic and sit down.”

When she did as he asked, he tossed her a smile and waited for her to stop sulking. “She isn’t particularly big on Christmases, Addy, so I want this to be a good one for her. That means no making her feel uncomfortable. Okay?”

Adeline sent him a smirk. “Why would I do that?”

“Promise me, Addy.”

The smirk faded, and she frowned at him. “Fine. I won’t make her feel uncomfortable.” As he relaxed in his chair, she added, “But I can’t help what the rest of the family does.”

***

“Hey, it’s me. You said to keep you informed about Janie, so that’s why I’m calling. She was released today, so now we’re both at home. I bought a humidifier for her room, and picked up some asthma inhalers. The doctors prescribed some in case another attack happens.” There was a long silence, and thinking that Lauren had hung up, Melanie was about to delete the message, when her sister’s voice returned, this time softer. “I’d like to talk to you, Melanie. Anywhere. Please. I won’t lie and say that it’s about Janie, because it isn’t. Not really. I want to talk about what happened...please. Here’s my cell number again, you know, in case you misplaced it.” She rattled off a number and continued, “Well, in case I don’t see you: Merry Christmas.” Another pause. “I love you.”

The beep came, and Melanie reached over to the machine to delete the message. Instead, she hit the replay button. This time she copied the cell phone number into her BlackBerry before deleting the message.

Her mind reeled as she stared at the number. A part of her wanted to call her sister and hear what Lauren wanted to say. Years ago, Lauren had been defiant, and angry, and the last “talk” they’d had had almost resulted in Melanie taking off her shoes and beating Lauren to a pulp. She’d retreated for one reason and one reason only. Lauren had thrown her trump card in her face, and Melanie had walked away. Two years later, Lauren had wanted to apologize, but Melanie had not wanted to hear it. A part of her still didn’t want to hear it.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and in a few days, it would be a new year. Did she really want to spend another year hating her sister? Not seeing her niece?

She remembered what Cameron had said when he was driving back to her place from the hospital, that if he had a sister and niece, he would rather spend Christmas with them than work. He didn’t know the entire story, but even she would rather spend Christmas with her niece than work.

Pressing the send button, she lifted the phone to her ear and waited.

***

When Lauren stepped into her office the next morning, she hesitated by the door, as if she was waiting for Melanie to change her mind and tell her to leave. Melanie had contemplated changing her mind after she’d placed the call last night, but when she had awoken this morning, she’d resolved to hear her sister out.

Melanie didn’t stand, but she called her in and told her to sit. Smiling nervously, Lauren undid the buttons of her knee-length down jacket, removed her scarf, and took a seat.

Remaining where she was, Melanie kept her eyes trained on her sister. Lauren had said she wanted to talk, and she was giving her a chance. She intended to listen, and that was it.

Her sister fidgeted for a few seconds, looking around her office, and then finally settling on a spot on Melanie’s navy suit jacket.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever told you, but I’m proud of you, and I know that Mom and Dad would be too.”

Nodding, Melanie replied easily, “Thanks.”

Lauren nodded and then lifted her eyes to her sister’s. She released a long sigh and shook her head.

“I’ve had this speech in my head for years, of everything I wanted to tell you since I figured out that I’m a selfish excuse for a human being who probably doesn’t deserve your forgiveness.” Lauren’s eyes filled with unshed tears, and Melanie steeled herself against them. She’d cried for months after the painful blow Lauren had delivered, before shutting her emotions away and focusing on school and work. “I am so sorry, Melanie, and I know I’ve said these words countless times on your voicemail, but I also know you don’t believe me. I can’t really blame you.” She sniffed and shook her head. “I have no excuse for what I did except that I was young and stupid, and I had always been jealous of you and your life—”

“Why?” Melanie asked softly, surprised and at the same time irritated to hear that pretty, perfect Lauren had been jealous of her. Lauren had been the overindulged child, and while Melanie used to grow irritated with her parents for the way they spoiled her, in a way she’d come to understand. Lauren was their last child, the last that her parents could have, and they’d wanted to cherish her.

“Because you’re you, Mel. Mom and Dad were always so proud of you. When you were in college, they used to brag about how smart Melanie was, how Melanie was going to graduate early, how Melanie was going to do big things, and how Melanie was going to marry the doctor… It was silly, I know that now, but I was jealous.”

“So you slept with my fiancé because you were
jealous
of me?”

Lauren flinched as if struck, but Melanie only lifted a brow and waited.

Looking down at her hands, her sister nodded. Her next words were soft, and Melanie had to strain to hear them. “I didn’t mean to, Melanie, I swear. Chester and I always flirted when you brought him to visit, and then he started making passes at me, and God, I was so stupid. I thought that meant someone found me better than you, that he liked me for me. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

“When did it start?” Melanie was transported back to Christmas seven years ago.

It was the first Christmas they would spend without their parents, and she’d wanted it to be as normal as possible. Lauren had been in a particularly foul mood, but her sister was a freshman in college, and she knew that new students were given to random bouts of temper. She’d even laughed with Chester over it, stating that it was probably the freshman fifteen making Lauren cranky. It was that very Christmas that Lauren had snapped, telling her that she was dropping out of college, that she and Chester were going to raise a family together. Melanie had been caught off guard, and she’d thought Lauren was playing a prank on her, right up until she turned around to find Chester staring at her as if he’d seen a ghost. It was the look on his face that confirmed it.

“Melanie,” Lauren said now, “I don’t think you want to know…”

“When did it start, Lauren?”

“Senior year of high school.”

“What?” After the initial shock of hearing high school, she demanded, “Were you underage?”

“No, no. It was fully consensual. Remember when you allowed me to visit you at Brown? That was when we, you know…”