Christmas with the Boss (8 page)

***

Dominic came in late, his thoughts churning. Kissing Jilly at the
beach had been a stupid thing to do; it had been her sympathy and wide eyes
that had weakened him to her charms. God, if it hadn’t been for that slobbery
dog he probably would have ripped her white bikini off and made love to her on
the sand. His hard and fast rule of non-involvement at work would have been
broken irrevocably because he knew once he had a taste of making love to Jilly,
there was no way he’d be able to hold back. He had to work with her and he was
not going to get involved with someone at the office.

Mr Iceberg he would stay. He knew the nickname the girls had given
him and it suited him just fine. But the feel of Jilly’s breasts in his hands
and the taste of her salty skin on his lips had stayed with him all day. Not
trusting himself to keep his hands off her, he’d gone for a long drive, telling
himself he was simply checking out the surf up the coast.

A stupid move; he’d got caught in the Boxing Day traffic and had
been held up on the highway till well after dark. The other cottage was in
darkness and he guessed Jilly was asleep when he finally drove past, resisting
the temptation to call in and check on her.

Three more days; he’d keep his distance and when they were back in
Sydney, nothing would be changed and there’d be no messy holiday romance to get
over.

That’s what his head told him anyway; his heart was saying something
different as the blood hammered though his body. He’d had a hard on for most of
the week. Another cold shower was in order.

 After he parked the car, he pushed open his own front door in
disgust and threw the keys onto the table. He went to bed and tossed and turned
until a restless sleep over took him.

December 27

In the early dawn, the southerly wind strengthened and the bathroom
door clicked on and off its latch until Dominic couldn’t put up with it any
longer. He yawned and sat on the edge of the bed rubbing his eyes.

“Tired, bro?”

The familiar voice hit Dominic in the gut. He dropped his hands and
slowly lifted his head. Derro was lounging back in the chair beside the bed,
smiling at him, his tanned face crinkled around the eyes so like his own.

Fuck.
Dominic rubbed his eyes again.

 His cousin, his
dead
cousin, sat in the chair dressed in his
familiar faded denims and favourite Metallica T-shirt. They’d gone to that
concert in Sydney for Domini’s eighteenth birthday. Derro took a bite from the
apple he was holding. The sweet smell of the juice drifted over to Dominic
along with the loud crunch.

“Don’t stress. It’s cool.”
Crunch,
as he bit the apple again.

“Derro?” Dominic’s voice was a ragged whisper. “Shit, I’m dreaming,
aren’t I?”

“Nup, no dream. It’s me, man.”

The familiar grin tore at Dominic’s chest and he took a deep breath.
“Really?”

The cheeky nod he knew so well confirmed it.

“Yeah. I’ve been keeping an eye out for you and you’re sure stuffing
things up.”

“What? Where?”

“Are you really happy being a suit, Dom?” Derro stood and walked
around the table and pegged the apple core into the bin.

Do ghosts eat apples?
Or am I
dreaming?
Dominic stood and resisted pinching himself. He looked down at
the bed. He wasn’t lying there asleep. He was awake and talking to his dead
cousin. “Shit, Derro. Why did you have to go and drown? Do you know how much I
missed you?”

“It was my time, Dom. But I had to come back and sort you out before
I can move on. Couldn’t let you stuff up too.”

“What happened?”

Derro’s face split into a wide grin. “Caught the best wave of my
life, man. A six foot left hander on the point. Perfect tube, but I didn’t pull
out in time.”

Dominic shook his head, still unable to believe what he was seeing
and hearing.

“So enough about me. I’m fine. I’m here to give you a bit of
advice.”

Dominic stared at his cousin. “Advice?” He cleared his throat and
the words rasped out.

“Don’t let her go. Don’t let that stupid career, and figures and
money drive your life. Jilly’s the one for you, mate. I used Margie’s email to
set up the rental. That was interesting.” He walked to the window and turned
back to Dominic. “I’ve done my best to throw you together, but it’s up to you
now. You have to decide what
you
want.”

Dominic knew what he wanted and it had nothing to do with suits and
the trading floor. Derro smiled at him as he read his expression; he knew him
well and always had.

“Good.” Derro turned back to Dominic. “Want to go for a surf later?
I’ll be out there with you if you go.”

Dominic’s throat ached and he blinked as a sheen of moisture misted
his eyes. “I wish.”

“Look out for Margie, mate. Tell her I’m okay. She’s still doin’ it
tough too.” Derro walked over and grabbed him in a tight man hug. “Have a good
life, Dom.” Gradually the pressure of his arms lessened and Dominic opened his
eyes. The room was empty and he looked around.

“What the fuck?” he muttered as he flopped onto the bed and put his
hands over his eyes. He leaned back onto the soft pillow and closed his eyes as
the wind rattled around the house.

A persistent banging at the door woke him a couple of hours later.
The dream of Derro had been so real; he still carried the same sense of loss in
his chest that he’d experienced when Derro had left him.

Maudlin.
That’s what he was. Dreaming of
the past. Time to go back to the city and his real life. Dominic rolled out of
bed and had the door open before he was properly awake. Jilly stood there, her
face pale and dark shadows beneath her eyes.

“Hi, come on in.”

She stepped past him without speaking, and stood there looking at
him, before she brushed a shaky hand over her face. She was dressed in a cute
pair of pyjamas and he raised his eyebrows.

“You are going to think I am so crazy, but this really strange thing
happened to me last night.” Her voice was soft and her green eyes wide as she
stared up at him

“You’re not Robinson Crusoe.” Calm settled over Dominic as he looked
her. Derro—or his dream—whatever it had been, had given him a choice. He put
his hands on her shoulders, surprised to feel her trembling. “So shush, and
listen to me. I’m sorry I was such a prick yesterday and took off and left but
you scare me.”

“Scared? Tell me about it.”

“What’s wrong?” Her skin was silky against his fingertips as he ran
them down her arms.

“I was frightened last night, too.”

Dominic groaned and he narrowed his eyes. “Don’t tell me you had a
dream too?”

“No, I had a flesh and blood visitor. I thought it was you, until he
chuckled. And then he disappeared.” Jilly’s eyes were wide. “I was so scared I
spent the rest of the night sitting up in a chair. I don’t know what it was but
there was definitely someone in the house.”

“Just give me a moment.” Dominic crossed to the kitchen and lifted
the top of the bin. He shook his head as disbelief ran through him; a fresh
apple core lying at the bottom of the plastic-lined bin.  Maybe he’d put it
there without remembering?

 He turned back to Jilly and took her arm gently before leading
her over to the bed. “You do look tired. Do you want to go back to bed? Get
some sleep?” He grinned at her as her eyes locked with his. Enough of the
stuffed shirt businessman. Dominic, the wild surfer without any worries, had
come roaring back.

Thank you, coz.

From now on, the risks he took would have nothing to do with trades
and shares. He sat on the edge of the bed and held his arms out and could have
sworn he heard a chuckle as Jilly sat on his knee.

“Shut the door on the way out, Derro,” he said quietly.

##

Sure that Dominic would hear the thudding of her heart Jilly leaned
into him as his arms went around her waist.

“Back to bed? Here?” Her voice was tentative. “You’re not going to
go all cold on me again?”

A warm feeling suffused her as a rumble of laughter vibrated against
her chest. “No, trust me. I had a very good lesson through the night.” She
frowned as he glanced over to the bin. “Mr Iceberg’s gone for good this time.”

This time the heat was from embarrassment and she pulled back and
stared at him. “How did you know that’s what they call you at work?”

Dominic laughed again. “I wondered if you knew that the walls
between my office and the staff room are very thin.” He bent his knee and
waggled his foot in the air in front of them. “That Shaz has some interesting
theories.”

Jilly stared at him, the heat in her face warring for supremacy with
the heat that was building in southern parts. “You hear everything?”

“Everything.” His lips zoomed in on her warm neck and her breath
caught in her throat.

Choking out a strangled laugh, she shivered as his fingers slid down
and held the bottom of her pyjama top. “Oh my God, how embarrassing!”

“But you, Miss Henderson, are always most circumspect in your
conversations with your work friends.” He tipped his head to the side with
raised eyebrows and Jilly nodded. She closed her eyes as the soft cotton
brushed her face when he lifted the top over her head.

“Are you sure?” His breath blew on her nipples as he lowered his
head and they hardened instantly. Confidence surged through Jilly and she gave
him a wicked smile. “I guess I won’t be sure Mr Iceberg has really gone unless
you share some body heat with me.”

Sizzling heat ran through her as his fingers slipped beneath the
elastic waist of her pyjama bottoms. His hand lingered there and he lowered his
head, flicking his tongue lightly across her lips. Jilly parted them and
welcomed him, giving in to the anticipation that filled her as his fingers
brushed gently across her stomach.

“Dominic,” she moaned against his mouth, urging him on as she
pressed into his hands and lifted off his lap so he could reach the place what
was throbbing with need. She wriggled as he hooked his thumbs in her pyjamas
and pulled them down over her thighs. A bit of lifting and maneuvering and they
flew through the air.

At the same time, her fingers were on the top of his boxers, pulling
and yanking and then she took him in her hand, wrapping his warm silky length
in her fingers.

Jilly couldn’t help the small giggle that escaped. He lifted his
head. “What?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. “Just testing out a theory or two.”

“And?”

Again a little giggle. “You do have big…feet.”

“I aim to please.” Dominic lifted her off his lap and laid her on
the bed. He stood and ferreted around on the floor and picked up his jeans.
Jilly lay there admiring the play of the muscles in his thighs as he bent down.
His butt was as firm and muscled as the rest of him. She closed her eyes.

God, was this a dream too? If it was she was going to enjoy every
moment of it. A snap of foil and he was back beside her, the warmth of his skin
against her body heating her from shoulder to toe.

Unfamiliar emotion flooded her. This time she was ready for it.
Dominic propped himself over her, his hands on either side of her waist. She
pressed her palms flat against his chest, revelling in the warmth of his skin
as he smiled down at her, his eyes hooded with desire. A surge of power ran
through her as the heat of his cock nudged against her.

“Definitely not Mr Iceberg,” she murmured. She opened her legs wider
but he teased with little brushes against her, pushing in a little way and then
pulling back.

“Dom, I can’t take much more of that. Please, now.”

Her breath caught as he slid in deeply in one thrust and filled her.
Her muscles clenched involuntarily and a quiver rocked her as an orgasm built.
His thigh muscles hardened against her legs as she bucked against him and gave
into the exquisite pleasure that burst through her.

Dominic knew he’d remember the little sounds coming from Jilly’s
lips as she came for the rest of his life. He cupped her hips, loving the feel
of her soft butt against his fingers. He wanted to bury himself in her and feel
her muscles clenching around him but the need for his own release blurred his
mind. She raised herself, moving with him, thrust for thrust. He held his
breath as he lost hold of everything except Jilly. Barely able to breathe,
ecstasy consumed him as he pumped into her. She arched against him and he
smiled as her muscles closed around him for a second time, sending him to the
brink.

He slowed his movements as she met his gaze with a sinful grin. Her
low moan reached him from afar as she wound her legs around his back. He held
her gaze as he came, finally easing himself down onto her, both of their bodies
slick with sweat.

“Warm enough now?” he murmured against her neck. He kissed her
shoulder and traced his lips to the nape of her neck.

“Not an iceberg to be seen,” she said with a sexy giggle.

He fell asleep with Jilly’s legs wrapped around his, holding him
close.