Seducing Santa (6 page)

“No, my son, the shop is in chaos. One of the vice presidents has sabotaged production. He refuses to release the toys unless he has more payment. I fear that more have joined him!” Joko explained.

“Those greedy bastards. They plan this just before our holiday run?” Nicholas snarled. When Neva murmured in her sleep, he lowered his voice. “I shall be there soon, Mother. I must handle this situation with Neeva delicately. She is heartbroken over the loss of her son.”

“Oh, that feeling is one that can never be repaired,” Joko said. Sadness infused her words. “I too know of that loss. You will help heal her, Nicholas. Your heart is one of the purest I know.”

“Thank you, Mother. Expect me soon. Convene a meeting for my return.”

“I shall do that, my son,” Joko replied. “Oh, your father says hello.”

“Uh, did you tell him where I was?”

“I told him you had important business to deal with.” His mother gave him a wink. “Now go take care of business.”

The mirror image of his mother faded, and Nicholas climbed back into bed with a frown. Last night they had spent the night loving and talking. She even smiled and laughed a few times while they played in the shower. He thought he would at least have a day or so left to spend with Neeva to gain her trust before he left. Now it was the sink or swim moment. Would she be able to have faith in him? He lay on his side facing her, looking into her beautiful face. Her eyes opened, and her gaze met his. She didn’t say a word. Neeva reached out and caressed his cheek before she pulled him to her
and began kissing him with feverishly.

Nicholas returned her kisses with just as much excitement. She was in his blood like the potent ale he drank at home. He tore his lips away from hers and began to kiss his way down her neck. He reached behind her and cupped her ass before he traveled his hands back up to her body and filled his palms with the smooth globes of her breasts. Nicholas took the erect nipples into his mouth and laved each with his tongue before sucking one into his mouth causing her to cry out in pleasure.

“I can’t seem to get enough of your taste,” he whispered. “I need to taste all of you.”

“Yes, oh yes, Nicholas!”

“I love how you say my name,” he said as he kissed his way down her body.

He trailed his lips down her smooth abdomen and across the curve of her thigh, and he pulled the covers away. She lifted away from the sheets before spreading her legs to allow him access to what he sought. He felt her tremble when his hot breath met the soft skin of her pussy. When his tongue flicked between the folds of sweet flesh, her hips jerked in response. Nicholas could not stand the teasing himself. With a rough jerk, he brought her hips to him and pressed his lips against her pussy. Neeva’s cry shattered the quiet around them while he licked and sucked at the sensitive bud and buried his tongue inside her. Her hips undulated against his face until she shook with her release. He was above her before she could even catch her breath. He wanted to be inside her, to feel her wrapped around his cock. He could never get enough of the sensation of her body pulling his in deeper. He took her legs and wrapped them around his waist while sinking his cock inside her wet pussy.

His groan of pleasure was muffled against her neck. He whispered into her ear. “You feel so good, baby, so damn good. Take more of me, sweetheart. Ah, that’s it, just like that.”
 

Neeva arched in pleasure. “Oh, please, Nicholas, deeper, harder!”

“You have me, sweetheart, always!” He could feel his orgasm take hold as he pounded into her. He was on his knees on the bed with her legs wrapped around him, and he pulled her onto his cock. She held onto his shoulders. Each thrust sent them both higher and higher until their cries blended into one. He lay back on the bed with Neeva still in his arms while holding her tight against him and whispering to her. She in turn kissed every spot on his body she could reach and echoed his words.

“I love you, Nicholas. I love you,” Neeva whispered.

He didn’t even think she knew she had said it. If this was not heaven, Nicholas didn’t know what was. This was love. He was so certain of it now, more than he ever was about anything in his life.

Chapter Six

“I have to go,” Nicholas said as she stood outside her house later that afternoon.

Her silence seemed to stretch for minutes before she spoke. “I thought you’d be here until after Christmas.”

“Look at me, Neeva,” he commanded in a gentle voice. ‘Please, look at me.”

She looked up at him. Her emotions were again hidden behind that wall she had built so strong. She tried to smile, but even he could see it was a poor attempt. “It’s okay. I knew you’d have to leave . It’s been fun. See ya!”

Nicholas grabbed her shoulders and turned her back to him as she turned to leave. “Neeva, stop this.”

“There’s nothing left to say. Your tourist jaunt is over. Go home.” Her laugh was short. “Oh, I forgot. You’re Santa Claus. You have your Christmas Eve trip coming up.”

“Do you trust me?”

“I don’t know if I can trust anyone or anything, Nicholas.”

“Well, I tell you this, trust your instinct about me,” Nicholas implored. “I’ll be back, I promise. Last night, you said you loved me.”

“That could have been the heat of the moment,” Neeva answered in all honesty.

“Your heart got mixed up with other things?” Nicholas teased but got serious in an instant. “Do you love me?”

“I . . . I think I do,” Neeva whispered.

He framed her face with his hands and kissed her hard on the lips. “I love you too, my love, so much.” He kissed her again. “I’ll be back, my darling Neeva. On Christmas day, I’ll be back.”

She nodded, and he could see tears begin to form in her eyes.

“Say, ‘I love you, Nicholas,’
” he coaxed.

She obeyed. “I love you, Nicholas.”

“Now go inside and rest because when I come back. I am coming back with a surprise.”

“Okay,” Neeva replied and walked up her wooden steps.

Nicholas wondered if she believed him for just a moment as he walked back through the stand of palm trees. As he faded from the island to go take care of business, he knew when he came back to Trinidad he would be taking her back with him.

* * * *

Neeva prattled around the house while people were getting ready for the holiday. She was restless with no family, no one to celebrate with. She was alone. All she had was a promise from a man who said he was Santa Claus and a claim that he loved her. By God, she had fallen in love with that man, and now she felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She cooked everything she could find, from steamed fish to pepperpot with three different kinds of meat. She made a batch of rum punch and took one or two sips, which turned into a whole glass. All the while, she wondered about where Nicholas was, about where he was from even, since she never really asked.

Finally out of desperation, she took a walk down the beach and ended up in front of the hotel where Nicholas was staying. On impulse, she walked inside. She would wait for him up in his room and maybe take advantage of that big tub he had in the huge bathroom. She would light candles and make herself pretty for him.
I’m just going to make sure it’s okay with the person at the desk. Then I’ll run home, get some stuff, and leave him a note.
Spending Christmas in a luxury hotel couldn’t be all that bad. Feeling renewed and excited for the first time in a long time waiting for the man she loved, Neeva walked up to the front desk. It was the same woman from last night.

The reservation clerk looked at her. “Can I help you, miss?”

“Um, yes, you saw me pass last night with one of your guests. He said I could go up to his room and wait for him until he gets back.” Neeva smiled.

I don’t remember you, ma’am,” the clerk said with an apologetic tone.

“It was last night around eleven thirty or so,” Neeva explained. “Tall guy, blond, really nice blue eyes.”

“Sorry, miss,” the clerk said. “Maybe you can give me his name, and I’ll look up his room.”

“His name is Nicholas.” Neeva gave a small laugh.
I can’t tell her he told me Kringle was his last name
. “I really don’t know his last name, but he was staying in the last suite in the west wing facing the beach.”

“That can’t be possible, ma’am. Those suites have been closed for renovations. There’s no furniture in them,” the clerk explained.

Neeva felt like someone had doused her with ice cold water. “Are you sure?” When the clerk nodded, Neeva gave a small nod. “Thank you. I’ll leave you to your work.”

“Merry Christmas!” the clerk called out as she walked away.

Neeva raised her hand in response. She couldn’t wish anyone a merry anything at that point even if she tried. It seemed that all the while Nicholas had been lying to her, and she had fallen in love with a figment of her imagination. No one was that perfect, and she had made herself believe, and for that she looked like a fool. Nicholas was not coming back. She was waiting in her home for a love that was not real. This second heartbreak shattered what was left of her heart. Neeva’s tears fell as she walked across the sand to her home.

* * * *

The doors of the Santa Inc. boardroom were blown open by an invisible force. It was very rare for Nicholas to use his magic with such force, but he wanted to make a point as he strode down the long hallway. Santa Claus was his job, a form he took to bring happiness to children. But more than that, he was an immortal who was as old as time. He was the son of a Viking god and someone not to be trifled with.

As he walked into the boardroom, he went from cut-off jeans and a T-shirt to a black pin-stripped suit and black loafers. His hair that was tousled by the Caribbean winds was now combed with every blond strand in place. When he sat at the head of the long mahogany table, all eyes were on him. Nicholas said nothing. He let his gaze settle on each of the vice presidents. At his side, his mother stood with her hand on the back of his smooth leather chair. Nicholas couldn’t help but think that soon it would be Neeva standing at his side.

“Gentlemen, what seems to be the problem with our production agreement?” Nicholas asked, his voice cool and calm.

One man stood. To Nicholas, it was obvious that he would be the one who would speak for the entire group. From across the room, Nicholas could smell the greed rolling off him. “As we see it, Claus, you have given us a small piece of the pie, and we think a few slices should be added.”

“How so?” Nicholas laced his fingers together and stared at the man. He never shifted his eyes or blinked. Nicholas saw that the intensity of his stare made the VP so uncomfortable he began to straighten his tie in a nervous gesture.

The vice president cleared his throat. “You and your family are powerful, immortal to be precise. I think you could give us more than one wish a year to compensate us for our manufacturing costs and giving you our toys.”

“Which would sit in your warehouses because of low sales every year?” Nicholas pointed out.

Another man spoke up. “But if we reveal your secret . . .”

Nicholas leveled a cold stare on him and then passed it along to every man who sat around that table. “Go ahead.”

“Wh-What?” the spokesman stuttered.

“Go ahead and tell the world. What do you think will happen?” Nicholas rose and spread his hands wide. “Every child will start writing letters to me again. Every parent will stop going to malls and toy stores, and production will cease for your companies. But the North Pole will be busy, and I might have to hire you to work for me. So go ahead. Reveal it all.”

“All we’re asking is for—”

Nicholas slammed his hands down on the table. His power set a long crack along the smooth shiny surface, and he cut off the man’s words. “Is for what? More money to amass on your already bulging bank accounts? The answer is no, and if you don’t have anything else other than a pathetic excuse to tell the world we’re immortal and Santa exists, then get out of my boardroom and follow the contract you signed with me or else.”