Page 45 of A Billionaire for Christmas

KARMA HAS NO DEADLINE

‘Fuck me,’ exclaimed Lucca, plonking himself down heavily onto the sofa. ‘What a night. Poor Papa. I hope he’s going to be okay.’

‘Me too,’ agreed Freda, chewing her nail. ‘Mother must be really worried. I thought she was going to tell us she loved us at one point.’

Levi stifled a chuckle. ‘Shock does strange things to a person. That was quite the unsolicited outpouring of apologies and regret.’ He pulled Molly down to the sofa next to him.

‘You were brilliant. So cool under pressure. You knew exactly what to do and when to do it.’ He gave her an admiring look.

‘That’s the benefit of having eight years of running a busy kitchen under my belt, a nurse for a mother and a father in recovery from a heart attack.

I’ve been through this before. Armand is in good hands.

The quicker he gets to hospital, the quicker he’ll recover and be up and about. Usually within a couple of days.’

‘Thank you, Molly. I needed to hear that.’ Freda curled up next to Lucca and Toby on the sofa opposite. ‘And sorry about your own father. Is he okay?’

‘He’s fine. He’s recuperating somewhere in the Caribbean. He and Mum are on a cruise.’

‘So you’re on your own for Christmas?’

Molly deliberately avoided Levi’s gaze. ‘My, erm, plans kind of changed recently. I had intended to spend the day in the kitchen at the main resort hotel, but now I’ll be free to…’

…spend the day on my own, trying to get the deeds to my apartment and restaurant back.

Levi tightened his grip on her hand.

‘Do you have to leave tomorrow?’ Freda pleaded. ‘I was so looking forward to you teaching me to cook. I’ve really enjoyed it.’

Molly let out an involuntary snigger. ‘I’m not sure we have enough eggs left. You went through sixteen this morning to make one poached egg. If I ever do open a cooking school, please never swing by.’

Freda laughed. ‘See? I need you. You’re the only person who’s honest with me. Levi, ask her to stay.’

It occurred to Molly that she hadn’t felt this level of warmth, excitement, frustration, abhorrence, worry or, indeed, overwhelming horniness, in a long, long time.

She’d become a numb husk just getting by on a mix of gloomy despair and lethargy towards sorting out her business.

And she had Levi and his bonkers family to thank for it.

They’d woken her from the emotional coma she’d been in since Ava died.

She glanced shyly at Levi. She was feeling all the feels, and it felt like her body was making up for lost time.

Being snowed in here at the lodge, around this madcap family with all their drama, was infectious.

Levi put his arm around Molly’s shoulder. ‘I know I haven’t been the easiest person to get on with. I’m truly sorry for being such a jerk about everything. But would you please consider staying for Christmas?’

‘Is that because you suspect I cook the best Christmas dinner on the planet, or because you need me to save you from Freda’s undercooked turkey and salmonella poisoning?’

‘Both.’

Lucca groaned. ‘Please, Molly. Please stay. Levi is so much nicer when you are around. I’ve never heard him so much as apologise to anyone ever . You must stay. Forever, if possible.’

Molly gazed at Levi sitting next to her, every bone in her body screaming to say yes. ‘I’d love to stay, but I have something very important to do tomorrow.’

‘The bucket list? What’s the deadline?’ Levi asked.

‘Tomorrow at 6p.m. I’ll never get it done unless I spend all day doing it.’

‘Bucket list? On Christmas Eve?’ Lucca exclaimed. ‘Sounds fun.’

‘We’ll help,’ offered Freda. ‘But why the deadline?’

Molly explained about her friend, the list, the restaurant and the solicitor and was amazed to find her tear ducts intact. For the first time, she could talk about her situation without having an emotional breakdown.

‘We can do that no problem,’ Lucca assured her. ‘Then you can email the evidence through before the deadline.’

Molly felt a swell of gratitude for the people around her.

Toby glanced repeatedly at Freda before Molly saw him pluck up the courage to speak to her. ‘I’m sorry to hear that Reuben called the wedding off.’

Freda inhaled noisily. ‘I think deep down I knew it was coming. I just didn’t know what to replace him with, if that makes any sense. I’m trying to find my passion. Something that I’m good at.’

‘Well, it’s obviously not cooking,’ laughed Lucca.

‘Something will come to you. You’ve got a lot to offer,’ Toby said warmly.

Lucca punched him on the arm. ‘Stop hitting on my sister, dude. You’ve already failed at that many times. You need to know when to give up.’

Toby laughed. ‘I’ll give up when it’s me she’s walking down the aisle towards.’

Freda gasped in mock shock. ‘Why, Toby, I thought you’d never ask.’

Toby grinned. ‘I’m serious. Just name the day.’

Freda let out a huge yawn in response. ‘I would but I think Valerie would have a stroke. Anyway, I’m done with love. It’s too time-consuming. It’s for weak-minded people who don’t have the self-esteem to know that they are enough as they are.’

‘But it’s life-affirming and joyful,’ Toby argued.

‘Not for me it isn’t. It’s no-strings sex for me from now on.’

‘That could also work,’ Toby said hopefully, until Lucca threw a cushion at him.

‘Dude. That’s our baby sister. She might be an emotionally unstable drunk but she’s not desperate.’ Lucca laughed hard at his own joke until Toby threw a cushion at his head.

‘Okay, that’s enough excitement for one night.’ Freda stood up. ‘Should we wait up until we know Papa is okay?’

‘No. I’ll ring the hospital now.’ Levi took out his phone. ‘You lot can go to bed if you need to. I’ll instruct my PA to ring me if there are any changes. He’s flying over to meet Mother and will be on hand for whatever they need. He’s already booked her into a hotel by the hospital.’

‘Great. I’m so tired.’ Freda yawned again, setting off a chain reaction. ‘I’ll see you all at breakfast. Molly, bring the list. We’ll tick them all off. You’ll get your restaurant back, I promise.’

Levi made eye contact with Molly, causing her to blush. She wondered if he was thinking about the naked hot tub scenario. He got to his feet and hauled her up beside him. He whispered in her ear, ‘I’ll do whatever you need me to do.’

Molly felt every hair on the back of her neck tingle.

Her entire future hung in the balance and yet one word from Levi and she felt strong and capable.

And unfortunately, very lustful. He must have caught the way her pupils dilated, accentuating the bright sparkle in her eyes, because he visibly swallowed. ‘Come with me.’

Once they heard bedroom doors closing and they were sure the coast was clear, Levi led Molly down to the spa area and locked the door behind them.

She took a step towards him and, feeling brave, reached up on tiptoes.

She closed her eyes and kissed him tenderly on the lips.

‘As much as I appreciate it, you don’t have to do this. ’

When she opened her eyes, Levi was staring at her and, after a beat, he pulled her towards him. This time their lips slid hungrily back and forth, a heated exploration. Molly felt tingles fluttering in her stomach.

She slid her hands over his back, pulling him against her.

She heard a low growl escape from him as their kiss deepened.

Her head in a whirl, Molly tugged at the many, many buttons of his catering uniform.

Why had she insisted on him wearing it? But this wasn’t the time to question her excellent hygiene standards.

This was the time to end her dry spell. I mean, complete the bucket list , she thought, trying to focus.

He’s just here helping with the bucket list. Do not read too much into it.

‘Wait.’ He broke from kissing, took her hand in his and led her to the massage chair.

‘What are you doing?’ Molly asked. This was definitely not on the list.

‘Something I should have done the first time round.’

He unbuttoned her jacket, slipping it from her shoulders. She followed his lead, marvelling at how quickly he shed the rest of his clothes. He stood naked in front of her.

‘This makes a refreshing change.’ She grinned. ‘I like it.’

‘I bet you do.’ Levi smiled playfully. ‘You’ve waited a long time for this.’

Molly giggled and tried not to stare as he helped her peel off the rest of her own clothes. She glanced down when she felt something nudge her bare stomach. Gosh. Were they all that big? It had been so long, she’d forgotten.

‘Sit.’

She looked down at the massage chair. ‘Don’t I need a towel over myself?’ After all, like Lucca had said, this wasn’t Finland. She’d never been naked so much in her entire existence. Nor was she an expert on chair sex.

Levi shook his head, pressing a button to make the chair recline to almost horizontal.

She lay down on it and felt the weight of him as he settled on top of her, their legs entwined.

He held her wrists gently above her head and bent to kiss her lips, her neck, her breasts.

She writhed beneath him, causing him to moan with desire.

When she cried out for him, it was clear he was going to take his time.

Her every nerve ending was on fire for him.

He slipped easily from the chair and strode round to kneel in front of her.

He pressed another button, and the seat tilted her up to sitting and began to gently vibrate.

She gasped as he parted her legs, placing one on each arm of the chair, her womanhood fully exposed.

She very much doubted he was a qualified gynaecologist. And this would be unlike any examination she’d ever had. She opened her mouth to object.

‘Relax,’ he told her. ‘Close your eyes.’

She took a deep breath and did as she was told while relaxing music filtered into her consciousness.

Her body trembled with anticipation. She breathed in the warm scented air, lemon balm essential oils infused with calming ylang ylang.

The feel of his hands sliding slowly up her thighs was unspeakably erotic.

She felt him massage her with his thumbs, one massaging her lightly while the other entered her, sliding gently in and out.

Oh my. Then, keeping her eyes tightly closed, she felt his thumbs spread the lips of her womanhood wide open.

She felt powerless, consumed with longing for his touch.

She inhaled a sharp breath as his hot mouth made contact, his tongue flicking expertly against her.

A tingle throbbed rhythmically down below, matching the drumming of her heart.

She was completely lost, helpless to the delicious sensation.

Tangling her hands in his hair, she pulled him closer, revelling in his stubbled chin tickling her thighs, his mouth hungry for her taste.

It sent sparkles throughout her entire body and just when she thought she’d explode, he applied more pressure, causing a strong pulsating beat to spread from her core out to every nerve ending.

He grew more insistent, lapping at her sweet spot again and again until, like a dam, the orgasm burst through her.

She threw her head back, freefalling over the edge as her whole body quivered to a thundering climax.

She bucked against his mouth but still he held her in place, his tongue an instrument of exquisite torture as wave after wave of white-hot ecstasy shuddered through her. As she cried out, her whole body collapsed, sated with endorphins, completely and utterly spent.

She opened her eyes slowly, gazing at him in wonder.

Molly was sure she had sparkles shooting from her eyeballs like fireworks.

They stared at one another for what seemed like an eternity before Levi got to his feet.

He held out a hand and pulled her up. He was the perfect height for her.

She could barely stand up though, never mind speak.

Her legs had turned to jelly. She instinctively looped her arms around his neck.

The feel of his naked body pressed against hers felt so right. Everything about this moment felt destined to be. Magical. Dreamlike. Perfect.

‘I love the way you look at me,’ she said, her voice scarcely more than a whisper as he held her tight.

Was it possible to fall in love with someone you barely knew?

Based purely on their ability to deliver orgasms that had you as high as a bath of cocaine?

With a contented whimper, she breathed, ‘That was amazing.’ She trailed the back of her fingers tenderly down his cheek and over his jawline.

She’d never felt so giddy, so open, so honest with a man.

She was in a complete loved-up haze. ‘I’m falling in love with you,’ she murmured against his lips.

As soon as the words were out, she regretted them.

She gasped. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… ’

Levi’s eyes grew dark and intense. Time seemed to stand still. He nodded slowly. ‘I’m falling in love with you, too.’

It took a few moments for them to digest what they’d just said to each other. Levi was first to speak, a smile tugging at his lips. ‘Now, let’s see what we can do in the hot tub with the champagne.’

It turned out that quite a number of things could be done in a hot tub with champagne, and none of them to do with drinking it!