Page 16 of Erotic Temptations 1

Since our little supply closet moment, Mason had done a complete one-eighty. No clue what flipped him from Grinch to decently charming, but the personality transplant made working together almost fun.

After I survived one particularly difficult child, he slipped me a candy bar and soda with a conspiratorial, “Keep this on the down-low unless you want to witness what happens when thirty kids discover Santa has a Snickers.”

For the past hour I’d caught Mason stealing heated glances at me. Instead of looking away when I’d busted him staring, he’dgrinned wickedly. Sweet Christmas stockings. I knew that look. The elf wanted to pound his North Pole into Santa.

I was an idiot for even considering letting him jingle my bells in the supply closet.

He owed me an explanation for acting like a holiday dictator. Until then, my chimney was off-limits.

The Snickers was scarfed as soon I opened the wrapper, followed by my stomach demanding actual food. The smells from the food court had me salivating. I was so hungry I’d nearly let the next kid shove his cookie into my mouth.

When Mason announced Santa needed to feed the reindeer so he was taking a thirty-minute break, I practically launched the five-year-old at the mom still taking pictures. Good thing she had excellent reflexes.

The parents waiting in line let out a collective groan. One guy even flipped me off. I ignored him.

“Buy you a meal?” Mason asked from behind me. “You’ve earned it.”

“You might go into debt from how hungry I am.” I pressed a hand into my lower back and winced. “You’d think they would supply a better chair knowing how long Santa has to sit. My back hurts, and my butt’s numb.”

Mason glanced at my ass. Perv. “A massage would help improve your circulation.”

“Is Santa’s little helper offering his services?” It struck me that I was flirting with an elf. That was the coolest and most bizarre bragging right.

We’d stopped in front of Hibachi Express. The smells were about to make me feral. So was the way Mason stood behind me, like he was claiming space. I sucked in a sharp breath when his lips touched my ear. “Nothing little about me.”

This man did not just make me rock-hard in a mall food court. I glanced down to see if I had a tent in my red pants, butthe foam belly blocked my view. Maybe I still had a chance to become infamous on TikTok. “Santa Getting a Boner for Hibachi Express.”

Some people squeezed between us and the dining area wall. Mason pressed into my back to give them room. My body moved before my mind knew what it was doing, leaning into him like I had every right. I didn’t even care if people saw Santa leaning into his tall elf. I just liked the way his fingers flexed on my hips, as if to say he liked it too.

“We could take our food to the maintenance hallway. Wouldn’t want any kids seeing you without your beard. There’s a small room behind the supply shelves. Has a table and chairs.”

He had a point. Plus, it would be nice to get a break from the beard and hat. Let my face breathe for a bit. Still, I knew damn well what would happen in that room once my second belly was full. “You have to tell me one thing first.”

We moved a step forward. Only four ahead of us now. “What?”

I pulled away and turned to look up at him. “Why did you hate me on sight?”

Mason’s brows furrowed. “I didn’t hate you, Alex.”

“Could’ve fooled me.” I folded my arms and glared at him.

His lips twitched.

“I have a right to know what I did to piss you off.” My arms dropped, and my shoulders sagged.

“Nothing.” He held my gaze. “I sincerely apologize for the way I acted toward you.”

“People don’t act like a dick, which you did, because of nothing,” I said. “There had to be a reason I sparked such a reaction in you.”

Mason gently gripped my upper arms and moved forward as I moved backward, staring straight ahead. Then his eyes loweredto mine. “You did spark a reaction in me, Alex. And I fought against it.” His tongue rolled over his bottom lip.

“You’re saying you were attracted to me?”

The guy behind me made a disgusted sound.

“Mind your own business,” I snapped over my shoulder. “Nobody asked for your damn opinion.”

“Santa…” Mason said like I was being the unreasonable one.