Tingle All the Way

Chapter Six



Kayla knew it was too good to be true. Hector marched along her bathroom countertop and he wasn’t happy. His wings were tucked close to his body. He had his pine needle staff, clinking it against the glass jar holding cotton balls and Q-tips before he moved on, pacing with heavy footsteps.

“Don’t you dare flake out now,” he grumbled. “Not after all I’ve done.”

“You’ve done?” She stopped applying mascara and glanced down at him. “All you have done is cause trouble.”

“You didn’t think that way when you were screaming, ‘More. I want more’.”

How embarrassing. “You were watching?” Heat flared across her cheeks. “You lousy little peeping Tom.” When her fingers curled into fists, he had the good sense to back away.

“Tsk, tsk. Name calling doesn’t become you. Besides I didn’t have to be in the room. I’m in your mind. And at this very moment you’re thinking of calling the prosecutor with an excuse as to why you can’t go tonight.”

Dammit. It was true.

After they had eaten, both of them had fallen asleep. It had felt like the most normal thing in the world to wake in his arms, roll over and make love, but it wasn’t love—it was sex.

Kayla had to get that through her thick skull.

Yet what frightened her the most, scared the living shit out of her, was this electrifying attraction to him. It was overwhelming. And for once she didn’t know what to do. Never had she let someone get so close, so far beneath her skin, that if she didn’t know better she’d say her heart was engaged.

Now she stood before the mirror trying to figure out how she could get through the night without falling head over heels for the man. Because falling was exactly what she was doing. The only thing that made sense was making a break now, while Barry wasn’t there to convince her otherwise. Of course the irritating little man scowling at her wasn’t any help. Maybe she could trap Hector beneath the lid of her compact.

“Don’t even think about it,” he growled. “I have a wand and I’m not afraid to Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo your ass into oblivion.” Hector sighed as if trying to regain his control. “Perhaps we should take a look at what you currently have. Uhm.” He paused, patting his index finger against a cheek, and then he abruptly stopped. “That’s right. You have nothing. No husband. No family. No children.”

Damn him. Damn him straight to hell. She didn’t need the reminder of her inadequacies. And who was he to judge her? Look at what she’d achieved. The youngest female at the firm, the highest win rate, and sure to make partner within a couple of years. Even still tears bloomed, but Kayla held them back through sheer anger rising inside her.

“I have a career,” she barked defensively.

“A career that keeps you working all hours of the day and weekend, leaving no time for a relationship.”

“I don’t need a relationship,” she snapped. Kayla didn’t want some man who would leave her like her parents, her aunt, and the few failed relationships she’d had. “I don’t need anyone.”

Except it had felt so good to have Barry concerned about her. “You sure could have fooled me with, what? Having sex three times in one day. Let’s see, there was up against the wall, that impressive bedroom scene, and who could forget the shower?”


Not her. Kayla would never forget any one of those wonderful moments, especially the bedroom and shower. Four! she thought, recalling the tender way he took her after waking her with his dreamy kisses.

But who was counting?

“Yes.” He swung his staff, nearly striking a hundred-and-fifty-dollar bottle of perfume. “It was four. Sounds like an awful horny woman, or maybe a lonely one.”

“Okay, shorty. That was hitting below the belt.” Because she was lonely, so lonely that at times she couldn’t remember what it felt like to really hold someone, feel skin to skin, heartbeat to heartbeat. So if she was a little eager between the sheets, who could blame her?

He shrugged and took a seat, dangling his legs off the edge of the counter. “A faery does what a faery must.”

“Is that a faery creed of some kind?”

“Kayla, what would it hurt to go and have a good time? It’s Christmas Eve, and like you said, ‘It could be a gift to yourself.’ Too soon it will be morning and the magic of this holiday will be spent. You’ll return to your boring life and your normal, charming self.”

“Was that supposed to be a joke?” Sarcasm rang through her words.

A grin twinkled in his eyes. “I’ll make you a deal. If you go tonight and attempt to have a good time, I’ll leave you alone. Maybe even disappear from your life for good.”

“Ohhhh… That’s too tempting a deal to pass by.”

He popped up on his feet. “So you’ll wear the red dress?”

“Hector, it’s too revealing. Too tight.” It was so not her. Kayla would feel much better if she wore a suit, something she felt comfortable in when around a crowd of people, most of whom she’d never met before.

“It’s just your size and you know it.” He looked as if he might sit down again, but stopped midway. “Of course I could spend the remainder of the night by your side. Maybe we could sing Christmas carols.”

For the love of God, no.

“Okay, okay. I’ll wear the darn dress.”

He stretched to his full height, looking pretty proud of himself. “And the pearls.”

Kayla couldn’t help the smile that slipped across her face. She’d never look at a strand of pearls the same way. “Yes. The pearls too.”

Would Barry feel the same?

“Good.” Hector sprang into the air, his wings fluttering. “Let’s get started.” He swarmed around her head. “How are you going to wear your hair? Up, I think. That way you can wear me as a hairpin.”

“Hectorrrrr…” Kayla stretched out his name in warning. “You are not going tonight.”

* * * * *

Barry knocked on Kayla’s front door, half expecting her not to answer. As they’d parted at O’Malley’s, he’d thought he’d heard something strange in her voice, seen a shift in her demeanor. If he didn’t know better, he would say she was pulling away. Tugging restlessly on the neck of his sweater, he pressed the doorbell.

“Come in,” she yelled.

Letting himself in, he noted her apartment was larger than most of the apartments he’d been in around this area. From where he stood in the entryway he could see her library, or maybe it was her office on one side. Wall-to-floor shelves lined three walls, and the fourth had an exquisite oak desk and a chair that looked almost like a throne. Everything on the top of the polished wood was neat and orderly, much the way how he assumed she lived her life.

On the other side was a living room that flowed into the dining room. The furniture was simple, but by no means inexpensive. It added an unassuming elegance to the home. Barry was studying her entertainment center, discovering she liked jazz when he heard the click of her heels on the marble. Casually, he turned. His breath caught.

He had never seen a more arresting woman.

The off-the-shoulder red dress caressed her body as if it were a second skin. It wasn’t too short or too long, revealing just enough of her lengthy legs to make a man want to follow them all the way up. The spiked heels she wore put her at eye level but he didn’t care. The shiny shoes enhanced the shape of her calves and they were sexy as hell. As his hungry gaze roamed higher, he paused at the plunge of the bodice. There again, it was barely low enough to tease and tantalize, an enticement to keep a man interested all night long. Then he noticed her hair swept up in a waterfall of curls that emphasized her slender, luxurious neck—a neck he knew every inch of.

“Pearls.” He grinned. “Just the right touch.” From the steamy look in her eyes, she must have been recalling the same memory of their little adventure this afternoon. “You are stunning.”

“Thank you. You clean up pretty good yourself.” A white fox stole was draped over her bent arm. A small clutch purse dangled at her wrist. Running a palm down the front of her gown, she appeared uneasy. “Do you think this dress is appropriate? I mean— I have a nice suit I can wear.”

“Don’t you dare change.” He very much enjoyed how she looked. His cock twitched in agreement. “You’re driving me crazy in that dress. I can’t wait to peel it off you, discover whether you’re wearing panties or a thong.”

“But your parents?”

“You’ll turn my father’s head and Mom will love the pearls.” He closed the distance between them. “You don’t have a thing to worry about, especially with my parents. They’ll love you.” Her skin was silky smooth beneath his palms as he ran them up her bare arms.

“I would just feel more confident in my suit.”

He leaned in and kissed her softly. “And here I thought you were more comfortable naked and in my arms.” That earned him a laugh.

“Now that you mention it, I am pretty comfortable with you. It’s just I’ve never worn anything like this before.”

That’s when he realized that she wore her suits like armor. She was an attorney but it wasn’t only who she was. Didn’t she realize that she was a beautiful, desirable woman as well, and more importantly that it was okay?

“Today appears to be a day of firsts for a lot of things.” He winked in an effort to return them to the comfortable intimacy they shared earlier.

She blushed prettily.

“Baby, let me share this experience with you as well.” Barry knew he had won the battle when Kayla pressed her slender frame against his.

“I’d like that.” She spoke with a purr in her voice. But it was her half-shuttered eyes that sent his mind straight to visions of silk sheets and tangled limbs.

The heat of her body next to his lit the flame that flickered within. Removing that dress, making her truly vulnerable to him as she had been in his bed earlier, was sounding better by the minute. But his parents had him on a technicality—sovereign immunity. They were the sovereigns of the shindig, and he was not immune just because he was their son. They expected him to be there, at least for a couple of hours.

“If it wouldn’t hurt my folks, I’d suggest we just stay home.” The Christmas Eve party had begun with his suggestion when he was only a child. The family tradition had continued for almost twenty-six years. And in all honesty he loved the holidays and had always enjoyed himself—he even put up elaborate decorations in his home though he lived alone. Even with his mother meddling in his love life.

“What a good son you are.” Her lips vibrated with each word against his mouth.


Sliding his palm slowly over her ass, he discovered no panty line. Thong. “I aim to please,” he said while he was thinking of how pretty her globes had looked flush with color after his spanking.

Kayla dragged her lips over his once more, her nose caressing his. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” She smelled of a light powder, soft and feminine.

Damn. She could tempt a man of the cloth, but Barry had to make an appearance. Besides, he had a special Christmas gift for her. He popped her on the butt.

She squealed, laughter dancing in her eyes.

“Stop teasing me or I’ll have to paddle you.”

Her chin rose with an air of indifference. “Promises, promises.” She blew a breath across her fingernails, pretending to admire her cherry-red polish and ignore him.

Barry jerked her back into his arms and she started to giggle. “You little witch.”

“Me?”

“You.” His mouth closed over hers. She melted against him and he lost himself inside the kiss. When it ended, he pressed his forehead to hers. “We better get going.”

After ensuring her front door was locked, Barry led her outside where his car was parked next to the sidewalk. A cool breeze whispered by as he opened the door and watched the long-legged beauty climb in. Again his cock stirred. Barry could take her so easily, right here—right now. Instead, he skirted around the automobile, got behind the wheel, and they were off.

His parents lived about twenty minutes away. Kayla seemed quiet as he turned into their gated community. During the drive he had tried to engage her a couple of times, only to realize that a change had come over her. Kayla’s Ice Queen persona had returned with a vengeance. Her answers had been short and to the point, offering no more to enhance the conversation.

“You’re really nervous about this party.” He glanced over at her. “Why?”

“I don’t care to socialize.”

Barry was smart enough not to belabor the point. Remaining quiet, he focused on parking, and then his gaze rose and he started to laugh.

His parents had outdone themselves this year. Their entire house was lit up with colorful lights. The yard ornaments looked new. He didn’t recognize the snow globe or half a dozen other huge blowups. But he did have to admit the snow globe was his favorite. White pearly snowflakes fell softly on several penguins, a North Pole sign and, of course, Santa Claus.

When he and Kayla stood before the bright spectacle, she muttered, “I bet the neighbors love your parents.” There was a tinge of sarcasm in her voice, but her eyes sparkled as if she were a child experiencing Christmas for the first time.

Barry took her by the hand. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

The second they stepped inside his mother squealed, parting the crowd as if she were parting the Red Sea to get to their side. Like she always did, she hugged him with a death-defying grip before she kissed his cheek and commented she thought he wasn’t eating enough.

Then she turned her sharp attention to Kayla. “Oh my goodness, sweetheart. Who is this charming creature?”

“Kayla Jones. She’s an attorney for Buckman and Chase. Kayla, this is my mother, Cecilia Allred.”

Kayla extended her hand. “Mrs. Allred, it is such a pleasure to meet—”

His mother almost flew into Kayla’s arms, giving her a big, warm embrace. Kayla’s eyes widened with surprise as she hesitantly wrapped her arms around the smaller woman.

Barry smiled inwardly. His mother could melt the coldest of hearts. Kayla was no match for her.

After waving a maid over to take Kayla’s wrap and purse, his mother turned back to his date. “Now tell me about yourself. Parents. Brothers. Sisters.” She must have seen Kayla’s expression freeze, because she brushed her hand through the air and quickly changed the subject. “Charles told me that you won your case against a dastardly prosecutor.”

She winked at Barry.

“Charles?” he asked, as confused as Kayla appeared.

“Buckman. You know he and your father are friends. He keeps us apprised of all your courtroom antics when he can.” She turned her gaze to Kayla. “Apparently you are Buckman and Chase’s fair-haired child. Charles has wonderful things to say about you. I’ve been dying to meet you since I found out you would be attending tonight.”

This time his mother had surprised even him. How did she know about Kayla or the fact he would be escorting her? Then the answer stepped amongst the throng of partygoers.

Stan.

Barry should have known his mother would have quizzed his friend about her son’s love life. Once she knew about Kayla, she probably hunted Charles down and interrogated him about her.

His friend took one look at Barry’s date and male appreciation slid across his face as he approached. “Barry, who is this breathtaking beauty?”

“Kayla, this is Stan Keller, my broker and ex-friend.”

Stan chuckled, taking Kayla’s hand in his. “I’m his very best friend, he means.”

“It’s a pleasure, Mr. Keller.”

“Stan. Call me Stan.” He held Kayla’s hand longer than was polite and she arched a chilly brow. But Stan would be Stan. He raised their interlocked hands to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of hers.

“Barry?”

Turning, he greeted his father with a handshake and a slap on the back.

“I’m told you’re not alone tonight.” His father smiled warmly at Kayla, and Stan finally released her to shake the older man’s hand.

“Kayla Jones, this is my father, Conway Allred.”

She slowly extended her hand. “Conway Ammunition and Arms.”

“You’ve heard of my company?”

“Yes, I—” Could it be he didn’t remember her?

His father laughed. “Yes, I know. But there are no hard feelings.” When Barry flashed his father a questioning look, the man explained. “Your date was instrumental in reallocating some company resources.” When his father shared with the small group their acquaintance, Barry’s gaze darted to her.

Kayla had sued his father.