Chapter3
1524 Words
Santa's Present
Marie's POV
Standing behind me… was him. Rhett Harrington in the flesh looking even hotter than he did last night at the gala.
He wore a dark coat over a fitted black shirt, sleeves pushed up, hair slightly messy like he’d run his fingers through it a hundred times. His jaw was clean-shaven and his eyes... God, those eyes... warm brown and somehow wild at the same time.
“Merry Christmas,” he said with his voice low, smooth and dangerous in a sexy way.
I swear my knees almost knocked together.
'M—Merry Christmas,” I answered, trying not to sound like I swallowed a sock.
He gave me a small smile.
“Sorry about that guy. He shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.”
“It’s fine.” I shook my head quickly. “I mean, not fine, but… you know. I handled it.”
He laughed softly.
“Oh, I saw. You scared him off before I even opened my mouth.”
“I have a gift,” I said with a tiny shrug.
“Well,” he said, leaning one elbow on the bar, “it worked.”
For a second, neither of us spoke. I just stared at him because… what else was I supposed to do? He was Rhett Harrington! The same Rhett Harrington, who was basically rich people's royalty. The Harrington family were everywhere... news articles, magazines, gossip blogs and if money had a face, it would be his.
Then he looked at me again with his playful eyes.
“Do you mind if I sit?”
“You’re already sitting,” I pointed out.
That made him laugh again and something warm spread through my chest. Wow. He smiled like he meant it… Like he actually enjoyed talking to me.. Not like the men I served drinks to all week.. not like the rude guy who called me a hooker and not even like Ryan, whose charm was loud and messy. Rhett’s charm was quiet, slow and beautiful.
“So,” he said, “you work here?”
“No,” I said. “I’m just here with my friend Dana. She ditched me.”
“That’s unfortunate,” he said. “For her.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Why for her?”
“Because,” he said simply, “she missed the chance to introduce me to you.”
My heart did a somersault.
“Oh,” I murmured with heat creeping up my neck. “Good line.”
“No,” he smirked. “If it was a line, it would be smoother. I’m a little rusty.”
“You don’t look rusty,” I said before my brain could stop me.
He chuckled.
“I’ve been out of town for a while.”
“Oh?”
That explained why I didn't know him until the gala.
“Yeah.” He sipped his drink. “Only came back a few months ago. My dad’s health… it’s not great.”
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
“It’s life,” he said quietly. “But I’m around and trying to help where I can.”
For someone with billions in the family name, he didn’t talk like it, and he didn’t act like he was above me, with no ego and no arrogance. Just a normal guy with a tired look in his eyes and a sad smile and I found myself relaxing…really relaxing.
I stopped thinking about how expensive his watch was.. or how perfect his skin looked.. or how his suit probably cost more than three months of my rent.
He was just Rhett. Pleasant, funny and gentle.
We talked and talked and talked. About stupid things.. About food.. About movies and about how he didn’t like snow.
“Who hates snow?” I teased.
“I do,” he replied. “It’s cold, it’s wet, and it makes my shoes dirty.”
I laughed hard.
“Wow. Such a spoiled rich boy problem.”
He raised a brow.
“So you admit I’m rich?”
“You are rich,” I said. “I’d need a twenty-page contract to afford your lifestyle.”
He shrugged casually.
“Maybe one day you will.”
My stomach did a backflip. Who was this man? Why was he talking to me like this? Why… did it feel so easy?
As the night grew louder and brighter and drunker, I tried texting Dana, but she didn’t respond. I told Rhett I couldn’t find her anywhere.
“The party’s getting wild,” he said, glancing around. “Do you want to leave?”
I hesitated.
“Maybe… just hang out outside a little?”
“No,” he said quickly. “It’s freezing outside and I don’t like snow.”
“You really have beef with snow.”
“I absolutely do.”
I laughed again.
“Come on,” he said gently. “I’m staying in a room upstairs. We can sit, talk and you know.. chill somewhere quiet.”
I stared at him.
“You have a room in the same building?”
“Yes. The hotel part of this place. It’s nicer than shouting over drunk people.”
He wasn’t wrong.
I bit my lip. The hotel room sounded… risky, suspicious and dangerous but also safe and comfortable and I trusted him, which was insane, but the truth was… his voice, his smile and the way he talked... it all made me feel safe in a way I couldn’t explain.
“Okay,” I said softly.
His eyes warmed.
“Come on.”
He offered his hand and I put mine in it. His hand was warm and mine felt like it belonged there.
We rode the elevator in silence… good silence.. The kind that makes your skin tingle and your heartbeat too loud.
His room was on the twenty-second floor. He unlocked the door, held it open for me and I stepped inside.
It was beautiful with big windows, soft lights… a couch and a big bed in the corner. I turned to ask him something... but before I could, he kissed me.. just like that!
But he pulled back immediately.
“Sorry. I... I shouldn’t have done that. I just... you’re... I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...”
I grabbed his shirt and kissed him hard again and all his apologies vanished against my mouth.
He kissed me like he was starving.. Like he had waited years for this. His hands slid into my hair and mine slid down his chest.
Before long, clothes were on the floor. His skin was warm. His breath was warm and his touch… everywhere.
I didn’t overthink.. I didn’t panic.. I didn’t question. I wanted him and he wanted me.
That night felt like a real magical gift from Santa. The pleasure I had that night was something I knew I wouldn't be forgetting in a hurry. Perhaps Santa was making it up to me with this gift. Well.. if you call it a series of orgasms, gifts..!
***
When I woke up, it was already morning. My head felt light, my body felt lazy, and my heart felt… warm like I had lived someone else’s life last night.
“Rhett?” I whispered, stretching a little and rolling onto his side... but the bed was empty and cold.
I sat up slowly. The sheets were still messy, but his side had no heat left. His coat was gone.. his shirt too, his shoes.. Everything.
My smile slipped, and I stood up quickly, grabbing my dress off the floor. My hair was everywhere, my legs were sore in a way that made me blush, and I couldn’t find one of my earrings.
I checked the bathroom and I checked the hallway, but he was gone. Just like that.
A small ache twisted inside me, but I swallowed it. Maybe he went to get coffee. Maybe he had an emergency. Maybe...
I needed answers, so I rushed downstairs to the front desk.
“Hi,” I said breathlessly. “Um, the guy I came here with... did you see him? He’s tall, with good hair, a dark coat... his name is Rhett Harrington.”
An employee blinked.
“Harrington? Yes. I saw him leave around dawn.”
“Oh.” My stomach dipped. “Did he… say anything?”
“No, miss. He left quickly.”
I nodded, trying not to show the tiny crack I felt inside.
“Thank you.”
He left without a word. Okay. That stung.
But I refused to panic. We’d connected last night, actually connected. We talked, laughed, kissed and everything. He wouldn’t just vanish forever. Right?
Maybe he’d call. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he was scared. But he’d reach out. He had to.
Thinking about last night made heat rise in my cheeks and I almost smiled. Santa definitely blessed me last
night.
I got home fast with dread already crawling into my chest, because I knew... knew... my dad would be furious as I walked toward the door with heart pounding.
What a Christmas morning…!
- Writer
