Unwrapped by Lacey Alexander Read Free Book Online Page B

had last night.
    Like so many dreams, it was somewhat nonsensical—but he’d definitely liked it.
    He’d been dressed up, playing a department store Santa himself. He’d never done that or had any urge to, but in the dream, it seemed normal. He sat atop a throne similar 42
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    to the one before him now, but he’d been surrounded by a cottony, glittery winter wonderland scene—which he thought he should tell the mall personnel about, since he’d found it much more appealing than the plastic reindeer and oversize candy.
    Other major differences between his dream and this reality: There had been no crowd in the dream, no one else around but the girl perched in his lap. And that girl hadn’t been a child. She’d been Emily, wearing a red, see-through baby doll nightie and carrying a matching lollipop. She’d squirmed flirtatiously in his lap, sucking provocatively on the candy.
    “Are you naughty or nice, little girl?” he’d asked in a deep Santa voice.
    “Oh, definitely naughty,” she’d assured him in a sexy tone he’d never had the pleasure of hearing Emily use.
    And then the damn alarm had gone off, and he’d awakened to find one of Em’s legs looped over his, which was both comforting and…frustrating. Given the dream. And the fact that he didn’t have the luxury of rolling over and initiating some nice morning sex with her as he would have with most women.
    She’d smiled at him, having no idea of his thoughts, or that his dick was hard.
    Happy as a clam these past days, his Em, and he had no idea why. The holiday spirit, maybe? He knew she was looking forward to the big dinner she hosted every Christmas Eve at one of the large local shelters—since Christmas was an especially tough time for the homeless, she liked knowing they had somewhere welcoming to go on that particular night. And it gave her an opportunity to convince newcomers to stay at the shelter, where maybe her agency could help them get back on their feet.
    He’d gone with her to the dinner the past two years and would this year, too. He loved watching her do her job—she was no less than amazing with the people who wandered into the shelter looking emotionally battered, lost, afraid. Each time he saw her at work it made him fall in love with her a little more.
    Although maybe he shouldn’t go this year, now that he thought about it. Loving her more would hardly help this situation, which, for him, was growing dire.
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    Lacey Alexander
    “Morning, honey,” she’d said.
    “Morning, Em.” He’d glanced over at her. She was the sort of woman who looked good first thing upon waking, sans makeup, hair tousled.
    “I’ll be late tonight. Cookie exchange at Lisa’s after work.” A neighbor friend.
    He’d nodded against his pillow. “Maybe I’ll do some shopping then.”
    But so far, he’d managed to buy nothing for her—no gift he could find seemed
    “right” for right now.
    Maybe, he thought then, the idea just striking him as he walked past Victoria’s Secret, he should seek out a baby doll nightie like the one in his dream. She’d look gorgeous in something like that.
    But then he’d have to beg her to even wear it, and it wouldn’t be worth the trouble.
    With a sigh—and empty hands—he gave up and headed outside, where it was just beginning to snow.
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    December 24

    “I’m going to take a quick shower, sugarplum,” Simon said. They’d just gotten home from the annual Christmas Eve dinner at the shelter, where they’d helped serve a two hundred and fifty-two homeless people a decent meal. Emily had talked personally to as many as she could, handing out brochures and encouraging them to stay afterward. She would be lucky—and thankful—if thirty or forty took her advice, but if that many people had a better night, and maybe a few of them a better future, that made her efforts more than worthwhile.
    And she was fairly exhausted, but not too exhausted to follow through on her plan now that