The Billionaire’s Fake Christmas Engagement: Elkin Brothers Christmas Book Two Read online

  “I have to have you.” He’d pulled his face from between her legs, and Anna pulled him up onto the bed, her shirt tangled, and her face flushed. “I can’t wait another minute.”

  “Don’t wait.” Those two words were the sexiest he’d ever heard.

  Gabe fumbled in a drawer for a condom—thank God he’d had the foresight to put them there—while Anna repeated them in his ear, her arm thrown around his neck. He should get undressed, he knew, but that would take time, and he wasn’t going to spend time on that. Gabe settled for shoving his own pants out of the way and crawling between her legs, desperate for contact.

  Anna opened for him, hooking her feet around the back of his thighs, and his crown nudged into her slick entrance. “Good,” she murmured, almost feverishly. “So good.”

  He pushed himself into her with a powerful stroke, and Anna bit down on his shoulder. There. That was it. She was so tight and ready as he put a hand under her chin and tipped her head up to kiss her while she squeezed and rocked around him. Harder, harder. He let himself fall into a steady pace, taking her again and again.

  She came up for air a minute later and pushed on his chest, enough to get the momentum she needed to turn them both over. Oh, God, it was a sight—her neck exposed to him, her back arched, the shirt barely hanging on. Anna planted her hands on his chest and rode him, rocking her hips in a sensuous pattern that had desire sparking all the way up and down every nerve.

  He gripped her hips and pulled her down with more force, needing to bury himself deep inside her.

  Yes.

  The pad of his thumb brushed against her clit, and she clenched around his thickness, pulling him close to the edge of release. He drew slow circles around her sensitive nub until she gasped and fell forward onto his neck.

  “Gabe, I’m—”

  “Come for me,” he hissed in her ear, and then followed her over when she let go.

  Anna pushed herself up and rode him through his orgasm, collapsing to the pillow afterward—her breath fast and labored.

  For once, he didn’t have to live with an expanse of empty mattress between them. Gabe curled himself up around her and waited for his racing heart to settle. He didn’t know how long it had been when he finally had the urge to speak. “I was wrong,” he told her. “Last night, I was wrong.”

  “You’re never wrong.” She felt languid and sleepy underneath him. He would have given any amount of money to make the moment last forever.

  “I should have been more...caring about how stressed you looked last night. Is everything all right with your friend?”

  Anna shifted against him and gave a little sigh. “My best friend Elena—that’s who I was talking to. We usually spend time together at Christmas.”

  Gabe waited, saying nothing, but continued to stroke his hand over her hip.

  “She was worried,” Anna continued, “because my last relationship was with a pretty-boy socialite from LA. Not that you’re a pretty-boy socialite. Just—he had a lot of money and influence, but I only ever saw him when he came to Vegas. He never invited me out to LA. When it came down to it, I wasn’t good enough for him, and he let me know that.”

  For the life of him, Gabe couldn’t understand how any man could think Anna wasn’t good enough for anything. She was gorgeous, brilliant, and accomplished. It was why he’d asked her to come to the resort with him in the first place. The jerk had been dating her, and getting to do all the things that Gabe wanted—

  Bitter jealousy sliced through him, and Gabe fought to tamp it down. At least the man was gone now. But none of this explained the tension at dinner when Jonas asked about her family.

  “You are good enough. No matter what might have happened in your past.”

  Anna stiffened for a fraction of a second, and if she hadn’t been wrapped up in his arms, he might have missed it. “You know I’m not close with my family,” she offered by way of explanation. “There are certain things about them I’d rather not talk about.”

  It was vague enough to make him curious, but at the same moment, he felt it—the hurt behind her words. Certain things could mean a lot. It wasn’t up to him to pry or press. Gabe cuddled her closer, hoping to soothe her. Hopefully, he would be enough.

  Whatever this was, he’d protect her from that, too.

  The longer he kept his body close to hers, the more she relaxed. “Let me get you some water.”

  “I’d rather you stay and hold me some more.” Anna’s tone was light, but it had a layer of longing that called to him.

  “I like the sound of that even better.” It was something, how they fit together—so right, like they’d been made to do this. Gabe wanted to stay like this all night. He wanted to stand between Anna and whatever it was that made her shoulders tight and her voice thin.

  “Are you sure?”

  Was he? It wasn’t often that he felt this fierce protective instinct. It was confusing. “I’m very sure.” He kissed her hair. “Now go to sleep. I’ll be here all night.”

  9

  Gabe’s phone rang in the hazy light of morning, and Anna stretched out the pleasant ache in her limbs while he rolled over to grab his phone.

  “We’re not up yet if you’re calling to invite us somewhere.” His voice had a gravelly, sleepy quality that made her body respond—nipples peaking, desire curling low.

  Anna rolled over on her side to watch him.

  He pushed a hand through his hair, eyes still closed. Seconds later, they shot open. “Okay. I’ll tell Anna. When?” A pause. “All right. Thanks, Jonas.” He hung up and let the phone fall to the covers. “Grandmother isn’t feeling well. No big lunch or dinner today.” His lips had turned down at the corners, a good indication of his fear for his grandmother.

  Sympathy squeezed at her chest. “What else?”

  Gabe glanced at her, a wry smile suddenly tugging at his lips. “Jonas has arranged a gift for my grandmother. He’s got a photographer coming for Christmas to do family portraits for a couple of days.” He eyes grew distant. “Which means I need to think of something better for my grandmother.”

  His determination would have made her laugh if she didn’t feel deeply for the man lying next to her. Resentment of his brother’s one-upmanship was written plain as day on his face. “You know, if you really want to impress your grandmother, you should bake something. It always adds a special touch.”

  Gray-green eyes met hers, the full force of his gaze making her blush. “It might if I knew how to bake—which I don’t.”

  “Lucky for you, I’m an excellent baker. Come on, get up. Let’s go.”

  “Go where?” Gabe’s expression took on an open, hopeful cast that made her heart beat faster. He scrambled out of bed behind her and followed her into the bathroom.

  “If we’re going to bake, we need supplies. You don’t want to go down to the lodge kitchen, do you?”

  “No,” he said quickly. “Let’s go into town.”

  An hour later, they carried bags back into the suite and set them out in the kitchen. It was a well-appointed place, if a bit small, with marble countertops and stainless-steel appliances that looked brand new. Like everything at the Elk Lodge, it was top of the line. Perfect. And the man standing in it with her—

  He looked pretty perfect, too.

  “Peanut-butter chunk cookies,” Anna announced. “They’re my favorite, and everybody loves them. Roll up your sleeves so we can get started.”

  Anna might have had practice baking, but Gabe was clueless. They mixed the first ingredients, then added the flour, baking soda, and vanilla extract.

  Twenty minutes later, the whole endeavor resounded of failure. At first, she’d thought they bought too much at the grocery store—way more than they could possibly need. But with the first batch lopsided, there was no choice but to try again. They couldn’t possibly serve these to Gabe’s grandmother.

  Gabe shook his head and reached for the mixing bowl again. This time she took control of the flour while he added th
e brown sugar and other ingredients. Anna felt her shoulders relaxing as she enjoyed the easy camaraderie between them.

  Here, in the small kitchen, it seemed safe enough to talk. To let some of the heaviness from last night go. “My parents really hated each other,” she said, watching as Gabe stirred the mixture. “It made everything in my childhood...very tense.”

  The set of Gabe’s jaw told her he was listening intently, and she was grateful for his silence, allowing her to maintain the courage to continue. “My father was always getting into trouble, my mother was always angry, and none of it was idyllic. Not like this place.” Anna took a deep breath. “Baking always made me feel better.”

  “My parents loved each other when they were still alive. And my grandmother did her best to make a happy home for us. We were lucky.” Gabe shook his head. “But I never felt like I measured up to a family like this one. It was always so perfect here, and I don’t know—maybe I just wanted something else out of life. I didn’t think I could do what Jonas did. And Chase took off chasing his dream. So, when it was my turn, I did the same. I left the family business to start out on my own. It’s been a success, but then I was never with the right girl, never happy enough...not to please Grandmother, anyway.” He slid the next batch of cookies into the oven and closed the door, setting the timer on the microwave.

  When he straightened up, Anna met him with a kiss. Empathy squeezed at her heart, and she already hummed with desire from standing so close to him. Gabe didn’t seem surprised at her arms on his shirt or her lips on his—he seemed hungry. Like a man looking for a port in a storm.

  He groaned, low and soft, and the sound made her move closer. “I’ve wanted to kiss you all morning.”

  “I’m kissing you now,” she said.

  Gabe took her in his arms, letting his hands work over her dress, caressing the soft red material. He pushed it up to her hips like he was opening a present, and then dropped to his knees.

  She sucked in a breath at the sight of his blond head below her, leaning in to press kisses to the line where her panties met her thighs. He tugged them down like he was undoing a ribbon and she stepped out of them, suddenly finding herself backed against the counter. Gabe kissed her core, sending a hot wave of desire through her body.

  His tongue stole between her folds, and she put a knuckle between her teeth, trying to stifle the moans that escaped. It felt like she was falling. Like he’d opened a door into his heart and soul. It was then she knew the truth. She’d fallen for Gabe. And for the pleasure that wound tight between her legs.

  Gabe brought her to a slow, sensuous release. Before she knew it, he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom while the aftershocks still echoed through her body. He opened the nightstand drawer and grabbed a condom, quickly returning to the task. Unfurling the protection, he slid it onto his length, sheathing him tightly. He was strong enough to hold her up with her back against the wall, wrapped around him as he thrust into her.

  Oh, it was good. It was better than chocolate, better than cookies, and better than Christmas. The slow roll of his hips against hers and the way he dropped his head against her shoulder while he pushed in and pulled out made her dizzy with desire.

  Gabe repositioned her hips, rolling her close against him. Anna gave in to the orgasm as it climbed higher and higher, crashing in waves as it broke over them. She could feel him coming, feel the tension in his lean body while he came. When it was over, he held her up, thumbs tracing a path on the flesh of her hips while their breathing slowed.

  I hope he feels the same. The thought unfolded itself and dissolved like sugar on her tongue.

  A faint beeping came from the kitchen, and Gabe let out a heavy sigh and set her back on her feet. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and was gone, off to check on the cookies.

  * * *

  Later that night, they wrapped the cookies in a gift box and headed for his grandmother’s rooms. They met up with Jonas, Tana, and Chase at the door.

  Chase’s eyes twinkled. “What’s in the box?”

  “A gift,” Gabe answered. “Is she waiting for us?”

  “What kind of gift?” Jonas asked.

  “Not a gift for you.” Gabe led the way into the apartment, where his grandmother waited in the living room, elegant in a long black sweater and a silver scarf at her throat. He bent to kiss her cheek and put the gift box gently in her hands. Jonas and Chase exchanged a look.

  “What’s this?” Elin’s eyes twinkled. “For me?”

  Gabe rubbed at the back of his neck. “Just some Christmas cheer.”

  His grandmother pulled open the top of the box, and her eyebrows went up. For the first time, Anna saw the cookies the way the older woman would see them—chunky, a little misshapen, and obviously homemade. “Oh, thank you, Gabe.” She pulled him down into a hug.

  “Did you do that yourself?” Jonas asked, a slightly suspicious look on his face. “I think this is the first time you’ve ever baked anything.”

  “Anna and I worked together,” Gabe answered.

  His grandmother lifted a cookie from the box and bit into it, her eyes fluttering closed. “This is delicious.” She finished the cookie quietly and offered some to the others.

  “Cute.” Chase grinned. “Nice gift.”

  Gabe shrugged in response, but Anna could see the color darkening in his cheeks. He angled his body more toward his grandmother who’d managed to eat the entire cookie without getting so much as a crumb on her sweater. “I’m sorry I couldn’t host a dinner for you tonight.”

  “That’s okay.” Jonas spoke first without hesitation. “If you need to rest, you can rest.”

  Anna had noticed the tension in the woman’s body the whole time they’d been there, so it was nice to see her relax a bit. It was, she supposed, a family tradition for their grandmother to host many meals throughout the holidays, each lovely and elegant. The mood in the room shifted, and each brother set out to reassure their grandmother it was more than okay to take it easy.

  Tana moved to sit on the couch beside Elin as they chatted, but Anna couldn’t do it.

  It didn’t matter, though, because she was never going to be a genuine part of this family—the thought causing a lump to form in her throat. She’d told Gabe some of her past, and so far, he didn’t act differently toward her. But that was way more than she could expect from the rest of his family. Or deserved, for that matter.

  Anger swelled, heating her cheeks and making her mouth go dry. Her father could have been a decent man who led a normal life, and then she wouldn’t have any secrets. They weren’t really her secrets, either, but no matter what she did, they seemed to cling to her like a second skin.

  Gabe appeared at her side and put a hand on her back, his thumb tracing a slow path over the fabric of her dress. “She likes the cookies,” he murmured into her ear, but she could see that he wasn’t sure the gift had been good enough.

  “She definitely did,” Anna agreed. “I saw her face when she took the first bite. You can’t hide joy like that.”

  He relaxed. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” He leaned in and kissed her temple, and just like that, all her frustration melted away. A kiss on the temple in front of his family didn’t mean anything, but the words he spoke only for her benefit were different. Those meant something. So did the way he pulled her in close to his side and held her there for a few moments. “We’ll let you rest, Grandmother,” he called. “Let us know if you need anything at all.”

  Everyone said their goodbyes, and Anna and Gabe led the procession back out of their grandmother’s rooms and to the elevator. They exited, Gabe still holding her hand as he led her to their rooms.

  “Home sweet home,” she said as Gabe paused outside the door.

  His eyes met hers in a flash of heat that still managed to surprise her even though they’d already been intimate. Gabe smiled. A genuine, open, and filled-with-relief smile. “That’s right.”

  10

  Gabe woke to the
sound of a hair dryer running, and for a minute, he didn’t know where he was. He kept a hair dryer in his penthouse apartment in Vegas, of course, but these didn’t feel like his pillows. He turned over and opened his eyes. Ah—the Elk Lodge. Home. And the person with the hair dryer was Anna.

  He closed his eyes again and indulged in the fantasy of her for a few more moments. Home—with Anna. It sounded right in his head. But it was the stuff of dreams, not reality.

  No matter how much he wanted to keep her in bed, they sometimes had to leave the suite.

  The hair dryer went off, and she emerged from the bathroom, snugly wrapped in a bathrobe, her dark eyes lighting up at the sight of him. “Sorry if I woke you.” A sheepish blush came to her cheeks, layered on top of the pink from the dryer’s heat. “You’re usually up earlier than this.”

  “I slept in.” Gabe rolled onto his back and stretched his arms above his head. “Too comfortable next to you.” Oh—he hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

  Anna only laughed and headed for the closet. She reappeared at the side of the bed, the forest-green of her dress stunning. Her eyes swept over him. “Are you going back to sleep?”

  If you come with me. “No, I have plans for us.” He’d made the decision as he was falling asleep the night before. “We need to go to town.”

  “Oh, okay. Hurry up, then.” Her smile was the perfect way to start the day.

  He threw back the sheets. “You just want to see me in my boxers.”

  Anna winked at him. “So what?”

  She was too perfect. Gabe headed for the shower, wondering at every moment whether she’d climb in with him. Or hoping. But no, she’d just done her hair for the day. His guess was she’d be waiting by the front door when he got out. Efficient should have been her middle name.