Unmasked Desire (Love Demands a Holiday Book 6) Read online

  As I pulled away from his house, I called Cora to find out what it would take to do a special dance performance for the hospital. I couldn’t let Micah miss out on showing his mom just how hard he’d been working, even if she didn’t want to admit just how bad everything had gotten.

  Tuesday took forever to get here.

  But when Angela came bouncing down the capitol building steps, it was well worth the wait.

  She wore a tight sweater dress that hugged her curves accenting her full tits, and the wide curves of her hips, and knee-high boots I was looking forward to peeling off her later.

  I fully intended to strip off every layer until she was mine to feast on again.

  She climbed into my front seat, and then looked around this way and that before she turned and kissed me squarely on the lips. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” I grinned. “Ready?”

  She nodded and reached over, threading our fingers together. “I’ve been waiting for this all day.”

  I pulled out of the lot, heading straight for home.

  It had been almost four long days without her. I wasn’t sharing her, even with restaurant staff.

  Instead, I’d spent the afternoon prepping dinner. All it would need to do is finish cooking in the oven. And hopefully give me enough time to strip her naked.

  “So, we’re just over a week from the masquerade.” She looked over at me nervously. “Will you go with me?”

  “You know I’m going to be there.” I grinned as I pulled into my driveway.

  “No, I don’t just want you to be there.” She picked at the hem of her dress. “I want you to go. With me.”

  “Like, a date? A coming out party for the town, so to speak?”

  She bit her lip. “It’s stupid. Forget I said anything.”

  “I’d love to. But there’s something I have to do before the party.”

  “I thought you were doing my makeup.” Her eyes grew wide. “I need you, Colton.”

  God, I’d wanted to hear those words on her lips. But not like this.

  “I will. I just have some other things to take care of.” I pursed my lips. “I should be able to accompany you into the party. I’ll meet you at the event center half an hour before seven? That should give us enough time to do your makeup and do one final pass before people start showing up.” And that still should give me enough time to take care of any of the kids before then. Cora and Tru would be able to get them into position.

  “Forget it. If you’re going to be busy, I can do the final pass by myself. I can figure out the makeup too.” She pushed open the car door and headed for the front porch.

  I could tell she was upset. I couldn’t quite figure out why.

  I caught up to her quickly and pulled her against me. “Angela, I will pick you up at your place at six-fifteen. We’ll get your makeup done and drive to the hall together.” I held her firmly until she nodded.

  Her fingers toyed with my collar and she wouldn’t meet my gaze. “Okay. I’m sorry. I’m kind of a mess today.”

  “Did something happen?”

  “Nothing really. One of the damn interns showed up in costume. I think he was one of those horror killers you love.” She sighed. “I hid in my office until Tru made him go home and change.”

  I let her into my home and guided her to the kitchen. “I’ll open a bottle of wine. I won’t even use the creepy goblets tonight.” I was starting to understand, Angela felt safe with me. She wanted me there.

  She chuckled as she sat at the table. “Of course, you have creepy goblets.”

  I pulled one out of the cabinet. They were, as far as some of my dishware was concerned, fairly mild. But they still were shaped like skulls.

  She shook her head. “You’re so weird.”

  “What’s it say about you, that you’re into it?” I leaned down and kissed her, smiling widely as I pulled away. “I think you should get naked. It’ll make you feel better.”

  “Sure…” She rolled her eyes and got up, following me to the wine rack. “I thought we were going out to dinner.”

  “I decided it had been too long since we were alone together. I cooked.” I spun her around, pressing her against the fridge, and slid my hand under her dress, up her thigh as I kissed her.

  When I got to where her panties were supposed to be, I let out a groan. “Angela…”

  She smirked and reached for my waistband. “I might’ve decided it had been too long too.”

  I pointed at the table. “Take off your dress and bra and get on the table. Leave the boots on.”

  As she stripped, I threw dinner into the oven. I’d only have twenty minutes to get her off. Twenty-five if I wanted to risk burning something.

  When I turned around, Angela was sitting on the edge of the table, her legs crossed, not a stitch of clothes on, except those black knee-high boots.

  “Spread your legs. Let me see you.”

  She did as I commanded, leaning back on her hands as she opened her thighs wide.

  God, she was already wet.

  I strode over, leaning down to capture her mouth as my fingers stroked through her wet folds.

  She rocked into my hand, moaning into my mouth as I pressed a finger deep inside. Then another.

  “I’m going to have to start with dessert.” I dropped down to my knees, my fingers sliding in and out of her in rough, deep strokes. I licked my lips, and then pressed a kiss to the hickey I’d marked her with the last time.

  It was so fucking hot she wore my mark. A mark that would warn any other men that Angela was getting well fucked by someone else.

  “Colton…” She looked down at me, her dark brown hair falling in curly waves around her face. “Make me come.”

  How could I deny a demand like that? I buried my face into her sweet wet core, licking and sucking, working her up to a fever pitch quickly. I wanted to draw out her pleasure, make it last.

  But I wanted her coming on my face more.

  Angela didn’t disappoint. She wrapped her leg around my shoulder, keeping me close, as I worked her over.

  I could feel her pussy starting to clench around my fingers, warning her climax was building fast.

  She rocked against my face, making the table bang against the wall with every movement, and just before she came, she reached down and grabbed my hair, holding me against her as she threw her head back and cried out her release.

  I drank her in hungrily. She was better than any wine in my cellar. Sweeter than any dessert I could’ve possibly cooked up.

  There was no way I was letting her off with only one orgasm tonight. She’d be lucky if she’d be able to walk in these ridiculous, sexy boots, by the time I was done with her.

  Just as I dove in for another taste, the timer went off, and I groaned as I got up, letting her leg fall off my shoulders.

  “Stay naked.”

  She blushed a little but made no effort to close her legs or cover up. “I think it’s only fair you get naked too.”

  “Once I get dinner plated up.” I grinned, thinking I’d be more than happy to just eat her all night. But I wanted to make sure she ate well. And I had a feeling we’d need the fuel.

  She slid off the table and walked over, taking over pouring the wine.

  “Can you get the butter out of the fridge? It should be on the bottom shelf.”

  She opened the fridge and bent, looking for the butter.

  Which I’d already gotten out.

  I leaned back against the counter, licking my lips as she shifted her weight back and forth, searching in the fridge. Giving me the perfect view of her wet pussy.

  She looked over her shoulder at me and scowled. “Really?”

  “Trick for you, treat for me.” I grinned and strode over, pulling her up into my arms. I slid my hands up, until I was cupping her breasts. “Of course, with as hard as you make me, it might be a trick for both.”

  As I ran my thumbs over her nipples, she moaned and arched into my hands. “We should eat, before it gets
cold.”

  I was tempted to suggest we just order in later and let this all go to waste. It would be so easy to bend her over again, slip into her from behind.

  But my phone chirped the ringtone I’d assigned Cora and Tru, and I pulled away, knowing I needed to check it.

  If something happened that would jeopardize our dance, or if something had happened with Micah’s mom, I’d have to put my libido on hold. No matter how badly I wanted her.

  Angela frowned as she turned around and saw me pulling out my phone. “Is there something more important than a naked Mayor in your kitchen?”

  I glanced up at her, trying to unlock my phone. “In a minute, there won’t be.”

  She snatched the phone away before I could get it unlocked and scanned the lock screen. “Why is Cora Reynolds texting you?”

  The hurt in her eyes stabbed me like Michael Meyers with a butcher knife. My phone settings didn’t reveal a preview of the message and I knew that would only inspire more suspicion.

  “We’re working together on a few things. She’s Micah’s teacher.”

  She frowned and handed the phone back.

  I thought that might’ve been the end of it, but then she picked up her bra and her dress. “Maybe I should go home, if you’re going to be busy with other things tonight.”

  I needed to read the message. But I couldn’t let her leave like this either. I wasn’t sure she’d come back, if I didn’t fix this now.

  “Angela,” —I caught her wrist and pulled her close— “Micah’s mom’s in the hospital. She’s dying. I need to make sure something hasn’t happened. And then you’re all mine. I promise.” It was the truth without ruining the surprise I had planned for her.

  She sighed and sank down on one of the kitchen chairs. “Oh, God. Yeah, no, check it.” She set her clothes down again and bit her lip. “I can wait in another room, if you need to talk to her or something.”

  I used my thumbprint to unlock the phone, quickly reading through Cora’s message.

  Thankfully, it wasn’t anything bad.

  But it did mean I’d need to do twelve kids’ makeup in the morning, so we could do a preview dance for Micah’s mom.

  I locked the phone again and turned it on silent before I smiled at Angela again. “You’re all mine now.”

  “Shouldn’t that be the other way around?” She smirked at me.

  I shrugged. “Not tonight.” I scooped her up and carried her from the kitchen, up to my bedroom. The food would get cold. She might be starving by the time I was done with her. But I didn’t want to wait any longer. I’d already have to take her home earlier than intended. I didn’t want to waste one minute, even to make sure she was well fed. I had something else I wanted to fill her with more.

  The next morning was a hectic affair. Kids everywhere. Zombie makeup, done quickly and not nearly as carefully as I usually did.

  But the performance went off well, and the few patients who came out of their room for the show were enthusiastic and complimentary.

  None more so than Micah’s mom.

  Before they wheeled her back to her room, she grabbed my arm, and looked up at me.

  I could hardly look at her with the sunken, sickly cheeks and gaunt, yellowish tint to her skin. She was worse than the undead performers; she was pre-dead.

  But I’d give her any time she needed.

  The nurse asked me to accompany her back to her room.

  “I hear you’re talking to Micah some.” She coughed. “Thank you for getting him to do this. And for making sure he came.”

  I sat next to her bedside as she sipped water.

  “I know what it’s like to be in his shoes. I would’ve given anything to be with my mom, even though it’s hard. I’m sure you don’t want him thinking of you like this, or this being his last memories, but as a kid who didn’t get to be there, I’m glad you’re talking to him. Letting him see you like this.” I sighed. “But you shouldn’t lie to him. Don’t give him hope where there is none. It’s better to help him now while you’re still here then have him resent you for the lies and your absence when you’re gone.”

  She closed her eyes, and for a moment I wasn’t sure if she’d fallen asleep due to some medication, or if she was just taking a minute.

  Unwanted memories of my mother played in my mind like my own horror movie while I tried not to revert back to my ten-year self. Watching my mother collapse, hitting the ground, the crack of her skull on the floor. She laid there listlessly. I squeezed my eyes shut trying to will the memory away.

  I cleared my throat and shook myself out of my own post trauma. Micah and his mother needed more from me than to be the scared kid I was back then.

  Her eyes opened again, and she met my gaze. “No mother wants to leave their child so early. I hate I won’t get to see him grow.”

  “Just make the best of what time you do have. I promise, he needs it.”

  By the time I left, she was asleep, and Cora had called Micah’s dad to come pick him up later. Micah sat next to her, reading a book, seemingly unworried his mother had fallen asleep, or one day soon, she wouldn’t wake up.

  All I wanted to do was call Angela. Curl around her and hold her close.

  But she was at meetings all day, and Tru and I had finishing touches to put on the decorations for the masquerade.

  11

  Angela

  Halloween was just a few days away.

  And the whole town was out to get me.

  Children ran through town square in masks.

  Entire blocks were starting to look like Colton’s backyard.

  Inflatable monsters invaded yards.

  Spiders and witches and ghouls were everywhere.

  And the damned intern wouldn’t stop showing up with some new Halloween torment every day.

  I could barely handle going from home to work and back again.

  After one particularly stressful afternoon, I called Colton.

  It rang once.

  Twice.

  Three times.

  Right before it went to voicemail, he answered. Sounding breathless. “Hey, Angela.”

  I frowned. I knew he was up to something. It had to be something big. Even when he was working on his backyard, he made time to talk to me. “Hey. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “Just getting things ready for the masquerade. I promise, after all of this is over, you’re going to get sick of me we’ll be spending so much time together. You’ll be lucky if I let you out of bed after a week.”

  I sunk down in my office chair, frowning more. “We’re supposed to be working on it together. What could you be working on, that I’m not involved in?”

  He had hardly asked for any help on the decorations.

  I never got to hear or approve any of the bands.

  It was like since the moment he fucked me against my door, I didn’t get any say in the party anymore.

  And, sure, I didn’t really want to deal with any more of this Halloween crap.

  But that didn’t mean I was done with Colton.

  I hated how insecure I was without being in his arms. The only time I didn’t feel frightened by this stupid town and its outrageous holiday quirks was when he was around. I wasn’t this frail, timid woman. I was the mayor for fuck’s sake.

  “It’s no big deal. Really. I’m still picking you up on Friday at six-fifteen, right?” His voice sounded casual enough. He had no reason to lie to me.

  “Yeah, I guess. I need help getting into my dress.”

  I hardly even wanted him to do my makeup anymore.

  I considered hiring someone.

  It would be easier to handle, than the intimate, closeness of Colton Black, applying makeup, making my heart leap in my chest every time he touched me.

  Being unmarried and elected mayor had been a long shot. The community was all about family values, but they’d elected a gay mayor before me. Maybe Jubilee Falls was hip to the times. But I’d never needed a man to make me complete.
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  I didn’t like secrets and I certainly didn’t like surprises. After everything, I hoped he hadn’t planned on some giant prank to scare me or something. I still wasn’t sure if I would make it through the damned masquerade.

  “Ange, I promise, nothing’s going on. It’s a busy time for me. And with the masquerade, on top of the haunted house, I’ve just been putting in extra hours for Halloween.” I could hear the smile in his voice as he added, “You’re all mine November first.”

  There was something about the way he always said I was his, not the other way around, that sent a little shiver down my spine. And an aching to my pussy.

  But it didn’t explain why he’d taken over almost the entirety of the ball and its plans. And why I hadn’t seen much of him, not even at night. I couldn’t settle for being a booty call during the Halloween season.

  And my body didn’t understand either.

  I wanted time with him. I wanted his body pressed against mine, filling me up, taking every last bit of orgasm I could give him.

  Instead, I was alone.

  Surrounded by people wearing masks.

  Stolen away from the person who made me feel the most comfortable.

  A few days before Halloween.

  “You know what, I’ve got someone coming to do my hair before the party. I’ll just have her lace me in and do my makeup too. Why don’t I just meet you at the event center, instead of you having to drive out of your way to come get me.”

  “Angela,” His voice dropped into a familiar, oh-so-sexy deep tone, “I will see you, at your house, at six-fifteen.”

  God, why did that tone always make my pussy clench and want more? “Okay.”

  I hung up, feeling a little lost.

  I didn’t understand how we’d managed to go from hot and heavy to hardly talking in just a few days.

  Was he really this distracted by Halloween? Was it the kid with the sick mom? Was he also hot for teacher? What was going on?

  Or had he just gotten what he wanted from me, and wasn’t man enough to break it off clean? That didn’t seem like him either.

  I gathered my stuff and used the intercom on my phone to call out to Tru. “Hey, I’m taking off a little early tonight. Forward my calls to my cell phone.”