“Don't you ever disobey my rules again, do you understand, little elf?”
She nodded, unable to speak; her lungs were so cold.
“You're lucky I don't make it worse for you, dear.” He flicked a piece of ice off his shoulder then straightened his body as the room warmed around her. Her body sagged as blood rushed to her extremities.
The room went back to normal as if nothing had happened, and Jack stalked toward her again. He gripped her hair in his fist and pulled.
“I'll be watching you and that little Cooper. Step a toe out of line, either of you, and you’ll wish I had frozen you now.” He pulled back then straightened his suit again while she tightened her grip on her waist.
Why couldn't he just leave? He'd scared her and destroyed all her work. Wasn't that enough?
Another knock at the door startled her, and she froze again.
Please, don't let Jack hurt whoever it is
.
“Why don't you answer the door, darling?” Jack said, his eyes twinkling with something she didn't want to think about.
She walked to the door, straightening her outfit as she did. Though the room was warmed, she didn’t want to scare whoever was on the other side of the door. When she opened it, she let out a sigh of relief that quickly turned to fear.
“Justin!”
“Rina,” Justin said as he smiled. His blue eyes gazed at her. She wanted to jump into his arms and feel like nothing bad could happen. Yet, she also wanted to turn away and have him run the opposite direction so Jack couldn’t harm him. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything happened to Justin because of her.
Justin looked behind her and frowned. “I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had company.” His voice lacked emotion, and she missed the warmth. His warmth.
“Oh, sorry. This is, um, my boss, Jack.” She waved her hand toward Jack while Justin moved closer to her in the room. It was as if the room had gotten smaller with the addition of just one more person. She wanted to grab Justin and run, never looking back at any of the responsibilities and dangers that they faced. She was more responsible than that, at least slightly so.
Jack smiled again then walked toward them, holding his hand out. Rita didn't think Jack would do anything to Justin right now, but she couldn't be too sure. She watched as they gripped hands for a strong shake and moved away from each other. She held back a sigh of relief when Justin looked as if he hadn’t been hurt from it.
Small favors.
“So, I guess that makes you my boss as well?” Justin asked as he stood slightly in front of Rina as if sensing the danger from the tension-filled undercurrents.
“I'm afraid not. Elves are the only things under me.”
Rina winced at the derogatory and innuendo-filled comment but didn't say anything back. She hated being the weakling in this situation, but antagonizing him would only make things worse.
“I see,” Justin said, but she didn't think he did. Why wouldn’t Jack leave so that way everything would be better?
“I'm just here to make sure Rina doesn’t need help. Because, as you know, she's not very experienced in this. I wouldn't want anything to happen to her, or to you.”
Justin nodded and brushed her arm with his hand, as if trying to calm her. She winced as Jack caught the movement. Peppermint balls, this couldn’t be good.
“Well, I'll be staying at the inn as well, just to make sure everything's okay. It was good to meet you, Justin.” Jack walked out the door, closing it softly behind him, and Rina let out a sigh.
Immediately, Justin pulled her into a tight hug and ran his hands up and down her back. He kissed her forehead then traced her lips with his thumb. She sank into him and closed her eyes. This felt right, but it couldn't be.
“What was that? What's going on?” Justin asked as he ran his hands through her hair. She would have purred in contentment, but she barely held that back. His hands felt much different from Jack's. Strong, yet soothing and gentle.
“It's nothing.” She didn't want to worry him, but she could tell he didn't believe her.
He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger then kissed it. Butterflies flew around her stomach, and she blushed.
“Don't lie to me, Rina. I thought we were in this together. What did Jack want, and why does it look like you were scared to death of him?”
“He’s just my boss.”
“Rina, you can trust me. I need you on my side in order to get through this, but I also want to be by your side to get through what you need to get through. Let me help.”
Reluctantly, she pulled away from him and sat on the edge of her bed. He quickly sat right next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“He’s the basis for the legend of Jack Frost.”
“Seriously? So, he forms ice and cold and the winter?”
“I don't think he actually forms winter. I think that is an actual weather phenomenon. But, he can form ice, and he can make the room colder.”
“Did he hurt you?” Justin growled, and Rina felt all warm inside. He looked damn sexy when he was being possessive. Who knew she liked alpha cavemen?
“No, he just wanted to warn me.”
“I don't think I like you staying here.”
“Justin, I'll be fine.”
“No, you’re going to stay with me.”
Lots of naked breakfasts and sweaty nights filled her mind, and she shook them away. That was why they couldn't sleep under the same roof. She wouldn't be able to trust herself.
“I'm going to be fine. Jack won't hurt me.” Well, that was a lie.
“No, you're going to stay with me.”
“But, what about Connie?”
“I'll talk with her to make sure she stays at her daughter's house. Jack can fend for himself here because I don't trust him. You know I'm right. You can stay in the guest room and everything. You can trust me.”
“I know I can.” She didn't trust herself.
“Then stay with me. We can train together and get to know each other better. Please.”
She let out a sigh and ignored all the voices in her head saying how much of a horrible idea this would be. She didn't feel safe with Jack around, and even though it made her feel like a stupid woman, she wanted Justin around. Safety in numbers, and all that. Yes, that was what she was going to stick with.
“Okay.”
Justin smiled and kissed her softly. “Good.”
“But, no kissing.”
“Sorry, you already agreed before you tacked that on. Don't worry. I'll behave myself. Mostly.” He grinned and stood up. “I'm gonna go talk to Connie, and I want you to stay in this room. Don't open the door unless you hear my voice. We’ll take both cars and head to my place now. So, pack up.”
He ran out the door, closing it behind him, and she lay back down on the bed. What the hell was she getting herself into?
She quickly packed up her meager belongings, ignoring the sight of the now-thawed pieces of her notebook. Justin came back up to her room within minutes, and then they left to go to his place. He set her up in the guest room, and she felt a pang of longing that she wouldn't be in his room. Jeez, she needed a nice long nap. Her emotions and thoughts were all over the place.
Justin came in behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Without thinking, she leaned back into his embrace.
“How about we make dinner and watch a movie? What do you say, roomie?”
All she wanted to do was jump into bed and sleep wrapped in Justin's arms, but there was nothing else to say except “That sounds great.”
They made chicken Alfredo, laughing in the mounting sexual tension in the kitchen. Then they piled onto the couch and ate while watching a cheesy romantic comedy. After their bellies were full, Justin pulled her into his arms again, and they cuddled on the couch.
She burrowed into his side and told herself it was only for the night. The only reason she was letting this happen was because Jack had scared her earlier, okay, always. Tomorrow, they would act professional and be friends. She was his assistant, nothing more, but as Justin traced circles on her shoulder and she could hear his heartbeat under her ear, all she could think about was how perfect this was and how she wanted more. Restraining herself might prove even more dangerous than Jack.
Chapter 7
“I can't wait until Jordan takes up her spot as the mayor,” Abby said then she banged her head against the desk. “I'm so tired of still having to do everything according to the board’s old ways. Lesson plans suck.”
Justin threw his head back and laughed. “I love how you filter it when telling me how you really feel about lesson plans. I am your boss, you know.”
Abby blushed and rolled her eyes before getting back to the tedious job of making sure the lesson plans were not only approved by every state and national guideline, but also to the ignorant and outdated guidelines of Holiday. Oh, the laws for their town were perfect for their time, but it had been a hundred years, it was time for a change. Justin hated them, but luckily their old mayor, a corrupted, black-hearted man, was in jail for a very long time for trying to kill Matt and Jordan. And soon, his sister-in-law to be, Jordan, was going to be the new mayor, so things were about to change.
“Just think, this may be the last semester we have to worry about rules that were put in place over a hundred years ago,” Justin said as he picked up a sugar cookie. He bit into the soft, sugary delight, frosting coating his tongue. Jesus, he was losing it. At least he had an idea of why he was craving sugar cookies every day. Though he may have to try to hold himself back at some point, he didn't want to actually look like Santa.
“True. It would be nice to be able to teach without having to imagine a horse-drawn buggy taking the kids to the one-room school.” Abby laughed as she took a cookie. Justin ignored the urge to take it back from her. He really needed to stop acting as if he was five.
“These cookies are so good, Justin. I cannot believe you can bake. You Cooper brothers keep surprising me.” Abby closed her eyes and moaned as she bit into the cookie, and Justin just shook his head. He was pretty sure he looked exactly like she did when he bit into one, so he couldn't fault her for that.
They worked another hour, eating way too many cookies but getting everything done they needed to.
“Jeez, Justin, how did you let me eat all those cookies?” She stood and patted her already generous hips and sighed. “It's a wonder you’re not gonna have to roll me out of here.”
“Oh, shut it, Abby. You're beautiful, and you know it.”
She blushed then rolled her eyes. He'd said it before to her, but she never thought he was telling the truth. Though neither of them had feelings for the other past being good friends, he still thought she was one of the most beautiful and nicest people he'd ever met. It pissed him off to no end that Tyler couldn't see that. It was as if a curtain stood between Tyler and Abby. No matter how bright she shown, Tyler was blind to see it. Maybe once Justin figured out his own love life, he’d be able to help Ty with his.
“Hello? Justin?” Rina’s voice echoed from down the hall, and Justin smiled.
“We’re in here, Rina!” Justin called back then started to clean up so he could go home with her. Her SUV hadn't started that morning for some reason, so she’d dropped him off at work. It felt so domestic and it surprised him he enjoyed it. He didn't want to think too hard about what that meant.
“Look at that smile on you,” Abby said as she helped him clean. “So, the rumors must be true.”
Justin blushed and felt like a giggling schoolgirl. “I'm not going to gossip with you.”
“Ah, but that's no fun.”
“Oh, I'm interrupting,” Rina said from the doorway, her eyes wide. “I can go wait out in the car if you want, Justin.”
There was something in her voice that made Justin pause. He looked back down at what she was seeing, and he silently cursed. Abby was bent over the table, cleaning up things, and he was bent right beside her, though from Rina's point of view, it probably looked a little more risqué. Crap.
He quickly stood up and put on his coat. “No, were done.”
“I see.”
No, he didn't think Rina saw what was really happening. He would have to fix that. “Come on, Abby, we’ll walk you out.”
Rina didn't say anything but smiled at both of them as they walked silently and awkwardly down the corridor. He risked a glance at Abby, but she shook her head and widened her eyes. Yeah, he probably shouldn't be looking at her if he wanted to prove to Rina that there was nothing going on.
They said goodbye to Abby and piled into Justin's car. Rina didn't say anything but was still smiling, as if she couldn't quite not be cheerful. Maybe that was the elf in her.
“You do realize that nothing's going on between me and Abby, right?”
Rita looked at him and shook her head. “It didn't look that way to me.”
Justin reached out and traced her jaw with his finger, her skin soft beneath his. “We were just cleaning up because I was excited to go home with you. Abby is in love with Tyler.”
“Oh.”
“I wouldn’t have kissed you and offered to let you stay with me in my home if I was with anyone else. I like you, Rina. I want to be with you.” He leaned over and pressed his lips softly to hers. She stiffened for only a moment then relaxed, parting her mouth ever so slightly. He took the invitation and brushed his tongue against hers. She let out a little moan, and he deepened the kiss, their breaths quickening. He pulled back reluctantly and traced his fingers along both of her ears. She shuddered and bit her lip.
“Considering we’re in my school parking lot, we should probably go home and finish this there if that's what we’re going to do.”
“Are we?”
He groaned and shifted in his seat, his cock rubbing against his zipper. “Let’s get you home.”
“I’d like that.”
He swallowed hard and visions filled his head, mostly of her naked beneath him as he licked every inch of her skin to see if she tasted like sugar. Damn, he needed to get a grip on his control if he wanted to drive home safely. As it was, the ice on the roads would require all of his attention. His cock might be demanding he sink into the sexy elf beside him, but he was stronger than that. Maybe.