A Villain for Christmas (The Holyoake Christmas Series, Book 2)

Double Shot

The five-or-so minute drive to the Hall wasn't enough to straighten our Billie's fuzzy mind after the thorough 'speech therapy session' she'd just participated in.

"Billie?" Dair called to her, clearly not for the first time.

She jolted out of her thoughts and clucked, "Pardon?"

"Are you spending the day in the H-Hall?" he asked and cleared his throat.

"Why?" she asked, taking her emotions under control.

"For t-top up," he answered.

She opened her mouth to tell him off - but then saw the proverbial twinkle in his eyes. Is the man really Italian? His expressions are as if dimmed to 5%. And he's so still! Aren't they supposed to talk with their hands?

"Firstly, I'm Ms. Bondarenko's slave, apparently," Billie grumbled back. "So I'm not sure what I'm doing today. And secondly, I don't think it's working anyroad. You might consider a different cure."

Or a different 'physician.' The image of Ms. Moretti wrapped around him popped up in Billie's mind. What's this nasty tension in Billie's temples?

He unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned in, and cupped her jaw. The familiar wave of warmth spread from her immediately flushed cheeks, down her neck, and plunged down her cleavage.

"It is working," he whispered, peering into her eyes, and kissed her.

Her first ever kiss had been in a car as well, except she had been significantly more uncomfortable, slightly sloshed - and enjoying it so much less! Much, much less so.

A knock to the window on her side made her jump up - and sink her teeth into his bottom lip. The pressure must have been negligible, since instead of complaining, he made a low rumbly noise in his throat. His hand fisted even more tightly around her jacket on her back, and he forcefully pulled her into him. Billie moaned, which he predictably misinterpreted as a sign of approval of his actions, and she felt his hand slide under her shirt on her waist. How did he get under all her layers?

Also, that would've sobered her up even if they had been alone.

'I'm sorry, Billie, I don't fancy bigger birds.'

She pushed the sharp distasteful memory to the back of her mind and pressed her hands into Dair's chest and shoved him away. He immediately released her.

Woah, look at the colour of his irises! It's like Cugat's Gatsby!

"Someone's–" she started and then whipped her head and looked behind her.

Bondarenko hadn't even stepped away from the car after her intrusion! She was just lighting her cigarette with a bored expression, apparently waiting for them to be done and come out.

"Ms. Bondarenko knocked," Billie explained and unnecessarily pointed behind her.

He tilted his head and glanced at the director over Billie's shoulder.

"Pity," he murmured and dove in for a quick peck.

Billie moaned in protest. Yes, it was a protest! What else could it be?!

She felt his body tense under her hands - when exactly did her hands land on him again?! - and then he jerked away from her.

"Cazzo," he exhaled and muttered something. Billie only heard 'not enough' and 'have to wait' and a frustrated "Minchia!"

Is he reassuring himself?! Is he... enjoying it that much too?

What do you mean by 'too,' Billie?!