Akira Tong for Christmas Read Online Free Page B

Men.
    Sexy men.”
    “Where are you parked?” he asked, holding me up on the sidewalk outside.
    “Wow, that was some really good wine.” I sucked in a breath at all the Christmas decorations and lights. “How beautiful. Like a dream. What kind of wine was that again?”
    “Where are you parked, Anna?” he repeated.
    I regarded him. “You already asked that.” I glanced around and pointed at the SUV across the street.
    “There I am.”
    He led me across, and my damned heel got caught on God only knew what. His arm wrapped my waist and pulled me against him. “I hate these sorry excuses for shoes.” I hiccupped. “Torture devices are what they are. They’re the most idiotic creations. And how much you wanna bet”—I pointed in his face
    —“that a man came up with the stupid idea of high heels?”
    “Actually, no, a woman did.”
    Holding on to the SUV, I snorted as he opened the door. “I don’t believe you.”
    “That’s fine. Anna.”
    I plopped unladylike into the seat and looked at him. “You know what? Could you call me…Sarah?
    For short?”
    He peered in at me, holding the frame of the Jeep. “Sarah? Short for Anna?”
    “Mmhm.” I nodded, staring at him. “Gosh, you’re so cute.”
    He glanced right and smiled, then shook his head. “Okay. Sarah.” The door whomped shut. I watched him gracefully walk to the driver’s side and get in. “And I bet if a woman did make the first heels, then she did it for a man.”
    “Oh, you think?” He moved my hand and helped me with my seat belt.
    “Most definitely.” I leaned toward him. “Mmm, you smell amazing. Men are at the bottom of all stupid decisions women make.”
    The seat belt clicked, and he raised his head, putting our faces close. My heart raced, and the butterflies soared. I stared at his lips. How would they feel on mine? They were so full, his mouth broad.
    He started the SUV and pulled out into traffic.
    Ugh. I took the stupid shoes off, then rolled down the window. And tossed them out.
    “What are you doing?” he asked incredulously.
    “What I shoulda done all along. I shoulda worn sneakers and jeans. Not all this malarkey. I’m not made for this crap.” I hiccupped, put a foot on the dashboard, and rested my head back with a sigh. “I’m a country girl, Tang.”
    “Tong.”
    “Mmm, yeah. Tongue.”
    Fifteen minutes later, and—wow—we were already walking into the suite. “You know what, I’d like another drink. Wanna drink with me?”
    He turned from locking the door and walked past me. “Definitely a virgin,” he murmured.
    Oh, no, he did not. I marched to the wet bar and got my own damned drink. Wasn’t wine, but it was a nice gold, happy color. I poured a little glass, then took a giant gulp. The burn down my throat was unbearable, and I coughed. “Shhhit, that was nasty.” I put the glass down and frowned at the room. “Hey.” I found him facing the giant wall of windows in the next room. “Where’s all the Christmas decorations?
    Why doesn’t your room have any?”
    “Because I don’t celebrate Christmas.”
    What? “Why on earth not?”
    I saw his eyes roll in the window reflection. “Do you celebrate Obon?”
    “O-what?”
    He left the window and breezed past me. I followed his liger gait to the hallway leading to his bedroom. “It’s a Japanese holiday,” he mumbled before disappearing.
    Japanese holiday? I snorted. Like Christmas? Yeah right, Mr. Japanese Scrooge. Oh well. I grinned at the paradise around me, still gorgeous all the same. I twirled in the middle of the sitting room between the kitchen and the living room, then continued the gracious ballet to my private abode. I went through all the boxes, seeing what goodies awaited. I sucked in my breath at finding a black sheer gown. Ohhhh, Anna? What on earth did she have planned? Was she going to seduce this guy?
    Well. I was Anna. I got undressed, then remembered that amazing tub. A luxurious bath was just what I needed. I traipsed