Getting Scrooged

By Eden Bradley

The Knight Family is a wealthy, powerful Chicago clan that knows everything there is to know about making money—but they have plenty to learn about love. In this three series novella—Eden Bradley's Getting Scrooged, Robin L Rotham's Not So Tiny Tim and R.G. Alexander's Marley in Chains—you’ll meet Holly Knight, her nephew Tim, and her cousin Marley Knight-Williams as they face their ghosts, fulfill their fantasies and finally discover the magic of Christmas.

Blinded to the present...

Holly Knight doesn’t have time for Christmas. As the head of Knight Enterprises in Chicago, she doesn’t have time for anything, not even a personal life—other than her brief, secret liaisons with men who remain strangers. Until a new stranger comes to town...

Ebenezer Hall is a ‘closer’. His job: negotiate a merger with a woman who is as notorious for being a hard-ass as he is for being a charmer no one can resist—and he’s not above mixing business with pleasure as long as it’ll get him what he wants.

The chemistry is sizzling hot, and things get even hotter when Ben’s friends and long-time lovers Justin and Kit arrive in Chicago. Three gorgeous men are even more exciting than one, and Holly’s body is sated in ways she’s never even dreamed of. But she can’t allow herself to be distracted for long—her priority is always business...and protecting her heart.

Can an infamous playboy and a hard-hearted corporate mogul ever admit to their heart’s desires? Or will it take a little holiday magic for them to realize that all they want for Christmas is each other?

Warning: Contains all ingredients for the perfect kinky holiday: Three men demonstrating blow-job techniques—on each other—because the author couldn’t resist. Neither can Holly. Neither will you. A little sensual domination, because Ben can’t resist. Neither can Holly. Or Justin. Or Kit. Put it all together with some Christmas magic and mix—vigorously. Served hot. Best enjoyed with a side of sex toys.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eden Bradley
• Release date: Dec 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301167067

Eden Bradley

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author Eden Bradley aka Eve Berlin has written erotica and erotic romance for Berkley, Bantam, Harlequin Spice/HQN, Samhain Publishing and Black Lace, as well as indie publishing, and recently for Red Hot Romance Publishing. Her work has been called “elegant, intelligent and sensual”. Her debut novel THE DARK GARDEN was praised as “a masterpiece”, and was a Romantic Times Top Pick. More recently, her novella GIRL (Book One in The Training House Series) has repeatedly been called “phenomenal”, and BDSM author Jenna Jacob said “Nothing has touched me like this since ‘Story of O’”. Her novels and novellas have been translated into thirteen languages.As someone who has been involved in BDSM practice for much of her adult life, she relates in particular to her kink stories, infusing them with her own truth about kink practice from her life experiences. Eden speaks regularly on BDSM psychology and practice, as well as sex positive culture for women. She offers her enormously popular Empower Your Sexual Self course for women, as well as writing courses through her website.Eden loves art, shoes, tattoos, her Boston Terrier, chocolate, and reading and writing smutty books, of course, not necessarily in that order.Visit her online:Website: www.EdenBradley.com

Book preview

Getting Scrooged

By

Eden Bradley

Getting Scrooged

Copyright 2012 Eden Bradley

Edited By Alien Nookie Editing Services

Formatting By IRONHORSE Formatting

Cover Art by Scott Carpenter

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Author Bio

Look for these titles from Eden Bradley

Not So Tiny Tim

Marley in Chains

Sanctuary

Temptation’s Edge

Forbidden Fruit

Chapter One

Holly had always known tequila was dangerous. She lifted her glass and licked the salty rim of the margarita her cousin had insisted they order, anyway.

Come on now, Holly. Drink up, Marley ordered.

I’m drinking. And since when does my assistant get to give me orders?

"Since this isn’t one of your business dinners. Since I’m off the clock. Relax, Holly. It’s me. I promise I won’t judge if you get sloppy and decide to dance on the table. We’re supposed to be having a night of fun, just us girls, like we used to. She raised her glass in a toast. To fun."

I’m a little afraid of what this is going to do to me. Tell me again why it’s called a Cadillac margarita? she asked.

Marley grinned. Patrón tequila, baby! And because two will get you totally sloshed.

I know we haven’t gotten together to hang out in a long time—

In forever, her cousin said wryly.

I know, I know. But does getting drunk have to be part of the deal?

"It does in your case. You need to let your hair down and relax. Badly. Know how I know? You showed up to a Mexican restaurant—a dive on the South Side—in a Chanel suit, for God’s sake. Drink."

It’s Gucci. And the fact that it’s a Mexican place only makes this holiday music even weirder. Marley slapped a hand to her forehead and Holly had to laugh. Okay, okay. She took a long swig of her cocktail. She had to admit it tasted good. A lot better than the single highball she usually allowed herself during business dinners and parties. Which were the only kind of dinners or parties she’d been to in ages. Years, literally. See? Drinking. She took another good swallow of the sweet concoction.

Two Cadillacs later she and Marley were laughing together and it felt as natural as it ever had when they were younger. Before Holly had to take over the family company. Before she had the heavy load of responsibility she’d been carrying for the last eight years. Actually, it was before she’d grown up and gone to work for her father at the Knight Corporation. But she wasn’t going to think about that tonight. Hell, she’d barely been able to think straight at all after barely finishing the first drink. One enormous drink, but still.

Another one, cous? Marley asked, trying to wave down a waitress.

I’m already slurring. And I have an important business meeting tomorrow.

Not until dinnertime—I’m the one who scheduled it, remember? I explicitly allotted time for hangover recovery. No excuses. You’re having fun, right?

More fun than I’ve had in…truthfully, I can’t even remember the last time I even used that word in a sentence.

Marley gestured with her glass toward the bar, her margarita tilting and splashing a little on the floor. "He looks like fun."

Holly turned her head to look at the tall, dark-haired guy ordering a beer.

Yeah, he’s cute.

But…?

Holly shrugged. He’s not my type.

Marley leaned toward Holly across the table, her green eyes shining. When was the last time you… she waggled her eyebrows. "…You know. Had fun?"

Marley!

You can tell me. I’m no prude. And I’m your only real confidant…other than Fezziwig. And he’s not talking to me right now.

Holly laughed. I do not tell my cat about my sexual exploits.

"Ah-ha! So you do have sexual exploits. Now you have to tell me."

Holly rolled her eyes.

No, no—out with it, Marley demanded.

She took another long sip from the last of her drink, letting the tequila loosen her bones—and her mouth. Well, I really don’t have time for dating, so I… She paused to lean in closer. Marley, if you ever tell this to a single soul I’ll have to hire a hit man.

Marley sat up straight and laid a hand over her heart. I slolem… She giggled. I solemnly swear.

Okay. So…sometimes I go to the bar at the Four Seasons or the Omni, usually later in the evening when I’m done with work. There are some great-looking guys there and…I figure it’s safer than some dive bar, you know? Don’t look at me like that. I’m not a nun. I have my needs.

Wow. I’m not judging. I’m impressed and wishing I had half your nerve. So, you have a wild night with a non-dive-bar guy, and then what?

Then I go home.

And you never want to see any of them again? Talk to them?

We never even exchange names. That’s one of my rules.

"That’s hard-core. I am impressed."

Holly giggled. The tequila was really hitting her. Ohmygod, Marley, you should see some of these guy’s faces when they realize I mean it.

I’ll bet. But seriously, Holly, don’t you ever want more? Romance? Something?

Sure, there’s plenty I want. But when do I have time for anything I want? My life is all about making the board—the family and our shareholders—happy.

"It doesn’t have to be. Hell, you’re about to turn forty, Holly. You need to think about what you want, for once."

Holly groaned. Forty. Don’t remind me.

Well?

Well, what? I’m not even sure I know what I want.

Then it’s past time to think about it. But we need another drink first. Marley waved her hand and the waitress approached the table. Two more, please.

Marley, I’m getting hammered.

That’s the idea, cous. You’re going to need it. Because we… she paused to slide her purse from the back of her chair. She dug in it for several moments before pulling out a pen and a small pad of paper. We are going to make you a bucket list.

A what?

A list of everything you still want to do with your life. Everything you should have experienced but haven’t because you’ve practically sacrificed your virginity to your job.

Phht. She waved a hand around. That was gone a long time ago. And my job had nothing to do with it. That was Greg…whatever his last name was.

Oh, yeah. I must be drunker than I thought I am. Was. Whatever. She flipped her wild auburn curls—the same hue as Holly’s own more controlled tresses—over her shoulder. Anyway, since you turn forty on Christmas Eve and these are your last days as a thirty-nine year old, you need to write down thirty-nine things. Better get to it.

Marley handed Holly the pen and paper. Holly blinked.

I don’t even know where to start.

Start with something salacious!

Holly giggled. Okay.

She bent over the paper and wrote.

Give it to me. What’s number one? Marley demanded.

Have a three—or more—way with a few gorgeous men.

Ha! I knew you were hiding your inner perv in a basket. Or under a bushel. Whatever—you know what I mean.

Marley!

Her cousin grinned. Oh, don’t get me wrong—I’m proud. More. Do more.

Over most of another drink and several pauses where the two women burst into fits of hysterical laughter Holly managed to fill out the list. She couldn’t believe how easy it was to find so many things she hadn’t done. So many things she still wanted.

Done! she announced.

Hand it over—I wanna see.

Holly pushed the list across the table. Marley reached for it, sloshing her drink.

Damn, I’m sorry. She wiped at the soggy list with her tiny cocktail napkin.

Don’t worry about it. It’s stupid. Suddenly embarrassed at how much truth she’d written on that little piece of now-damp paper, Holly took it and crumpled it up.

Hey! I didn’t get to see it. Marley grabbed it from her and smoothed out the wrinkles on the table.

It’s never going to happen, anyway, Mar. Work is my life. I don’t have time for anything else.

Her cousin reached out and laid a hand on her wrist. Never say never. That’s an order, even if I am your assistant. Anyway, it’s Christmastime. You know what they say. Anything can happen.

Christmas hasn’t made any difference in my life for a long time. Maybe it never has.

Don’t turn into morbid Holly on me. I don’t want you going home, listening to those depressing operas of yours, and taking your sorrows out on your cat. I’d never forgive myself.

What? I would never hurt my Fezziwig!

Oh yeah—I forgot. Marley grinned impishly. He’s your boyfriend.

Hardly. Holly tipped her glass and drained it, then set it carefully down on the table, which had gone a bit fuzzy, like everything else. His name is BOB. As in Battery Operated Boyfriend. He doesn’t kiss and tell.

Marley snorted. Who doesn’t know BOB? I hear all the best ladies are dating him this year.

And on that note, I’m going home and getting some sleep. I have a long day tomorrow, and I’m pretty sure a hangover is not going to help, despite your genius scheduling abilities.

She stood a little unsteadily and pulled her cell phone from her purse, dialing her driver. We’re ready to go, Karl. Pick us up in front. Thank you.

You know, Marley said, trying to pull her coat on and getting tangled up in the sleeve, I seem to recall you being wilder the last time we did this. If memory serves, the experience included a tattoo parlor and you jumping into a fountain in your bare feet.

That’s just another thing I won’t have to add to my list.

Another tattoo or the fountain? Marley wrinkled her nose. But speaking of… She tucked the wrinkled piece of paper into Holly’s purse. You’re going to need this.

Holly shook her head. It’s no use.

Hang onto it, anyway. Just in case. Besides, if you leave me with it I’ll read it. And then I’ll nag. You know how good I am at that.

Holly took it, but she knew better. Drunk or sober, she didn’t have time for a bucket list. She didn’t have time for a life. And list or not, fortieth birthday or not, Christmas or not, that fact was not about to change.

* * *

Holly had just been seated at a table which was thankfully free of the Christmas decorations that seemed to be multiplying like rabbits all over Chicago. The potted poinsettias on the windowsills were the only nod to the holiday season—that and the low jazz tones of Christmas carols. But once she got down to tonight’s business it would be easy enough to ignore.

Now all she needed was her dinner companion—aka her opposition—to arrive. She checked her watch. He was already ten minutes late.

But when she glanced up, she saw him.

He was too damn handsome. Tall and lanky and broad shouldered, moving with the sort of graceful self-assurance that signaled a predator.

Had they sent him on purpose to tempt her? She was certain they had.

Holly tapped her short, well-kept nails against the cool side of her water glass. She’d known he was the ‘closer’, the one Helton-Ritter Publishing had sent to ensure the merger between their company in the UK and Knight’s Bridge Publishing, one of the Knight family’s many holdings. Ebenezer Hall. Known for his ability to charm his way through any business transaction—or into any woman’s bed. Or any man’s, if the dossier Marley had delivered to her yesterday had been correct.

He strode through the muted elegance of the restaurant with an air of absolute confidence afforded only those men who had earned it. His blond hair was short, thick and spiky on top, but just enough to make him look young and hip in his beautifully tailored pale gray suit—Prada, her well-trained eye for detail told her

She watched as a hungry-eyed waitress stopped in her tracks to let him pass, pausing long enough that one of her fellow servers had to nudge her back into action. That simply didn’t happen at Tru, one of Chicago’s finest and most popular restaurants. It was a place frequented by the beautiful, the powerful, the famous. But the waitress wasn’t alone in her reaction—several of the diners seemed to have the same response. Holly steeled herself against the instant heat of her own body, fighting for her usual cool reserve.

He’s only a man. He’s only the enemy.

She would have taken a calming sip of water if he hadn’t already reached the table.

God, he was even taller up close. And his eyes…gray and penetrating, like smoke on cut glass…

Don’t be ridiculous, Holly.

She’d better pull herself together, and quick, despite the fading edge of her hangover from all the tequila the night before. Anything else was unacceptable.

Ms. Knight?

He held out a hand

Reviews for Getting Scrooged

[scorchingrevs · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This novella is the first in the linked holiday trilogy and it certainly started with a bang! As the cover suggests, this isn't a simple one-on-one romance; this is a no holds barred sexy tale with a festive twist!

Ben Hall is in town to close a deal with the lovely Holly and he isn't above using sex to get what he wants. When he finds her sexy bucket list, he realizes that working through it with her would allow him to have his cake and eat it!

Holly can't believe her luck when the beautiful Ben (aka Ebenezer) starts treating her to her hearts desire (well, a little further down her body than that was writing that list to be perfectly honest.... :D) He involves her in a four-way, throws in a little Domination and a whole host of sex toys. But Holly isn't aware that he's found her list....will she be happy with him when she finds out?

Eden Bradley always writes sexy tales that I usually adore and this one was no exception. It was a very hot tale of sex between two very relationship wary individuals. I loved the chemistry between them both and it added a little more spice to an already panty-drenching tale. Holly was a very stubborn lady and it was a lots of fun to see her relax into her sexuality with the help of the much younger dream-boat. Ben was (of course) a Xmas hating man who was quite manipulative but gets shown the error of his ways!

Now, If only she'll write Justin and Kit's tale......