Naughty Before Christmas

By Angie Daniels

This Naughty Nibbles novella is the follow-up to the popular book, A Delight Before Christmas. It’s Christmas time and Berlin Dupree Hodges has everything—a happy marriage, a beautiful home and their first child on the way. However, this holiday it’s all about to come crashing down when she begins to suspect her handsome husband general contractor Reggie Hodges is having an affair. And just when she thinks it’s all in her head, everything changes and she must make a choice that no woman in love should ever face. Can their marriage be saved in time for Christmas?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angie Daniels
• Release date: Sep 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9780988850965

Angie Daniels

Angie Daniels is a free spirit who isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind or even better, write about it. Since strutting onto the literary scene in five-inch heels, she’s been capturing her audience’s attention with her wild imagination and love for alpha men. The USA Today Bestselling Author has written over thirty novels for imprints such as BET Arabesque, Harlequin/Kimani Romance and Kensington/ Dafina and Kensington/Aphrodisia Books. For more information about upcoming releases, and to connect with Angie on Facebook, please visit her website at angiedaniels.com.

Book preview

Naughty Before Christmas

~~The Decadent Delight Series~~

Angie Daniels

Caramel Kisses Ink

Copyright © 2013 by Angie Daniels at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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 recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Series

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Author Note

Sneak Peak

Book List

About the Author

THE DECADENT DELIGHT SERIES

A Delight before Christmas

Say My Name

Naughty before Christmas

Put Your Name on It

DEDICATION

This novella is dedicated to all of the fans of A Delight before Christmas who have been asking for more of Reggie and Berlin. I hope this story doesn’t disappoint.

PROLOGUE

Sold for three-fifty! the auctioneer announced as he slammed down the gavel.

It’s done, Reginald Hodges said then he hit End and returned the cell phone to the clip at his waist.

With a nervous grin, he watched as the others bidders walked away returning to their cars. They had all put up a good fight but he had prevailed. This was an opportunity he wasn’t about to pass up. It wasn’t until he reached inside his pocket and removed five cashier’s checks that panic suddenly clenched at his gut.

My wife is gonna kill me.

After three years of marriage and countless disagreements about Berlin Dupree Hodges spending money frivolously, while trying to compete with the Jones, she was going to have a fit when she found out her husband had taken spending to an entirely different level.

Yep. He had done it this time. And it wasn’t just what he had done, but that he had done it behind her back.

As Reggie stepped inside the office, he heaved a heavy breath. It was too late now to turn back. He would just have to break it to Berlin gently. One thing for sure, he knew how to handle his wife. A night of dancing and then some lovemaking, he was certain while she was crying out his name, he could get Berlin to agree to just about anything.

I sure hope so, Reggie thought as he moved toward the counter. Otherwise, he was going to be sleeping in the doghouse this Christmas.

CHAPTER 1

Berlin Dupree Hodges slipped her stocking feet into a pair of mustard yellow Prada pumps. She then rose from the king-sized bed and sauntered across the cream colored bedroom past a small sitting room toward one of the dual walk-in closets and swung open the door. As she turned side-to-side in front of the door-length mirror, a satisfied smile curled her lips. The stone-washed jeggings and heels were perfect for a Friday night date, even though she had no idea where her husband was taking her. Not that it mattered. Anywhere would be fun as long as she was with Reggie.

Her eyes perused the chocolate sweater with a cowl neck collar and long, wide sleeves. The cashmere blend material emphasized the swell of her breasts and her protruding stomach. Lovingly, Berlin ran a hand across her baby bump. Five months pregnant and she was barely showing, but she had been around enough pregnant women to know that luxury wouldn’t last too much longer. The way the sweater strained around her midsection, it was evident she was going to have to start wearing maternity clothes soon. She cringed at the thought. Pregnancy she wanted, stretch marks she did not. But even with that thought all that mattered was she was finally having his baby. Reggie’s baby.

Her sexy man.

Her gorgeous husband.

Glancing down at the two-carat solitaire on her finger, she smiled. It wasn’t a dream. She really was married to him.

While memories pushed to the surface, Berlin stepped across the room into the adjoining bathroom. If someone had told her five years ago she would end up marrying a man she once thought was so wrong for her, she would have never believed it. Instead, she had learned a valuable lesson. Opposites attract, she thought with a soft giggle. Attraction was an understatement. When the two of them were together it was a combustion strong enough to knock out an entire football stadium.

Standing in front of the dual sink, Berlin twisted up her shoulder-length auburn hair, and angled her face sideways in the mirror, debating if she should wear it up or leave it down. Reggie loved when she wore her hair loose while she liked how sophisticated she looked with an up-sweep, showcasing the diamond studs in her ears he had given her for their second anniversary. The confident man knew what it took to please his wife… in more ways than one. A shiver snaked Berlin’s spine as memories of last night came to mind with her lying on the couch with her husband pounding fiercely inside her body. Afterwards, Reggie had carried her up to their room and drawn a hot bubble bath.

Berlin looked over at the large jetted tub that was perfect for the two of them. Reggie installed it last year during a major bathroom renovation. The en-suite was now her oasis with travertine tiles, a heated floor, and a separate glass-encased shower.

From a distance, Berlin heard heavy bass as Reggie’s Escalade came around the corner, drawing nearer to their house. Reggie had gone to gas up his vehicle and play the Missouri Lotto. Berlin frowned at the thought. She had never been one for wasting money on a million-to-one long shot but it was her husband’s Friday evening ritual so who was she to argue, Berlin thought with a chuckle. As he pulled onto the circle driveway, she heard his tires sloshing in the snow, and she quickly forgot about her hair. Giggling like a little school girl, she grabbed a matching yellow Prada purse from a chaise lounge in the corner of their bedroom and sauntered down the hallway toward the staircase to meet him.

As she descended, Berlin’s eyes swept the space below. She loved her home. Nestled in a charming niche of Landenberg Heights, the large colonial, set off by a great circular driveway, was one of ten historical homes on a secluded street. Berlin had purchased the two-story, four bedroom fixer-upper after years of penny pinching. Once they married, Reggie and his crew restored the entire house, room by room. Now she had a home to be proud of that represented everything about her—spoiled and expensive. Her husband promised to someday buy her an even bigger house, but for now, it suited them just fine.

As soon as Berlin heard him climbing the steps of their wide porch toward the double doors, she swung it open. The second she spotted Reggie towering over her, the air sucked from her lungs. Would she ever get used to looking at him?

Whassup, boo? he greeted with a sexy smirk that immediately made her entire body tingle. It should have been against the law to be that damn fine.

Hey, baby, she cooed while standing in the doorway.

Tilting her head, Berlin gazed up at the gorgeous man. Reggie was a Hershey dream with deep dark chocolate skin and dimples so deep one was tempted to stick a finger inside. He had thick, succulent lips surrounded by a goatee, and cornrows that had been braided in a zigzag design that made her fingers itch to reach up and trace.

You want me to come in or are you ready to go? he asked as if he was picking her up for their first date.

I just need to grab my coat, Berlin replied with a grin. Where are we going?

Boo, you ask too many questions, Reggie said with a playful wink then he caught her elbows and slowly walked her backwards into the house, kicking the door shut.

Laughing, Berlin clutched his chilly black leather jacket and cocked an amused eyebrow. I thought you were ready to go?

In a minute, he growled.

Reggie claimed her mouth, teasing her flesh until her breath hitched and she parted her lips, drawing his tongue into her warmth. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she felt her body relax in his strong arms while her tongue stroke restlessly along his. The kiss was dominating, possessive, and downright delicious. They stumbled back a little and his hands, then her shoulder hit the wall of the foyer, causing her entire body to tingle with anticipation. He was not only sexy, but addictive, like rich, dark chocolate. Reggie’s fingers traced along her throat while her hands rose to his chest, his hard muscles twitching under her touch. When she rose on her toes and angled her head, he buried his tongue deeper into her mouth until the kiss became hot and so intense it ripped air from her lungs. Oh yeah! The man knew his way around her mouth. Berlin moaned in encouragement and rocked her hips forward as dampness gathered between her thighs. Reggie reached out and cupped her breasts through the layers of clothes and held her firmly in place as he brushed across her nipple, dragging a low gasp from her. When his other hand traveled down to stroke the crotch of her jeggings, Berlin cried out and gave him a hard, playful shove.

Stop! That’s how we got this, she scolded with humor teasing her lips as she caressed her swollen stomach.

There was a hint of defiant pride in his eyes as Reggie palmed her belly like it was a basketball. That’s my lil’ man.

She responded with a rude snort. No way. It’s girl. They’ve had the same argument every day since they had made the decision not to find out the sex of their unborn child.

Laughing, Reggie swooped in for another sweet savory kiss then he slowly lifted his head and replied, I think that will tide a brotha over for now.

Her chest rose and fell as she took a moment to steady her heartbeat. One thing about her husband, he was one helluva kisser. Berlin slid out from behind him, sauntered to the hall closet and retrieved a dark-brown leather coat that Reggie helped her slip into.

It’s starting to come down outside. You might wanna grab a hat, he suggested.

Her head whipped around, curls bouncing, and frowned. And mess up my hair?

Tossing his head back, he chuckled. Now we definitely can’t have that, can we? Reggie said knowingly then followed her out onto the porch, locking the door behind him. Taking her hand, he led her down the steps out to his SUV. He had shoveled the front before heading to the gas station, and had applied salt so the melting snow