Santa's Stocing Stuffer

** Note to Reader - This is a continuation of "what Happens in the Dark". It can be read as a standalone story, but to understand the full backstory it's best to start there. **

Jingle Bell Rock blasted through the speakers of the small boutique of La Perla. I hummed along to myself as I pulled off my winter hat and combed a few flecks of snow from my fire red hair. I walked through the racks of clothes idly, admiring the Christmas tree that sparkled in the corner of the store, perfectly placed against the window as a fresh dust of snow covered the ground. Halloween may have been my favorite holiday, but Christmas was a close second. I loved the way the ground looked covered in snow, and the smell of the fireplace as James and I lie next to it rediscovering our love for one another.

"I'm so glad you called," Cori said breaking the spell and holding up a crimson negligee against her chest. "It's been ages since we've had a chance to talk. I haven't seen you since Halloween. I was starting to think you and James were on the rocks again after... everything." Three years ago, a party at Cori's had nearly destroyed my marriage, creating a distance between us once-inseparable friends that had only recently begun to heal. Now here we were, shopping for lingerie together like old times.

I ran my fingers along a rack of silk scarves, wondering if they could be used for more than just keeping warm. A smile formed on my lips as I looked up, my emerald green eyes meeting my friend's concerned gaze. "Actually, we're better than ever," I admitted, surprised by how true the words felt. "Halloween was... unexpected. But good unexpected."

"That's good to hear," Cori replied with a smile of her own. She placed the negligee back on the rack and continued to browse, the click of her 6-inch heels echoing through the store. She pulled her raven black hair away from her face, tossing it over her shoulder. "I was worried that after what happened with George..."

A gasp escaped my throat. My pulse rose along with my body temperature. "That was... not what we had planned." I laughed nervously, walking down the next aisle to look at the more risqué outfits, and also to get a little distance between us.

"There's no need to be embarrassed, love, I'm not here to judge." She picked up another negligee, this one green, and placed it over her arm. "We were just surprised, that's all. Daniel was really hoping the two of you would finally... connect."

Memories of Halloween came flooding back. I gripped the silk garment in my hands, I couldn't shake the image of Cori's closet, the anticipation that had coursed through my veins. I'd spent the whole night stealing glances at Daniel, imagining his strong arms around me, picturing that small scar above his eyebrow as he found me in the dark. The memory of fur against my skin made me bite my lip, not Daniel's Viking costume, but George's ridiculous vest. My cheeks burned now, recalling how quickly confusion had turned to desire, how my body had betrayed my better judgment. Even now, months later, I could still hear myself begging, still feel the shame mixed with animalistic lust inside me as James watched it all unfold.

"Fucking George," I whispered, shaking my head at the memory.

Cori's laugh rang in my ear as she materialized by my side, a dark green teddy dangling from her fingers. "This would look amazing with your complexion," she said, then grabbed a second identical one. "Can you imagine their faces if we both walked out in these?" She held the green silk against my shoulder. "Maybe not, you would look hot as fuck in this with your hair. It would wash me out though, and my brown eyes and dark hair don't help."

"Cori!" I hissed, but couldn't help smiling. We'd always been like this, even before the lifestyle - Cori pushing boundaries while I pretended to resist.

"Oh please, like you haven't thought about it, the two of them drooling over you." Her fingers brushed my arm as she adjusted the fabric. "You know, Daniel hasn't stopped talking about what might have happened if he'd found you first. Though..." She paused, close enough now that I could feel her warm breath on my neck. "From what we could hear, you weren't exactly disappointed with your consolation prize."

Warmth crept up my neck and I buried my face in my hands. "I don't know what you're talking about," I mumbled, cheeks flushing at the memory.

"That's funny, because even if we couldn't hear exactly how much you were enjoying yourself, which we definitely could, you left quite the impression on our bedspread. Had to buy a whole new one." Cori's laughter completely drowned out Silent Night as she guided me toward the fitting rooms, adding a black lace bodysuit to the growing pile in my arms. "Reminded me of that girls' trip to Cancun not long after you got married. Remember that cabana boy the next morning?"

"That was different," I protested, ducking into a fitting room. "He was more my type. Tall, dark, gorgeous. Not..." I paused and felt my face flush. "Fucking George."

"Mmhmm," Cori hummed, slipping into the room with me. "That's exactly what you were doing."

"Here, help me with this zipper," Cori said as the dressing room door shut behind her. The small space filled with the rustle of fabric and quiet giggles as we tried on various pieces. Through the mirror, I watched Cori adjust the red teddy, her eyes never really leaving mine in the reflection.

"So..." Cori's voice dropped to a playful whisper. "Just between us girls - was he really that good?"

I focused intently on adjusting my own garment, avoiding her knowing gaze in the mirror. I felt my nipple harden against the soft fabric, and convinced myself it was due to the cold and nothing else. "I mean, it wasn't terrible," I mumbled, then caught her raised eyebrow. "Okay, fine. It was... surprisingly good. Really good." My cheeks burned at the admission.

Cori's playful expression softened as she turned to face me. "And James? How did he really handle it?" The question hung heavy between us, memories of that night three years ago casting a momentary shadow. "I know last time..."

"Actually," I interrupted, adjusting my top in the mirror, "he's been amazing. Better than I could have expected." I adjusted the strap of my teddy, turning to my side as I gathered my thoughts. "It's like... it awakened something in both of us. We're talking more, opening up more. The spark is definitely back."

"Yeah?"

"Last week we even went to that new bar downtown, looking for a couple to play with." I laughed, remembering James's eager anticipation. "We didn't find anyone we clicked with, but God, the way he looked at me all night... I felt like the sexiest woman alive."

"And he wasn't jealous? After what happened with George?"

"If anything, it turned him on more. He says watching me let go like that, knowing I was coming home with him..." I trailed off, blushing. "Well, let's just say we barely made it to the bedroom that night."

"Now there's the couple everyone is so envious of," Cori grinned, turning back to the mirror. "God, look at your ass in this. I would kill for a butt like yours."

"Please," I scoffed, grateful for the subject change. "Your chest is twice the size of mine. And trust me, that's what most guys notice first."

"Daniel doesn't. He's definitely an ass man." Cori's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Speaking of... Has James ever...?" She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"Cori!" My face flamed even hotter as I caught my bottom lip between my teeth. "We're in public! Do you have a filter at all?"

"Oh come on, we used to share everything. Remember spring break senior year?"

I ran my tongue over my top teeth, "Once. It was... nice actually. But I never got a chance to really get into it. He got a little too excited and it ended pretty quickly."

"Only once?" Cori's smile turned wicked as she held up another piece of lingerie that would put my butt on full display. "Maybe you need more practice."

We tried on a few more items, the conversation flowing easily between old memories and current confessions. Finally, we sorted through our selections, each choosing a few pieces that had earned mutual approval.

As we gathered our purchases, Cori casually mentioned, "So, the Christmas party is definitely happening. Two weeks from Saturday." She paused, then added with practiced innocence, "Should I add George to the guest list?"

"Oh my God, stop," I groaned, but my protest lacked conviction. I busied myself with my wallet, deliberately avoiding both an answer and her knowing smile.

"Just asking," Cori sang, leading the way to the register. "You know, for planning purposes."

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't quite suppress the shiver of anticipation that ran through me.

****

The heat of the fire warmed my face as I took another drink of wine. My cheeks flushed as I leaned my head back against James's strong chest, running the fingers of my free hand up his exposed forearm.

"Thanks again for dinner, love," I said, straining my neck to kiss his cheek. "I knew there was a reason I married you."

"And here I thought it was just for my dashing good looks." His laugh reverberated against my skin. His lips found my neck causing me to shudder.

"Can't it be both?" I teased, reaching back to run my fingers through his unruly, brown hair.

His fingers found the exposed skin of my hips from my shirt riding up slightly. "So... you going to tell me what you and Cori did all day? Maybe start with what's in the bag?"

"Oh you know, just girl talk," I teased following his gaze to the La Perla bag I'd deliberately left visible by the couch.

A sharp jolt of pain shot through me as his teeth locked onto my neck causing goosebumps to form on my arms. His hands tightened on my hips possessively.

I sipped the last of my wine, setting the empty glass down. I enjoyed this little game between us, basking in knowing just how much I was making him squirm thinking about what was in the bag. "If you're a good boy, maybe I'll show you."

His hands slid up from my hips, tickling my ribs while simultaneously causing heat to build between my thighs. "I'm always good."

"Oh please," I laughed leaning into his body as his fingers rested just below my chest causing my heart to beat louder in my ears. "I thought **we** just agreed it was because you were my trophy husband?"

"What can I say? I'm a man of many talents." His hands went for my chest, a move that was beyond predictable for him. I pushed them away with a laugh, despite the fact that my body was already aching for his touch, and got to my feet.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, mister." I wagged a conspiratorial finger at him while making my way to the couch. "I thought we were talking about my outing. We talked about you, ya know." James has always had a thing for Cori, and I knew this would get his attention.

"Oh yeah? What about me?" As expected, he sat up a little straighter. Was he puffing out his chest?

I rolled my eyes, he was such a guy. "Well, she found this really sexy green teddy." I lowered my voice, giving him my best bedroom eyes. "You should have seen how good her tits looked in it. Doesn't she have such good tits?" I teased reaching over to grab the La Perla bag.

"I um... I guess they are ok." Color rushed to his cheeks, sensing my trap immediately. We'd been married for too long.

"Oh please, they are great and you know it." I rustled around in the bag torturing him a bit longer before pulling out the green teddy. "Anyway, she was wondering how you would react if we both showed up to the Christmas party in something like this."

I held the silk fabric up to my chest, turning my body to try to give him an idea of what it may look like. His mouth hung open, and for a moment I thought he forgot how to breathe.

"That... I wouldn't be mad at that," he was finally able to say once he found his tongue. "Is that's what's going to happen at the Christmas party?"

Desire flooded my core at the thought of that. I hadn't actually considered a threesome with Cori before. "Mmm, you sure you'd be able to handle that big boy?" Judging by the strain of his pants I assumed this conversation was having the same effect on him as it was on me.

"I think it'd be a night to remember." There was an edge in the way he looked at me that made me squirm in my seat.

"So, the two of you talked about the Christmas party? Is that something I should I expect?"

"Mmm, I think it's fair to say you should expect the unexpected," I hummed, as I ran the silk fabric between my fingers, making a show of how little it covered. "She mentioned it's in a few weeks. Said she's finalizing the guest list now."

James's eyes followed my hands as I played with the teddy not hiding the fire in his eyes. "And?" He shifted in his seat, trying to appear casual. "Who's invited?"

"Why? Someone specific you're hoping to see there?" I teased, enjoying the way his jaw clenched. The firelight caught the grey in his beard, making him look distinguished and making my nipples press against to coarse fabric of my bra.

The fire crackled in response. The darkness in his eyes capturing the flames perfectly as he stood from his spot on the floor. I bit down on my lip as I watched him cross the living room floor, towering over me. "Are you hoping for another surprise visit from a certain someone?"

I watched the features of his face tighten, a lump forming in my throat. "You mean Daniel? Yeah yes, I'm sure he'll be there. Seeing as him and Cori are married." I wasn't sure if I was playing coy for him or me, but I told myself that it was the thought of Daniel that caused me to press my thighs together.

James leaned forward, his forehead pressed against mine. "You know exactly what." His steel blue eyes locked with mine, and I felt my pulse quicken. "What games is she planning this year?"

I let out a measured breath, glad that we were moving on from the topic of the guest list. "She didn't really say. I heard that last year they played hide the candy cane and I can only imagine what that entailed."

"Guess it's too much to think she would opt for hide and seek again?" The way James was staring at me made it hard to focus on much of anything as I absently twirled the thin fabric still in my hands.

Warm breath slid across my neck and I closed my eyes to stifle a moan. "You know, that was one of the best nights of my life," James whispered his fingers closing around my thighs.

I felt my cheeks flush, and this time it had nothing to do with the wine. "James..."

"What?" Sparks followed his fingertips as it slid to just inside my knees. My heart beat against my ribs as his touch danced along my inner thigh. "You can't tell me you haven't thought about it."

The teddy in my hands fell forgotten onto the sofa as I allowed his digits to tease me just a second longer. "Maybe," I admitted, my voice cracking. "But right now, I think you should be more interested in how this looks on me." I squirmed away from his grasp again with a giggle as I made my way to the stairs.

His laugh, deep and hungry, bounced off the walls of our small house as he turned toward me already half way up the stairs. "You're not making me wait until the party?"

Warmth spread through me as I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it down the stairs at him. "Oh I bought something else for that. No peeking." I heard him give a grunt as I rounded the corner. "Meet me in the bedroom."

In the bathroom, I changed quickly, my nipples hard as diamonds while my hands trembled in anticipation. I adjusted the green teddy, handpicked by Cori, over them. The silk felt cool against my heated skin, and I had to admit - she was right about how it complemented my hair. I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves before opening the door.

James sat on the edge of the bed, his shirt and pants already discarded. My eyes traveled over his body, smirking at the eggplant boxers he wore. His stomach was toned, the faint outline of his abs still visible underneath the mat of dark hair. His chest, sculpted from years of early morning workouts that I refused to wake up for. A thin scar from his appendix surgery created a small valley just above the band of his boxers, and I licked my lips in anticipation of tracing it. My eyes met his, fully capturing the darkness in them as they roamed over me in similar fashion.

I stood in the doorway, knowing the soft glow from the hallway light would silhouette my curves through the delicate green fabric. The teddy hugged my body like a second skin, the silk cool against my heated flesh. The neckline plunged dangerously low, drawing attention to my modest breasts, the image of Cori in it still dancing in my head. The hem barely skimmed the top of my thighs, and I knew when I turned, the bottom curve of my ass would peek out beneath it, my best feature. My red hair tumbled loose over my shoulders, a stark contrast to the emerald silk. I did a slow turn, letting him take in the full effect, feeling powerful as I heard his sharp intake of breath.

A surge of confidence washed over me while Criminal by Fiona Apple drifted through the bedroom speakers. It seemed James was trying to set the mood, and who was I to argue with that. I saw him catch his tongue in his teeth, the fire in his eyes growing, much like the front of his boxers, as I swayed my hips along to the music. "Now, where were we?"

I did another slow turn to the beat of the music, letting him take in every angle of the teddy. The silk felt luxurious against my skin, and knowing how it looked on me - how it made James look at me - sent shivers down my spine. I ran my hands down my sides, and through my hair doing my best Carmen Electra impersonation.

"You like?" I asked, moving closer but staying just out of reach. I turned again, looking over my shoulder at him as I bent slightly, giving him a view that made him grip the edge of the bed as I wiggled my hips taunting him.

"God, yes," he breathed, reaching for me. But I danced away, continuing my show.

"I still think Cori would have looked better in it," I said, finally moving within reach. He gripped my hips as I stood between his legs. "She has excellent taste, don't you think?"

James's fingers played with the lace edge of the teddy, his grip firm and commanding. "I think you look perfect," he murmured, pulling me closer. "Good enough to eat."

I straddled his lap, enjoying the feeling of his growing hardness against me. I ran my fingers through his hair, and tugged gently, exposing his neck to my lips. He groaned as I placed soft kisses along his throat.

"Speaking of Cori," he said, his hands sliding up my back. "Did the two of you finally talk about Halloween?"

I nipped at his neck, the same way he did to me earlier, and enjoyed the way his hands tightened on my back. "Mmm, she might have mentioned it," I teased, rolling my hips against him. The swell of his member against my barely covered center made me gasp.

"And?" His voice was rougher now, deeper. One hand tangled in my hair while the other slid down to cup my ass.

"And what?" I whispered against his ear, letting my tongue trace the outer edge. He growled in response causing my thighs to tighten around him in response.

James pulled back slightly, his eyes boring into mine. The intensity of his gaze made my heart skip. Even after all these years, one look from him could still make me feel like the only woman in the world.

"You know what," he said, squeezing my ass. "What did she say about that night? About... him"

Blood rushed to my face. Did his cock just flex, or did I imagine it? My head was starting to spin a little. Between the wine, and the way James looked at me, it made it hard to concentrate. "She said we left quite an impression. Had to buy new bedding."