Nick's Naughty Elf. Georgia St. Claire

what I can discover about the whole emotional aspect. You lost your temper and shouted, you didn’t just ‘stir’.” Niccolo chuckled. “Although I’ll tell you, when I’m not suited up and I see some of those sexy elf outfits, I’m stirring too!”

      “She wasn’t wearing a sexy outfit. It was one of those old-fashioned velvet elf dresses that goes down to her knees, long sleeves, and high lace neckline. Nickson’s has been in business for almost a hundred years. These are the original pieces. We're talking what was sexy a hundred years ago, and keeping in mind that elves are nice."

      “You thought she was sexy? Dressed like that?”

      “I never said I thought she was sexy. I had a sexual response when I thought she was cute.”

      There was silence as both men contemplated that statement. “Wow,” Niccolo finally said.

      “She’s tiny and elf-like.” Nick felt he needed to explain things better.

      “Wow,” Niccolo said again. “Your goose may be cooked. You were attracted to an elf when you were Santa.”

      “Oh bells! You’re right, that’s not good. But she’s not really an elf.”

      “And you’re not really Santa. But you were both wearing early pieces and you know they’re more powerful than the ones they issue now. Come to think on it, she shouldn’t have been able to swear. What do you think is going on? I’ll try to be subtle when I ask around, but I don’t think I’m going to be able to fool anyone for long. Combined with why you are in the news, they’re going to know.”

      “I understand. Just do what you can. We can’t expect a miracle.” Both men chuckled at that statement and the call ended.

      Nick placed his phone on the table next to his chair and turned his head towards the doorway. “Come in here, Marcie. Eavesdropping is very naughty.”

      She crept in timidly and stood in front of him, her eyes downcast. “I’m sorry, Nick. I didn’t start out meaning to, I just didn’t want to interrupt.”

      “You should have turned around and walked away or continued into the room. Hovering out of sight and listening was very wrong.”

      She nodded in agreement. “Yes, I know. But I just couldn’t seem to make my feet move. Are you going to spank me again?”

      “Yes. I have a very, very strong dislike of being overheard and I want to ensure that you don’t do this again. But first, I want to know what you heard and what you think it means.”

      “I woke up and I didn’t know where I was, so I started walking down the hall and then I heard you shout that something would be horrible and then I think you were talking about me because you said ‘naughty little elf’. But I’m confused because you said something about sexual and that I wasn’t sexy and it didn’t sound like you cared for my dress.” She bristled at that point. “The store gives me the outfit to wear, and I can’t help what it looks like!” She looked downcast again. “Then you said I wasn’t an elf. Are you going to fire me? I’m really, really sorry about swearing. I don’t know what came over me. It was just so frustrating that your picture kept coming out slightly smeared and blurry and I really wanted you to look nice!”

      “I thought you said Joey’s picture was smeared.”

      “Well, it was Joey’s picture, for him to take home. But it was your part of the picture that kept getting messed up, and I wanted it to be perfect!”

       Slush! Her emotional response that triggered the swearing was related to me, just like mine was to her. That is really concerning. We shouldn’t work together any more. Who knows what could happen tomorrow with the children around?

      Nick stood up. “I couldn’t take you home; there were too many reporters waiting at your building. So I brought you here for the night. Come with me, I’ll give you one of my tee shirts to sleep in tonight. That elf outfit is antique and too special to be mistreated.”

      He led the way out of the study. “Twice now you have been very naughty and while you are going to be spanked, I think that perhaps you should be replaced by someone else to be my elf.” He was walking down the hall towards the bedrooms as he spoke, but as he said the last few words, his equilibrium shifted and he had to lean against the wall to keep from falling. His mind latched onto the words in his head, replaying over and over, ‘someone else to be my elf’. It was like the robot in the old TV show intoning ‘Danger, Will Robinson’; his body had just told him in no uncertain terms that replacing Marcie with another elf was not a wise decision. Double slush! I’m in big trouble!

      Following behind Nick, Marcie saw him stumble and stop to rest against the wall. She gasped and reached out to hold his arm, thinking that somehow she would try to prevent him from falling. Her attention was focused on his safety and it took a minute for his words to sink in. She blanched. “Oh, no, please! Nick, Mr. Clausson, I’m terribly sorry! I’ve been the Nickson elf for several years and I’ve never made a mistake before. Please don’t punish me by taking that away from me. I look forward to being the elf all year. It is the most special thing in my life!”

      He frowned down at her. She is such a tiny little thing! “I am very worried about exposing the children to any more naughtiness. Your misbehavior made me very angry and I am not at all happy about how I behaved in response. Look at the mess that has been created. Tomorrow I’ll have to stand in front of the press and make a statement about Nickson’s Santa spanking his elf.” Those last two words brought a zing of pleasure. ‘His elf’, Marcie was his elf. And he knew that unless Niccolo discovered some kind of cure, his days as a single man were coming to a swift end; and somehow, that knowledge didn’t bother him in the least, after all it was Marcie who was his elf.

      They reached his bedroom and he pulled open a drawer, taking out a tee shirt. “Here, you are so much smaller than me, this will be as long as a nightgown. Go change in the bathroom and meet me in your bedroom for your spanking. There should be an extra toothbrush in the medicine cabinet.” He frowned at her. “You will be spanked on your bare bottom; so you might as well take a couple of minutes to wash out your panties so that they will be fresh in the morning. I need to make another quick call. If you finish in the bathroom before I get back, I expect you to be waiting with your nose in the corner. And be sure you hang up that elf dress carefully!” He turned around and headed back to the study where he had left his phone.

      “Niccolo, there’s no point in asking anyone about the ‘stirring’,” Nick said as soon as his cousin answered the phone. “She’s my elf. As soon as I thought those words I knew the truth. Before that, I thought about replacing her and nearly collapsed. I’m not sure how to handle this. Her swearing was an emotional response related to me. So we’re both breaking through the restraints the suits should impose. It’s still nearly two weeks until Christmas and I’m not going to be able to work unless she is with me. But together, if we have any repeats of today, our behavior is going to upset the children. What do you think I should do?”

      “You're the one the rest of us come to for advice! How am I supposed to know? You’ve got to talk to Aunt Gloria; she’s the family expert. But you know what they say, ‘If something is unsettling, then settle it.’ You’re going to have to settle things with your elf. Aunt Gloria will tell you how.”

      “I’m pretty sure I know how,” Nick grumbled. “Keep your schedule clear. I think there’s a wedding in the near future, Best Man.”

      “How does your elf feel about this?”

      “I have no clue. We’ve barely spoken about anything besides work and I’ve got to go spank her now for the second time today. She eavesdropped on our last phone call.”

      “Just as well then, that she’s going to become part of the family. Can’t have civilians running around knowing things.”

      “I’m not sure how much she understood, but you’re right. We can’t take chances.”

      In the hallway, Marcie gasped and turned