by Lori Wilde
The knowledge that at any second someone could shove open that bifold door and discover them in flagrante delicto—sent her around the bend.
Shocked, she embraced it. She couldn’t get enough of him.
He was pressed against her back, his chin touching the top of her head as she clung helplessly to the counter, the scent of his cologne combined with his musky masculine aroma surrounding her. God, he smelled so good!
Kelsey wanted to eat him right up.
His erection poked hard at his zipper, straining to get out. To get to her.
Inside the blissful daze, inside the heat of her own skin, Kelsey simmered. In the darkness, she listened to the bump-thump of her drumming heartbeat. Her blood rolled hot through her veins and pooled deep inside the most feminine part of her.
The part of her where she ached for Noah to be.
If he could do this to her with his fingers, oh my heavens, what would he do to her with the hardest part of his body?
Lust fired her nerve endings. Endorphins flooded the pleasure centers of her brain. Cravings for him swallowed her whole.
Gone. She was absolutely gone. Wandering lost on a sea of sensation.
No. Not lost. Noah was there guiding the way. Offering her sweet sexual magic. Giving her his whimsy, his sense of adventure. Leading her where she’d been so afraid to tread.
“Come,” he whispered softly in her ear. “Come, Firefly.”
Firefly. Even his nickname for her was whimsical and spoken in a tone of wonder.
She felt so safe with him. So unafraid. He would never steer her wrong. Never knowingly hurt her.
The pulsating bass of the music throbbed up through the floorboards. A hard rock version of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”
Sensory overload.
Too much input. Her velvet dress. His silky pants. The cool air against her bare butt. She bit her bottom lip, writhed against his hand, accepted that he was driving her mad with lust. Embraced it.
“That’s it, sweetheart,” he cooed, his voice raspy with desire of his own. “Yes, yes. Let go. I dare you.”
A dare. A challenge. A Christmas of Yes. She had to accept.
He touched her one last time, pressing in as if it were a secret button.
Kelsey burst. Flew right over the edge.
Her body felt both weighted and featherlight. She felt as if she’d been jettisoned into a warm black pit of squishy pudding. Time stretched, elongated, while at the same time, it seemed to shrink to the size of a BB and then pop wide open, until she was free floating through the cosmos.
She couldn’t think. Couldn’t form a coherent thought. Only fragments of words that floated through her head like Christmas snowflakes. A slow peaceful drift. Which was nice.
Noah. Her. Music. Fingers. Warmth. Tenderness.
Aah. Touch. Lips. Tongue. Yesss. Sweet. Hot. Precious. Mmm.
And finally, as her world exploded into a shattering of stars . . . Noah, Noah, Noah.
Her body lit up with the most incredible orgasm she’d ever had. The music and voices behind the thin walls of their cubbyhole were loud enough to drown out her mewling cries of release.
But it could not drown out the swelling of her overflowing heart, and the realization that this was the life she should have been living all along.
Chapter 24
Edgy and fuzzy headed with lust, Noah tugged Kelsey’s little G-string panty back into place, lowered the tail of her sexy velvet dress, untied her blindfold, stuffed the tie in his front pocket, and reached for her.
Noah cradled her in the crook of his arm.
She trembled against him.
He grinned. He’d wrecked her to rubble. Which had been his plan all along.
She rested her head against his chest. Slipped her arms around his neck. Sighed like she’d just run a marathon. He had defiled Mayor James’s daughter. If she knew, Filomena would be livid.
Noah’s grin widened. Gloating was not an honorable trait, but damn if he wasn’t proud of himself for helping Kelsey cut off the leg iron of her mother’s control. Yes, he was using sex as a weapon, but it was for Firefly’s own good.
Sometimes the end did justify the means.
Still, he suddenly felt as if he was pulling the wool over Kelsey’s eyes with sexual tricks. Was he being underhanded? Using her vulnerability to bond her to him? He’d already started this, he had to finish it. No bailing out now. Whether she knew it or not, she needed him. And here was the important part: he needed her just as much.
Although he’d done his best to hide it from himself, he’d felt adrift after his divorce and his retirement from the NBA. Yes, he’d rebounded. He had the support of family. He’d bought the Rockabye and was making a go of it. He was happy and doing well.
But still there had been this part of him, the seventeen-year-old inside him, that had unfinished business with Kelsey.
Time to be honest with himself. He wanted to be with her. Was he rushing things? Was he being unrealistic? He did have a habit of building sandcastle fantasies in his mind before the groundwork was solidified. He should slow his roll.
Kelsey’s breathing came fast and shallow. She stepped back as far as she could in the cubbyhole and tossed a satisfied grin his way. Her eyelids lowered seductively.
Then he had to ask himself the biggest question of all. Was he more invested in her than she was in him? That was a startling thought. Sandcastles. Be careful. A fat wave could knock them over and wash them out to sea.
Looking into Kelsey’s eyes, his defenses dissolved like soap bubbles. What a woman! How could he not spin fantasies about her?
How had this happened? How had he lost himself to her so completely again and in such a short time. Yes, they had history, but they hadn’t seen each other in ten years.
Yet from the moment he’d seen her again it was as if no time had passed instead of a decade. And now, here was this need to move heaven and earth to make her his.
They stared at each other. Gazes locked. He wondered if her thoughts were as complicated and jumbled as his. They belonged together now as much as they did the night he’d carved their names into the Sweetheart Tree in Sweetheart Park.
Kelsey looked baffled, ducked her head and glanced away, color rising to her cheeks. She put a hand to her temple, to her twitching eye.
He knew what that tic meant. She was anxious, stressed.
Without a word, he pulled her to him again. Gently massaged her temple. Felt the muscle jump faster beneath his fingertips. Was he the cause of her stress? Or was the tic due to him pushing her outside her comfort zone?
Much as he wanted to make things better for her, he wasn’t going to stop pushing. Seeing the world in a new way was what she needed to break her mother’s hold over her. It was what they both needed to bring closure to the past and pave the way for the future.
There’s those sandcastles again, MacGregor.
Noah had an uphill battle ahead of him. He knew that, but he wasn’t going to stop trying. He’d given up ten years ago because Filomena had pulled out the big guns and threatened his scholarship. But now? The woman had no hold over him.
Except for the way she treated Kelsey.
“Your turn,” she said.
“No—”
Her hand locked around his wrist. “Yes.”
“I—”
“Turnabout is fair play,” she said, her tone brooking no argument.
She pulled out the blindfold.
He gulped, overwhelmed with lust for her.
“Turn around,” she commanded. “Now.”
“That’s kinda bossy.”
“I’m a campaign manager. How do you think I keep people in line?”
Wow, this was a whole new side of her. Noah approved. Heartily. Firefly was turning the tables on him and he loved it.
Chuckling, Noah obeyed, and turned his back to her.
“You’re going to have to bend down a bit, tall man.”
Noah loosened his knees, crouc
hed halfway while she tied the blindfold over his eyes.
His pulse kicked up the way it had on the basketball court whenever he broke away from the pack to make a run for the basket and score a layup to win the game.
She turned him around and kissed him.
It felt as if they were kissing for the very first time. A kiss bursting with heat and adventure, with passion and gung-ho exploration. Something was definitely different about Kelsey tonight. Something had changed. She was no longer hesitant or holding back. She was fully embracing her sexuality.
What caused the shift?
Noah had no idea. He only knew that kissing her was the hottest, most heartfelt thing he’d ever done.
“Who are you?” he joked. “And what have you done with my cautious Kelsey?”
“I booted her,” she said. “She was boring.”
“Not boring—”
“Boring. She would never dare do something like this . . .”
“Something like what?” His mouth was so dry it felt like he’d swallowed the desert.
“Like this.” She positioned him against the wall. “Spread your legs.”
He did as she commanded, his belly and pelvic muscles clenching tight. He felt her sink to her knees in front of him.
His heart was a drum—bam, bam, bam.
Kelsey reached for the zipper of his trousers.
Noah blew out his breath in a swift, hot rush.
Slowly, she eased the zipper down.
Holy shit, was this really happening? By the time she got his pants and boxer briefs shucked to his knees, he was granite hard and ready for her.
She touched him, and his shaft jerked. “You are so big,” she murmured, her voice in awe. “I’m going to love tasting you.”
Noah groaned.
“This will teach you to lure me into casino cubbyholes, mister.” She blew her breath across his skin.
He sucked in air.
She touched the tip of her tongue to the head of his shaft.
A low feral growl flew from his lips. He wanted to tell her so many things. How beautiful he thought she was. How even after ten years apart she still made him tremble. How he would gratefully give up everything he owned to be with her forever.
But his throat was too dry and tight for any words to emerge. He’d been reduced to guttural animal sounds. His brain had left the building. All he could focus on was the feeling of her lips wrapping around his throbbing shaft.
He was lost, absolutely lost.
But what a way to go!
She turned him inside out and upside down and every which way but loose. He did not know where she’d learned her tricks. He did not care. An orgasm shook through him, an earthquake of a release.
And when she was finished with him, he was left a quivering shell of a man.
“You . . . that . . .” he gasped. He shook his head. What could he say. His mind—and his body—had been completely and utterly blown.
He sank down the length of the wall, joined her on the floor. Stripped off the blindfold, reached with Jell-O arms to cup her cheeks between his palms and hold her still while he stared deeply into her eyes.
“Firefly,” he whispered and then he pulled her to him so that she was leaning over his long legs. He kissed her eyelids, her forehead, each cheek, her cute little chin. Then finally he took her mouth and showed her just how much he loved and appreciated her.
But that was the problem, wasn’t it? He still didn’t know if she loved him back. And wouldn’t know until he was brave enough to say the words.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Shh.” He pressed his lips to her twitching temple. “Thank you.”
“I . . . this . . .”
“You’re feeling weird,” he said.
She bobbed her head. “You know me too well.”
“Don’t forget that.” He gave her the kindest smile in his arsenal.
They sat for a long moment in each other’s arms, listening to the racket outside their safe little cocoon.
“How exactly do we come out of this closet now?” she asked.
“We strut right out. No regrets. We’re grown consenting adults. We have nothing to be ashamed of. Hold your head high.” He wasn’t going to give her time to fret. He pulled her off the floor, clasped her hand in his, pushed open the bifold door and led her back to the casino.
The room was wall-to-wall with people in formal attire gathered at the gambling tables. From the decorated trees in the corners to the mistletoe garlands strung over the doorways to the festive, white, holiday cocktails people clutched in their hands, the place screamed Christmas.
The merry location was why he’d invited her to the event, but now he wished for a more secluded venue than Twilight’s biggest shindig of the season. There were too many people, too much noise, just too much of everything after their very private encounter.
“Hey.” Kelsey elbowed him lightly in the ribs. “There’s Sean and Tasha.”
Yep, sure enough, over by the roulette wheel stood his handyman and Kelsey’s best friend placing their bets. Tasha’s head rested on Sean’s shoulder. Sean’s eyes were bright and there was a pile of chips and empty martini glasses in front of both him and Tasha. What happened to snuggling up at the Rockabye to Netflix and chill?
“Do you want to go say hello?” he asked. “Or slip out the back way?”
“Noah!” Sean caught Noah’s eye and raised a hand. “Over here.”
“Too late for escape.” Kelsey chuckled and headed over to the roulette wheel.
Noah followed.
“Where did you get the formal wear last minute?” Kelsey eyed Tasha’s outfit. The dress was sunflower yellow and looked more appropriate for a senior prom than a black-tie Christmas party.
“Raylene Pringle,” Tasha said. “She came to the Rockabye, insisted we come to the party while she held down the fort. Brought along this dress. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“Bets, bets, place your bets,” the roulette dealer called.
“Join us,” Sean invited, kicking out the empty chair on the other side of him. “We’re on a hot streak. Tasha is charmed. Rub her shoulder for good luck and place a bet.”
“I credit the yellow,” Tasha said. “It’s an attention-getting color. Go ahead. Rub.”
“I can’t,” Noah said. The only woman he wanted to rub on was Kelsey. “I’m running this charity, so gambling is a conflict of interest.”
“Oh yeah,” Sean said.
“How about you, Kels?” Tasha said, extending her arm. “Wanna rub me for good luck and place a bet?”
“I’m not a gambler.” Kelsey stepped back to let a server go by.
“Christmas of Yes,” Tasha said.
“Place your bets, ladies and gents,” said the roulette dealer dressed in old-school Monte Carlo casino attire.
“Do it, do it, do it,” Tasha chanted.
“Place your bets.”
“I don’t know how,” Kelsey said.
“High time you learned.” Sean leaned over to hand Kelsey a pile of chips.
“Oh wow, okay.” Kelsey glanced at Noah.
He nodded, encouraging her. Raised his sleeve so she could see his tattoo. Dare. “Rub me.” Tasha flapped her arm like a wing.
“I don’t believe in good luck charms,” Kelsey said. “It’s magical thinking—”
“Place your bets,” the dealer said. “Last call.” The other people at the table were starting to look irritated.
“Okay, okay. I’ll play along.” Rolling her eyes and smiling sheepishly, Kelsey rubbed Tasha’s elbow. “Now what do I do?”
“Give the man your chips,” Sean instructed. “And bet exactly the way Tasha does.”
“Here goes . . .” Kelsey looked at the chips. “How much is this?”
“Fifteen dollars.”
“Here goes fifteen dollars,” she said and bet it all on red.
The dealer closed the betting, spun the wheel. The ball landed on red. Everyone
at the table had bet on red. A cheer went up. The dealer paid out the chips. People hopped up to rush over and rub on Tasha, who was looking like a puppy in a nursing home. Adored and fawned over.
But Noah had eyes for only Kelsey. She was, he decided, the most mesmerizing woman in the room. All high-society elegance and class. He licked his lips, remembering what they’d just done in the storage room. She was counting her chips, unaware that he was studying her. He had a desperate urge to whisk her back to the Rockabye and make love to her good and proper.
Doubt ate at him. Why would a woman like her want anything to do with him long-term? She’d made it clear she didn’t want any strings attached. Why did he keep hoping? He was cruising for a bruising.
“Wow, I can see how people get addicted to gambling. Winning is fun!” She beamed.
“Wanna another hit of this?” Tasha held up her elbow again.
“I think I’ll quit while I’m ahead.” Kelsey cast a surreptitious glance over at Noah. Gauging his reaction? “Here are your chips back.” She extended her winnings to Sean.
Sean held up a palm. “Keep it. My gift to you. Go claim your prize.”
“Wait, wait,” Tasha said. “There’s one rule though.”
“What kind of rule?” Kelsey asked.
“You have to pick something fun. Nothing practical. No toaster oven. No flat iron. It has to be fun.”
“I’m afraid to ask what you think constitutes fun,” Kelsey said.
“Better yet,” Noah added. “Something Christmassy and fun.”
“Ooh, good idea.” Tasha rubbed her palms together. “Go help her pick something out, Noah.”
“Ignore her,” Kelsey said to Noah. “She gets off on telling people what to do.”
“Is that true?” Sean lowered his voice and leaned in closer to Tasha.
Tasha giggled and pressed her nose against Sean’s. “I have this dominatrix costume . . .”
Kelsey placed her hands over her ears. “TMI, TMI.”
“Oh, like you have any room to talk,” Tasha said. “We saw you two coming out of the closet readjusting your clothing. And hey, wasn’t your hair in an upsweep earlier?”
Kelsey’s face reddened.
Noah took pity on her, looped his arm through hers. “C’mon, I’ll help you select your prize.”