A Blazing Little Christmas

by Jacquie D’Alessandro

“I’m fine.”

  “Good. In that case, I’m hanging up. Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”

  “Words I’ll try to live by. But be warned—Carol and Marc might not be so accommodating. You better lock your door and take the phone off the hook.”

  “Good plan. Bye.”

  He disconnected then switched off the phone’s ringer, although with his sister literally only yards away and his future in-laws not much farther, he wasn’t sure how helpful that would be. Note to self: next romantic getaway will not be within driving distance of family. Or anywhere it snows.

  Right. Miami sounded good. Of course that didn’t help him now. Damn. Snowed-in with the in-laws. Could it get any worse?

  The instant the question popped into his mind he shoved it aside. “Don’t jinx yourself, man,” he muttered, then crossed the room to make sure the door was locked. He debated whether to tell Jess the latest development, but decided not to, at least not unless it became necessary—like if her mother banged on their cabin door. Without even trying he could think of about three hundred other things he’d rather do with Jess than have the “Kelley, Carol and Marc are snowed-in here” conversation.

  He once again headed toward the bathroom. It was time to continue getting him and Jess back on track and do a couple of those three hundred things. Or four or five of them.

  At least.

  Chapter 6

  “You realize the score is now five to two.”

  Wrapped in one of the soft, white terry cloth robes provided in the cabin, Jessica sat on the blanket in front of the crackling fire and gazed down at Eric whose head rested in her lap. Dressed in a robe that matched hers, which afforded her tantalizing glimpses of his broad chest and muscular legs, he looked sated and sexy and more than a little smug.

  “Yup,” he agreed.

  “Which means I now owe you three.”

  “Yup.”

  “You don’t look particularly unhappy about that.”

  “Nope.”

  “Hmmm. You’re very monosyllabic.”

  He curved one hand around her neck and dragged her head down for a lush kiss. “Your fault. You render me speechless.”

  “At this rate I’ll be in your debt for the next seventy-five years.”

  “Guess I’m stuck with you.” He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “I’ll try to take it like a man and not complain too much.”

  “Good. ’Cause no one likes a whiner.” She plucked a grape from the platter of goodies on the blanket and lightly traced the fruit around his lips. Eyes glittering, Eric snagged her wrist and sucked the morsel—and two of her fingers—into his mouth. After she slowly slipped her fingers free, he said, “Yum,” then took a grape and held it up to her. Mimicking him, she held his wrist and slowly drew the fruit and his two fingers into her mouth, swirling her tongue. Then sucked. Hard.

  His eyes darkened. “You keep doing that and in no time you’ll only owe me two.”

  She slowly eased his fingers from between her lips. After chewing and swallowing her grape, she said, “Oh, I’m going to pay my debt. In full.” She slipped her hand inside the V of his robe and smoothed her splayed fingers back and forth over his chest, lightly grazing his nipples. “I have plans for you.”

  “The surprise you mentioned?”

  She reached for her glass of champagne with her free hand. “That’s right.”

  “If it’s anything like this fantastic chest rub you’re giving me right now, I’ll love it,” he said in a distinctly drowsy-sounding voice.

  She looked down at him and saw that his eyes were closed. “Hey! You’re not getting sleepy, are you?”

  He peeked one eye open a slit. “Um…no.”

  “Uh-huh. Well, you look sleepy. And you sound sleepy.”

  “Your fault, sweetheart. Between the sex, the hot shower—complete with more sex, the food, the wine and now the chest rub, you have no one but yourself to blame.”

  “Then I guess I’ll just have to revive you.”

  “Shouldn’t prove too difficult. With one touch you pretty much do to me what rocket fuel does for the space shuttle.”

  “Excellent. Then my surprise should really send you blasting into orbit.”

  He peeked open his other eye. “Okay, that got my attention.”

  “Good.” She lifted his head, eased out from beneath him and stood. “On your feet, lazy bones,” she ordered, holding out her hands to help him up.

  Once he stood he yanked her into his arms. “Anyone ever tell you you’re really bossy?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.

  “All the time. I deal with those individuals very harshly.”

  He bumped her pelvis with his. “Sounds…kinky.”

  “Hmmm. Feels like you’re already more than halfway to being fully revived.”

  “Again, all your fault.”

  She laughed and eased from his arms. Nodding to the chair by the desk, she said, “All you need to do is set that by the fire, then sit back and relax. I’ll be right back.”

  “Sitting back won’t be a problem, but relaxing?” He shot a pointed look at the bulge beneath his robe. “Not likely with you around.”

  “Don’t worry,” she said, blowing him a kiss. “I’ll take care of that for you.”

  “I think those are my new favorite seven words.”

  He made a playful grab for her, but with a laugh Jessica eluded him. After a quick stop at her overnight bag, she headed into the bathroom to ready herself for Eric’s surprise. When she was done, she cast a critical gaze in the mirror. The black lace push-up bra definitely gave her cleavage a boost and the low demi-cup allowed just the tops of her nipples to peek out. Like the bra, the black lace boy-cut bikini panties covered just enough to tease. Perfect.

  Or at least she hoped so. She’d never done anything like this before. But then no other man had ever owned her heart and soul so completely. It wasn’t until she met Eric that she realized she’d always held part of herself back in previous relationships. But not with Eric. They just clicked on every level, their personalities and goals meshing perfectly together like letters in a crossword puzzle. Even the topics upon which they didn’t agree made for interesting debates, but they agreed on all the important stuff. Besides, he was the most honorable man she’d ever met. And he made her laugh. And he was great in bed.

  Definitely an irresistible combination.

  Now if only this damn family feud would end—

  She cut off the thought. Tonight, this weekend, was about her and Eric. No one else. They were going to concentrate solely on each other and their relationship.

  After slipping on her black strappy four-inch heels, she donned her robe, then slipped the last of her props into her pocket.

  Let the score-evening begin.

  When she re-entered the main room, she found Eric sitting in the chair, half-empty champagne glass dangling from his long fingers. With his hair tousled from her fingers, the trace of evening stubble darkening his square jaw and his robe gaping open at the throat to reveal his muscled chest, he looked deliciously rumpled and more sexy than any man had a right to.

  She put some extra sway in her hips as she approached him, which he clearly noticed based on the way his gaze heated. When she stood directly in front of him, she leaned down and settled her hands on his forearms, which rested on the chair’s wooden arms.

  “Ready for your surprise?” she asked in her sultriest purr, then leaned forward to lightly run her tongue over his bottom lip.

  “Are you trying to get me to say yes?”

  “Absolutely.” Another brush of her tongue along his lip. “Is it working?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Straightening, she took his glass and set it on the floor, then slipped her hand into her pocket and withdrew two silk scarves.

  “What’re those for?” he asked, eyeing the material with interest.

  “Remember how I said you need to keep your hands to yourself and allow a girl to pay her debts? Well, this is to ensure that
you do just that.” She looped the length of silk through the arm of the chair.

  “You’re going to tie me?”

  “If that’s okay.” Her gaze wandered down his body in a full-blown ogle. Then she met his eyes. “Unless you want me to stop?”

  “Hell, no. But you know I’ll be paying you back for this.”

  She smiled. “I’ll look forward to that.” When she finished securing his hands to the chair’s arms, she stepped back until two feet separated them. “Ready?”

  “Oh, yeah. I have a feeling I’m going to like this.”

  She untied the robe’s sash then slowly slid the garment from her shoulders and tossed it aside. His hot gaze skimmed slowly down from her loose hair, over her black lace bra and panties, to her high heels then back up again.

  “Oh, yeah,” he said, his voice a hoarse rasp. “I’m definitely going to like this. Striptease?”

  “Lap dance.”

  His gaze heated from hot to smoldering. “Wow. Guess you read my letter to Santa.”

  “Maybe.” She bent at the waist, set her hands on her knees, then slowly dragged her palms upward. “Have you been naughty or nice?”

  “A little of both…”

  His voice trailed off when she skimmed her fingertips over her breasts.

  He cleared his throat. “Good thing you tied me. But I’m not sure these skimpy scarves are going to do the trick.”

  “I double-knotted them.” Keeping her movements tantalizingly slow, she spread her feet, arched her back and drew leisurely circles with her hips. Then she slowly bent her knees and gradually ground down, then back up, her arms moving sinuously, hands sifting through her hair, gaze never leaving his. Based on the stark, raw hunger flaming in his eyes, there was no doubt he liked what he saw.

  “Where the hell did you learn to move like that?” he asked, his eyes riveted on her undulating hips.

  “I bought a DVD—Lap Dancing for Your Lover.”

  “You mean you’ve been practicing this?”

  Another slow downward grind. “For weeks.”

  “Weeks? And I’ve missed the practice sessions? No freakin’ fair.”

  She wet her index finger with her tongue, loving the intensity of his attention, then dragged the moist tip along the lacy edge of her bra and was rewarded with a deep groan. Keeping her hips circling and her gaze locked on him, she slowly turned until she faced away from him. With her legs straight, she bent forward slightly and shot him a flirtatious look over her shoulder while lightly stroking her bottom. He groaned again, and shifted in his seat. His erection pressed against his robe and she realized she found this as arousing as he did. Certainly the naked hunger glittering in his eyes encouraged her to see just how hot she could get him. The thought of the benefits she’d reap—that they’d both reap—clenched desire low in her belly.

  Keeping her movements torturously slow, she spread her legs then bent lower, until her bottom pointed directly at him. Watching him over her shoulder, she cocked one knee to the side, straightened her other leg, then glided her fingertips up the back of her straight leg. When she reached her bottom, she gave it a smart slap then puckered her lips and blew him a saucy kiss.

  “Come here,” he growled.

  “Oh, no. A shortcut never leads to anywhere worth going.”

  “Yeah, but I may explode before we get there.”

  “Aren’t you enjoying the show?” she asked in a throaty purr as she lazily repeated her last move on the other leg.

  “Are you kidding? I’m so hard I’ll probably never walk again.”

  “Hmmm…yes, you’re looking rather…tense.”

  He strained against the ties binding him and lifted his hips. His robe separated, revealing the hard jut of his erection. “There’s no ‘rather’ about it.”

  Her gaze drifted over him and heat sizzled along her every nerve ending. “Spread your legs,” she whispered over her shoulder.

  With his eyes all but breathing smoke, he obeyed. She straightened, and with hips circling, moved backward until her legs hit the edge of the chair. Keeping her back straight, she bent her knees, rested her hands on his thighs then lowered herself until his erection was nestled against her bottom. Then she slowly rotated her hips.

  “Jess…” His voice was a ragged moan. She felt his muscles tense and his rapid breathing warmed the back of her neck. Then he leaned forward and pressed his hot mouth against her nape. “You’re driving me out of my mind.”

  Tingles skittered down her spine from his lips against her sensitive skin. She changed her hip movement to a forward-back rocking motion that drew a groan from both of them.

  “I can feel your heat,” he whispered against her neck. “God…you’re wet. You’re as turned on as I am.”

  “Let’s see how much hotter we can get.”

  “Any hotter and I’m going to spontaneously combust.”

  “Then you’ll miss the best part of the show.”

  His teeth grazed the top of her shoulder. “God knows I don’t want to do that. Bring it on, sweetheart. But if I go up in flames, it’s all your fault.”

  “Noted.” She straightened, then with an undulating sway, turned to face him. The fire burning in his eyes singed her, pooling more heat in her belly. His hands were clenched, his knuckles white, his breathing labored, his muscles clearly tight with expectation of what she’d do next. Heat seemed to pump off him like steam. Having him so utterly at her mercy, being so completely in control, and seeing how profoundly it affected him was…potent.

  Keeping her legs straight, she leaned forward and gripped the back of the chair on either side of his head, caging him in. She then arched forward and brushed her breasts across his face.

  He sucked in a sharp breath that exhaled as a growl. Setting a knee on the chair between his legs, she leaned down and slowly traced the outside of his ear with the tip of her tongue. He buried his lips in her cleavage and drew a deep breath. “God, you smell so damn good. Feel so damn good.” His tongue flicked over her half-exposed nipple and her womb clenched. “Taste so damn good.”

  She continued to tease him, brushing her breasts over his face, circling her nipples around his mouth, nibbling on his earlobe, brushing her tongue over his bottom lip then gently sucking it into her mouth, all while her knee applied a gently rotating pressure against the base of his erection. His breathing quickened into a series of jagged pants and he lifted his hips and thrust against her knee. “I’m dangerously close to begging,” he warned.

  She slowly backed off, her own breathing unsteady. With her gaze fused on his glazed eyes, she untied his robe’s sash and spread the white terry cloth wide. Anticipation pulsed through her at the sight of his rippled abs and that straining erection jutting halfway up his taut stomach. A single drop of pearly fluid glistened on the engorged head of his penis and with a single fingertip she spread the bead of moisture over him. Dropping his head back, he looked at her through half-closed eyes and rolled his hips toward her, seeking more.

  She immediately backed off, and forcing herself to keep her movements leisurely and sinuous, she reached behind her to unhook her bra. After she’d let it fall to the floor, she cupped her breasts, reveling in his smoky gaze, his rapt attention. She tugged on her taut nipples then skimmed her hands down her torso. Hooking her fingers beneath her lace panties, she shimmied them down her legs then kicked the bit of material aside and slowly stood, running her hands leisurely upward.

  With an animallike growl, he spread his legs wider and slowly thrust upward. Her womb clenched in response and she walked back toward him.

  “Untie me.” His voice was low, rough.

  She shook her head, and eyes steady on his, leaned forward to grip his tense shoulders then carefully set her knees on the wide seat on either side of his thighs. He instantly leaned forward and drew her nipple into his mouth. A gasp escaped her and she shuddered at the wet warmth tugging on the aroused tip.

  Reaching between them, she wrapped her fingers around his ha
rd flesh. The scent of her arousal and his heat filled her head, making it spin. She positioned herself over his erection then slowly rubbed the velvety head along her wet, swollen cleft. That single touch ignited her like a match to gunpowder and she couldn’t wait any longer to feel him inside her.

  Grasping his shoulders, she sank down, a slow, slick impalement that shot sweet, hot pulses of pleasure through her. His growl of approval vibrated against her breast and he drew her nipple deeper into his hot mouth. She slowly rose, then lowered herself again.

  “Eric,” she said, her voice a breathless moan. “You feel so…” Her voice trailed off into a groan when he ground up, embedding himself deeper.

  “So tight,” he whispered, grazing his teeth along her neck. “So wet and hot. Don’t stop.”

  She didn’t, taking him in long, languid strokes that he met with increasingly demanding upward thrusts. She picked up the pace, lost in pleasure, both of them straining harder for the next stroke. Her climax exploded, and with a cry her body arched as the convulsions throbbed through her. With a dark growl, Eric ground his hips into hers and she felt him pulse inside her. Limp and panting, with aftershocks still rippling through her, Jessica melted against him, her head flopping forward like a rag doll’s to rest against his shoulder.

  “I’ll untie you as soon as I can move,” she managed to say between erratic breaths.

  “Don’t worry about it—I can’t move a muscle anyway,” he said, sounding as breathless as she was. “Good thing I’ve got a strong heart, otherwise that would have killed me.” He turned his head and brushed his lips over her damp forehead.

  “Yet I don’t sense that’s a complaint.”

  His huff of warm breath ruffled her hair. “Hardly. Best damn Christmas present I ever got.”

  She summoned the energy to lift her head and gazed into his slumberous, sexy eyes. “Glad you liked it.”

  “‘Liked’ is a pretty lukewarm word.”

  “Does that mean my debt is paid?”

  “In full. In fact, I think now I owe you two.”

  She looped her arms around his neck and gave him a slow, deep kiss. After she lifted her head, she asked, “Do you think it’ll always be this…magical between us?”