by LuAnn McLane
“I wanted to make something more elaborate, but hunger made me go for cold cuts. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” she replied, and tried to reach for the plate but couldn’t with the blanket clutched around her. Jesse smiled and then reached for the shirt lying on the rug.
“Here,” he offered, and turned to uncork the wine while she shrugged into it.
“Except for the strawberries, I haven’t eaten since breakfast, so I’m famished. I think that’s why the eggnog hit me so hard.”
“Probably.” Jesse glanced her way while he poured the Merlot and knew that Claire was trying to blame what just happened on the bourbon. But if she thought she looked less sexy in nothing but his shirt, she was oh so wrong. Wanting to put her at ease once more, he handed her the glass and then stood up.
“I probably shouldn’t drink this,” she said while looking up at him.
“Just relax, Claire,” he requested, and had to smile when this time she hesitated, but when he extended his hand, she took it. “Hey, follow me.” He guided her over to the floor-to-ceiling windows.“Look.”When he flicked on an outside light, the blowing snow seemed to sparkle like glitter. Fat flakes were floating down fast, adding to the white inches already piled up on the big deck.Tall shadowy pine trees seemed to glow in the background.
“Oh, wow,” Claire said as she stood there and looked through the glass. “It’s beautiful.” She took a sip of wine and stared out at the winter wonderland.
“I agree, and it’s not going to stop anytime soon. We are officially snowed in.”
She took another sip of her wine but remained quiet.
“Claire, we’re going to be spending several days together. I don’t want you to wake up tomorrow with regret.”
She nodded slowly and cradled the glass in her hand.
“This was so unexpected for us both. It’s like something out of place and time.” He shrugged and then said,“I guess that sounded weird.”
“No, I was thinking the same thing earlier. It’s like we’re in a Hallmark holiday movie,” she said, but then shook her head and chuckled. “Well, the unrated version.”
Jesse laughed. God, he liked being with her. But then his smile faded.“But odds are that after the storm . . . ,” he began, but for some reason the rest of the sentence stuck in his throat.
“We’ll never see each other again,” she finished softly.
This time Jesse remained quiet.
Her eyes widened slightly.“That’s why you let me take the lead . . . why you stopped.”
“Claire, it would have been wrong to take advantage of the situation, but I’m only human. If I have you naked in my arms again, I won’t be able to stop.” He shoved his fingers through his hair and blew out a sigh.
“I get it. Before was spontaneous.This time we are making a conscious choice.”
He turned and looked at Claire. “So, what are your thoughts?” He held his breath and waited.
Claire nibbled on the inside of her cheek for a minute and then said, “Jesse, maybe we’re overthinking this.”
Jesse wanted to raise his fist in triumph while doing a little jig—even though he had never done a jig in his life—but he cleared his throat and, as calmly as he could, said, “You think so?”
“Yes.” Claire angled her head, causing her hair to slide over her shoulder. “Here’s what I propose. . . .”
Chapter Six
“Let’s turn on some music, sit in front of the fire, and eat our sandwiches.”
“Okay,” Jesse responded with a slight smile.
“We can talk.”
“Sure.Yeah, talking is good.”
“Get to know each other.”
“Absolutely.” He nodded firmly, but his disappointment was so evident that Claire felt both sexy and desired. Jesse Marshall was big enough and man enough to make her feel feminine and fragile. This newfound sex appeal gave her a heady boost of confidence, and she loved the feeling.
Claire placed one hand on his bare chest and said, “After we eat dinner, I want you . . .” She really wanted to say for dessert but knew she wouldn’t manage that without blushing or giggling, so she said, “To kiss me.”
“Okay,” he calmly agreed, but Claire could feel the rapid beat of his heart beneath her palm. “Then let’s eat.” He picked up another remote, and after he pushed a button, soft bluesy music played from discreetly placed speakers.
Claire looked at the four remotes on his coffee table and shook her head.“I would never be able to keep those straight.”
“Pretty high-tech for a backwoodsman,” he responded with a grin.
“Little bit,” Claire replied, but she already knew there was much more to Jesse Marshall than she had first thought. They settled back onto the rug and between bites carried on a conversation about favorite movies, books, sports, and their work. Claire chattered on about her family, but Jesse avoided the subject and she didn’t feel as if she should pry, even though she was amazed at how comfortable she felt with a man she barely knew.
“Do your parents know you are stranded here in Whisper?” Jesse asked.
Claire shook her head. “I’m not due home yet, and they knew that cell phone reception on the train was going to be sketchy, so they’re not expecting many calls. I decided not to give the bad news until I have to. My mother is a bit of a Southern diva, and I want to spare my father for as long as I can. Besides, there’s still an outside chance that I will make it home.”
“Makes sense, I suppose,” Jesse agreed.“But I still think you should call soon.”
“I know, but I can’t stand the thought of ruining their Christmas,” she admitted, and then took a sip of wine. “This will be the first Christmas I’ve ever missed with my family,” she added softly, and ran the tip of her finger over the rim of her glass. “I’m sorry for getting so emotional. Don’t mind me.”
“No, I understand perfectly.” Something of a shadow passed over his features once again, but then he seemed to shake it off. “I’m sorry, you’re right—don’t think about it right now. I shouldn’t have brought it up, but I didn’t want them to worry.”
Claire reached over and put her hand over his. “You’re a good man, Jesse Marshall.”
“I was raised well.” He smiled but then frowned down at his own glass, but not before Claire caught a flash of hurt in his eyes, making her want to wrap her arms around him and ease whatever was the cause of his pain.
Needing to see his smile return, Claire sat up and asked brightly, “Okay, when are you going to take me on your snowmobile?”
Jesse arched one eyebrow. “Have you ever been on one, little city slicker?”
“No.”
“Do you scare easily?”
She waved a hand through the air.“I live in the heart of the city. Do you seriously think I scare easily?”
“We’ll find out.”
“I’m tough as nails,” she boasted, then gave her hair a flip for good measure. “You can’t scare me,” she insisted, and as if on cue, a loud howl could be heard from outside. Her eyes rounded, and she asked, “What was that?”
When Jesse laughed, Claire leaned forward and gave his chest a shove. He fell back onto one elbow, causing her to tumble forward with him. She slowly pushed up from his chest, letting her fingers trail over his warm skin.
The promise of the kiss had simmered between them the entire time. Also, it didn’t help that her black bra was lying on the rug or that he was shirtless with the top snap of his jeans undone. If there had been a pop quiz at the end of the conversation, she wouldn’t have passed because all that filled her brain was the need to have her body pressed against his.
Claire busied herself taking the last bite of her sandwich. “That was delicious.” She dusted her hands together, but when she licked a bit of spicy mustard from her bottom lip, Jesse watched her intently, and so she lingered longer than necessary. “Thank you.”
“I promise you’ll wake up to a hot meal for breakf
ast.”
“Do you get up . . . wake up early?” she asked, and then felt heat from her cheeks to her toes.
His lips twitched, but he left her comment alone.“I’m normally an early riser,” he responded, but his eyes remained on her mouth. “But I’m on vacation, so I’ll get up whenever the spirit moves me.” He moved the plates out of the way and stretched out his long legs. “Are you a morning person?”
When he leaned back on his elbows, his muscles rippled in the firelight, making Claire totally lose her train of thought once again. She leaned forward and said,“I . . . uh, what did you just ask me?”
“Does it really matter?”
“No.”
“Then get over here and give me my after-dinner kiss,” he requested in a deep low tone.
“Okay.” Claire leaned in and bestowed him with a chaste kiss on the cheek.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Yeah . . . I was.” With her heart pounding, Claire swung her leg over him to straddle his hips. She leaned in and, bracing herself with her hands on his shoulders, slowly licked his bottom lip.Taking the lead wasn’t like her, but hot passion quickly melted her inhibitions. When he groaned, she nibbled lightly, sucked, and toyed until she finally slanted her mouth over his and kissed him slowly, sweetly, licking . . . savoring, and then going deeper, hotter. He tasted like red wine and hot man, and she could not get enough.
Claire rocked against his erection, driving them both nuts when his denim-covered shaft slid against the silky thong.After a breathy little moan she started a trail of kisses down his chest, pausing at his nipple to lick and bite before going lower . . . and lower still while letting her hair trail over his chest.
When Claire unzipped his jeans, she heard his sharp intake of breath and smiled. His penis sprang forward, big, bold, and ready. She curled her hand around it, amazed that the skin was so soft and yet he was so very hard.
“God, Claire,” Jesse said, and his abs tightened. She ran the tip of her tongue up his shaft and then swirled it over his head before tugging his jeans over his hips and pulling them off.
Claire came up to her knees and looked him over, getting her fill. He was thickly muscled, gloriously hard, and his skin appeared golden in the firelight. The crackling heat caused a fine sheen of sweat across his chest, making Claire want to reach out and touch him, lick him everywhere . . . but for the moment she simply stared. “You are a sight to behold.”
“Then behold me,” he tried to joke, but his voice was thick with passion.
Claire’s laughter came out a low rumble. “I think I’m rubbing off on you.”
“Please . . . do.”
“My pleasure . . .” While on her knees Claire placed her hands on his chest and rubbed back and forth, but her laughter trailed off at the feel of his warm moist skin beneath her palms. “You feel . . . nice.” She curled her fingers and raked her nails lightly through his chest hair and down to his groin, just grazing the tip of his penis. “I take that back.You feel amazing.”
Jesse stirred, groaned, but just when she was about to take him into her mouth, he sucked in a breath and pushed up to a sitting position. “Not yet. I need to see you.” Claire watched while his long fingers slowly unbuttoned her shirt and slid it over her shoulders. “Wow.”
It was Claire’s turn to suck in a breath when Jesse cupped her breasts in his big hands. “I can’t say it enough.You are simply gorgeous.” He circled his thumbs over her nipples, and when he leaned in and sucked her into his mouth, a hot shiver slid down Claire’s spine. She shoved her fingers into his hair, arching her back, holding him close while he tasted, sucked, and played. His hands caressed and kneaded her bare ass cheeks, and without warning he suddenly slid his fingers beneath the sides of the thong and yanked the scrap of silk over her hips. Then, cupping her cheeks, he buried his head between her thighs, kissing her, devouring her, until her knees trembled.
“Here, baby . . .” He lowered her to the rug, eased her legs apart, and licked her oh so lightly, making Claire shiver and arch her back, wanting . . . needing more. He continued tiny quick-as-lightning licks until her fingers fisted into the rug. Her breathing became shallow gasps as her pleasure began to build, climb.... It was too much.
It wasn’t enough.
But just when Claire was about to climax, he slowed down. “No . . .” Her throaty plea got her nowhere, and he nibbled on her inner thighs, teasing, toying, keeping relief just out of her reach until she was crazy with need.“Jesse!”When she arched her hips, he slid his hands beneath her ass and licked her faster, harder, until pure exquisite pleasure burst forward and exploded. Claire arched up against his hot mouth and pushed her shoulders into the rug. Her body turned to liquid heat while wave after wave washed over her. “That was amazing . . . ,” she managed to say, even though her heart thudded wildly and she felt as if she were melting into the rug.
“Merry Christmas.”
“It’s . . . um, not Christmas yet.” She tried to raise her head but couldn’t.
“Good, because I’m just getting started,” he warned her, and was rewarded with throaty laughter, but her eyes remained closed, and when she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, Jesse knew she was acutely aware that he was drinking in the sight of her nakedness. With her beautiful body bathed in the glow of the fire and her hair fanned out over the rug, Jesse understood her earlier comment. She was a sight to behold.
“Jesse?” she asked in a soft purr, sounding chock-full of satisfaction.
“Hmm?”
“I know ’tis the season for giving, but I think it’s about time for you to receive.”
When she opened up her eyes and gave him a shy but sensual smile, Jesse felt something stir inside of him that went beyond passion. Once again it hit him hard that his time with her was limited, and he knew that this moment would be forever etched in his memory. He didn’t want her to remember this as casual sex but didn’t know how to voice his feelings.
“Just kiss me, Jesse,” Claire whispered, and the emotion in her eyes told him that she understood.
“Gladly.” Jesse knew that she was sated, and even though he was dying to make love to her, he wanted to bring her back to full arousal first, and so he leaned in and slowly slid his hand up her thigh, caressing her lightly. Her breath caught, but instead of closing her eyes, she rose up to her elbows, kept them open, and watched the path of his hand. “Your skin is like satin,” he said as he moved upward, pausing to explore.
“Thank you,” she replied in a breathless voice that told Jesse she was becoming aroused once more.
“I’m sorry that my hands are rough and calloused.”
“No . . . I like it,” she said, and when he slid both palms up to cup her breasts, her head tilted and her eyes fluttered shut.“I like your hands on me.”
“Me, too.” Jesse smiled. In her suit she had appeared all city sophistication, but there was a fresh honesty about her that he hadn’t expected, making her even more enticing. He circled her nipples with his thumbs and then leaned in and kissed her soft, moist mouth before turning to quickly put on protection.
Jesse couldn’t remember when he had wanted a woman more and he knew it was going to be a struggle not to climax quickly, so he spread her thighs, entering her inch by inch. She inhaled a deep breath and threaded her fingers through his hair. God, she was hot, wet, tight . . . and when he was buried deep, he had to pause in order to gain his composure. He began with slow, easy strokes, holding back when he wanted to pump hard. She rocked with him, kissing his chest, and when her breath started coming in short gasps, he knew she was getting close, and he stroked her harder, faster. She arched her back, tilted her hips as if needing more of him.
“Wrap your legs around me,” Jesse requested in her ear, and when she did, he slid his hands beneath her ass.When she fisted her hands on the rug, he asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes . . . oh yes,” she answered, and nodded, and that was all he needed. She matched his rhythm an
d then some, making Jesse realize how great it was to have a woman who could handle his size. They were a perfect fit and he loved it. At this angle he filled her completely and was able to watch the play of passion on her face while he made love to her. Her lips were plump and moist, and her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of rose. That glorious mane of hair was starting to curl at the ends and when she opened her mouth and gasped, it pushed Jesse over the edge and he thrust deep, climaxing in a hot rush of pleasure while bringing her right along with him. He held her there for a long moment, savoring the feeling of being inside of her heat while she came.
Jesse lowered her hips to the floor, and after brushing her hair back from her face, he leaned down and gave her a lingering kiss. When Claire wrapped her arms around him and sighed, he felt the same bittersweet ache reach within and claw at his carefully guarded heart. After easing down beside her, he drew her close and for a while neither of them spoke. The soothing sound of jazz music played in the background, and the warmth of the fire had Jesse’s eyes feeling heavy. She felt so good in his arms and he longed to have her tucked in his bed. “Hey, I’m fading fast.”
“Me, too,” she answered in a drowsy tone.
Not wanting to fall asleep on the floor, he kissed the top of Claire’s head and said, “Are you ready for bed?”
“Yes,” she answered hesitantly.“I’m exhausted. I hope I can make it up the stairs.”
The stairs? Jesse wanted her to sleep with him, but given the circumstances, he didn’t know if he should ask. But the cabin would seem dark and eerie, and sounds of nocturnal wildlife might leave her spooked in the middle of the night.
“Do you have a suggestion as to which room I should choose?”
Mine . . . , he almost said, but stopped himself, and yet the thought of her wide-awake and frightened bothered him more than he wanted it to. He had never felt this way about a woman so quickly, but he told himself it was the unusual set of circumstances and his unstable emotions during the holidays that was messing with his head. He reminded himself that she would soon be gone from his life and having her curled up next to him all night long was too intimate. They had already traveled into dangerous emotional territory. Even though he wanted her next to him, she should sleep in a guest room for both their sakes. “The one directly at the top of the stairs has a big bathroom that connects to it.There are extra toiletries in the medicine cabinet, hopefully including a new toothbrush, so help yourself to anything you might need. Fresh towels are in the linen closet.”