Christmas Eve

by Flame Arden

  He harbored no such doubts, not with Croupier almost weeping to be set free from the confines of Nick's pajama pants. Nick ripped off his robe and drew Eve into his arms. The lace covered tips of her breasts molded against his chest. His hands slid down to cup her soft butt, partly revealed by the high cut of panties that left him anxious to uncover the wonders that lay beneath.

  First, he needed to strip off his own clothes. He wanted no barriers between them when he finally removed her bra and took the heated flesh of her breasts in his hands. Buried his face in her cleavage. Licked her salty skin that smelled of apricots.

  She moaned and reached for the bunched silk of his pajama pants. Her fingers trembled as she moved the elastic aside and delved inside. Croupier trembled, too.

  More of her act, but sweet, just the same.

  To assure Croupier's well being, Nick lowered his pants an inch or two for Eve.

  Her gaze went from his rigid cock to his face and back. She wasted no time, freeing Croupier to stand up and out in all his glory, then shoved Nick's pants down and off.

  She smiled faintly and wet her lips before looking back at Nick, a question in her glance.

  "It's all yours, sweetheart," he assured her, stepping out of his slippers. "As little or as much as you like."

  "I... like," she whispered fiercely, and he lifted her in his arms.

  "Nick," she murmured, reaching up to him.

  "All in good time, sweet Eve. All in good time." With great care he placed her on the silk sheets, then knelt, the carpet plush beneath his knees. He laved her navel and ran his tongue around its dimpled rim.

  He started to slip off her boots, thought better of it, and ran his hands up the inside of her thighs instead. Her whole body quivered.

  Nick swallowed convulsively. A queenly courtesan, Eve's refined grace set his blood on fire.

  So responsive. This part was no act. Her quick reaction to his touch reminded him again of the sparkler he'd held too long.

  Don't get burned.

  Not likely. He'd been deceived by too many women to allow it to happen again. The women frequenting his circle wanted just one thing: access to his bank account.

  Enjoy yourself. This tempting dish is all yours for the night.

  When his thumb slid to the satin fabric covering her pussy, she almost came up off the bed.

  "Nick, oh, Nick," she cried, trying to pull him up on the bed.

  "Easy." He soothed her, a gentle hand stroking her thigh. "You don't have long to wait now."

  That said, he buried his face in the inviting vee where her thighs met. Her panties were already damp, her musky, feminine scent an aphrodisiac. He licked the satiny fabric covering her mons. Once. Twice.

  Eve climaxed with the force of exploding fireworks, her thighs keeping his head in place, every muscle taut as her body convulsed. She moaned, her intense passion preventing speech as her head lolled back.

  At least this was no act. He'd hired a hot one. Some call girls faked their release. Those, he immediately saw through and sent them away early. He much preferred a responsive woman.

  Like Eve.

  Her twitching eased. This was so unlike him, to pleasure a woman without taking his own release, yet here he was on his knees with Eve still partially dressed.

  That realization pleased him, although if asked, he couldn't have said why. He shoved aside the thought and cupped Eve's cunt.

  She smiled helplessly. "I'm sorry. I should have waited..."

  "No apologies needed."

  "It's just that it has been a long time."

  Interesting. Business been that slow?

  Nick chuckled. "I can assure you, sweetheart, it'll just be a matter of moments before you come again."

  Eve's eyes widened in anticipation, and though it seemed impossible to him, her skin flushed a deeper pink as he leaned forward and unfastened her front-closing bra.

  The straps of the lace-encrusted garment slid off her shoulders. Freed from confinement, her liberal breasts increased in magnitude beneath his gaze. His brow lifted. His admiring gaze locked with her uncertain one.

  He smiled to reassure her, then reached out his hand and tweaked one rosy tip. Her nipples tempted him, each the color of fine wine. Absolutely perfect. And each deserved a taste, if only to sample their sweet allure.

  At his touch, Eve writhed, and when he squeezed, moaned, then went still while he licked each rosy tip to a proud puckered stance.

  "You're so beautiful." The catch in his voice surprised him. "See how perfectly this fills my palm."

  He didn't stop with just weighing the plump mound in his hand, he smoothed it, shaped it, squeezed it, continuing to excite the nipple with quick flicks of his thumb.

  Chapter Six

  Eve panted helplessly, and gave in to a heart-felt moan. "Nick?"

  "Soon. I haven't had my fill of looking at you, touching you, undressing you." His empty palm slid to her waist, then down, until the elastic band of her panties stopped its progress. One finger, then two found the slight hollow formed by her hipbone and insinuated themselves beneath the band.

  Eve marveled at the man watching her so intently, again feeling vulnerable beneath Nick's gaze. Earlier this evening, they'd never even met. Now she lay helpless and nearly nude before him. She wouldn't have believed it possible if it weren't happening to her.

  "Don't worry, you're safe with me," he murmured, then traced the curve of her ribs with his tongue, a highly erotic action that threatened to halt her breath.

  She reached for his head, buried her fingers in his thick, dark hair, something she'd longed to do ever since she arrived. His shiny hair felt even better than she expected, crisp, springy. Lively.

  Like Nick. His intriguing blue eyes twinkled with untold secrets, things that greatly amused him that he'd not yet shared. And though well-carved, his jaw was never hard. Was he always in a good mood, or was it all pretense? When she'd least expected it, she'd seen a shadow cross his expressive eyes.

  But now he was smiling at her, and sliding her panties down over her feet. Why hadn't he removed her boots?

  As Nick ran his hand up the inside of her thigh, the sudden leap of her heart told her the time for rational thought had passed. Her knees separated at his touch, her flesh beneath his hand growing warm.

  "Sweet Eve," he murmured, following the path of his hand with his lips, leaving a trail of wet kisses up her leg and a pool of need gathering where his hand now rested.

  But not for long.

  He stretched out beside her and began to probe her swollen pussy with one finger, to plumb her depths, until his finger found the center of her urgent need, her clit. She couldn't help but cry out, "Yes. There."

  "And here. And here. And here." He had a smile in his voice as he touched sensitive places she didn't even know she had.

  She reached for him, timidly at first, then boldly took his throbbing erection in her hand, heard his quick intake of breath, felt him sigh. He had an enormous dick, pulsing and round and so silky smooth it excited her just to hold his hot flesh in her hand.

  Eve shifted, brought her knees together, one thigh rubbing the other. "None of that. If you want release, just say so."

  "I have," she replied bluntly, then grinned.

  Nick opened a drawer to his night stand and sheathed himself without her even asking, sending her respect for him up a notch. He returned to her and leaned down to tenderly kiss her lips. His tongue told her quite plainly what he had on his mind, and all thoughts of improprieties fled.

  His kiss went on and on until her head spun and she was almost blind with desire. Then he pushed her knees apart and took his rightful place between them.

  * * * * *

  Eve’s welcoming smile made Nick's heartbeat thud in his chest; still he refused to rush and took her nipple between his teeth instead of burying himself between her legs as he normally would. She all but purred. He flicked the tight bud, licked it, twirled it, tried to swallow the whole breast, while bene
ath him, Eve mewed like a kitten and bent her knees.

  The friction of her soft leather boots against his hips made his cock throb to the point of near-pain. A man could take just so much. He abandoned her nipple, went back to her lips, and as his tongue sought entrance into her mouth, Croupier slid into her hot pussy.

  Eve quivered. Sighed. Locked her legs around his hips.

  Those might not be cowboy boots, but the lady is in for the ride of her life. Nick lunged in, then out.

  Eve's breath exploded in a quick rush.

  "Did I hurt you?"

  "No, no. Don't stop," came her hasty reply.

  He established a fast rhythm, aware it was probably all Eve could do to just hold on. With the sensual slap of leather and the occasional poke of stiletto heels urging him on like a cowboy spurred a horse, he was unable to slow the pace, a stallion servicing a needy mare.

  Surely I'm not being too rough.

  He needn't have worried. He soon discovered that Eve was as turned on as he, for he had no more than set the rhythm when he felt her inner muscles begin to twitch.

  "Yes," he cried. Her mewling sounds turned into muffled moans, and those moans into full-fledged wails as her climax crashed over her again. Shock waves made her body tremble, exciting Nick even more.

  "Yes!" Nick stiffened, and released his sperm.

  He collapsed on top of Eve, fully aware he might be crushing her, but for the moment, too replete to move.

  Too stunned. Never, absolutely never, had he ejaculated with such force. He felt as if his toenails had been ejected too.

  He required a long moment of contemplation before he was able to move. Then he rolled off Eve, but still hugged her close.

  His thoughts were not worth sharing. He attributed this immense feeling of satisfaction first to the chilly weather. Then to the warm bed. And last of all, to the two people sharing it, and their readiness to have sex.

  "Whew." Eve still breathed in short sexy pants.

  "Damn straight." His hand lingered on her breast. She felt soft, and incredibly warm, a cozy companion for a cold, snowy Christmas Eve.

  "Stay the night," he murmured, anxious to bind her to him until morning. He didn't want to think beyond then.

  "I think I have to. My car..."

  He was far too content to play that game right now.

  "Stay with me, in my bed," he murmured, his voice a seductive purr as he nuzzled her neck.

  She thought a moment while he waited. "Alright, if you're sure."

  He let the held breath out. What was wrong with the woman? Didn't she want to earn more?

  Chapter Seven

  Nick was suddenly famished. "Are you hungry?"

  Eve laughed as she rolled away from him on the wide bed. "No, but apparently you are."

  "I'll tell you what. There's an extra robe on the back of that closet door. I don't want you to get chilled on your way to the kitchen. There's cherries jubilee for dessert. While I put it together, maybe you could tell me what I'm doing wrong."

  "My mouth is already watering. In my grandparents' home, cherries jubilee was always a special Christmas Eve treat. "

  She joined Nick and walked down the hall with him. His arm encircling her waist felt so right it frightened him. A man could quickly become accustomed to this.

  Just not him. He knew better than to risk it, but for the next few days he'd indulge himself.

  What harm could befall him if he kept his eyes open to all the pitfalls in his path?

  When he stepped into the kitchen, Nick realized the smell of over-simmered rum had replaced the enticing aroma of carefully prepared food, and wondered if his luck had run out.

  "Did it burn?" Eve asked, her own disappointment adding to his.

  He discovered the candle beneath the chaffing dish had long since sputtered out. "No, we're in luck. Looks like the candle burned out just before the contents scorched."

  "Oh, good. Do you have any more cherry juice?" Eve asked, surveying the ruin.

  "Will maraschino cherries do?" For some unexplained reason he was reluctant to admit he hadn't prepared the dessert. "Or more rum?"

  Eve laughed. Nick looked at her suspiciously, then grinned. She was not making fun of him, she was enjoying herself. To his startled amazement, he realized he was having a good time, too.

  Who would have believed it possible for two virtual strangers brought together by a telephone call to so readily become compatible? He shook his head.

  Maybe wonders did never cease. Until now he'd remained unconvinced, especially where women were concerned. But somehow, this tall, statuesque woman smiling at him through tears of laughter was writing a new chapter in his book.

  She thinned the sauce with a quarter cup of rum, and a new votive candle quickly brought the yummy looking concoction back to a simmering boil. While she stirred the thick sauce, Nick draped a barbeque apron around his neck over his loose, short robe.

  In his hurry to satisfy his hunger, he hadn't bothered to pull on pajama pants and noticed Eve admiring his muscular legs as he bent down to locate dessert plates in a lower cabinet.

  And heard her breath catch.

  He found what he sought and turned to set two ceramic bowls on the table. He carried the sauce to the chafing dish, slowly poured the brandy over the contents of the dish and lit a match.

  "Longer ago than I care to admit, I watched my grandfather do that," Eve said as the sauce flamed.

  Had he imagined the wash of longing in her voice?

  "At times like this, I sorely miss the dear man."

  Sensing a change in Eve's mood by her sudden silence while waiting for the flames to die, with hurried motions Nick scooped ice cream over the cherries he'd scooped into two bowls, then spooned on the thick sauce.

  "Come on," he said, glancing over his shoulder to make sure she followed, before leading the way back to the living room hearth.

  The robe she'd donned was much too large for her, he realized. It hung off her shoulders and dragged on the toes of her boots. Even so, Croupier began to throb. She looked like some sexy model on a lingerie photo shoot. As she walked, one shoulder seam slid down her arm, exposing the luscious crest of a plump breast.

  Nick stumbled. He'd tripped over his own feet and suddenly found himself unable to walk in a straight line, his unrelenting desire for Eve the cause. The fire in the main room had all but died. Only a few glowing embers remained. He set the bowls on the mantel, piled three split logs on the embers, then turned on the blower. New flames flared, and a comforting warmth began to fill the room.

  The two chairs they'd used earlier were still near the hearth, but he drew the chairs even closer together before inviting Eve to sit.

  Once seated, she gazed longingly up at the mantel. Grinning, he placed a deep dish in her hands. "Here you are. Enjoy."

  Before he took a seat, Nick selected one of the many Pete Fountain CD's in his collection of New Orleans Jazz. He put it into the CD player and started the disc before returning to the fire.

  As a clarinet played the lively bars of "When The Saints Go Marching In," Eve ate quickly, spooning up her ice cream in time to the scintillating rhythm. She kept time by tapping her toes and Nick was delighted to see that by the time she finished the syrupy treat, her cheerful smile had returned.

  He wasn't about to pry. Why should he? Like the many women who'd preceded Eve, she was just passing through his life. He cared little about what had put the somber look in her eyes earlier. She was fine now, her artless joy over the simple things like jazz and ice cream unaccountably refreshing to him. So much so, he found himself wanting to do more for her.

  In a class by herself, for tonight Eve belonged to him. He watched as she scraped the last cherry-flavored cream from her bowl and licked both sides of the spoon. Her pink tongue darted out again, teasing him, as she wrapped it around the shallow curve of the spoon. She even licked partway up the handle, causing Croupier to come to attention, and he was certainly no saint.

  To
Nick's disappointment, Eve's tongue disappeared back into her mouth and she sighed.

  "Want more?"

  "Maybe later," she said like a little child keeping her options open.

  Nick grinned. "Ready for another round?" he asked, taking the bowl from her, then reaching for Eve's hand.

  She looked taken aback.

  Well, what had she expected? A man didn't pay a party girl to sleep.

  He strode to the kitchen with their dishes, then hurried back to Eve.

  "Sorry," he said in a guttural whisper. "I usually pride myself in possessing a modicum of sexual finesse, but I worded that poorly. I have no intention of apologizing for wanting to fuck you, though. You'll be more comfortable in the living room."

  Taking her elbow, he helped Eve rise, then flipped the switch controlling the blower.

  A quiet hush fell in the room.

  He had discarded his apron in the kitchen, and as she placed her hand on his arm, Croupier tented Nick's robe and drew Eve's eye. She inhaled a surprised breath.

  "This is what you had in mind, isn't it?" he murmured, making no effort to hide his need.

  "It is now." Eve swallowed, her gaze warm on his face.

  She reached a tentative hand out to the tented fabric and gently fondled his dick, her eyes rounded as if she were intimidated by Croupier's length. Another good job of acting, but hot damn, her expression made Nick feel even more of a man.

  There would be no going slow this time. For the next little while, patience was a virtue he chose to ignore.

  Thanks to his rampant libido, the hall seemed needlessly long and his forbearance short. Clamping his hand over hers on his arm, he changed direction and began tugging Eve down the hall toward his room, then brought himself up short.

  He also prided himself on his smoothness with women, but tonight was making an ass of himself. At least Eve hadn't objected. Not yet, anyway.

  As they stepped over the threshold and into his room, he wondered what it was about her that made him as eager as a horny teen with a willing virgin.

  Slow down. No drive-by shootings tonight. Save those for another time.