The Mistletoe Affair

by Judith Gilbert

  “Did you really cook that lobster bisque and grilled swordfish?” she asked with a smile. Her eyes closed.

  She heard him chuckle, the sound low and reassuring beside the crackle of wood. “Does it count if my next door neighbor used my stove to cook it?"

  She laughed. “You scoundrel. You cheated."

  “I had to. You ever had your stomach pumped out?"

  She opened her eyes and found his rueful smile waiting. “Okay, I get the picture. Tell your neighbor it was delicious and thanks for saving my life."

  “I will or she'll never cook for me again."

  She chuckled. “I told you I came bearing gifts,” Katherine said.

  A bottle of chilled champagne waited in an ice bucket on the table. Two crystal glasses caught the candlelight and sparkled beside the fondue pot. Sweet chocolate melted to perfection over the flame, ready to coat two baskets of hothouse strawberries. These were her gifts for the evening.

  And one other gift.

  Maybe?

  She had never been sexually bold in her life; but then again, it was far past time she came out of her shell. She glanced at Jared. Would he accept the other gift she would offer tonight?

  “I have three more slots. I'm taking requests,” he said.

  “Alan Jackson's ‘Don't Close Your Eyes’ is good,” she answered. Would he remember that song had been playing when they kissed on this couch? When Matt had stopped them from-"

  “Uh, Katherine, I think that one's scratched. Anything else you want to hear?"

  Liar! He remembered.

  “Ronnie Milsap. You can't go wrong with anything he sings. How about, ‘Why Don't You Spend The Night',” she said seductively. “Or is that scratched, too?"

  Their gazes locked.

  “Somehow, I don't think we're talking about CDs.” He fed three discs into the stereo.

  “One of us was.” She folded her arms across her chest as nice, safe Christmas music played softly in the background.

  He strolled over and dropped down beside her, pulled a knee up on the couch and turned to face her. “Last time you were here, you were in a funny mood, too. Must be the place."

  “Or the company,” she corrected.

  He sighed. “I care too much for you to just hop into bed with you.” He reached and laced his fingers through hers. “We need to talk."

  “What about?"

  He studied her carefully. “You and me. Where this relationship it heading and why you want to make a sudden move like this-"

  Her face heated and she interrupted him. “It isn't sudden. I don't think of you the way I did when we first met. I'm the one who wanted to make love. You're the one who stopped us."

  “Because I thought you'd be hurt emotionally. I still believe you'd regret it in the morning."

  “I've never had a ‘morning after'. I had a morning after my marriage and I hated that. I've just started to think that maybe your lifestyle is the answer. Have a perfect affair and enjoy the moment."

  His blue eyes flashed anger. “I don't want to hear you talk like that. That isn't you talking. That's hurt, anger, disappointment and stress."

  She bit down on her bottom lip. “How would you know? You don't know me."

  “Yes, I do. You're not like the other women I've known."

  She squeezed her eyes shut and fought the feeling of inadequacy that overwhelmed her.

  Jared held her face between his hands. “Sweetheart, I don't want you making love with me for the wrong reasons."

  Katherine opened her eyes and peered into his. She inhaled deeply, breathing in Jared's woodsy scent. “I don't know the right reason. If I hit the right one, will you make love to me?"

  “You don't want to do this,” he cautioned.

  She dipped a strawberry in chocolate and nibbled. “You're sexy, gorgeous, masculine, strong, and tender. And I do want to do this."

  He smiled and the dimple in his cheek deepened. “I'm flattered, but your reasons are superficial and don't count."

  “Okay, new list. I care about you as much as I care about my mother or Matt."

  “How? That's affection, not physical,” he reminded her.

  “Make no mistake about that. I want you with every breath I take.” She shook her head at him with a half-smile. “Damn, that's a bad one. It could just be lust."

  “It's more than lust we feel or you'd be in my bed right now. Wanting someone's not bad. I wouldn't want you, if you didn't want me back."

  “Okay, that one stays on the list.” She hesitated. “I'm not like your fiancée because I'm not going back to my ex. I won't hurt you. I'm here.” She watched him. “If you think you're not good enough for me because your mother never married your father, I don't care about any of that."

  His eyes glazed with pain. “You should care. You know who your mother and father are. You can probably trace your family tree back to Sam Houston. I'm not even sure the man I knew for eight years was my father.” Bitterness echoed in his parody of laughter.

  She drew nearer to him, hoping to absorb some of the pain he felt.

  “Before mother died, I always hoped he'd come back. I thought things would be better if he did. At least mother would stop drinking. After she died, I searched until I found him. I went to his house to let him know what happened. He was married, had been the whole time he knew my mother. The bastard thought she sent me to extort money from him, called her names, said he was one of many and beat the hell out of me."

  Her throat closed. “I'm sorry,” Katherine said hoarsely. She hugged him tenderly.

  He shrugged and coughed before moving away from her.

  She shook her head. “I can't undo your past, darling, any more than you can undo mine, but we can't allow it to ruin the present or the future."

  He stood, walked to the end table and withdrew a wrapped present. “Here's another reason we can't make love. I wanted to give you this for Christmas, but I think I should level with you now. You always hate it when I act like a hero and jump in to save you. Well, I've done it again."

  She tore the package open and uncovered her father's coin collection. “You bought this back for me? How sweet."

  “Nothing I did was sweet. Your mother told me about the coins. I offered a hefty reward to coin collectors for notification if you called or stopped by. And I had a detective follow you. The truth is, they're worth fifty thousand. I paid the coin collector. I knew if that was your last chance to raise the money, you'd never make it."

  Her eyes filled with tears and she looked up, chin trembling. “You acted like Superman again and saved me?"

  “I'm sorry,” he said bowing his head.

  “I'm not.” She smiled at his shocked expression. “I feel like kissing your feet. I might not believe I need a Superman, but it's wonderful to have someone who wants to, and can be one for me."

  She placed the coin collection on the table, dipped a ripe strawberry into the chocolate and turned around. “Open for me.” Would he remember saying that to her when he had kissed her?

  The desire in his eyes made her breath catch.

  His mouth parted. She bent forward and touched her lips to his, teasing the corner and nibbling lightly.

  “Sweeter than any strawberry,” he whispered.

  She stifled a moan as he sampled the fruit and licked the chocolate from her fingers.

  “I'm out of lists,” she said, her voice shaking. “Maybe I should ask you outright. Are there any other skeletons hiding up there in that warped conscience of yours that would keep us apart?"

  He swallowed and his Adam's apple jumped. “Matt."

  She pulled back, surprised. “You love Matt."

  He squirmed on the couch. “Of course I do. I don't want you to think I'm dating you to please Matt."

  She shrugged. “You could think the same about me, but I wouldn't do that to him."

  Jared hesitated. “If I hurt you, I hurt me. Do you understand, sweetheart?"

  “Yes.” She blew out the candles on the
table and plunged the room in darkness. A soft moonlight shone through the window, casting the room in shadow and faint light. “I promise to respect you in the morning."

  “Woman, you're something else,” he growled as he pulled her to him. His warm breath heated her skin. He nuzzled her neck with his lips and his tongue. His teeth nipped their way up to her earlobe.

  Goosebumps lined her arms. His tongue circled her ear and delved inside. She pulled him closer. “I won't regret this in the morning."

  “You better not.” He silenced her by brushing his lips against hers. She closed her eyes. His tongue stroked her lips, outlining them ever so slowly. Around and around. Her need to kiss and taste him grew.

  A low moan escaped from him when she pressed her breasts against his chest. She clasped her hands around the back of his head, holding his face still while she kissed him. He returned her kiss and deepened it, his tongue entreating her to open. She did and he rewarded her. His tongue slipped into her mouth and explored hers, skimming over the roof of her mouth. He tasted of chocolate, strawberry and Jared. She couldn't get enough.

  They drew apart, gasped for air and stared at each other. His hand stroked her cheek.

  She rubbed her lips against his palm. “Take me to bed."

  His eyes smoldered with desire. “I've waited forever to make love to you."

  He bent, lifted her like she was a priceless treasure, held her against him and carried her into the bedroom.

  He sat her down and faced her. His fingers stroked her lips. “We're in no hurry, sweetheart. You set the pace."

  “May I undress you?” she reached for his shirt.

  A slow smile spread across his face, “You don't have to ask. My body is yours. Do anything you want."

  “Mine, too,” she offered.

  He chuckled softly. “I sure hope so."

  They stood together and she undid each button of his shirt and peeled it down his muscular biceps. Her fingers eagerly slid over his chest, waist and back, learning each line, each curve. She marveled at the texture of the fine hair on his body. His breath caught as she brushed her lips against his skin, stopping to taste and nip his neck. “Jared, I could do this all night,” she whispered against his nipples, her breath causing them to pucker. “You're so perfect. So beautiful."

  “Not me, you are,” he said, running his hands up her sides and skimming beneath her breasts. “My turn,” he whispered. His hands reached and unbuttoned her dress. It fluttered to the floor, resting at her stocking feet. She stepped over it.

  His gaze made her proud she was a woman. It devoured her body, coming to rest on the swell of her breasts. Heat lapped from his gaze as she stood before him wearing only a satin demi bra, thong and lace-topped thigh high stockings.

  She held her breath.

  Please touch me or I'll die.

  “Red,” he said, fingering the lacy embroidered hearts stitched across her bra. Her nipples tingled and beaded at his touch. He lifted a brow. “My favorite color."

  His lips lifted at the corners into a slow smile. “Seems a shame to see you in it only a few seconds.” He felt her breasts through the sheer design. She moaned when he unclasped her bra. Tossing it aside, he bent and kissed each breast so tenderly that her breath caught in her throat. He seemed to be paying homage to them.

  He glanced at her seductively. “Sweetheart, remove your hose.” He sat on the bed and studied her.

  Jared took a deep breath that was meant to calm him, but there was no chance of that happening. He had expected her to snatch the hose off, but watched as his anticipation grew.

  Katherine's hands rested on her hips, jutting her full breasts in front of her. She stood proudly. A low groan escaped him when she bent and touched the lacy-hose. Pushing the hose halfway down, she sat on the side of the bed to face him, lifted one leg and ran her fingers slowly along the silk. The moonlight silhouetted her shapely leg as he watched her sensuous movements. She slowly rolled the silk down her legs, revealing luscious bare skin. Desire charged through him. He clamped down on his jaw and reminded himself to move slowly.

  She stood up, glancing down at her sexy red thong. At the moment, he wasn't sure he could walk across the room to remove the flimsy material.

  Her jade eyes showed confusion. She shook her head.

  He took another calming breath, studying the small piece of sheer red that covered paradise. He'd laugh, if it wouldn't be so painful right now. He couldn't seem to think straight enough to put two words together in a coherent sentence. His erection seemed in control of his thoughts and completely single-minded.

  She stared at his crotch, her eyes widened and she blushed redder than her underpants. “Oh. I tried to excite you by putting on a little show."

  He cleared his throat. “It worked,” he croaked.

  “I'm so sorry. I didn't think. I mean, I thought because I wasn't very experienced I might not appeal to you sexually so I tried to spice it up.” She could see his body tensed with restraint, his eyes darkened into indigo, and she laughed. His gaze lifted from her body in faint surprise. “You don't know how this makes me feel,” she said.

  He grinned back. His dimples deepened in the shadowy moonlight. “Powerful?"

  “And happy.” She stood in front of him. He peeled the thong off her, bestowing a kiss on her womanhood before she climbed into bed.

  Her gaze seemed glued to his body. If the knowledge that she excited him made her happy, he was about to make her euphoric. He stood up to remove his clothes.

  He slowly unzipped his pants and they dropped to the floor. She licked her lips as he turned to face her, proudly showing her just how much she excited him. He took slow, deliberate pains in removing his briefs.

  As he walked toward her, her entire body tingled with excitement. She'd never seen anything as magnificent as his full arousal.

  Her breath caught in her throat, labored. Her head reeled.

  The sound of her unsteady breathing filled the room, and Jared moved closer with a faint smile. “Did you enjoy the show?"

  She looked up and nodded wordlessly, unable to do so much as speak.

  Moving slowly, he eased back the sheet and lay down beside her.

  Her heartbeat quickened. She reached for him, enjoying the hard strength of his arousal in her hand. “I think we can speed up the pace."

  He smiled. “Didn't anyone ever tell you anticipation is half the fun of making love?” he murmured, brushing back a lock of hair from her face and kissing her on the cheek. “No shortcuts the first time, sweetheart. I want to make it as pleasurable as I possibly can for you."

  Tears stung her eyes.

  He rested on his elbows and glanced down at her. “What's wrong?"

  She reached up and touched his face. “I wish you could have been my first."

  He squeezed his eyes tight then opened them. “I don't and neither do you. You wouldn't have Matt."

  A tear fell onto her cheek. She nodded and trembled at the warmth that shimmered in his eyes.

  Reaching into the nightstand, he sheathed himself with a condom. He bent his head and nuzzled the area behind her ear. “Please tell me you can spend the whole night."

  She quivered as waves of desire shot through her and bathed her in heat. His fingertips rubbed her nipples into peaks, plucked the points and rolled them between his fingers. He lifted her breasts and soothed the aching tips with his tongue, finally his mouth closed around her nipple. She dropped her head back and moaned, trying to speak between the whimpers of pleasure.

  “Yes,” she hissed. “Ohhh.” She sucked in her breath when his hand moved. Warmth spread across her skin as he inched his way down her ribs and past her stomach.

  “I was going to cry and beg if you said no.” He chuckled low, and groaned softly as his hand slipped between her legs.

  She closed her eyes as his fingers moved lower, touching the center of her dampness. His palm cupped her, rotating. The weight made her desire spike. His fingers entered her, rubbing agains
t her warmth. She closed her eyes as the tension built in her body.

  He poised his naked body over her. She caught her breath and clutched at his back. “You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.” His knee separated her thighs and she felt his arousal near her center. “I want to watch you come apart the first time, Katherine. Open your eyes."

  She glanced up at him as he entered her. His eyes bathed her in love. It felt so good to have him inside her. She sighed. “Please, don't move. I want it to last."

  For a moment, he lay still, and then he lowered his head to suckle her breasts.

  Her tumult built.

  She couldn't control her need for release. She moved and gasped from the pleasure. “It feels soooo good."

  Their gazes held.

  He thrust, meeting her movements. She arched toward him, wrapping her legs around his hips, pulling him deeper with each thrust.

  When they reached the peak of pleasure, they fell together, each one called out the other's name as tremor after tremor rocked them. They had stepped beyond friendship, beyond a perfect affair into closeness neither of them wanted to end.

  Later, when their hearts beat in unison, Jared pulled her into his arms. Her head rested on his chest. “Katherine, you're the best thing that's happened to me in my entire life. I'm so glad I found you."

  She entwined her bare legs with his under the cover. “I'm glad you found me, too. Well, you could say I fell for you right from the start. So you're glad I talked you into this?"

  He chuckled. “Yesss.” Holding her in his arms, he whispered, “I almost forgot.” He kissed the top of her head. “I promised Thomas you'd do something for him and Grace."

  She yawned, drawing nearer to him. “What did you promise?"

  “It'll help your mother,” he suggested. “You would do anything for Grace."

  She quirked an eyebrow. “Jared Randall, stop beating around the bush. What did you promise Thomas I'd do?"

  “Talk to Grace about sex."

  “Are you crazy?"

  Chapter Fifteen