After cleaning up, they headed into the living room and Cass put on more Christmas music. A man’s smooth voice rolled out over the room and sang about white Christmases. Cass smiled at him and sat on the edge of the couch, the nervousness returning to her body. He supposed he was a little nervous, too. After all, he wanted to grab her and kiss her, and he wondered if that’d be too much too soon, or if she was hoping for it, too. He’d already kissed her once today. Maybe she didn’t want to be mauled by a cowboy at every turn.
But then again, she had told him he had a good body, and then she’d blushed after saying that.
“Do you mind the music?” she asked, looking over at him from her end of the couch as he sat down on the opposite end. Cass frowned at him as he leaned back, and then slid down until she was next to him, her thigh brushing against his. “Is something wrong?”
“Something wrong?” He frowned at her. Or tried to, anyhow. He was having a hard time concentrating on anything other than her nearness.
“I just thought that after you kissed me . . .” She shrugged. “That maybe you’d want to sit with me instead of as far away as possible.”
Well hell, he was messing this up, wasn’t he? “I didn’t want to crowd you.”
“Crowd me?” Cass gave him an incredulous look. She grabbed his arm, lifted it over her shoulders, and then snuggled in under his arm. “If you don’t want to touch me, say so.”
“Why would you think I don’t want to touch you?” He’d been dreaming of touching her all day. Even now, it took everything he had to keep his hand on her shoulder and not let it roam. He’d love to explore her body and touch her soft curves, but only when she was ready.
“Because you’re being weird. I . . .” She gazed up at him speculatively. “Eli, are you shy?”
He didn’t think of himself as shy. Maybe not outgoing or pushy, but shy seemed such a . . . girly word. “Naw.”
She rolled her eyes and settled in against him. “You’re shy.”
He grunted.
With a little sigh, she put her head down on his shoulder and they were quiet as the music drifted through the room and the fire crackled with warmth.
It was nice. Peaceful.
But only for a few moments. Cass touched his shirt, resting on his stomach and distracting him. “Do you have a favorite Christmas song?”
“Me? Nah. I’m not much for Christmas.” He rubbed her shoulder absently, unable to resist touching her. It was either that or he was gonna be very focused on that hand right above his belt.
“Why not?”
Eli wanted to tell her about his childhood, but the words stuck in his throat. The bitterness and misery of those years rushed back to him and he forced it aside. He didn’t want to think about bad things with someone as pure and happy as Cass in his arms. “Just wasn’t a big deal for my family. What about you?” He nudged her shoulder with his hand. “Favorite?”
She sighed dreamily, tilting her head back and gazing up at him from her spot on his shoulder. Her dark hair spilled over his shirt and he thought he’d never seen anything so damn pretty. “I have so many. But if I had to pick one, maybe . . . ‘O Holy Night’? It’s just so lovely and peaceful.” A smile immediately curved her face. “Though I’m partial to the Mariah Carey album, too. Anything with jingle bells and a beat is fun.”
He had no idea what she was talking about, but if she liked it, then he liked it, too. “Sounds great.” One stray curl tickled his skin and he tugged on it, unable to resist its lure. “This is your favorite holiday, then?”
“Oh, absolutely. Hands down.”
“Can I ask why?”
She looked surprised at his question, and then shrugged her shoulders. “Gosh. I’ve never been asked ‘why’ before. Why do you love anything that’s wonderful?” Cass pursed her lips and gazed at the tree, thinking. “Maybe it’s because at Christmas, everyone’s so full of joy and hope. They’re thinking about how to make their loved ones smile with gifts, and how to bring family together. No one’s sad or lonely. I guess I like that about the holiday most of all. It’s a time for everyone to be kind to each other instead of jerks.”
He grunted at her words. No one’s sad or lonely. Obviously they’d had very different Christmases. “You’re an optimist, you know that?”
“I do.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him. “Is that a problem?”
“If you don’t mind me being a bit of a Christmas grouch, I can live with your optimism.”
“Grinch.”
“What?”
“It’s a Christmas grinch, not a grouch. Boy, you really are bad at this holiday, aren’t you? Did you grow up in a bubble?” She tilted her head, gazing up at him, and her fingers danced on his stomach in a light tickle.
“Not a bubble, no.” Eli put his hand over her wiggling fingers, stopping them. He laced his fingers with hers, because that felt right. And when her lips parted as she gazed up at him, he leaned over and kissed her, because that felt right, too.
She met his kiss eagerly, as if she’d been waiting hours just for that moment. He’d held back from being too pushy with her, too overbearing, because he didn’t want to intimidate her. Clearly, Cass wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. She was ready for more, and when her tongue touched his with a teasing flick, he knew that he didn’t have to be cautious around her. Hell, maybe she was right. Maybe he was shy and just coming up with excuses so he wouldn’t fall for her too quickly.
Too late for that.
Cass made a soft noise of pleasure, her hand going to his hair as the kiss deepened. He groaned against her, his tongue licking against hers as they kissed, and his hand went to her waist. He pulled her against him, dragging her forward until, in the next moment, his enthusiastic Cass was in his lap, straddling him. Her breasts pushed against his chest and her arms were around his neck, and it was the best moment he could remember in a long, long time.
Between soft, quick kisses, he pulled his mouth from hers, mindful of the way her hips straddled him. “Am I going too fast for you?”
She gave her head a little shake and then rocked down against him, rubbing her sex along his aching length. “I’ve been waiting for you to go fast. Speed up as much as you want, Eli.” And then she bit his lower lip, gently sucking on it.
Damn. She was a vixen. His vixen. He’d been ready to give her a great big speech about going slow and taking as much time as she needed, but all of that went out the window with her sexy little bites. She didn’t want slow. She wanted this as much as he did—and the thought was as mind-blowing as it was exciting. Eli tangled his hand in her long, silky hair, knotting at the back of her head and pinning her against him as he swept his mouth over hers again. She gave a little whimper as he possessed her with his kiss, using his tongue and lips to pleasure her and urge more of those tempting little noises from her throat.
Of course, Cass was fantastic at one-upping him when it came to flirting. Her hands slid to his chest, and she rocked back and forth against him again, moving her hips in a way that was going to drive him mad. He certainly wasn’t thinking about Christmas now. He wasn’t thinking about anything but the gorgeous woman on his lap. With another hot, sultry kiss, he slid his hands to the curves of her ass, squeezing. God, but she had a pretty ass. Round and bouncy and just the right handful for him. He bet it’d look amazing naked.
He’d bet all of her would look amazing naked. All sweet curves and pale skin and enthusiasm. Dear god, his cock strained against his jeans as he thought about that. He’d never met anyone like Cass.
No wonder he was half in love with her already. Maybe more than half. Maybe he was already fighting the inevitable and his mind—and heart—were already gone. She’d snatched them up in her lovely hands.
Her mouth was on his once more and he couldn’t think about anything except how good Cass’s lips tasted on his, how her tongue brushed and rubbed aga
inst his own in a way that made him crazy with need. Had he thought that he was fine without relationships in his life? That he didn’t need anyone else? Clearly he was an idiot, because he couldn’t picture a day without kissing Cass. Already he was addicted to the feel of her sweet mouth against his. His body ached fiercely with need, but he didn’t want to push her if she was hurting or wasn’t ready. She’d just been in a car accident, after all. He kissed her hard, until she moaned, rocking down against him. Then he pulled back and met her dazed eyes. “I wanna make this good for you.”
“It’s good,” she promised.
“We can go as slow as you want—”
She made an exasperated sound in her throat. She grabbed one of his hands on her waist. “If we go any slower, I’m going to start screaming.” And she put it on her breast.
Lust, hot and wild, surged through him.
She wanted faster? More? He’d give her all of that. With a groan, he locked his grip around her waist and lifted her off his lap, pushing her gently backward onto the couch. Heat and determination poured through him, and she must have seen it in his gaze because she gave an excited shiver. He laid her down gently and then moved over her, cupping her neck even as he kissed her again. God, he loved her kisses. They were so hungry and full of anticipation and need both. It was as if he was giving her a gift each time their tongues met, and he felt the same way. Kissing Cass was never boring, never unemotional. Then, he began to kiss lower. He moved along her jaw, pressing light kisses as she gasped and clutched at his shirt.
He grabbed the front of her shirt—his, really—and pulled it apart, not caring that buttons flew everywhere. She was tired of waiting? Him too. He’d show her just how impatient and demanding he could be. He nipped at her throat, loving the moan she gave him. He wanted more than just a moan from her, though. He wanted to see her lose control. To tug at him with her frantic hands. To scream out his name as she came. His thoughts grew greedier by the second, and he welcomed it. Cass wanted more?
He’d give her everything.
Eli kissed along her collarbone and then pushed the shirt open, exposing a delicate, lacy bra. It was white against her skin, and he was surprised to see a smattering of freckles along her breastbone. It was so damn charming and perfect, just like her. He leaned in and pressed his mouth to one freckle, and was pleased to see her breasts heave in response.
“Please,” she whispered. “Touch me, Eli. I’m dying for it.”
How could a man refuse something like that? He put his hand on her breast again, his thumb giving the soft skin that swelled above the cups of her bra a light caress. She moaned, her head going back, and he pulled the fabric down, exposing her breast even as he kissed lower. Her skin was creamier here, her nipple a dusty rose color that wasn’t quite pink or brown, but a mixture of both. He still thought it was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen, and he kissed the tip. “Beautiful.”
Cass’s hands moved to his shoulders, gripping him tightly. “Oh god, do that again.”
With pleasure. Eli rubbed one knuckle along the smooth curve of her other breast, teasing it through the material of her bra as he leaned in and lavished attention on her nipple. He explored her with his tongue, gliding the tip along her skin and feeling her responses quivering through her body. She went wild with every graze of his mouth against her breast, every time his thumb skated over her other nipple, still concealed. He kissed and nipped and sucked at the exposed skin until it became pink with his attentions and she was writhing and moaning under him, pleading for more.
“I can’t believe you haven’t had sex in twelve years,” she panted, arching up against his demanding mouth.
“Maybe I was waiting for something special,” he told her as he palmed one breast, then licked the tip of the other and gently blew on it. “Didn’t want just anyone.”
“You can’t be real.” Cass’s hands moved over his hair, roamed along his shoulders, as frantic and desperate as the rest of her. “I must have hit my head too hard and this is all a delicious dream.”
“Nah,” he told her as he nipped at the tip again. “In your dream, I’d probably be rich.” He dragged his tongue along the underside of her nipple. “And have softer hands.” He could feel the calluses on his thumb scrape against the satiny material of her bra as he caressed her.
“I love your rough hands.” Her fingers tangled in the short strands of his hair and she pulled his mouth to hers for a fierce kiss. “Love that you work hard. That all of this is real.” She squeezed his arm. “And I don’t like rich guys. They’re too pushy.”
“And I’m not?” he asked, lowering his head between her breasts again. “I’ve got you half naked and under me.”
“You’re pushy in a good way,” she told him, clutching hard at the throw pillow under her head. “And you can get me fully naked under you and I won’t mind.”
“That so?” He kissed his way up that freckled skin and back to her pretty, pouty mouth. It was slightly swollen and darker pink from their kisses, and he loved the sight of it. He studied her face to see if she was just saying that to please him. That she truly didn’t want more than just kissing and petting for now. But the look in her eyes was nothing but eagerness and need.
A thought flashed in Eli’s head—where were the condoms? He wasn’t sure he remembered and also wasn’t sure he wanted to ruin this moment between them by a birth control scavenger hunt.
Tonight would be all about her, then. If she wanted more after that, he’d be happy to oblige. But for now, he could pleasure her and get his own enjoyment out of that. So he helped her sit up, wordlessly, and she followed his lead eagerly, her gaze riveted to him. He brushed his lips against hers even as he pulled the shirt off her and then undid the clasp on her bra, tossing the clothing to the ground. Then she was truly half naked and just as beautiful as she was in his dreams. With a happy sigh, Cass put her arms around his neck and kissed him, as if she couldn’t get enough.
He couldn’t, either. He’d never have enough. But for now, if she was hungry for more, he’d give it to her.
Eli let his fingers skate along the waist of her jeans, gauging her reaction as they kissed. When her mouth on his grew more enthusiastic, he undid the button at the front and slipped his fingers into her panties. “You want more, baby?” he murmured between kisses. “Because I’ve got plenty to give.”
She moaned, rocking against his hand. “I do want more.” Her mouth trembled against his as he carefully caressed the curls he found between her thighs, and then stroked his fingers up and down her slick heat, exploring her. She was hot and wet here, so wet that it made his mouth water with need. He dragged his mouth along her neck, sucking lightly at the soft skin there, even as he touched her and caressed her slick folds, seeking one spot in particular. Cass gasped and shifted against his hand, rocking against him and making soft, wordless cries.
Just as he found her clit, he bit down on her neck. Not hard, just enough to excite her. She gasped his name, her fingers clenching in his shirt, and then she moved against his hand, pushing her hips against him and pressing her clit against his fingers with intense need. “Please,” she whispered. “Please, please, Eli.”
“I’ve got you,” he told her, nipping at her neck. “I’m here.”
She whimpered, rubbing up against him even as he rubbed her clit, trying to find the movement that would make her wild. Every girl was sensitive in different ways, he knew, and every one liked to be touched just a little bit differently. When she cried out as he slid a finger against either side of her clit, he knew he’d found the answer. He murmured words of encouragement as he stroked her. She clung to him, the tension building in her body, and her nails dug into his shirt as she shuddered and came. He kept stroking her, holding her tight against him as she rode the waves of the orgasm. She was beautiful like this, panting with her release, her features soft. She—
A yip from one of the do
gs across the room made them both jerk out of their reverie.
Reluctantly, he pulled his hand from her panties as she slid off him. “What was that?” Cass asked.
“Sounded like Jim. Come here, boy,” he called, slapping a hand against his jeans. He’d have the scent of her body there now, he realized, and wondered if it was too strange to fold up the jeans and keep them in a drawer so he could breathe it in every now and then. Probably.
Jim came out from behind the Christmas tree, and Cass made a strange sound in her throat. “Is Frannie still back there?”
“Is she still back there?” he asked, curious. He gave Jim’s head a scratch and then pointed at the kitchen entrance, where Bandit waited, relaxing on the tile. The dog wagged his tail and headed to curl up next to Bandit, and Eli followed Cass. She’d moved toward the Christmas tree, naked to the jeans sagging around her waist and showing the dimples in her lower back that led to her buttocks. He watched the delicate line of her back, fascinated by her movements as she knelt in front of the tree and pressed her face to the floor.
She gasped. “I think Frannie’s having her puppies under the tree!”
“She is?” He got down on the floor next to her and pressed his face to the floorboards as well.
There, at the very back, tree skirt bunched up and hidden behind the thick branches of the oversized tree he’d gotten for Cass, was his dog. She lay on her side and wagged her tail at the sight of them. Eli could barely make out a squirming bundle moving against her belly. “I’ll be damned. I didn’t realize . . .”
Cass chuckled and nudged him, her cheek still pressed to the floor. “We were a little busy, if you hadn’t noticed.”
He laughed, because the roof could have caved in and he probably wouldn’t have noticed anything but Cass. “Guess you’re right.”
All I Want for Christmas Is a Cowboy Page 15