Turning back to Colby, she nervously moistened her lips. “I had to see you and tell you—”
“Okay, honeybun, I’m heading out now. Don’t—”
Ava spun toward the voice, startled to see a striking young woman with a caramel complexion, hourglass curves and luscious black hair that swung from side to side as she strode into the living room.
She pulled up short at the sight of Ava. “I’m sorry,” she said slowly, dividing a surprised glance between Ava and Colby. “Am I interrupting something?”
Oh, God, Ava thought. It hadn’t even occurred to her that Colby might have company tonight. Dumb, dumb, dumb!
But then he drawled, “Ava, I’d like you to meet my sister Summer, who’s visiting from New York.”
His sister?
“Summer,” he continued the introductions, “say hello to Ava.”
Almost dizzy with relief, Ava stepped forward with her hand outstretched. “Nice to meet you, Summer.”
Summer smiled warmly, shaking her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Ava.”
When Summer shared a telling glance with her brother, Ava wondered what, if anything, Colby had told Summer about her.
“How long will you be in town, Summer?” Ava asked.
“Just until New Year’s Day. Hey, maybe we can have lunch or something before I leave.”
Ava smiled. “I’d like that.”
Surveying Summer’s snug V-neck sweater, skintight jeans and pink ankle boots, Colby arched a brow at her. “Going somewhere?”
“Yeah,” she said, striding toward the foyer closet, “I’m meeting someone for drinks.”
“Who?”
Summer didn’t answer right away, shrugging into a short leather jacket and flipping her hair loose from the collar.
“Summer,” Colby prodded. “Who’re you meeting for drinks?”
She hesitated, biting her lip. “Percy?”
“Percy?” Colby thundered incredulously. “You’re having drinks with Percy?”
“What?” Summer countered defensively. “He’s the only one out of the fellas who didn’t have any plans tonight.”
Colby scowled. “Don’t you have any female friends to play catch-up with?”
Summer made a face. “Yes, but they’re all married with children and boring as hell. I need a good drink and some good laughs, and no offense, big brother, but you haven’t exactly been the most exciting company.” She cast a sly grin at Ava. “I suspect that won’t be the case much longer, though.”
Ava blushed.
But Colby wouldn’t be sidetracked. Stabbing a finger at his sister, he growled, “You don’t need to be going anywhere with Percy.”
Summer heaved an exasperated breath, shaking her head at Ava. “See, this is what I had to put up with when we shared an apartment in New York. He claimed he wanted to help me save money on expensive rent, but it wasn’t long after I moved in with him that I realized he only wanted to screen my dates and keep tabs on me.”
“That’s not true,” Colby grumbled over Ava’s sympathetic laughter. “And let the record show that I’m still paying for you to live in that apartment, you ingrate.”
Summer grinned and blew him a kiss as she backed toward the door. “You kids have fun. Don’t wait up for me—”
“Summer,” Colby warned.
“—because I’m going to stay over at Mom’s house tonight. I figure you and Ava will need all the privacy you can get,” she said with a suggestive wink. Pointing down at Ava’s red boots, she grinned. “Love those, by the way.”
Ava grinned. “Thanks, Summer. Have a good time.”
“You’d better not,” Colby called after her as she waved and darted out the door.
Ava eyed Colby curiously. “Who’s Percy?”
Colby clenched his jaw. “Someone who has no damn business being alone with my sister—or anyone else’s sister, for that matter.”
“Oh.” Ava’s lips twitched with mirth. “Do you want me to leave so you can follow her and spy on them?”
“Want you to leave? Hell, no,” Colby growled, hooking an arm around her waist and hauling her possessively against him.
Ava shivered with pleasure, savoring the heat and strength of his hard, powerful body. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gazed into the mesmerizing midnight eyes that had ensnared her from the moment they met, and she wondered how she’d ever thought she could live without him.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered.
“I missed you, too, sweetheart,” Colby said huskily. “What took you so damn long?”
“I was scared,” she confessed, her eyes tracing his features. “I was scared, angry and confused. For as long as I can remember, Colby, I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, and I took all the necessary steps to achieve that goal. But relationships were a whole different matter. I’ve never really been good at them, and it terrified me when I fell so hard and fast for you. I’d always thought of myself as a strong, independent, goal-oriented woman who would never be foolish enough to give up her career for love. But then I met you, Colby, and everything changed.” She shook her head slowly at him. “As much as I love practicing law, nothing will ever mean the same to me if you’re not in my life.”
When she’d finished her heartfelt speech, Colby cradled her face between his hands and gazed fervently into her eyes. “I love you. I love you so damn much. I never meant to hurt you in any way, but I couldn’t keep my distance from you.”
Ava smiled gently. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
As his expression softened, Colby slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her with a tender ferocity that brought tears to her eyes and flooded her heart with euphoria.
As their lips slowly parted, she gave him a soft, sultry smile. “I was sent here tonight to find out if you’ve been naughty or nice.”
His eyes glinted. “Yeah? And what would I get for being nice?”
“Mmm, let’s see,” she purred, provocatively unbuttoning her trench coat and slipping it from her bare shoulders. “This?”
“Holy…” Colby breathed, his eyes widening as he beheld her half-naked body in the indecently skimpy ensemble. He licked his lips, making them glisten. “Merry Christmas to me.”
Ava’s wicked laughter was cut short as he lowered his mouth to her breast, gently sucking her nipple through the sheer fabric. She moaned with pleasure, cream thickening between her thighs. Her head fell back as he slowly kissed his way down her body, his lips trailing a path of fire.
Her senses were still reeling when he swept her effortlessly into his arms and started purposefully from the living room.
She clung to his neck as he carried her into an enormous master bedroom with French doors that led out to a balcony. A tall floor lamp cast a warm, ambient glow over the room.
Ava stared into Colby’s eyes as he gently lowered her onto the king-size bed, then drew back and lifted one of her legs, his eyes glittering wickedly.
“Time for me to unwrap my gift,” he murmured, unzipping her stiletto boot and sliding it off her leg before he reached for the other.
Ava watched him, her pulse pounding, her body quivering with need and anticipation.
He peeled off her stockings and dragged her lace thong over her hips, his eyes darkening with lust when he saw the slick, glistening folds of her labia. He licked his lips, then knelt between her thighs and lowered his mouth to her throbbing sex.
Ava cried out sharply.
“Mmm,” he crooned, erotically stroking her with his tongue, “I must have been very good this year.”
Ava groaned and writhed against him, already on the verge of orgasm. When he sucked her clit into his mouth, she arched off the bed with a strangled cry.
Colby watched her come, his eyes smoldering with satisfaction and arousal. Moving back, he tugged off his shirt and flung it aside, then eased his body over hers and took her mouth in a deep, sensual kiss.
“I’ve missed making love to you,” he whispered huskily.
“Absolutely. And I know the perfect way to start.”
She watched as he rolled away from her, the mattress dipping beneath his weight as he reached toward the bedside table. She assumed he was getting a condom, but when he opened the top drawer and retrieved a small velvet box, she gasped.
“Oh, my God,” she breathed, staring at him as he came back to her.
“I was going to show up on your doorstep tomorrow,” he drawled, removing a stunning diamond ring from the satin encasement, “and I wasn’t gonna take no for an answer.”
“Oh, Colby,” Ava whispered as tears rushed to her eyes.
He gazed at her. “I’m not looking for just a holiday affair. I want something permanent, sweetheart. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
She stared wonderingly at him. “I want the same thing.”
“Good. So will you marry me?”
Her heart soared. “Yes,” she whispered fervently. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Colby grinned crookedly. “Is that a yes?”
Ava laughed, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him down to the bed with her. They rolled together, kissing and laughing joyously before Colby settled beside her, took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger.
“It’s beautiful,” Ava breathed. “And it fits perfectly.”
“Like us.”
Lifting her gaze to Colby’s, Ava trembled at the raw emotion glittering in his eyes, a fierce, unmistakable love that took her breath away. She knew more than ever that being with him had been worth the risk.
“I love you,” she said tenderly.
“I love you, too,” he murmured, brushing a kiss over her knuckle.
“I promised my sister and my parents that I’d bring you home for Christmas dinner tomorrow. They’re all dying to meet you.”
Colby smiled. “I’d love to meet your family. And you have to meet the rest of mine.”
“I can’t wait.” She paused, smiling. “Quentin Reddick called and offered me a job. Partnership.”
Surprised, Colby stared down at her. “He did?”
She nodded.
“And?”
“And…I think I’m going to accept.”
A slow, broad grin stretched across Colby’s face. “This night just keeps getting better and better.”
“You can say that again.” As he settled between her legs, Ava tugged his jeans past his hips and ran her hands over his taut, round butt. “I want to have your baby.”
His expression softened with pleasure, even as he teased, “Just one?”
Ava arched a brow at him. “How many did you have in mind?”
“Four, at least. Maybe five.”
Ava smiled, wrapping her legs around his waist. “We can negotiate later.”
He grinned. “Sounds good, Counselor.”
“Mmm,” Ava moaned as he filled her with one deep stroke. “Speaking of good…”
Colby groaned, “Ohhh yeahhh.”
As they began rocking together, all negotiations ceased. The two former adversaries had struck the best deal of all—one that promised an eternity of love, laughter, passion and all the joy they could possibly handle.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781459244542
MERRY SEXY CHRISTMAS
Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders
of the individual works as follows:
OVERTIME LOVE
Copyright © 2012 by Beverly Jenkins
EX-MAS REUNION
Copyright © 2012 by Kayla Perrin
A HOLIDAY AFFAIR
Copyright © 2012 by Maureen Smith
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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