Christmas in His Bed

p; He nodded, reaching out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Mostly.”

“No women?” she asked.

He grinned. “Oh, there have been women.”

She smacked him on the arm and sat up, tucking the sheet around her. “Relationships?”

He shrugged. “None that stuck. My job comes first. Hours aren’t exactly family friendly.” He broke off, staring at her. “I figure I’ll know when it’s the right time. Or the right girl.”

“So you’re not attached?” she asked.

“If I was, I wouldn’t be here, Tatum.” He paused. “You know me.”

She thought she had. And then he’d proved her wrong. “Not really,” she said, suddenly nervous.

“You do. You know me better than anyone.” He frowned.

Maybe once. But now it didn’t matter. She didn’t want to get serious when she was about to suggest what she was about to suggest. “I have a proposition for you.” What she wanted was crazy and selfish and indecent, no denying that. And without Spencer it wasn’t going to happen. But she really hoped he was agreeable to her proposal. “I want to...borrow you,” she said, her voice lowered.

“Borrow me?” he asked.

She swallowed. “Your body. It was just Brent, and he was...well... I just wanted... I was wondering if you’d be willing to help me... Learn to be sexy. Appealing...in bed.”

His blue eyes continued to stare at her, intense and searching.

“No strings. I’m not ready and you sound like you’re not interested in getting tied down, which is great. But I feel like I’ve missed out... On sex—good sex. I want to be sexy...seductive.” She stopped, clasping her hands in her lap. Maybe she should have kept her mouth shut. Saying it out loud, she sounded ridiculous.

He lay there, still staring at her. His breathing had accelerated, but she didn’t know what that meant.

“You can stay here. Roommates with benefits.” She swallowed again, her nerves forcing her to continue. “You and me, two consenting adults, spending as much time naked as possible. With an expiration date of midnight Christmas Eve.”

He frowned. “Why Christmas Eve?”

“I’m supposed to fly to a friend’s on the West Coast Christmas day,” she explained.

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Two weeks?”

“Twelve days,” she clarified.

“Like the Christmas carol?” He smiled.

“With less birds and more sex, sure,” she agreed, laughing.

“What do you mean you need me to help you feel sexy or appealing?” he asked.

She shrugged, wishing she hadn’t shared that piece of information.

“Come on, Tatum, it’s a fair question. I think you did a damn fine job seducing me in the shower. As far as I’m concerned, you’re sexy as hell.”

“Oh.” She smiled.

His hand came up to stroke her cheek. “Only Brent?”

Another piece of information she hadn’t meant to share.

“And he let you go?” His voice was rough. “Stupid shit.”

So did you. But she pressed her lips tight. “I guess men are different. You like me to make noise, to touch you—to respond.”