Christmas Baby for the Billionaire (South Shore Billionaires 1)

“I was hoping I wouldn’t wake you. You looked so peaceful.”

“I was comfortable.” She smiled, the edges of it soft from sleep. “You’re kind of warm and cozy.”

Jeremy went to the bed and sat on the edge. “Honestly? I don’t think I’ve ever been called that before.”

“Well, you are. And I need to be awake anyway, because I need to pee and brush my teeth.” She put her hand

on his forearm. “It was a really nice night. A nice day, when all is said and done. Thank you.”

He reached over to pat her hand and ended up taking her fingers in his instead, twining them together, linking them in a way that frightened him just a bit. Still, this was what he’d suggested, wasn’t it? Acknowledgment of their attraction for each other? Desire? Affection? His thumb rubbed over the top of her hand, and he met her gaze, saying nothing. The air between them grew heavy with words unspoken, possibilities unrealized.

“You’re going to kiss me, aren’t you?” she murmured, but instead of looking away, as she had a tendency to do, she held his gaze.

“Only if you want me to.”

She said nothing for a few seconds that felt like an eternity, and he waited, trying to be patient. Wanting to leave this decision in her hands.

“You want me to say it.” She bit down on her lip, another thing he realized she did when she was nervous.

“Yeah,” he replied, his voice rough. “I do.”

Another long moment, and then she said it, her voice barely above a whisper. “Kiss me, Jeremy. Please.”

She didn’t have to ask twice, or even add the sweet-sounding “please” to the end. “Kiss me” was enough. He squeezed her fingers tighter and leaned forward. “No mistletoe in here,” he murmured, only an inch away from her lips.

“We don’t need it,” she answered, and he closed the remaining distance between them.

Nothing in the world could be as soft as her lips. They opened beneath his, sweet and willing, and an expansive feeling rushed through him as he drank her in. He inched closer, close enough that if he moved his arm at all it would be around her and pulling her close, but tonight she was in charge. She set the pace. He’d kissed her twice already. Tonight he wanted—needed—to know that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

As the kiss deepened, she leaned forward, moving to get closer to him, and before they lost their balance he put out his left hand and braced it on the bed. Tori curled her hand up around his neck and exerted a little pressure, pulling him closer to her, then shifting so that she was slowly inching downward with him leaning over her from above. Desire surged; last summer hadn’t been a fluke, and she still had the power to make him weak and strong at the same time. Their chemistry couldn’t be ignored as she made a little sound in the back of her throat. He slid his mouth off hers and pressed his lips to the sensitive spot on her neck where her pulse drummed.

“Oh,” she breathed, arching her neck. “Jeremy... That feels so nice.”

“Damn right,” he growled, fighting to keep his hands gentle.

“Jeremy, I—” Another sigh stopped her midsentence, but she picked up again, undaunted. “Can we just kiss tonight?”

She had to know what she was asking. He wanted to touch her everywhere. Feel her warm, smooth skin against his. But he’d promised himself that she could take the lead and so he dutifully answered, “Of course.”

“You’re a good kisser.”

“Mmm... Likewise.”

“You’ve got SKL. Do you know what that is?”

“Uh-uh.” He licked at her earlobe and goose bumps erupted on her shoulders as he slid his fingers along the skin revealed by the slouchy sweater’s neckline. It had a V-neck, and with it pulled a bit sideways, a generous slice of cleavage and the swell of her full breast were visible before the rest was concealed by her bra.

“Seriously kissable lips. Not too full, not too thin, really nice and soft. With that little dip in the middle, right here.” She slid her hand from his hair down his jaw, then dotted the dip in his upper lip with a fingertip.

“Tori?”

“Yeah?”

“You talk too much.”

And then he went to work shutting her up. Because if she wanted to be kissed—and that was all she wanted—he’d give her what she asked for. And he’d do it right.

* * *