She slid her fingers into his hair, holding him close. ‘That might be the nicest thing anybody’s said to me.’
Adam’s lips moved against her neck. ‘Then you’re talking to the wrong people, sweetheart.’
It felt as though any time she was talking to somebody but him was wrong. They were in a snow globe, the two of them – hell, the whole family, if you wanted – just them and their winter wonderland, protected from the world outside. Maybe there was something in Adam’s need to retreat. Something concentrated and precious. She couldn’t help but think she wanted this bubble to last for ever.
‘Are you staying the night?’ It was wrong, she knew, but the thought of him leaving her felt worse.
His lips had reached her clavicle. Kissing, nipping, licking, he made her flesh his own. ‘I can’t leave the dog on his own.’
Damn, she’d forgotten about the puppy. It would be nice to think he wouldn’t be her problem after tomorrow, but that would be one hell of a lie. It was only just beginning.
‘So you just stopped by to say hi?’
‘Something like that.’ He’d reached the swell of her breast. Unbuttoning her blouse, he moved his lips down until he met the lacy edge of her bra. ‘I needed to see you.’
Her breath caught as he edged the cup down, until her breast was exposed. ‘That’s nice.’
He traced a line of fire with his tongue. Down her breast, around her areola. She could feel her skin pucker and tighten.
‘It is nice,’ he agreed, the tip of his tongue barely glancing her nipple. ‘Very nice.’ His lips closed around her, sucking her in, and any words she could think of escaped her mind.
When he took her other nipple between his thumb and forefinger, his exquisite pinching made her arch her back off the bed. Every touch sent pleasure shooting down her. Every bite made her moan softly.
‘I want to make you come like this,’ he whispered.
‘I’m not sure I can…’
‘I want to try. A Christmas gift for me.’ He smiled against her breast. ‘A gift that keeps on giving.’
But she wasn’t giving, she was taking. Pulling pleasure from him inch by inch, until her body felt as though it was floating. Her body was vibrating, her cells singing a silent song, as he kissed and loved her until she was nothing but sensation.
An orgasm ripped through her like a tornado, leaving devastation in its wake. For a minute her body was a storm, then she was falling. Down, down, and into his waiting arms.
He held her tight, his lips soft against hers. Tasting her pleasure, giving it back. Her muscles loosened, exhausted, her eyelids heavy as she curled into his embrace.
28
My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else
my heart concealing it will break
– The Taming of the Shrew
Adam slipped out some time before dawn, leaving Kitty to grab a couple of hours of sleep. By the time Jonas roused her just after six a.m. her whole body was aching. Her mind ached too, full of thoughts of Adam.
She had fallen for him, she could admit that much. But she was afraid of Everett, damn, she was afraid of everything right then. It was all such a mess. She couldn’t wait for Christmas to be over – at least then she could come clean.
She hated secrets.
‘Santa’s been. Can I open my gifts?’ Jonas bounced on her bed excitedly. ‘There’s so many of them!’
‘Not yet.’ She stroked his hair. ‘You need to wait for the family to get up.’
Mia and Everett must have come home some time in the night, because the car was parked on the gravelled drive. Maybe she’d been asleep, or maybe she’d been too absorbed by Adam. Whatever it was, she had no idea when they’d returned.
‘But that’s not fair. Mom takes for ever to get up.’ A stubborn expression washed over his face. ‘How about just one?’
Kitty reached under the bed. ‘Maybe you could open one of my presents for you?’ She passed him a box covered with Disney wrapping paper, depicting Mickey Mouse wearing a Santa outfit.