Christmas in His Bed

“Spencer?”

“Lingerie?” he asked.

“What did you think it was?” she asked, looking up at him. Did she really want to know?

He shook his head, a huge grin on his face.

Yes, she did. “Come on,” she encouraged.

“I was way off base.”

She sat up, wincing at the pull and throb of her bruises.

He frowned. “You need to take it easy.”

She scowled at him. “You need to tell me what you thought I’d bought you for Christmas.”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t.”

“It can’t be that bad,” she argued, frustration and curiosity warring.

“It’s not bad.” He ran a hand over his face.

She was beyond curious. “Can you give me a hint?”

“It required batteries,” he said, watching her expression.

She shook her head. “Batteries?”

He ran a hand over his face again. “That first night, we talked about spicing things up.”

She stared at him. Spicing things up? If things were any spicier, she might explode. But then understanding dawned on her. “A vibrator? You thought I bought us a vibrator?” If anything, he’d demonstrated that a vibrator wasn’t an essential tool for sexual satisfaction. And yet the flare of desire that rolled over her told her it might be a hell of a lot of fun.

“I told you, whatever you want, Tatum.” He stared at her, the corner of his mouth lifting into a grin.

Whatever she wanted... Sex with Spencer. Sex with Spencer and a vibrator.

Spencer.

Her eyes stung again. Dammit. No. That was over. He just didn’t know it yet.

“All you have to do is tell me.” The rasp of his voice made her toes curl. “I...I’d pretty much do anything for you, you know.”

Her throat was tight and dry, her lungs empty. It was hard to breathe. Harder to say, “It’s almost Christmas Eve.”

His grin faded as he reached up. His fingers traced her hairline, captured a long curl and wrapped it around his fingers. “Let’s renegotiate the terms.”

Was he only referring to sex? Or something more? She didn’t want to know. She’d come to terms with the past, almost. But, if he did want something more... She couldn’t. No matter how tempted she might be.

This was Spencer. No one else came close. No one else had this sort of power over her. Which was the very reason this needed to end. Whether or not this connection was normal, it was dangerously powerful.

“I don’t think so.” She nibbled her toast.

“Why?” He let go of her curl.

She forced a smile. “Because it was good. No, great. Exactly what I needed. No strings. No complications. Just sensation. Thank you for showing me how good intimacy can be.”

His face was rigid, the tightening of his jaw making the beat of her heart falter.