Christmas Sugar (Insta-Spark)

Her voice was quiet. “It’s difficult at times. George and Eric were my family. Eric died before Noelle was born, so she never knew him. George tells her stories about him, but it’s more than she can really understand.”

“Of course.”

“I try to be enough for them both. Sometimes, I’m not sure I’m doing a very good job. Especially for Seth.”

Reaching over, I clasped her hand. “Hey.”

She looked up, her eyes sad in the dim light.

“You give him everything he needs. He is . . . they are both lucky to have you. I can see it clearly in them. You are more than enough.”

“I try.”

“You do it well.” I caressed her hand I was still holding. “But who looks after you, Alex?”

It was her turn to shrug. “I’m fine.”

I slid closer, draping my arm along the back of the sofa, running my fingers through her hair. “Of course you’re fine. You’re strong, independent, and amazing. But you still need to be looked after on occasion.”

She shrugged. “There’s no one to do that. I can’t hope for it either. Who is going to want a single mother of two kids?” She paused, her lips trembling. “I’m not even sure where we’ll be this time next year. I have nothing to offer anyone. Just my kids. So I can’t rely on anyone else since they only have me to take care of them.”

The urge to tell her she could rely on me was strong, but I held my tongue. Instead, I drew my finger down her cheek, the supple skin warm under my touch. “I think you have a lot to offer someone, Alex.”

Our gazes locked, and like every other time we were alone, my body responded. The air around us bubbled with the heat I could feel, and before I knew what I was doing, she was in my arms. I pulled her onto my lap, and my mouth was on hers, kissing her deeply, losing myself in her softness. Threading my fingers into her thick hair, I tugged gently, exposing her neck. I trailed my tongue along the smooth skin, tugging on her earlobe. “God, baby, I want you.”

She whimpered, and I covered her mouth again, kissing her with everything I had. I held her tight, sliding my hands under her loose sweatshirt, touching the supple, delicate skin of her back. I traced the ridges of her spine, groaning when I realized she wasn’t wearing a bra. Reaching around, I cupped her breasts and stroked her tight nipples. The grip she had on me increased, and she made the most erotic sound I had ever heard, a breathless, moaning pant low in her throat. I pulled her down, letting her feel the effect she was having. My hard cock pushed against the material of my pants, feeling the heat of her so close.

We both wanted it.

A noise startled us, and Alex pulled away, panting. She scrambled off my lap, hurrying to Noelle’s room. With a groan, I dropped my head into my hands. I was acting like an animal. If we hadn’t been interrupted, I would have taken Alex right there on the sofa. The place she sat every night with her children.

I stood and paced. When Alex returned, I smiled at her, even as I saw the fact that her walls had gone back up. The interruption had broken the moment.

“I should go.”

She bit her lip, appearing as though she was going to say something, but then she nodded. “I can’t . . .” Her voice trailed off, her hand gesturing down the hall.

“I understand.”

I walked to the door, turning with my hand on the knob. “Today was one of the best days I’ve had in a very long time. I loved spending it with you and the kids. Dinner was delicious.” I paused, lowering my voice. “And although I didn’t get to finish dessert, it was the highlight.”

Her cheeks blazed with color, and with a chuckle, I ran my knuckles over the hot flesh, still filled with desire for her. “Nothing on earth is as sweet as the taste of you, Alex. I’m afraid you’ve spoiled me for anything else.”

She closed her eyes and sighed. “My children, Dylan, they have to come first. I’m their mother. The only one they have.”

“And you’re a woman. A beautiful, sexy woman who has been alone too long.” I held up my hand as she started to protest. “I know we have two different lives, but right now we’re together.” I exhaled. “If you want to explore it further, you know where I am.”

I dropped a gentle kiss to her head, then another to her sweet mouth.

Then I headed back to my room, feeling more alone than I had ever felt in my life.

I TOSSED BACK A LONG swallow of the Courvoisier in my glass as I stood by the window, looking into the vast expanse in front of me. I had pushed the hideous drapes wide open and watched the snow as it swirled by, settling on the already laden branches of the massive trees that encircled the inn. Idly, I wondered how many we’d lose with construction. I’d have to make sure it was as few as possible. They were too beautiful to destroy.

Beautiful.

Like Alex.

I rubbed my bare chest, trying to push away the strange ache that had taken up residence there since I’d walked away from Alex earlier. All it took was the thought of her mouth moving with mine and how she felt melded into my chest to make my desire flare once more.