Christmas Eve (15 page)

He pulled her onto his lap, her thighs straddling his hips, her legs encircling his waist.

"Nick?"

"I would never do anything to hurt you. You know that, don't you?" he asked, and without waiting for her answer, entered her with one hard thrust. He stopped when he could feel his erection gently pressing the mouth of Eve's womb and swallowed her surprised moan.

"Just relax," he murmured when she tried to draw back.

She looked at him wonderingly.

"Did you like to play on the swings when you were a kid?"

"Don't all little girls?"

"Good. I want you to pretend you're on a swing right now. Just lean back," he whispered and leaned forward when she did, so that his torso followed hers, in tandem with her movements. Eve did as she was told and pleasured her own body while pleasuring him, if he could believe her astonished cry.

"Good. Now forward," he urged.

"Ohhhh," she breathed, taking him deeper. Giving him a glimpse of paradise.

He doubted he could hold off much longer if she kept doing this.

"And back," she murmured, letting her head loll as she mastered the rhythm.

"Yes," he coached, his reply strained, his body rocking with hers.

With each rocking motion the tips of her breasts barely brushed, then abandoned the yearning flesh of his chest. Even so, his sensitized skin responded to the brief touch. Then her inner muscles rippled, the tone of her whimpered cries changed, and her body tensed.

Nick drove hard, riding her, Eve riding him, their bodies no longer leaning, but locked together in a wanton flurry of mindless withdrawals and thrusts. He couldn't hold back much longer.

"Nick..."

The instant Eve reached her crest a wave of pleasure surged over him. Her forceful climax stole his breath and brought his own release. He held her close, resting his head on her shoulder while she silently wept, her taut muscles still gripping him.

"Are you alright?" he asked, fearful of her answer, but needing to know. He thought he'd been gentle, but...

"Better than fine," she murmured against his chest. "This way... It was..."

"Indescribable?" He nibbled the delicate curve of her ear, the sensitive spot just behind. "Great?"

"Incredible."

Long moments passed before Nick found the strength to roll onto his side, taking Eve with him, her legs still circling his hips.

Gradually her twined legs eased apart. She rolled onto her back and gazed deep into his eyes, hers filled with wonder and trust. Her dazed expression exactly mirrored what Nick felt, causing his heart to skip a beat.

Somehow, Eve had found a way past his defenses. He should end this right now, but invisible bonds held him in place, a need he couldn't explain. Those same bonds were squeezing the air from his lungs.

After a while he chuckled to hide his true feelings. "Whew. I wouldn't want to do
that
every day."

When hurt darkened Eve's eyes, he wished he'd held his tongue and longed to take back his insensitive words.

"It's too hard on a guy," he lamely explained.

"And on a girl," Eve agreed as she smoothed her hair back from her face, an attempt at nonchalance that failed, in part because her hand trembled, and he'd witnessed the slight movement she tried hard to hide.

Apparently both he and Eve were much too shaken by the depth of their feelings to have much to say.

Summoning his energy, Nick sat up. "Well, I seem to have worked up an appetite. Can I tempt you with dessert? Ready for something decadently sweet?" He pulled her to her feet.

Eve didn't look at all certain, but agreed. "I'll wash my hands and clear the table. Is that coffee I smell?"

"Yes, but it's a bit old. Want me to start a new pot?"

She smiled weakly. "The way I feel, the stronger the better. How about you?"

"Right. The same ten-ton truck ran over me."

Eve stared at him a moment as if he'd lost his mind, then burst out laughing and suddenly all the second thoughts about the fantastic sex they'd just shared vanished.

"I'm amazed we survived," Eve said and Nick found himself longing to gather her back into his arms for another lengthy embrace.

Instead, he slid his arm around her waist and caressed a plump breast. "That we did. Do you suppose that happened so we can give it another try? See if we can get it right next time?"

Eve winced.

Nick chuckled. "I didn't mean right away," he said, dodging the elbow she aimed at him by moving a few steps away. "Maybe the suggestion will have more appeal after dessert."

"What's on the menu?" Eve stacked the used plates and silverware.

"Let's see. You probably need something with more calories than sorbet, so that leaves mince pie or Amaretto cheesecake."

"That's a tough decision, but I think I'll take a rain check on the pie."

Nick's grin widened.

As he walked by, headed for the kitchen, she punched him in the chest. "Why didn't you just say you were a cheesecake man?"

* * * * *

Nick laughed aloud. "Is there a man living who isn't?"

Eve could name one. Jeffrey. He considered cheesecake commonplace. Too bland, he'd claimed, for a man with discerning taste.

What had she ever seen in him?

She angled a look at Nick. He was standing at the kitchen sink, running warm water into a glass. His flat abs and massive shoulders always rated a second glance from her, but this time, his muscled, dimpled buns drew her gaze and held it.

"
Lean back, Eve
," Nick had instructed her earlier, seated squarely on those tight buns and encouraging her to "swing."

Eve’s cheeks flamed. To hold on to her sanity, she was forced to look way from his butt. While Nick cut two wide triangular slices of cheesecake, she returned pickles and olives to their jars on the counter, hoping busy hands would lead to an occupied mind.

Not so, she soon discovered.

Thoughts of Nick still invaded her mind, leaving her terrified. Never before had she allowed love and ever after to frequent her thoughts and knew she was in danger of falling helplessly in love.

Nick St. Clair had her wanting — no,
needing —
something she couldn't have.

Him
.

The lid to the olive jar slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor with a loud clatter. Eve jumped.

"Oops," she said, stooping to pick up the lid. Her bare breast brushed her bent arm.

How could she have so easily forgotten she was standing in the kitchen
sans
clothes, yet not mind?

She blinked and glanced down at the size fourteen body she usually tried to conceal.

Nick's eyebrow winged up. "Something bothering you?"

Nothing she was willing to talk about. Her cheeks grew warm, while her butt cheeks, kept away from the roaring fire for far too long, were quickly growing cold.

She shook her head, trying to shake off the wild thoughts floating around inside of it. The rugged man studying her with a worried frown was partly the cause of her current confusion.

Although a lot of the blame rested squarely on her. She'd walked into a stranger's house, a man she had never before met, and practically crawled right into his bed. Now she stood unclothed in his kitchen, more familiar with him in just twenty-four short hours than any other man in her life.

Nick cupped her chin in his palm, startling her. When had he crossed the room?

"Eve? Tell me what's wrong."

The concern in his gaze was her undoing. Against her wishes, the truth spilled out. "I just realized I'm not wearing any clothes."

His dark eyes warmed. "Do you hear me complaining?"

"I seriously doubt you ever would."

"You may have a point," he said and kissed her, the kind of kiss guaranteed to scatter her thoughts. Beneath the tender onslaught of his questing lips, her concerns melted. Each place he touched her grew warm. Her mouth. Her hips. The tips of her breasts.

"I don't care if you never wear another stitch."

Laughing, she took a step back from him. "Isn't that just like a man?"

"Take me or leave me. I'm the only man around."

His words hit too close to home. Eve turned away. "That cheesecake about ready? I'll pour the coffee if it is."

"All done. Want to go sit by the fire?"

His casual question brought back to mind the passionate hour just spent by the same fire. She blushed.

I've done a lot of that in the last twenty-four hours.
"The fire sounds good."

She poured the coffee. Both drank their brew black, so she followed him back to the living room, a steaming mug in each hand.

Nick arranged dessert plates, forks and napkins on the coffee table, then stoked the fire and added a log while she returned the sofa cushions to their proper place. He returned to take a seat beside her and promptly picked up his plate and fork. Instead of eating the first bite himself, he turned and fed it to her, the most erotically intimate action Eve could ever recall happening to her.

Flavor burst on her tongue, cold, sharp and sweet. She chewed, then swallowed, her gaze never leaving Nick's face.

He'd surprised her. And himself.

* * * * *

Croupier sprang to life, tenting Nick's napkin. He tried not to look there, didn't want to call Eve's attention to his rampant libido. If just having her clothes off unsettled her, what would seeing him come fully erect while she nibbled cheesecake do to her appetite?

He knew what she did to his. Lately the only thing he hungered for was satisfying his lust.

"M-mmm. Delicious," she murmured.

Yes, you are
. Nick gazed deep into her eyes bright with pleasure.

She forked up a bite, fed it to him. He closed his eyes, let the silky texture of sweet cream cheese and tart Amaretto have their way with his taste buds.

The next bite she cut off went in her mouth.

"Hey, that's not fair," he complained with a laugh.

"Bet I finish first." The possibility of a competition made her eyes shine.

"Uh-uh. I never rush a meal. Life's too short. You know what they say about stopping to smell the roses. I don't miss many opportunities nowadays."

Eve looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. He didn't apologize. He'd started out with nothing. Less than nothing. With such humble beginnings, he took nothing as his due.

The food set before him today could as easily be his last meal, so he ate slowly, made every bite one to remember. It helped to have company to share his meals with, but he'd eaten alone enough to not let a shortage of companionship bother him.

He looked down at his plate, then saw Eve already scraping the last crumbs from hers, and a smile crept into his voice. "I do admire a woman who likes to eat." .

"And I like a man to feed me." She tenderly pressed a string of baby kisses to his lips. "I just found that out tonight." The wonder in her voice made him grin.

Such a small thing. Eve was
not
a run-of-the-mill money-grabbing bitch, unless this was all an astounding act. Either way, he liked her company. Probably more than he should. If things started to get dicey, he could always send her away, but for now the evening stretched ahead, with more enjoyable evenings to come.

Deep in thought, Nick finished eating and when he finally looked up found Eve watching him, an unreadable glint in her eye.

"What would you like to do now?" he asked warily.

She kept him waiting for her reply while she took a sip of coffee and swallowed it. "Finish the puzzle. Do you mind?"

He laughed. "Not at all. I'll even join you as soon as I set up the laptop and check my e-mail." That electronic lifeline was his way of keeping his hand in the running of the hotel. Interrupting his vacation with phone calls concerning problems that came up in his absence was not allowed. But he always liked to know the day's receipts.

Taking her coffee with her, Eve settled at the game table while Nick set his mug down on his desk, untouched. He was soon so caught up in the everyday details of running a casino in absentia that he lost all track of time. It wasn't until the hall clock chimed eleven times that he got up and crossed the room to check on Eve's progress.

She'd made good use of the time. Only three loose puzzle pieces remained. She was hunched over the table wearing a determined expression and, surprisingly, still nothing else, although he'd neglected the fire and it was now nearly out. As he admired Eve's Rubenesque backside, Croupier stirred.

Down, boy. Give yourself a much needed rest.

Frowning, she glanced over her shoulder at him, then back at the puzzle. "See that empty picture frame above the couch?" she asked, sounding like a frustrated child. "That has to be the surprise, but I can't make any of the remaining pieces fit in that space."

Nick threaded his fingers through her tousled hair, attempting to appease her. "You look beat. Want me to give you a hand?"

"Would you? I've tried these last pieces every which way and not one of them fits."

Before she finished speaking, he sat next to her and pulled Eve over into his lap, taking advantage of the unique opportunity to warm her cool butt. What made him think he could work on a puzzle with Eve's plump flesh heating his groin?

He selected a piece and rotated it in his hand. Tried to match the colors first, then the ins and outs. The piece contained a pattern of arms and legs; nothing else in the puzzle had similar skin tones, and the completed Victorian couple seated on the sofa had all their arms and legs.

He dropped the piece, selected another. Against a background of red, a narrow band of blue bisected the skin tones on this piece.

Hmm. The piece he'd just put down also had that red. So did something within the empty picture frame, he saw, staring at it.

After a moment, like paint by number, he matched red to red and one piece snapped into place. Then another.

"Wait! Wait, I want to put in the last piece," Eve cried, even more childlike. This child sounded spoiled.

At the moment he couldn't refuse her anything. Not with her bare butt wiggling with excitement on his lap.