Mistress Christmas: Wild West Boys (4 page)

“No. But…” Holly squared her shoulders and got right in his face. “Why are you interested in me? As you can plainly see, I’m pretty plain without the sexy costume and hoochie-mama makeup.”

Hoochie-mama? Lord, where did she dig up such terms? “Holly, the last thing you are is plain.” Nick let his gaze encompass her entire face. “You have beautiful eyes, a beautiful smile and there’s this…glow about you that doesn’t have a damn thing to do with the stage lights.”

“Are all Wyoming cowboys such sweet talkers?”

“From birth, darlin’. And we’re honest as the day is long, too.”

That comment brought a genuine smile to her face and he was completely captivated.

“Fine. One cup of coffee after you tell me your entire name.”

“You want my rank and serial number too?”

“Have a nice life.” She turned away.

Laughing at her cheekiness, he caught her forearm. “Sorry. It caught me off guard. My entire name is Nick Lander West.”

Holly frowned. “Lander? That’s weird.”

“Evidently I was conceived in Lander, Wyoming, and my parents thought it’d be funny as a middle name. I figure it could’ve been worse, considering my brother Blake’s middle name is Thermopolis.”

“You’re joking.”

“Yes, I am.” He grinned at her. “And fair’s fair, darlin’. What’s your whole name?”

She said, “Holly Jolly Christmas,” without batting an eyelash.

Which caused Nick to roll his eyes. “Everyone’s a comedian. I deserved that, I guess. Since it’s getting colder, I’ll allow the sleight of name until we’re at the restaurant. How about if we meet—”

“Huh-uh, cowboy.
I
get to pick the place we meet.”

Bossy little thing. “Deal. Where?”

Holly gave him a considering look. “IHOP on the north end of Spear Boulevard.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Neither one budged as they stared at each other amidst the swirling snow and flashing neon lights from the club.

“Aren’t you gonna get goin’?” he prompted.

“Not until you leave.”

“Why? Are you planning to stand me up?”

“No. But since I have your full name I also want to write down your license plate number so if something hinky happens to me the cops know who to look for and what vehicle you drive.”

Nick laughed. Hard. If she only knew. On the back of his truck was the discreet sticker that allowed him to park in the police department’s private garage. “To show you I’m trustworthy, I’ll oblige you. But be warned, if you stand me up, I’ll chase you down, ’cause, darlin’, I know where you work.”

He thought he heard her mutter, “Don’t be so sure,” but it was probably a trick of the wind.

True to her word Holly did jot down Nick’s license number. When she reached the IHOP parking lot she also peeked inside the window. If she saw rope, handcuffs, or duct tape, she was outta here.

But in all honestly, she wouldn’t have agreed to meet him if she hadn’t felt some semblance of trust when it came to Nick West. She wasn’t naïve. Maybe she was a fool to fall for his “aw-shucks” Wyoming cowboy routine. She’d suffered through plenty of blind dates with less personal information and less chemistry.

Plus, she’d already had an orgasm with him, fully clothed, in public. How mind blowing would sex be completely naked in private?

Talk about coming unhinged. One minute she scoped his truck for signs of kidnapping supplies and the next she patted her pockets for condoms? She really needed to get out more.

Nick had chosen a booth against the windows in the middle of the restaurant. He stood when he saw her and helped her take off her coat.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. I didn’t order coffee because I wasn’t sure whether you liked it.”

“I live on it in my line of work.”

“Me too,” he admitted and signaled for the waiter.

After the coffee was poured, Holly leaned back against the fake leather booth. She steered the conversation away from her supposed job at the strip club and went on the offensive. “So, what do you do for a living?”

“Paperwork. Lots and lots of paperwork.” Nick sipped his coffee. “You gonna tell me your real name?”

“My first name really is Holly. My middle name is Anne. My last name is North, which is ironic considering yours is West.”

“That is ironic. You from around here originally?”

“No. I’m from Connecticut.”

“Wow. That’s a ways away. You have family there?”

“Yeah. I hardly ever see them.” It’d be safe to assume Nick attributed the estrangement to her occupation. Which in a way was exactly right, as she had nothing in common with her family any longer. “What about you?”

“Most of my family lives in Wyoming. My dad and my
brother Blake raise sheep and my mom’s job is to keep them from killing each other. Blake isn’t married, although an epidemic of weddings has broken out in the last few years amongst my McKay cousins.” He cocked his head. “What about your family?”

“One sister, one brother. Both married. Both living on the East Coast. Both popping out grandkids for my parents. So I’m the pariah out here in no man’s land. They can’t imagine why anyone would want to live in Denver and I can’t imagine why anyone would want to live anywhere else.”

“I hear ya. I love to visit the homeplace, but I don’t see myself ever goin’ back to Wyoming to live permanently.”

“Not even because you miss your horse?”

His bad-boy grin was a thing of beauty. “Not even because I miss my horse
and
my hat.”

“I’ll admit I’d like to see you tricked out in chaps, spurs, a hat and boots, swinging a lasso.”

Before Holly’s chagrin for her suggestive comment set in, Nick grabbed her hand. He dragged his mouth across the inside of her wrist and the feel of his warm, soft lips created a swoopy sensation in her belly. “I notice you didn’t mention me wearing pants of any sort.”

“Nick—”

“Say my name again, all soft and breathy like that,” he demanded.

“Nick, I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’ve never done anything like this.”

“Like what?”

“Meeting up with a man like you.”

He frowned. “What do you mean, a man like me?”

“A man who is hot as sin, built like a Bronco’s defensive end, and is confident enough to make me take risks I never had the guts to before. A man who can get me off fully clothed in less than five minutes. A man who makes me wonder…”

“Wonder what?” His eyes flared pure male interest.

“What it’d feel like to experience passion like that again, sans clothing of any sort.” There. She’d said it.

“That was your first taste of passion?”

Holly shook her head. “But it’s been awhile…a long while since I’ve experienced anything remotely close. In the last few days I’ve realized I’m still not living the life I envisioned.”

“If you could change that vision, what would you do first?”

Here’s your golden opportunity, Holls. Grab the bull by the horns and demand the cowboy take you for a ride.

“Remember when we toasted and you asked me about Christmas wishes?”

He nodded.

“I was too nervous to be honest about what I wanted.”

“So be honest now. What is your fondest Christmas wish?”

“One night of sexual decadence.”

Both his eyebrows lifted.

“With you.”

Nick’s jaw tightened. “Are you fucking with me?”

“If that means I’m propositioning you, then yes.” Rather than retreat from his suspicious eyes, Holly leaned closer. “Aren’t you curious to see how delicious it’d be to get off when we’re naked together?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. But I’ve gotta ask why the sudden change of heart? How can you be sure I’m not a serial killer?”

“Because you would’ve followed me home from the club and snatched me on a deserted road, not bullied me into having coffee with you in public.”

“True. So how do I make your wish come true, Mistress Christmas?”

“Don’t call me that.” Holly wrinkled her nose. “That’s not who I am.”

“Who are you?”

“A woman who’s interested in you. So the question is, are you interested in me?”

Instead of answering, Nick placed her hand over his heart to show her how fast it beat.

The heat in his eyes, in his hand, in his body stoked the fire inside her hotter than she ever dreamed.

“Your chest is so hard,” she whispered.

“And it ain’t even the hardest part of me right now.”

Holly smiled at his comment. “One night? No strings, no promises, no regrets?”

“Deal. With one little catch.”

“Which is?”

“If it’s up to me to fulfill all your sexual wishes, then I get to be one hundred percent in charge of providing that pleasure. You have to trust me and do what I tell you.”

“Within reason. No pain games.”

“I’m not into pain. I’m into seeing your body light up like a Christmas tree from all the orgasms I’m gonna wring from you.” Nick kissed the tip of each finger. “Since you picked the restaurant, I get to pick the hotel.” He paused, as if expecting her to argue.

She didn’t.

“Marriott Suites on Lexington. Thirty minutes. I’ll leave a key at the front desk under my name.” Nick slid out of the booth and threw a five-dollar bill on the table. “Don’t keep me waiting, darlin’.”

“That’s just around the corner. I don’t need thirty minutes.”

“I do, since I’ll be picking up condoms and stuff on the way.”

“What kind of stuff?” she said suspiciously.

Nick grinned. “Bet you were the type who peeked at your presents before Christmas morning, too.”

She squirmed. Busted.

“You’ll have to wait and see.” He bent down until they were nose to nose. “Here’s the God honest truth. I thought you were something special in that skintight leather-and-lace get up, mysterious and sexy. I gotta admit I prefer you natural like this, your hair loose around your face, wide-eyed, your breath ragged as you’re waiting for me to kiss you.”

Do it
.

“I’m gonna demand to feel your soft lips all over my body, Holly. Can you handle that?”

Her pulse thumped like mad. She managed a little nod.

“Good.” Nick brushed his mouth over hers until her lips parted. Then he blew her mind with a kiss so sweetly, so shockingly seductive she feared she’d come undone right there in the booth.

When he finally backed off, his voice was thick with desire. “Not nearly enough, but it’ll hold me for the next twenty-eight minutes and fourteen seconds.”

Chapter Four

As Nick purchased condoms and other accoutrements he needed, he wasn’t thinking like Detective West, one of metro Denver’s finest. Nick was purely thinking like a man about to get very, very lucky.

Yet, if in the course of having his wicked way with Holly he discovered information pertaining to Rudy’s situation, so be it, he’d use it. But his gut told him Holly was exactly who she said she was: a woman out for a little sexual adventure.

Although, part of him had a hard time believing Holly couldn’t have a date every night of the week if she chose. Especially since she spent nights surrounded by eager men.

Then again, Nick could see why hotsy-totsy Mistress Christmas intimidated most guys. They probably assumed she had so many offers they didn’t bother to make one.

Luckily, he didn’t have the same problem.

Nick plunked down the extra cash for an executive suite —with a whirlpool hot tub, complimentary champagne, and a California king-sized bed. The room even boasted a fully decorated Christmas tree.

Damn. Maybe Holly wouldn’t want a reminder of her job.

Nothing he could do about it now. He kicked off his boots and wondered if it’d be crass to put the condoms and stuff on the nightstand by the bed.

No, it’d be crass if you spread them out all over the room where you hoped to take her—the mattress, by the chair, the back of the couch, on the counter in the bathroom, or the lip of the hot tub.

Yeah, that’d freak her out. He left the unopened box on the nightstand.

Nick checked the time on his cell phone again. Thirty-two minutes had passed since they’d parted ways at IHOP. She claimed she didn’t need that much time. What if she’d changed her mind?

A rap sounded on the door, followed by the soft click of the lock disengaging. A shaft of light cut through the darkened room across the gray carpet.

Holly shut the door behind her and took a couple steps into the room and froze.

He froze.

They stared at each other over the five feet separating them.

“I was afraid you’d changed your mind,” he said softly.

“I almost did.” Her eyes searched his face. “I’m out of my element. I had no earthly idea when I propositioned you what I’m supposed to do once I’m actually standing here.”

“Take off your clothes.”

She blinked. “Seriously? Now? Just like that?”

“Yep.”

“But—” She paused. “That’s what you want, Nick? A striptease?”

“No.” His hungry gaze swept her head to toe. “I’d rather tear your clothes off myself and fuck you hard and fast against the door, so I can take you slow and easy the second time on the bed. The third time is a toss-up between screwing you in the hot tub or bending you over the chair. But a striptease never crossed my mind.”

She swallowed hard but she never looked away.

“Fair is fair, Holly. Now you tell me how you want it.”

“Like that. Up against the door. My fantasy is you’re so crazed to have me you can’t wait another second.”

“Not a fantasy, a reality.” Nick’s hands were in her hair and his mouth smashed hers before she took her next breath.

God, she tasted good. Sweet and hot. As he kissed her he herded her toward the door. He reached for the purse straps dangling from her fingertips. Change jangled and a thud echoed as he carelessly threw her purse by the desk.

Holly moaned.

Nick unbuttoned her coat and slid it off her shoulders, tossing it aside. His fingers traced the center of her body down to the bottom of her sweater. “Lift up,” he urged.

She raised her arms and the woolen tunic crackled with static as he jerked it over her head. Her long-sleeved T-shirt followed.

He smoothed her flyaway hair and whispered, “There’s some serious electricity between us, isn’t there, darlin’?”