Chapter 106

His hand slid slowly up her thigh, gathering a fistful of cashmere as he went, bunching it at her hip. He found a silky thigh and a lace stocking top under the soft wool. “Merry Christmas to me” he murmured as he pushed the dress slightly higher before dropping it and drawing her from the door to the living room.


Letting her go he picked up a remote from the end table and with the flick of a couple of buttons, the tree was lit and the soft wail of a jazzy holiday saxophone floated through the room. Turning back to her he stopped and just stared. Her dress was in a puddle on the floor at her feet; she was a vision in black silk and lace.


Crossing to her, his jacket joined her dress on the floor. He ran his fingertips slowly up her arms, drawing small circles on her shoulders. The light from the tree was throwing rainbows and light across her silky skin. His lips brushed hers, just a whisper of a kiss. “I wanted to do the unwrapping myself.”


Nimble fingers worked the buttons of his shirt. “I saved the best parts for you.”


He let her slide the shirt from his shoulders. As it fluttered to the floor in the ever growing pile he slid his arms around her waist. His lips grazed hers and he turned them in a slow circle. He was in no hurry tonight. There had been enough rushing around in the last few weeks.


She had been going nonstop between her treatments and the holiday rush for sweets and treats. He hadn’t been much better what with going back and forth to Philadelphia, meetings with Habitat and Project H.O.M.E. and the urge to write had been so strong lately that he’d been talking with Richie nearly every day. There hadn’t been much time for “them”. But not tonight. Tonight was all about them.


Stepping back he turned and eased her down onto the wide sofa, pushing the throw pillows to the floor. Calloused fingertips caressed the soft skin that threatened to spill over the cups of her bra. Soft, eager lips followed, tasting in the wake of his fingers.


She trembled under him. Her skin seemed to sing with each lingering touch. She wanted him like she had their first time. Her hands slid up smooth strong shoulders. Shoulders that bore the weight of the world some days; shoulders that held her up more than anyone ever had before. Tangling her fingers into his hair she tugged his head up. Her lips brushed against his, nipping at his bottom lip. Their mouths came together. There was comfort in the kiss and, as the kiss spun out, there was fire. He always managed to give her both.


Her whimper when he pulled his mouth away turned to a purr when he found the stiff kernel of her nipple through the midnight silk. Feeling a hand slip under her she raised her shoulders and he flicked her bra open with one hand. The silk and lace landed somewhere behind him and he cupped the soft mound, brushing his thumb back and forth across the hardened tip.


Shifting under him, she raised her knee along his hip, cradling him between her thighs. He was so hard against her. She pressed up against him, silently searching for the release that was just out of reach. Her hands slid over his amazing ass and around to his belt. Easing his pants open she reached inside, taking him in her hand. Hot and hard, soft and silky. All for her.


She stroked him with purpose, intent on making him as crazy as he was making her. When she let him go to push at his pants he stopped her.


“Not yet baby.”


“But…”


His mouth captured hers before she could finish her thought. His hand slid under her again, cupping her butt before slipping inside and pushing at her panties. Sitting back on his feet he slid the scrap of lace off and stroked her stocking encased leg. His lips cruised along the inside of her leg, nipping lightly at the inside of her knee. He could feel her trembling as his tongue traveled higher. He wanted her to be ready, had to be sure she was ready.


He moved slowly, stroking his fingers up the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. Her hips bucked at the first intimate touch. “Shh” he whispered against her. His tongue slid higher, worrying the little knot that was standing proud, just waiting for him. Dipping his fingers into her he was pleasantly surprised to find that she was more than ready for him.


She arched off the couch as the wave rolled through her. Her earlier preparations had been unnecessary. She could feel for herself just how ready she was for him. “Jonny, please” she begged on a near sob. She didn’t want to wait any longer. She had to have him inside her. Now.


Standing, he added his pants to the pile on the floor and moved back over her. His groan of relief matched hers as he flexed his hips and slowly buried himself inside her. This was all he had wanted for Christmas. There was nothing on her face but pleasure, nothing in her eyes but the ecstasy of having him as close to her as he could possibly be. He moved slowly, savoring every sigh and purr he drew from her. Dipping his head his lips found hers. He kissed her as slowly as he moved his hips. He wanted to draw out every bit of pleasure for her that he could.


When he felt her tighten around him again, he pulled her knee higher on his hip and held her closer, letting her drain him of everything he had.


Slipping to his side, he stayed tangled with her. He pulled the blanket from the back of the couch over them as he cradled her against him. “I love you” he whispered as they drifted.