Page 25 of Merry Kissmas

His green eyes that drew me in that first night shine like the North Star, and my defenses crumble.“Okay then.”

“But Brynn.”He stands.His height is one thing I loved about him.The way his body sheltered mine when he pressed me to the door.“I have nothing to fear now.I made the mistake of letting you slip out of my grasp once.I’m not making the same mistake twice.”

My pulse skyrockets.“We can’t.”

“Why not?”

I pick up my suitcase, put it on the luggage holder, and turn my back to him because if I have to look at him, I might not say it.“There is not a second chance for us.”

“Give me a reason.”I hear his footsteps walk closer to me.

“I don’t even know you.”

“We can change that.”His breath floats over my bare neck.

“I’m not looking for just sex.My vibrator gets the job done just fine.”

He chuckles, and I close my eyes to gain my bearings.

“Turn around, Brynn,” he says softly.

“What?”I circle around and straighten my back, crossing my arms.

“We both know you aren’t satisfied with your vibrator.The sex between us was something I’ve never experienced before or since.I bet it’s been the same for you.So, I’ll give you a little bit of space, but I have an entire week to prove to you that we belong together.Get ready.”

My chest tightens, and I let out a sarcastic laugh to play off how much his words affect me.“Ready for what?”

“For you to fall in love with me.”

“You’re crazy.”I laugh again and spin around, but he grabs my wrist, his thumb running over the skin on the inside.We stand in place, and he steps closer, his front to my back.

“There hasn’t been a day you haven’t crossed my mind.”

“Well, sorry, I’m not on the market.”

He frowns.“You’re not single?”

I smirk at him.“Maybe I should have been more specific.I’m not on the marketfor you.”

I shut my suitcase with my free hand, wind my wrist out of his grasp, and beeline it to the door.

Once I’m on the other side, I lean my back against the door, close my eyes, and inhale a few deep breaths of the cold air.

Seven days.

I can do anything for seven days.Even resist the only man who’s ever really had the power to hurt me.

ChapterEleven

Pierce

The sofa bed turns out to have the worst mattress I’ve ever slept on, so I toss and turn all night, listening to Brynn’s soft breathing in the dark.She’s so close that the desire to crawl in beside her and wrap my arms around her is a constant itch under my skin.

Today has been a complete whirlwind.I stare at the ceiling, trying to process that she’s here in the flesh.The one woman who has floated in and out of my mind every day since she left London.

I’m a smart man, and I don’t necessarily believe in soulmates.To many, it would sound stupid that one woman, one weekend could hold so much reverence, but that weekend was filled with magic.I can’t explain it.

But as I try to find sleep, my mind refuses to listen, and it floats to the morning after I brought her home and my desperation to make sure she didn’t leave.

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