Page 17 of Second Chances with St. Nick

“I do?”

Nick nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “Yeah, you do. I’m here for you, but you need to decide if you wantmetonight.”

I swallowed, a burn spreading up through my chest. “Want what?” I squeaked. I mean, I’d take whatever he offered right now, but a little clarification wouldn’t go amiss.

Nick let go of my hands and ran his palms up my thighs, nudging my robe a little higher. “Santa might have a gift for you.”

He threw me a wink, and I had to giggle. It was like all the barriers; all the regret and guilt of the last ten years had fallen away. Even after all I’d done, Nick was here with me.Forme. Offering me anything I desired.

I took his face in my hands. “I want you. More than you know. But I’m not sure I’m built for leather.”

Nick ran his eyes over the couch then leaned down and kissed the inside of my knee. The touch of his lips and the scrape of his beard sent a shiver up my thigh, and I sucked in a breath.

“On the bed, then?” he asked.

I gave him a smile and shrugged. “If you’re offering.”

With a throaty chuckle, he got to his feet and bent to scoop me up. Held tight against his warm skin, I brought my lips to his chest. Even after all the years I’d known him, I never imagined that one day I’d kiss his naked skin. Not like this. With a sigh, I threaded my arms around his neck, and he leaned down to kiss the top of my head.

Nick carried me to the bed and laid me down gently. The thrum of my heartbeat echoed in my ears as he joined me on the mattress. Within a second, he pulled me to rest on top of him. All the breath left my lungs at the hardness of his body beneath me, his sheer size. With his enormous torso, I’d need supplemental oxygen to survive the night.

Fully intending to discover every inch of him, I leaned over, pressing my mouth to his chest. With my fingers, then with my tongue, I traced the outline of his tattoos—exploring his skin like braille. He felt so good under my hands, hot and hard. When he tipped his head in pure delight, I couldn’t contain my smile.

“I want you, too,” he whispered, tangling his fingers in the hair at the nape of my neck. My heart skipped a little at his words, and the heat at my core ignited into a full-on blaze.

I nipped at his skin with my teeth, gently teasing. He slowly drew his hands down my back. Cupping my buttocks, he pulled me into him, fierce and hard.

A bolt of pure pleasure swept through my body. At this rate, I’d be coming like a freight train before we even started. I had to slow things down. Take a breath. I wanted to enjoy Nick. Lock our kisses away in my memory banks for lonely nights when I returned to California. There was no need to rush.

With superhuman restraint, I sat up, resting my hands on his abs. “I have to ask. Do you meet women in hotels often?” My voice was tight and thin.

A flash of teeth revealed his smile. “You know what they say about Santa only coming once a year? Christmas Eve is the only time I get to play. I need to make the most of my night.”

I grinned and shook my head slowly, running my nails over the indentations of the muscles on his stomach. Across the planes of his chest. Nick pushed up with one arm to join me. With his other hand, he moved my robe aside, exposing one of my breasts. Leaning in, he took my nipple into his mouth, bitingme gently. Not hard, but playful. When I gasped, he pulled me back down on top of him and as the two of us melted into the mattress, I dug my nails into his shoulders.

With a growl, he arced against me. I flicked my eyebrows and reached down to work on his zipper. Nick shifted, giving me room to move. I nudged the heavy velvet down, and a glorious wave of wantonness swept over me. Pressed so close against him now—with his breath hot on my skin, I felt like a goddess. Divine, powerful, and beautiful.

Slowly, I released him from his pants and took his solid length in my hand.

“Abbie,” he groaned as I worked my hand along his length, teasing him. Giving him everything, then taking it away, again and again, until his breath came in heavy gasps.

“I need to be inside you,” he said, his voice hoarse and hard. “Do you want that?”

“Yes,” I said, trying in vain to control my breathing. I was a mess, and only the feel of Nick, and his arms wrapped around me, would put me back together.

Whispering words I couldn’t even process, he turned me over, brushing his lips over mine. “I promise I’ll be right back.”

I lay alone in the gloom, tugging my robe around my body. Nick reached for something beside the bed, and I pulled in the smell of smoke from the fire. After a long beat, a tearing of foil mixed with our fast breath. Thank goodness he’d come armed and dangerous. I didn’t like his chances of rustling up a condom at the hotel reception.

After a long beat, he rolled back toward me. He’d kicked off his trousers, and his skin glowed in the firelight. As he settled at my side, he rested an elbow on the mattress, head in his palm.

I glanced down. “Wow, you reallydohave everything you need in your sack.”

He grinned, moving his lips to behind my ear. “I need to be ready for action. You never know who you might meet by the chimney.” With a chuckle, he kissed the tip of my nose.

Nick took my hand, cradling it in his, and kissed my mouth softly. Slowly. Like he was savoring my taste. We were close enough I could focus on his hazel eyes and as they met with mine, a burn of embers filled them. Staying close, Nick pushed my robe open. His fingers trembled as he peeled it away.

He took me in, his breath catching as I smiled. This beautiful man wanted me—desired me. He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, trailing his fingers over my throat. Under his touch, my skin prickled with a thousand goosebumps. The heat of the fire and the hunger in his eyes mixed with the chill in the air, setting every nerve on high alert.

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