Page 19 of Sleigh Rides With St. Nick

I held his gaze."If I had a drink right now, I'd pick it up and very slowly take a sip without taking my eyes off yours," I said."And then I'd do this."I swiped my tongue across my bottom lip.

His eyes darkened as he watched, and he stepped forward, his intentions written all over his face.

I placed a hand on his chest, feeling the racing heartbeat beneath.There should be a lot of thoughts in my mind right now, but the only thing there was how much I wanted him to kiss me.How much I almost needed it.

My gaze slipped to his lips and my own parted, an invitation that I hoped he was going to take.The air thickened around us, but he didn't move.It only took me a moment to realise that I was going to have to be the one to make the first move.He knew what was at stake for me, and I had to be the one to make the decision.

It was reckless, foolish, and all kinds of other things I didn't normally consider myself to be, but there was really no helping it.

I leaned in and pressed my lips against his.

The gesture unlocked something within him, and he threaded his fingers through my hair, deepening the kiss.It was raw and powerful, full of all the things he wanted to do to me, and all of the things I wanted to do back.

He pulled back, checking my face to make sure that I was okay.

I nodded, not wanting to break the moment.In fact, I wished there weren't so many people here and that we could sneak off somewhere.Somehow, I didn't think that would be possible when Nick was the host.

"I've been thinking about that all evening," he murmured.

"Me too."I trailed a hand over his chest."I'm not sure it was enough."

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through me pleasantly."It definitely wasn't."He captured my lips with his again, pushing me back against the wall and caging me there.If I was honest, there was a part of me that didn't even care that there were other people in the room outside, I wanted this moment to last so much longer.

A bell sounded from within the room, and we broke apart."That's my signal to give a toast."His disappointment was easy to read on his face.

I nodded, not really knowing what to say to that.

"This will be continued," he promised.

I swallowed hard."Yes."

"Good."He lingered a moment longer but then pulled away to return to the main room.

I let out a shaky breath and headed to the bar to get a couple of drinks.If he was going to give a toast, then I wanted to hear him do it.

I thanked the bartender and went back to where Laila was sitting, setting down one of the glasses in front of her.

She raised an eyebrow."I'm impressed there's actually a drink."

"There's going to be a toast," I said.

"And how would you know that?"

"Nick told me."

"Was that before or after you kissed him?"The knowing twinkle in her eyes made it hard to deny.

"What?How did you know?"

"You didn't reapply your lipstick."

"Oh."I reached my fingers to touch my lips, looking over to where Nick was retaking his seat.His gaze met mine and my breath caught even just thinking about it.

"Must have been some kiss," Laila murmured.

"It was good," I said."But that's all it was.A kiss."Or two.

"Mmm.For now."

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