Page 156 of Season of Seduction

When they were in the doorway to the small bedroom, he pointed up, then kissed her so thoroughly she saw twinkling stars.

“Mistletoe,” he said, grinning, pointing up again. And when they stepped into the room, she saw the twinkling stars were actually lights on a small, decorated tree in the corner of the bedroom. “This isn’t going to make you burst into flames or anything, is it? This Christmas stuff?”

She couldn’t help it. She laughed, shoving his chest. “You’re a nut. No, I won’t spontaneously combust. Truth be told, I’m always a little jealous this time of year. I love Christmas decorations.”

“Good thing.”

He was right. This room was seriously decorated for Christmas. Red flannel sheets and a fluffy white down comforter on the log-post bed, a small fireplace with stockings hung from the mantel. Whoever had decorated it had set the Christmas scene perfectly. “It’s lovely.”

He rolled his eyes. “I went to college with the park ranger who lives here year round, and I told him I was bringing you with me. I’d bet good money this was his wife’s doing. This cabin is usually pretty generic, which has always been fine with me. but I find myself grateful for the change, if only because of the happy look on your face. Even if I’m not the one who put it there.”

This was only the third time she’d seen him less than completely self-assured. The first time had been last night, when she’d moved away from him to the sofa and he’d been confused. The second time had been earlier this afternoon, when she’d told him she’d felt like she had no choice about coming with him.

And now.

She smiled. “At the risk of making you insufferable, you are the one who put the content look there. I’m happy to be here with you, period. The setting is just icing on the cake.”

His face transformed from fun-loving to intense in the blink of an eye. He backed her into a corner up against the log walls and leaned so close a piece of tinsel from the tree couldn’t fit between them. She felt surrounded on all sides, the cool wood of the wall against her back and Jeremy’s big body against her front. Both the wall and Jeremy were unyielding and hard, but his hardness vibrated with life and gave off skin-searing heat. He swiveled his hips, giving her body a long, gliding stroke with his. When he eased the pressure and retreated, she grasped his hips with her hands and tried to pull him back.

“Greedy kitten.” He dipped his head and licked the side of her throat. “I like that you want me this bad, but who’s in charge here?”

She banged her head against the wall, her heart thudding in tandem. She didn’t let herself think about it, just answered, and was nearly as surprised with the unhesitating result as he was. “You are. Please.”

A slow smile crossed his face. “I love the look on your face right now. Aroused, unsure but certain at the same time, desperate.” He slid a hand from where it rested on her waist up her torso until it covered her neck.

Her eyes fluttered closed as he stroked the side of her throat with his thumb, and her head fell forward. In reaction, his fingers squeezed gently, and it felt utterly possessive. She let out a whimper she couldn’t have held back if her life depended on it. She was so lost in the amazing feelings rushing through her body she almost missed the rest of his words.

“Look at you, head bowed, letting me hold you in place with my hand.” He rubbed his thumb over her throat again, then squeezed his fingers again for a long moment. She couldn’t breathe but didn’t know if it was from the pressure of his hand or from the words he stroked against her mind and soul. “So fucking submissive, babe, I could come in my jeans right now.”

In the only functioning cell she had left in her brain, she thought briefly that she still didn’t love the word submissive because it smacked of weakness to her, but it was patently obvious that wasn’t how Jeremy saw it. And then she stopped thinking, because he loosened his grip and started kissing her.

He ran his hands down her arms, lacing his fingers with hers, and then he lifted her hands above her head, settling them against the curved logs. “Leave them there. Don’t take them down until I tell you to.”

She nodded, and then he stepped back.

She could just see herself in the mirror over the dresser. Her hair was a curly, sweaty mess around her flushed face. And with the way he’d positioned her arms, her breasts were thrust out. She felt restless and itchy under her skin, as though her need for him was a living thing. She thought she looked a wreck, but the heat in Jeremy’s eyes said otherwise.

“You look like one of Santa’s helpers in that red sweater.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Hello, Jewish girl here. And you seem to have this thing for elves.”

“More like presents, really.” He reached out and opened the first button on the sweater. “Opening them is my favorite part.” The second button gave way with a flick of his fingers. “But I like to take my time unwrapping them.”

Her chest heaved as she sucked a breath into her suddenly empty lungs, but she didn’t have enough oxygen to speak. She watched him watching her, his gaze intent on the next button.

It slipped free with the tiniest of nudges, and then she could see the edge of her bra. So could he.

“Lace your fingers behind your head.”

She brought her arms down and did as he ordered. “I feel like a suspect.”

“Well, I am going to frisk you.” His eyes roved over her body, lingering on her chest before moving up to her face. “You’re fucking beautiful, Rebeccah.”

“I’m not.”

“You are. I imagined you dressed like a pin-up girl more times than I should probably admit.” His hands landed on her hips and then swept over her body in a long caress, opening the rest of the buttons and pushing the sweater out of the way, ending with his palms on her breasts. “And these. Stuff wet dreams are made of. This is one hell of a sexy bra, too. Red sweater, green lace bra. I guess you’re right about what I like, kitten. Here you are, my very own Christmas elf.”

Even though his hot hands were making it hard for her to think

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