Page 45 of A Festive Surprise

‘I really like you, jamilati.’

Holly continued her exploration of his chest, rolling her palm across it. ‘Farid.’

He turned to face her and she moved her fingers to his cheek.

‘You’re so lovely. I thought it the second I saw you. If you hadn’t thrown that elf suit at me, I might have grabbed you on the doorstep of Georgia’s house.’

He let out a brief laugh. ‘Always so naughty.’

‘That’s what you do to me. You make me lose my cool. You turn me to mush. I’m not sure if you came to any conclusions when you were thinking yesterday. But that’s my tuppence worth.’

‘What?’

‘Another silly phrase. It’s just my opinion. We both make each other behave like lust-filled teenagers.’

He snorted a short laugh. ‘And get caught like them too.’

‘That woman probably thought we were some annoying tourists and she’ll have forgotten about it by now.’

‘You take it much better than me.’

‘Only because I know what it’s like dealing with humiliation.’

‘Oh, jamilati, I didn’t mean for you to—’

She held her finger to his lips. ‘I’m joking.’ He took hold of her finger and pulled it away, then leaned forward and placed one of his impossibly soft kisses on her cheek, missing her mouth by millimetres. What a tease. ‘Farid.’ Her words fell like a whisper as she chased his mouth.

‘I want us to be together but I want it to be right.’

‘Not a grope in the dark on a bench in the back garden then?’

‘A kiss under the stars at Christmas might work.’ He wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer and their lips met again; soft at first. But Holly wasn’t patient. Control. She fought to keep that thought in her head as her hands slid up his body inside his jacket. Take it easy.

He pulled back and stroked her face before placing a series of gentle kisses on her cheek. ‘You don’t like going slow, do you?’

‘Sorry, is it that obvious?’

‘Yes. But I want you to have everything and not feel… used.’

‘I don’t feel that at all. That was the perfect Christmas kiss.’

He arched his eyebrow. ‘Really?’

‘Yes.’ She knelt on the bench, making herself taller than him, peeled back his jacket collar and dipped her head to kiss his neck. He groaned and she smiled into the kiss. Energy surged through her and she carried on, kissing down his throat, pulling the neckline of his shirt and going for his shoulder. ‘Now, please, can I open my Christmas present?’

‘Do you mean me?’

‘Of course I do. You really are all I want for Christmas.’

‘Then, jamilati, I’m yours.’ He smoothed her hair. ‘There’s no one like you.’ He leaned up and kissed her, holding her face. Electric heat poured from him, leaving Holly breathless. ‘I give myself to you.’ He rested his forehead on her neck and hugged her.

‘Let’s go inside. I’ll take whatever you’ve got and you can do what you like with me.’

His arms gripped her tight, almost crushing her. ‘All I want to do with you is make you happy.’

‘I’ll take it. It sounds amazing.’

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