Page 7 of A Christmas Kiss

“How do you do that?” Maddox said, letting out a deep, cleansing breath. “I’ve been trying to think of a way to extricate myself since they roped me into their conversation.”

“You overthink it,” Emma smiled, taking his hand as she led him toward the dance floor. When his hand tightened on hers, she felt the familiar heat go through her, along with something else. She could feel his tension lessening.

It had always intrigued her how someone so charismatic and successful could be so bad in social situations.

That’s why he never stays long…

The revelation was like a lightning bolt. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to be there or because he had something better to do. It was too stressful.

“Do you think they know how unsettling I find all of this?”

It was Emma’s turn to squeeze his hand. “No. You hide your anxiety under a very thick layer of confidence.”

Maddox took Emma in his arms, amazed again at how she always understood him. How she could pick up on his moods when everyone else was oblivious. His hand still held hers; the other found the indentation just above the swell of her hips. He’d fantasized about that particular spot for years, the mere idea of stroking the soft swell with his tongue helping him find relief in the shower on many lonely nights, only to go to bed and feel the deep, searing yearning to have Emma there next to him.

He was damnably frustrated. But tonight, he intended to do something about his situation, one way or another. Losing Emma as a friend would be the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, but living without her as a lover was no longer an option.

He settled her against him, enjoying the feel of her lush curves pressed against his hardness. For the moment, it was enough. But later…

“Emma?”

“Hmm?” She looked up at him through half-closed eyes, lost in the feel of him. For once, she allowed her body to totally relax against him. If this night ended badly, if he rejected her as a lover, she wanted to keep the memories of what it felt like to be held like this—like a woman and not just as a friend.

“I’ve been thinking about us and how we’ve been together so long and….”

“Hey, you two are under the mistletoe.”

The sharp intrusion burst the happy little bubble she’d allowed herself to slip into and roused Emma from her stupor. She was fully alert to Maddox’s low curse and somewhat relieved that he seemed to feel as upset as she was about the interruption.

“Kiss her, man.” Someone yelled.

“Emma, I’m sorry….”

“Don’t worry about it.” Emma tried to extricate herself from Maddox’s arms, embarrassed at herself for daydreaming about a future with him when it seemed he couldn’t even bring himself to kiss her.

Was the thought really so repugnant to him?

“No,” Maddox stopped her when she tried to pull away. “Dammit, Emma, I didn’t want our first kiss to be in front of a crowd.”

“Oh,” was all Emma could manage as she tried to process his words.Our first kiss…

Did that mean he wanted more?

She certainly did.

And the crowd didn’t matter to her. She’d kiss Maddox anywhere.

Everywhere.

He was the one that didn’t like crowds.

With a smile, she stood on her tiptoes, looped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips to his.

The crowd cheered.

Maddox groaned and deepened the kiss to a level her inexperience didn’t allow.

Emma was lost.

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