Page 71 of Unwrapped

I use the time he’s in the kitchen to wrap the blanket around me like a shield; hoping the soft cotton will keep him out, all the while knowing it won’t. With my legs tucked under me and my body curled into the far corner of the couch, I pretend to be engrossed in the movie instead of so in tuned to the movements of the man moving toward me.

“Here.”

He hands me a tall glass of Kahlua laced with milk and vodka on ice. I take a small sip. “Bailey’s too?”

“Just a tinge.”

“You make a damn good drink.”

“I learned from the best.”

“Roger?”

He nods. “That man practically raised me. I’d be nothing without him. Hell, I’d either be dead or doing time behind bars.”

Curious, I pause the movie and nibble on a cookie while studying him. Sure, he’s built as big as a man could come and I might be able to picture him dressed in a leather cut and on a Harley but he’s just not quite the mold. He’s wild underneath but refined on the surface. “How does a wealthy CEO living in a penthouse on the most affluent city corner of Chicago have roots to a backwoods MC?”

He sips his drink. “I tried to bury my past. Pretend it didn’t exist. But then I realized, it’s defined me. I no longer run from it. I embrace it and use it as a tool to move on. I’ll never be hungry again or live in fear the heat will go off because I can’t pay the bill.” His eyes are steely, as he recalls his past.

I place a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to reopen old wounds. I shouldn’t have pried.”

“No darlin’, you didn’t.” His lips meet mine and our tongues dances in the soft firelight. The warm flavors mixing in our mouth are fire and warmth. His kiss is surprisingly tender and thorough as it goes on and on until we’re both out of breath.

He pulls back, but stays close, placing his large forearms on the couch behind me. “I want to know why a pretty thing like you is all alone on Christmas. Why hasn’t some asshole put a ring on it yet?” He picks up my left hand, turns it over and draws lazy circles on my palm.

Laughing I take another sip of my drink, “You said it. They were all asses…,” I trail off staring into the flames of the crackling fire.

“What’s wrong?” He asks, softly, his hands still toying with the locks of my hair.

“I don’t know if I can stop myself from falling for you…”

He sighs, “Look I have a lot of things on my plate right now, even if long distance wasn’t a factor…other things in my life are. I can’t get in deep with a woman right now.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

His eyes apologize but his mouth says nothing. My hands shove him back. “Forget it. The whole thing. Keep your hands to yourself. This was a bad idea.”

“I’m glad you said so now before it was too late. Because if we became lovers I doubt either one of us would be able to stop.”

“I’ve never had a crazy, vacation fling before. Maybe it was stupid of me to think I could.”

The buzzing of his phone interrupts whatever he was about to say. He frowns as he checks who’s calling and quickly answers. “Freddie?” His voice is almost panicked as he stands away from me to lean against the mantle. “Did he hurt you? I’ll kill him. Where are you baby? I’ll leave right now and be there by morning, nothing will stop me from coming to you. You’re the most important girl in my life, baby doll.”

Tears of hurt well up and choke me. Of course, a man like him would have somebody else. Somebody else who was already in his heart. Probably some ex who misses him on Christmas. Every single person feels the sting of their relationship status the most this time of year. Whoever this Freddie woman is just stabbed me to the back without even knowing. Before he can see how hurt I am, I get off the couch, pick up my glass of wine and peer into the box of sleeping kitties before heading up to my room and bolting the door.

I stay up, watching the flames in the fire I lit in my hearth hoping he’d still come to me while hating him if he still did.

I fell asleep sometime in the late hours past midnight. Something needs to change in my life, something needs to give. I won’t be a woman who pines for approval and affection from the male sex. I crave it so bad knowing it’s because I’ve never had it before. How easy it was to fall under the bad boy’s spell who’s sleeping three doors down from me.

Finally, sleep comes, taking me away to a fantasy land where my sexy stranger reappears. This time he pins me against an old tree. We’re in a glen so green it can’t be earth. Thick moss tickles my toes as he presses me into the rough bark.

“Say you want me.”

“Yes, I moan as his lips run along the veins in my neck.”

“You’re so wet,” he moans, as his fingers delve between my thighs. The soft skin of my seam hairless and wanton, begging for more of his touch.

“Only for you. Only for you,” I moan as three digits slide in and pump in a maddening rhythm.

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