Page 84 of Holly versus Mr. Ivy
“Help, please?” Holly motioned to her coat.
“You know, a man could get used to undressing you.” I stepped as close as possible to Holly while still giving myself room to get her coat off. Tension and heat boiled between us like a raging flow of lava. I took the opportunity to trail my hands across her shoulders and down her arms as I helped her out of her down jacket. I loved the softness of her body in contrast to the sharpness of her personality.
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I pulled her into my side as we stared at the tree. I kept my voice low. “What is it about trees that is so mesmerizing?” I asked.
“I was just wondering that about you,” Holly stated.
Was she, now?“What did you conclude?”
She bumped my side with her hip. “Are you asking for a list?”
I shrugged like it was no big deal for Holly to say why she liked me. “A list, a novel? Whatever the length, I will graciously listen to your reasons. Just let me know if I need hot chocolate to settle in for the reading.”
“Your ego isn’t on there,” she deadpanned.
I chuckled. “Are you sure? Maybe Mrs. Claus had better check her list twice.”
She leaned back, staring up at me. “Maybe Mr. Claus better quit talking while he’s ahead and kiss me already.”
“So demanding,” I teased.
“You’re used to it.”
I absolutely was. Repositioning myself, we now stood facing one another. I bent down, staring into the beautiful, bright blue eyes of the woman who had given me the courage to try to love again. Trailing my fingers down her cheek, I savored this moment. How Holly’s skin felt, smooth and soft. How her big, round eyes stayed locked on mine. The silkiness of her hair as I tucked a strand behind her ear. Most of all? The pounding in my ears and the heat swirling in my stomach as I held the most precious gift I’d ever received in my hands.
“Kiss me,” she begged.
My stomach tightened in anticipation. I yanked Holly closer until our bodies connected. One of my hands wrapped around her waist and the other held the side of her neck as my mouth found hers. Electricity sparked through my nerve endings as my lips languidly brushed against Holly’s. Once. Twice. Three times. My heart, receiving the shock of energy, surged with heat, pumping wildly.
Holly’s sweet lips were soft and full. She tasted like cocoa butter and spearmint. I pressed more firmly against her mouth, needing to explore more. I wanted her lips to be as familiar to me as my own. Holly slanted her lips, parting slightly, giving me better access to taste, tease, and devour.
Holly’s arms squeezed around my waist as she drew me tighter into her. Kissing her was like experiencing Christmas morning as a child for the very first time. Excitement, love, joy, comfort, hope, anticipation—they all fought for space.
As I was about to deepen the kiss, Holly pulled back, resting her forehead against my chest.
Hey!“I was just getting started,” I complained.
Dragging in deep breaths, she said, “My heart’s about to explode. I need a minute.”
My body probably needed a cooldown itself, but I was willing to push it off for a while—a long while. “But we can do it again?”
She looked up at me. “Have I created a monster?”
If a monster meant someone who craved the feeling of this woman kissing me every second of every day, then yes. One hundred and ten percent yes. “I believe so. And you have no one to blame but yourself.”
Her chest wasn’t rising and falling as fast. Hopefully, that meant we could get back to kissing soon.
“How do you figure?” she asked.
“Sweetheart, your kisses are the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing, and we barely got started.”
Holly picked her head up, bending it back to meet my gaze. Smiling coyly, she fluttered her lashes. “Is that so?”
Bending my knees, I wrapped my arms around her waist and picked her up. Her head was level with mine. “How much time until you need to get ready for work?”
“I can spare a few minutes. Besides, my hands are out of commission. If I’m late, I doubt anyone will care since I won’t be cooking. You’re the one who needs to worry.”
Walking backward, I sank onto the couch, settling Holly into my lap. “I’m only worried about this.” I captured her lips once more.
