Page 97 of Noel Secrets
“Stop?” He arched an eyebrow.
Addie stepped back and his arms dropped to his side. “Stop giving me all these longing looks. Stop being so kind and great to be around. Stop making me want to kiss you and be with you.”
His eyes widened. “Addie,” he murmured, stepping back in. He didn’t touch her, but his proximity and the heat from his body and his delicious scent all clouded her mind. It reminded her of those first two encounters when they had eaten banana pudding but she had left after a few minutes. He’d jumped in front of her and hadn’t touched her, but his presence had seemed to surround her.
“You want to kiss me?” he whispered.
“Yes!” The word ripped from her without her permission.
She’d forgotten how quickly Price could move. One second they were close but not actually touching. It wasn’t even afraction of a second later he had his arms around her, lifting her up close to him, and his mouth was devouring hers.
Addie had never felt or experienced anything like this kiss. Price poured all the longing she’d seen in his eyes into this desperate frenzy of a kiss. She was completely lost in him, his touch, and his marvelous lips. She had never felt so needed, so desired, so loved.
The kiss took on a life of its own, and Addie knew she never wanted to leave Price’s arms or have his mouth release hers. He captivated her, body and soul. He was hungry for her and wanted her to stay close for the rest of their lives.
Finally, he slowed the kisses down and pulled back just a fraction. He rested his forehead against hers and cupped her face with his large palms. “Addie … I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
His words yanked her from the bliss of his all-encompassing and ravenous kiss to the stark reality of what was happening. Price was her bodyguard and should never have kissed her. This was actually the first time he’d kissed her. The other times, she’d instigated and he’d responded magnificently, but this kiss had been a new level of joy and commitment.
Then he dared to apologize?
“No,” she gritted out, yanking away from him and running into the wall behind her. “Don’t you dare apologize to me. How could you? Kissing me like that, then saying you’re sorry? No!”
Addie whirled and ran into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. How could he? She paced the room, trying to calm down and trying to forget how incredible that kiss had been.
For him to say he was sorry… For what? Kissing her or everything else that had happened? Either way, it made her furious. Probably more furious if he was apologizing for kissing her but truly he had no right to kiss her. Things weren’t right between them, and she didn’t trust him.
Finally, she sank to her knees and prayed and prayed, trying to turn it all over to her Savior. She was sick of all the anger stirring inside her. She needed to figure out a way to forgive Price so she could let the anger go, but dating or kissing again wasn’t possible. There was no way she could let him in and trust him again. Not after the lies and betrayal of thinking he was interested when he was being paid to protect her.
Touching her mouth, she let out a groan of longing.
Never kissing Price again? That was one of the worst punishments she could imagine.
Chapter Eighteen
The next morning, Price was still stewing. He’d been trying to apologize for everything, but obviously Addie didn’t appreciate his apology. It was especially ill-timed after he lost all control and kissed her as if she were his entire world, his happiness, and his future. That could’ve been true if he hadn’t messed it all up. His ex-wife would not be surprised at all that he was ruining things with Addie. He kneeled and prayed for help, then showered and got ready for the day, wondering what this Christmas Eve would bring.
At seven he was making a veggie, bacon, and egg skillet in the kitchen when footsteps came from upstairs. He froze. Would Addie’s anger have abated? Would they ever be able to talk this through? He shut off the burner and walked into the main living room.
Addie descended the stairs. She looked beautiful in a red sweater dress. Wringing her hands together, she bravely met his gaze. “I’ve been praying since our … interaction last night.”
Price’s gut twisted. She could write off the best kiss of his life as an ‘interaction’, but her praying was a good sign. Could God want them together? If Price was His only priority, He would,but the good Lord would do what was best for Addie as well, and Price had no idea what that might be.
“I can’t hold this anger in my heart any longer,” she continued. “It’s eating me up. It’s Christmas Eve. My gift to the Savior and to myself is that I forgive you for lying to me and betraying my trust.”
Price’s eyes widened. She forgave him. Happiness surged through him. “That’s a gift to me,” he managed.
“I forgive you,” she said slowly, holding his gaze, “but I still can’t trust you.”
He nodded, feeling the dig, but he had no idea how to heal the breach.
“Please stop giving me all these longing looks.”
“I am still your bodyguard, so I need to check on you constantly.”
“That is not the way a bodyguard looks at his protection detail.”
Price shrugged. What could he say? She was right. Would she ever believe how much more she meant to him?
