Page 53 of A Real Man for Christmas

“Are you injured?”

He groaned. “Only my pride that you were able to do that.”

“I had momentum going for me. Now lie still.”

“Is this some weird reverse fairy-tale thing where I have to pretend I’m dead, and you awaken me with a kiss?”

“No, but we’ll save that idea for later.” I pushed my hair out of my face and wrapped it around my hand to keep it from coming between us. “Why? Does that happen to you a lot?”

“I wish!”

“Do you?”

“Really wish that? No. I’m just messing with you.”

I inched my face closer. “Well shut up so I can start all the kissing.”

“Promises, promises. Who’s stopping you? My lunch is getting cold over there. And melted.”

“I thought you wanted me to kiss you.”

“And I thought you didn’t want to talk. Like I said, I am open to the experiment. But apparently you’re having trouble closing the deal.”

“Don’t you worry. I’ll get my coffee.”

“What does that mean?”

“Coffee is for closers,” I whispered.

“Glengarry Glen Ross?”

I smashed his lips with mine before he even finished saying the title. A man who got my movie references was irresistible, experiment or no.

The moment our lips met, the passion of last night reignited the bonfire. It was like we’d never stopped. I let go of my hair, and he wrapped his hand in it. I stroked his cheek with soft fingers, and he tugged his hand holding my hair, urging me closer, closer, even though I was already plastered against him.

I pulled back, panting, and rolled off him to lie flat on the bed. “One!” I counted, throwing a finger into the air.

He turned on his side and propped his head on his hand. “One what?”

“In my head, just now, I gave myself three kisses to get past this.” I waved a hand between us.

The amused glint sparked in his eyes. “How’s that working out for you?”

“Yeah, it didn’t work. Time for take two.” I leaned up to place my lips against his.

He lowered his head and shifted his weight so now I was lying on the bed just short of the pillows, and he was half on top of me. I threaded my fingers through his short hair as his tongue caressed mine. I moaned and my belly did a flip. He chuckled and nipped my bottom lip with his teeth. I scooted backward, breaking the kiss. I stood up from the bed.

“Take two was a complete failure, obviously,” I lectured as I struggled to steady my breath. “In our defense, we were vertically challenged so gravity played too big a part in pulling us together. Here. Get up.” I tugged on his arm, and the rest of him reluctantly followed. “Good. Just stand there and kiss me properly, and kiss number three will be a complete success and so incredibly boring it will wipe out the memory of any and all prior kisses.”

He wrapped me in his arms and pulled me against him. He kissed me hard and held me there until I could feel every hard muscle, every smooth plane, every warm surface of his body against mine.

I drank him in. Tasted. Savored. Then I ripped myself away. I smoothed my skirt which had ridden up, and I stood up straight and pushed my shoulders back.

“Thank you,” I said. “That was immensely helpful. I was completely right, and that was a very commonplace, unevocative kiss. Not at all interesting. Not worth pursuing. I’m thrilled this experiment has been brought to such a successful conclusion.”

I turned for the door.

“Margot, wait. It’s not over—”

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