Page 449 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
He took a small step forward, closing the two feet of space between us. “I’m thinking about how much fun I’ve had with you and how glad I am that you’re here right now.”
The air in my lungs froze, and I squeaked, “you are?”
“Definitely. And I’m thinking about our kiss last night.”
The buzz in the tips of my fingers migrated to my lips and other parts of my body—more sensitive parts. I could feel my nipples against the padding of my bra. My panties were suddenly very obviously wet. “Um,” I stammered. Why was he saying all these things?
“I know that I’m your boss, Tinsel. I know that there are boundaries. But I also know how badly you wanted that kiss in the hot tub, and I know how badly I wanted more. If you can’t or don’t want to, I’ll understand. But I need you to tell me right now.”
I didn’t know what to say.
I stared at him, and he stared calmly back at me, and all the while I grappled with the thoughts racing around my head and the blood rushing to all the parts of my body screaming for him to touch me.
“Everything will change,” I whispered.
He nodded and took another small step forward. “Yes, it will.”
The lights on the tree glittered in his eyes, and I searched them for a trace of the old Chadwick I used to know. I saw it there—the humor, the teasing, the cockiness, the player—but I also saw new parts of him that I now knew he hid from others. He was a genuine man with a big heart. He’d proven it when he rushed to help strangers after the car accident.
“Change is almost always a good thing,” I said.
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take.” He hooked his finger in the waistband of the sweatpants he’d given me this morning and pulled me against him.
I stumbled forward and braced myself with both hands pressed to his chest. I could feel how strong he was, and before I realized what I was doing my hands moved of their own volition, exploring the swell of his chest, his shoulders, the muscles on his upper arms, and his bare forearms, exposed from rolling up the sleeves of his Henley.
“I… I think I’m willing to take a chance on you too.”
That seemed to be all he needed to hear.
His lips crashed into mine, and the hesitancy that had been there last night in the hot tub was gone. Chadwick’s hands slid up inside my sweater. Several fingers slid under the band of my bra and slid around my ribs to my back. He snapped the bra undone with an effortless flick of his wrist, and I tried not to think about how many women had come before me.
An experienced man would at least know what he was doing, right?
While his mouth consumed mine, he turned me around and backed me up toward the fire, where several unused towels lay on the floor that we didn’t end up needing to use to dry the tree. It wasn’t a plush or fur rug by any means like it would have been if this were a romance movie, but it would do.
With the heat of the fire at my back, I pulled my sweater off over my head.
Chadwick broke our kiss so he could trail his lips down the side of my neck, across my chest, and lower still, where he peppered my cleavage with more kisses that set my skin on fire. I let my bra straps slip from my shoulders, and it fell away completely. Chadwick made a satisfied sound in the back of his throat before cupping both of my breasts in each hand and feeling me.
He took his time savoring and exploring me. I felt like a goddess, powerful and desired, but completely at his mercy. He looked up, his face nestled between my breasts, and a coy smile touched his eyes. I ran my fingers through his hair and pushed him down.
He went to his knees.
My pulse raced and my muscles ached for him as he pulled my sweatpants down. I stepped out of them and my panties, too. Completely naked in front of the fire before him, he looked up at me in a way no man had ever looked at me before. Then, without words, he put a hand behind my knee and gently guided my foot from the floor. He leaned forward and draped my leg over his shoulder. I kept my balance on one foot, and he supported me with a hand on the back of my thigh. With bated breath, I watched him settle between my thighs.
His tongue flicked across my clit, and I gasped.
The lights of the trees blurred in my vision as he tasted me. His movements were intentional and steady. He teased me with his tongue until I was swollen and dripping, easing a finger inside of me only once I was ready. I moaned, and so did he. The sound sent a shiver down my spine. I raked my fingers through his hair, those glorious tousled brown curls, and tightened my hand into a fist. He smiled against my flesh, and I relished the pleasure he so effortlessly gave to me.
My leg began to shake when it all became too much, and Chadwick smoothly pulled me down to him. We crashed together for another kiss while he lowered me down on the towels. On my back with him leaning over me, I reached down and undid the fly of his jeans. He let me struggle to desperately pull his pants down over his hips and chuckled softly against my lips.
“Let me help you. But first.” He paused and pulled something out of his pocket. A condom. Good thing one of us was prepared because I might have plunged into the deep end without thinking about the consequences.
I needed him too badly to think.
He put the condom on the hearth of the fireplace and shoved his jeans down around his knees. His boxers were skintight, dark gray, and left little to the imagination. I felt him over the spandex material, rock hard, and just as big as I’d expected.
My eager smile betrayed me.
