I'll Be Yours for Christmas (13 page)

Reece wasted no time getting inside of her, pushing deep and hard, taking her in short, quick thrusts that made her arch against him. She muffled a cry of pleasure as she dug her fingers into his shoulders, hanging on. She was hot and tight around him, and he didn't care if someone did come out and catch them, he needed her too much.

He didn't think he'd ever been this aroused. He was starving for her. In fact, he never would have risked this kind of public exposure given his responsibilities to the team and his sponsors, but right now, he didn't have to worry about that.

He leaned down, bracing Abby against the wall so that he could suck a nipple through the fabric of her dress. That sent her over the edge. She sank her teeth into his shoulder as she came, holding on tight and trying to
hold back the scream that became a low keening against his neck.

He couldn't stop, either, and found her mouth, plundering it with a deep kiss as he exploded inside of her, the orgasm making his legs weak, but he rode it out, taking every last bit of pleasure she offered him.

When the moment passed, they were both sweaty, sticky and breathless. Reece heard voices coming toward them and they quickly ducked down behind the bar. Abby was illuminated in a sliver of light that angled down from the front windows, her eyes wide and sparkling, hair tousled. She covered her mouth to smother a giggle.

He pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her as the voices came closer.

It was Brody and—if he was correct—Hannah.

He felt Abby shift in his arms, she must have realized, too, and reached to see. He held her still, putting a finger to her lips until their friends moved on, and Reece heard the grumbling engine of the Charger rev to life.

“Sounds like Hannah is taking home a little Christmas cheer,” Abby said, chuckling, and Reece grinned as they both stood up, surveying the area as they fixed their clothes and emerged into the other room.

“Who was that, anyway?” she asked, threading fingers through her hair to smooth it down.

He ran his eyes over her and wanted to mess it right back up again.

“My friend Brody. Palmer,” he added.

“Like,
the
Brody Palmer?” she asked. “Are you telling me my best friend just left with
Brody Palmer?
The
one whose fan site has a poll keeping track of whether he's ridden more cars or women?”

Reece winced and opted for being straightforward.

“Yeah, that would be the one.”

Abby groaned. “I don't know whether I should call her to warn her off or congratulate her,” she said.

“You can't believe everything you hear in the media,” Reece said, chuckling.

Abby eyed him doubtfully, and he caved.

“Well, okay, when it comes to Brody, most of that is kind of true, but he's a good guy, I promise. She'll be okay with him,” he insisted.

“If you say so,” she commented, smiling, and pressed in close. She kept Hannah's comments about wishing she could find a hot guy to use for sex to herself. It looked like her friend's wish had come true.

“How about you?”

“What?” he asked, playing dumb.

“More cars or women?” she asked with a grin.

“I don't have anyone running polls, but I'm pretty sure I can say cars,” he answered, nuzzling her neck. “I'm not a saint, but I'm no Brody Palmer.”

“Thank heavens,” she said, laughing and wrapping her arms around his neck, sighing.

Bright lights flicked on and they flew apart to find a grinning, soused bride-to-be facing them. Sandra stared at them for a minute, still smiling.

“Sandra, are you okay?”

“I'm
won-fer-dul,
” she said, lurching forward to wrap her arms around Abby in a drunken hug. Abby sagged under the slack weight of the woman, who mumbled
praise about the best party ever and being so sorry she had threatened to “shoe” Abby after the fire.

“It's okay, Sandra. I knew you were just upset, and wouldn't really sue me,” Abby comforted, trying to support her weight and looking over Sandra's shoulder for help.

Reece came to her rescue, slinging one of Sandra's arms over his shoulder, bracing most of the weight as they got her to one of the fireplace chairs and gently deposited her in it.

“What are you doing with the not-so-blushing bride?” he asked with a grin.

Abby sighed. “I can find out which of her friends or sisters is most sober, and see if they can get her upstairs to her room. I have all of their car keys over at the house, so no one is going anywhere tonight. Big sleepover,” she said, chuckling, and Reece relaxed. “They have a group brunch planned for tomorrow morning, so once I get them set tonight, I'm done.”

“What can I do to help?” he asked, and she looked at him in surprise.

“You can't take care of all of this alone, and Hannah is gone for the night,” Reece pointed out.

“You're sure?” she said, and he saw the doubt in her eyes. He didn't blame her.

But now that he'd had her in his arms again, he knew that he didn't want to let her go one minute sooner than he had to.

“Absolutely. Abby, I'm sorry I was an ass last week. I guess I thought it would be easier if I put some distance between us, but it wasn't.”

“Reece,” she said on a sigh, leaning her forehead against him.

“That guy, at the Christmas tree event…did you go out with him?”

God, he felt sixteen, but he had to know.

“No. I was just trying to tick you off.”

“It worked,” he said with a grin, but then became serious again. “I didn't mean to hurt you. I just…I don't know,” he admitted, feeling foolish. “I was messed up.”

She pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips. “I know. Me, too.”

Suddenly the world seemed a little more right again, and Reece blew out a breath, looking at his watch.

“You can go see what's what. I can start cleaning up, if you want,” he said.

“Thanks. I appreciate it. I'll be right back.”

He watched her walk away, all female grace and strength, and knew he couldn't fight what he felt for her anymore, but he had no idea where it was heading, either. Nothing had changed—and everything had changed.

“Abby?” he called out, before she disappeared back into the reception room.

She turned. “Hmm?”

“Maybe we should leave that pole up, though, just for a night or two,” he said, imagining he'd like a show for one.

The sexy, mischievous look in her eyes as she smiled told him she agreed.

A
BBY WAS GETTING USED
to her life on a roller coaster, and when it meant she was able to wake up in Reece's bed, that was definitely okay with her.

She wasn't interested in fighting it anymore, releasing all the doubt and worry. They were good together. She wanted him, and apparently he wanted her. She shivered, thinking about the wonderful, desperate way he'd taken her the night before, standing up, behind the wine bar. The sex had been fast, a little awkward and…spectacular.

They'd worked side-by-side the rest of the evening, some understanding hammered out even though they didn't talk very much at all.

As much as she wanted him again, they'd both crashed as soon as they hit the mattress, exhausted and wrapped around each other. She remembered feeling a deep satisfaction that he seemed to have missed her as much as she missed him.

Maybe that was foolish, but she didn't care.

She stared at the empty pillow beside her—he'd prob
ably gotten up early to work out. Her cell phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. Hannah.

“Hey,” Abby said cheerfully. “I didn't expect to hear from you today, you wild woman,” she teased her friend.

“You know me, I'm an early bird,” Hannah said, her voice practically singing with I-had-a-night-of-wild-sex energy. “Even when I was up very, very late.”

“Do tell.”

“Later, promise. Right now, we were wondering if you'd be interested in brunch.”

“We?”

“Brody and I. We're calling for both of you, but if you want, you could just come yourself.”

Abby detected the unspoken question in Hannah's voice—she must have seen them leave together, and wondered what had happened.

“I'm sure Reece will want to come, too.”

Hannah laughed knowingly. “So your cold spell is over,” she said happily.

“Most definitely,” Abby said with a smile. “Where should we meet you?”

They named a time and place, and Abby got up, taking off what little she had on and padding to the bathroom, where she had just heard the water turn on. Losing her robe, she smiled, pulling the door open to find Reece waiting.

“I was hoping the noise might wake you up,” he said with an unabashed grin, holding out a hand to her.

“Wow,” she said, not hiding her awe. He was using the master bath, and she had been using the guest bath
attached to her room. Hers was very nice, she had no complaints, but this was just…sinful.

The entire space was composed of granite with specks of gold, black and dark red lending a warm touch, textured on the floor so as to avoid being slippery, and smooth, but with a matte finish, on the sides. Plants lined a window that set a few feet above them, draping down, obviously loving the high humidity and light. Abby felt like she was stepping into a hidden cave with a waterfall.

There were five jets at different heights, and a bench seat that ran almost the entire length of the shower, with a shelf of soaps, shampoos, body oils, sponges, loofahs and pretty much anything else you could think of. You could even adjust the lighting, bright or soft, and the controls for the water temperature were digital so you could set the degree—no guessing.

“This isn't a shower. This is shower heaven,” she said.

“Yeah, it's extreme. My dad always called it ‘The Lagoon,'” he said with a laugh.

“That's it exactly.”

“It was my mom's pet project. She set out to create the perfect bathroom one year. It actually was featured in a home décor magazine. She was on top of the world.”

“She nailed it,” Abby agreed breathlessly, and he laughed as she went into his arms under the hot spray.

His hands covered and massaged her breasts as they kissed, and he added, “Now
this
is shower heaven.”

“Mmm-hmm,” she agreed, her hands dipping low to stroke his ready erection, making him groan. She was intrigued when he trembled as she reached lower,
stroking a finger over his balls and petting the soft skin deep between his thighs.

“Come here,” he said as he sat on the bench and pulled her on to his lap, angled slightly so she could kiss him as the water poured over them from seemingly everywhere.

She started to turn to face him, to straddle him, but he shook his head. “You'll punish your knees on the stone. Like this,” he said, stretching out his legs straight and moving her over him.

“Oh…
oh,
” she gasped as he slid deep inside.

He held her there against him, kissing her ears, her neck. His hands covered her breasts, plucking and rolling hard, wet nipples between his fingers until she was writhing.

She had a feeling he'd planned that, and she liked a man who thought ahead. The throbbing of the hot water against her flesh and the sensation of him buried deep inside had her moaning as an easy orgasm rolled over her. Reece whispered hot, raw things in her ear as she came, and then came again.

Breathless and panting, she pushed forward, still poised against him, bracing her hands on his knees, looking back with a sexy wink.

“I like this,” she said, enjoying how his hands covered her bottom, his fingers digging in a little as he brought her down the way that he needed.

“Me, too.”

She moved her right hand from his knee to stroke herself as she took him deep and ground against him in a way that had him yelling her name, arching up and pushing even deeper as they came together.

She relaxed back against him, turning her face into the strong column of his neck.

“That was so good. It's always good with you,” she said, wrapping her fingers in his as the water washed over them.

“I'm glad you think so.”

“I do.”

He helped her up and stood with her, grabbing a soft natural sponge and some soap. He washed her carefully, tenderly, and she nearly purred. She'd never felt this cared for, and the intimacy was stunning as he bent before her, washing her legs and between them, planting kisses where the shower washed away the soap. She was feeling sparks again before he was back at eye level.

“Do you like games, Abby?”

A flicker of anticipation teased her.

“Like Monopoly?” she asked innocently.

He smiled, and pulled her closer, whispering in her ear. Her breath hitched. How was it that her fantasies seemed to be his?

“I love those kinds of games,” she said, finding it hard to breathe.

“Come here then,” he said, pulling her upright.

He positioned her by the edge of the spray, and she looked up, seeing the two ties that hung limply from the shower rod. Realization dawned.

“Oh. I thought you had just left your laundry in here,” she said, her heart stuttering as he lifted her arm and pulled one tie down to her wrist.

“Make sure the ties won't give,” she said, daringly, and saw his eyes darken as they met hers.

“Is this comfortable?” he asked, securing the tie.

She wiggled her fingers, and pulled. The knots were solid. A slight edge of apprehension rose, but curiosity and excitement outweighed it.

“I'm good,” she said, watching him step back and look at her.

“We're going to do what I told you, and you're okay with it? My rules?”

“Yes,” she said, as submissively as she could.

“Good,” he said, his eyes dark and passionate on hers as he stroked himself to semihardness.

She watched, fascinated, unable to take her eyes away from him. She'd never watched a man pleasure himself, and felt herself get wet from more than the shower.

“You'd like to watch me finish this, wouldn't you?”

She struggled, flexing her fingers, wanting to touch, to go to him, but he was out of reach. And if she couldn't touch him, she wanted to touch herself, suddenly craving release again.

“I'd like that very much,” she admitted. “But there's a problem.”

“What?”

“I want to come again, too.”

“Well,” he said, teasingly, softly, “we'll both get there, eventually.”

She frowned. “Eventually?”

He walked over to her, leaning in to nuzzle her neck, and she whimpered, needing the touch.

“You'll see.”

He kissed her sweetly, then moved down her body in a string of butterfly kisses, leaving sparks of heat everywhere, but not giving her anything near what she needed. He brushed his thumbs and then his lips over
her nipples, lightly, teasing some more, until she was almost limp and begging.

Then he went down farther, and she braced for his kiss between her legs, but he only ran his hands up and down her legs, kissing and nibbling at the insides of her thighs. She opened herself as much as she could, trying to show him what she needed.

“You want my mouth on you, Abby?”

“Please, yes,” she said weakly. Desire was a hot weight in her abdomen, a bomb needing to explode.

He nodded and whispered, “Okay,” against her skin, then used both hands to spread her slick flesh, but rather than planting his mouth against her, he flicked his tongue against her clit, the sensations intense but fleeting, not constant enough to push her over. She tried to press against him, to find the pressure she needed to come, but he would move and she cried out in lust and need.

“Please, Reece. I don't think I want to play anymore,” she said.

He stood, his jaw tight, his eyes dark. “Abby, I'm hard as rock, ready to explode—again. I haven't felt need like this in years. I want to pull you up and fuck you until we both dissolve under the water,” he said, and his raw language only excited her more.

“Do it,” she urged, wanting exactly that. “Just think how good it would be, Reece. You could take me any way you want…and I want you to,” she tempted, trying to break him. “Whatever you want, however you want me,” she whispered.

By the look on his face and the way his cock jerked at her words, it was working.

He came up close to her, and she cheered inside her mind, celebrating her win.

He smiled and then did something she never expected, bringing his hand down on her bottom in a stinging swat. “Stop that. We both have to wait. Those are the rules.”

The sting from the swat turned to heat on her skin, and she found she craved more, anything that would relieve the torturous pressure of arousal inside of her. They'd just made love minutes before, but it had been too long, and her body was on fire for more.

He rubbed his hand over the spot where he had spanked her, and brushed his lips against hers, then kissed her more deeply.

Their bodies were hardly touching, though their mouths tried to make up for it, mating furiously.

“Reece, I need you,” she said, breaking the kiss to breathe.

“I need you, too, Abby,” he said roughly. “So much.”

He reached up past her, the length of his body touching hers, making her shudder, and she heard a noise. One arm fell free, then the other.

She looked down at her wrists, and he reached over to shut off the water.

She stared at him, stunned. “You really mean it, don't you? You're going to make us both wait?”

He nodded, stepping away and coming back with a heated towel that he wrapped around her. She was dizzy with arousal, and he pulled her up close, rubbing her back soothingly.

“That's right. That's the game.”

“What if I don't want to wait?”

“You already agreed to play,” he said, pulling her
behind him and grabbing a towel for himself. “Don't worry. I'm just as hot as you are, and you'll have your turn later,” he promised. “Didn't you say we have to go meet Brody and Hannah for breakfast.”

She almost groaned in dismay. She'd almost forgotten. How was she going to get through brunch with friends, as wound up as she was? She couldn't even think straight, she was so turned on.

It was wonderful.

She was tuned into him more closely than she had ever been to anything in her life, as if she was aware of every movement, every breath. She rubbed her wrists.

“You okay?” he asked, clearly concerned.

“Yes. I liked how it felt. I wanted it to last longer,” she admitted, starting to calm down a little. She was on edge, certain that so much as a touch from him might send her into climax, but now…now she also wanted to see how long they could last. How crazy they could make each other before they gave in.

And she was very much looking forward to her turn to push Reece to his limit.

He smiled at her, as if he'd read every thought. It was incredibly intimate, linking them together in a way she hadn't experienced with anyone else, ever.

As they got dressed, he leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips, whispering, “It's going to be worth every second we wait, I promise,” he said.

She believed it.

 

R
EECE SHIFTED IN HIS
chair at the table, dealing with an on-and-off hard-on all through brunch. Abby was
a clever lover—and a little mean—he thought with a smile.

When he'd told her he wanted to tie her up and tease her until she begged, she'd been all for it. When he told her he was going to leave them both on edge, not give in, she'd doubted him, but it was perfect. The constant potential for satisfaction—or not—was like live electricity crackling between them.

He'd read about extended sexual seduction practices. They included but also went beyond Tantra to create arousal that lasted for days, resulting in climax for both partners that was off the scale—but he'd never been with anyone he desired enough to actually try it. He imagined him and Abby seducing each other with baths, massages, meals and light sexual teasing for days before having sex. He'd always wondered what that would be like.

Now he knew.

She became adept at the game very quickly.

Small touches to his knee or his thigh were bad enough, but the way she innocently worked bondage references into her conversation taunted him, reminding him of how incredibly erotic she had looked hours ago, and how close he had come to taking her again.