Kissa Under the Mistletoe (7 page)

She unwrapped the scarf from around her neck as soon as she stepped inside. The store was warm and toasty against the winter chill. Glancing around, she knew Margaret sent her to the perfect shop. Racks of silks in every jewel tone in creation beckoned her. Veils, hip scarves, and shawls hung from the walls or littered display cases. Tikas, zills, and coin belts rested under the glass of those same display cases. From what Kissa could see on her cursory glance around the shop, only high-quality dancing gear lined the walls and rounders.

A lanky mannequin draped in a sizzling purple cabaret-style gown. A veil of matching silk was held in permanent twirl between the hands. That color would look amazing on Desari but not Kissa. It would bring out the violet of her sister’s eyes. Kissa needed something different. Something special.

“Afternoon. How may I help you?” A pretty salesgirl, likely all of twenty-one, appeared from behind all the racks like magic. Kissa studied her a moment, the girl’s face somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t place it.

“Yes, actually you can. I’m going to be doing some dancing later at a friend’s restaurant, but I haven’t brought any of my costumes with me.”

“What style are you dancing in?”

Kissa thought a moment, trying to decide which would have the best impact on Lucas. She looked around once more, taking in all the colors and styles. In an instant she knew.

“Traditional Raqs Sharqi. Do you have anything in a deep red or burgundy, maybe with a silver trim?”

The salesgirl nodded before darting into the back room.. Kissa wandered around a bit, eyeing the many colors of the silks and fabrics around the store. Just outside, the sun that was there moments ago had been replaced by a gray-cloud-filled sky. But that didn’t stop the beauty of the merchandise from continuing to shine. Kissa felt at home once more. She loved to dance. It was amazing how little time she got to indulge in her passion.. When had she let her life get so out of control she’d forgotten all the things she loved. Her dancing, traveling, spending time being silly with Lucas. This trip shaped up to be an eye-opener in more ways than one.

“Here we are,” the salesgirl said as she reappeared, her arms laden with fabric.

Smiling, Kissa reached out to touch the proffered costume.. The color was a rich burgundy that looked almost black at times in the light. Silver threads shot through the material, making it shimmer and shine. If it fit her fuller figure, the costume would be perfect. Lucas wouldn’t be able to keep his eyes off her when she danced. A shiver of excitement raced up her spine.

“This looks amazing. Do you have a place for me to try it on?”

“Follow me.” The salesgirl led her to a dressing room area off to one side of the store. “Call me if you require some assistance. I’m Jasmine, like the Disney princess,” she added with a little laugh.

Kissa laugh along with her as she pulled the curtain closed on the room, shutting out the rest of the world.

Slipping out of her clothes, she set them aside before pulling on the skirt of the costume. It hung low on her hips, and Kissa knew if she added a chain belt it would give just the right amount of shimmy when she needed it. Next came the bra top. Kissa surveyed herself with a critical eye. She wanted to be smoking hot and not so much like a sausage shoved into a too-small casing. Her breasts seemed ready to spring out of the top with any deep breath.

Placing a hand to her cleavage in a vain effort to cover it, she opened the curtain with the other and called for Jasmine.

“Yes?”

“Do you have this top in a bigger size? One back bend and the whole restaurant will get an eyeful.”

Jasmine’s smiled, obviously holding back laughter and nodded. “Let me check.”

While she waited, Kissa examined the fit of the skirt and let her mind wander. The whisper of the silk against her legs reminded her of Lucas’s hands this morning in the shower. Despite his academic job, his hands had been calloused and felt incredible on her skin. Her face grew warmer as the memories came flooding back. What would it be like to make love to Lucas in a bed? Sure, she’d had him against the shower wall and almost against a building wall, but in a huge bed in the hotel, it would be heaven. His big body stretched out over hers as he thrust deep inside her over and over until she cried out his name. What would it be like to come home to him after a long day of work?

Lost in her thoughts, she jumped in surprise when Jasmine returned, a new bra top in her hands.

“Here we go,” she said, holding out the item. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. Where did you say you were dancing tonight?”

“Darya. My friend owns the restaurant.” Kissa took the top with a grin and slipped back into the dressing room, shutting the curtain between them.

“I love that place. You’ll like the dance floor. It is situated in the center of the dining tables. There is perfect access for you to hit just about everyone when you dance.” Jasmine’s voice floated into the small space, muffled slightly but the fabric separator.

“Do you dance?”

“Sometimes. I do this and dance on the side. It’s what I do to pay the bills for university.” A bell chimed in the background. “I’ll be right back if you need any further assistance.”

Kissa liked the girl but was relieved to see her go for even a few moments. She wiggled into the top and then stepped back, checking out the fit of the costume in the floor-length mirror. The color of the silks set off the rich olive of her skin and the silver threads racing through the material turned her eyes to mercury. Yanking her hair free from the ponytail she’d put it in before leaving the hotel, Kissa let the long strands cascade around her shoulders and bare arms.

Snapping a picture on her phone, she quickly texted it to Desari. She knew her sister would tell her truthfully if she carried a little too much in the extra-baggage department for such a skimpy outfit. Although, Lucas didn’t seemed to mind the few pounds she carried around her middle and hips this morning in the shower or last night on the pool table for that matter.

Her phone beeped and she bit her lip, a moment of trepidation sweeping over her. What if Desari didn’t like the costume? Then she’d be forced to start all over and, frankly, she wanted to finish her shopping and head back to the hotel. Maybe she’d catch Lucas sleeping still and snuggle in next to him as a surprise.

She scanned her sister’s response and grinned. Never one to mince words, Desari simply replied with a thumbs-up icon. Kissa was set.

***

After stopping at Darya to scope out the backstage room for changing, Kissa left her costume there and headed to finish her shopping. A quick stop at the specialty lingerie shop she’d read about online and she was back at the hotel.

As she pressed the elevator button, idly swinging her bag against her leg, she smiled to herself. She felt giddy as a teenager with her first crush. It had been so long since she’d been attracted to someone, laughed with someone, wanted someone as much as she did Lucas. Her fear of losing the best friend she’d ever had originally stopped her from being with him. Now she was glad he’d made the suggestion to indulge themselves over the holiday. She planned to give in to all her cravings for Lucas’s amazing body for as long as she could. Who knew what would happen the minute they boarded the plane back to the States.

The underwear set, while pricey, was gorgeous and worth every penny. Lucas would be speechless when she stripped down and paraded in front of him. She couldn’t wait.

Stepping into the room, she shucked off her coat and tossed her purse and bag on the coffee table. The room was silent. As quietly as she could, Kissa pushed open the doors separating the bedroom from the rest of the suite. Lucas lay sprawled on his stomach across the white covers, his feet hanging over the edge of the bed, and his left arm under his head. She smiled at the sight. Staunch, professional Dr. Lucas Slate slept like a worn-out five-year-old. And he was perfect.

She padded across the floor in her bare feet until she came to the side of the bed. Quietly, she slipped onto the warm sheets. She gently brushed of lock of Lucas’s hair from his forehead. He groaned and turned over, opening his eyes slowly.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said, leaning down and dropping a kiss on his cheek. She couldn’t help herself. He looked so adorable all sleep mussed.

“I’m glad you did. How was your shopping excursion? Buy me anything good?” he said, his voice gravelly from sleep. The sound trailed down her spine like an illicit caress.

“As a matter of fact, I did get something for you.” She thought of the lingerie waiting in the bag.

He circled her wrist with his hand and lightly stroked his fingers over her skin.

“Is it a surprise?”

“Of course it is. Be a good boy and I’ll give it to you early.” She moved closer to him, nuzzling her hip nearer to his chest. She studied his face, drinking in his features in the soft light of the hotel room. Licking her lips, she leaned down again and slanted her mouth to his in the barest kiss. He growled and slid his hand up her forearm, tugging her closer still.

“I can be a very good, love,” he whispered against her lips.

She braced herself with one hand against his chest, the feel of his muscles beneath the suppleness of his sweater more enticing than his kiss.

“I’m finding that out, Professor,” she murmured against his mouth, teasing his lips with hers. He groaned again as he moved his free hand up to the cup the back of her head. With practiced ease, he took control of their kiss. When he held her, nothing else in the world seemed to exist. He clutched her hair in his hand, tugging lightly on the strands deepening their connection. She grew light-headed with desire as she sank into the richness of it all.

Leaning down, she positioned her body next to his, sliding her curves against his body like a kitten seeking warmth. She kept on kissing him as if her life depended on it. He sucked on her bottom lip, nipping at it as he maneuvered her underneath him. Strong hands worked their way down her body to stop at the waistband of her jeans. Undoing the button, he eased the zipper down and tugged them off her hips.

“Lift up, love,” he whispered against her mouth.

She complied lifting her pelvis to let him remove her jeans.

“Beautiful.” His hot breath caressed her neck as he pressed gentle kisses there. “Sweater off. Now.”

She shoved him away a bit and gripped the bottom of her sweater. Looking up into his eyes, she grinned. “Things are a bit one-sided don’t you think?”

“We’ll even the score some,” he said, getting up to stand beside the bed, staring down at her.

She pulled the sweater over her head and tossed it toward the chair in the corner. Licking her lips, she arched her back just enough to cause her breasts to rise, her nipples hard against the lacy fabric of her bra.

Lucas widened his stance, watching her, and tugged his shirt over his head. His muscles flexed. God, he was so perfectly made. She felt her body flush with arousal at the sight. She gripped the sheets to keep herself from reaching for him. She wanted this time to be slow, languorous, and liquid. Not the fast, frenzied pace of this morning in the shower. She wanted to take her time to explore every inch of him. Memorize every plane of his body.

She leaned back on her knees, letting him drink in the sight of her clad only in her underwear. She heard his sharp intake of breath as he raked his gaze over her curves.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you really are?”

“Why don’t you tell me?”

“How about I show you?” he asked, before sliding down beside her. He traced his fingers over her cheek and rubbed his knuckles along her jawline. She purred at his touch. Lucas curled his hand around the nape of her neck and tilted her head back, slanting his lips against hers.

Moving his hand lower, he spread his palm out to caress her throat and chest, tickling the edge of his fingers into the lacy top of her bra. Her nipples responded immediately, pebbling even more.

His mouth fed on hers, his tongue sparring with hers as he deepened the kiss. He skimmed his hands over her soft curves. His mouth was masculine and hot, and she became lost in their combined passion. Lightly pushing her back against the cool sheets, she moaned against his lips. He bent her backward until she was resting on the mattress, her soft body sprawled beneath him. He let his hands trace over her body as if trying to memorize her every curve and dip.

With a deftness likely born of years of practice, he slid a hand around to her back and made short work of unhooking her bra and freeing her breasts. Cool air hit her already hard nipples, stiffening them into even tighter peaks. Kissa closed her eyes as his tongue skimmed down her sensitive skin. His mouth traced a path to her right breast. She stilled, the air in her lungs in short supply. She waited. He blew warm air over her nipples, her body wound ever tighter and her pussy grew wetter.

Closing her eyes, she savored the pleasure as he began to lick slowly at the hardened peak. She caught his head in her hand, offering him more of her breast. Tearing his lips away from her nipple, he buried his face in her warm breasts and listened to the sound of her breathing. He cupped her breasts, thumbs stroking, and licked her neck.

Kissa tugged at his zipper. “Take them off, Lucas. Now.”

He stood once more, not far from her grasp, and dragged off his slacks. She leaned up, cupping his erection and squeezed gently. She felt his groan of pleasure tear through him.

“You are driving me mad,” he said before sliding back onto the bed with her, tracing his fingertips over her bare skin.

“All part of my evil plan. I want you out of your mind for me,” Kissa said with a laugh.

“I wager you’ll succeed at this rate, love.”

She felt his mouth move against her throat and her heart pounded in anticipation of what she knew was to come. She couldn’t stop moving as flames scorched her body in the wake of his tongue. He worshipped her, taking his time until she was lifted to the very precipice of insanity, ready to take the plunge at the merest push. His breath was warm on her breasts, her stomach, as he gave a series of little nips down to the elastic band of her panties.