Her Christmas Baby Bump. Robin Gianna
was kissing him as she hadn’t kissed anyone in pretty much forever.
His mouth covered hers again in another kiss that left her quivering. When their lips finally separated, quick breaths came hard and fast against each other’s cold skin.
Moonlight gleamed on his dark brown hair, creating shadows beneath his prominent cheekbones and highlighting a stubborn jaw. His brown eyes no longer seemed warmly chocolatey, but instead glittered like molten onyx, hot and dangerous. Her insides quivered and she tried to think of something to say, but couldn’t come up with a single, rational thought.
“I’ve decided you were right,” he said in a low voice.
“Right?”
“About punting tonight. Staying inside where it’s warm and showing you another of my talents is a much better idea.”
That startled a laugh out of her. “Mmm-hmm. And I can guess what those talents might be, Dr. Has-A-Big-Ego. I can also guess that showing me those talents was your plan all along.”
“Plan, no. But hoping to get to know the beautiful Hope I’ve noticed so often in the hospital? That I’m delighted to learn is single?” His hand slipped down to grasp hers, his thumb stroking across her empty ring finger. “Oh, yeah. I freely admit I’d hoped for that.”
“That’s a lot of hope in one sentence,” she said, trying for a little humor so she could catch her breath and banish thoughts of those talents he boasted, which, based on his amazing kissing skills, she was more than ready to believe on a scale of one to ten were probably a twenty.
As for being single, that was true. The way she was wired, apparently. Something sadly missing in her DNA. The other reason she wasn’t really available despite her single status would doubtless surprise him. Maybe even shock him.
“I guess it is. But one thing I never thought to hope for is this unbelievable chemistry between us. Unless it’s only me who feels like a nuclear bomb just went off in my head from kissing you. Is it?”
She stared into the gaze searching hers, the question hanging in their dark depths. She opened her mouth to answer, but found her throat all closed up at the heat she saw there, at the dangerous current swirling around as if the two of them were standing in some electrified tornado.
“Is it, Hope?”
Her name on his lips, spoken in a deep voice that promised a delicious pleasure she hadn’t had in so long, and definitely wouldn’t have for even longer, maybe even ever, sent her closing the gap between them. Shocking her. Speaking her surprising answer against his lips. “No. It’s not just you.”
The kiss was excruciatingly soft and sweet and went on so long, she felt dizzy. When their lips separated, they just stared at one another until he spoke in a rough voice.
“I live just a block away.” His warm lips pressed softly against one chilled cheek, then the other. Feathered against each eyelid before his gaze met hers again. “I want you, which I’m sure doesn’t come as a surprise. Will you come home with me to see where our undeniable chemistry leads? And if you decide it leads to just a glass of wine or brandy, that’s okay.”
Oh. My. God. He wanted her. The sexy man she’d have to confess she’d had more than one fantasy about wanted her.
Not that she was completely taken aback, after his comment about nuclear explosions and those knee-melting kisses they’d shared. And after hearing the stories of his lifestyle. Her heart pounded so hard in her chest, she was sure he could probably hear it.
Did she really want to be another notch in his bedpost?
Her gaze took in how his dark hair blew across his forehead, how his lips were curved in a small smile, how his brown eyes gleamed with an unmistakable desire and, for the first time in her life, she wanted to say Oh, yes! to a one-night fling.
As she looked at him she thought about her new life right there on the horizon. A new life which would be all about changes to her body and sleepless nights and new responsibilities. Didn’t she pride herself on knowing what she wanted and making it happen? What would be wrong with enjoying one, doubtless delectable night with Aaron Cartwright? She never worked with the man, and a one-night fling wasn’t any kind of real relationship anyway, right?
“I...um...” She licked her lips and tried again. “I’m not in a place in my life where I want a relationship.”
“I’m never in a place in my life where I want a relationship.” His smile widened. “At least not one that’s long-term. I don’t stay put in one place long enough for that. But time with you, getting to know all about Hope Sanders and who she is and what she likes? That I’d like very much.”
His hand dropped hers to cup her cheek, warm against her cool skin, and his thumb slipped across her cheekbone with the same feathery touch he’d used on her fingers. Hope quivered as her thoughts suddenly turned to how those fingers might feel against other parts of her body.
“I meant I’m not in a place where we could spend any time together other than tonight.”
“Other than tonight?” His dark brows raised slightly, his eyes now looking both perplexed and slightly amused. “Got to say, a woman saying she wants to kick me out the door after one night together is a first.”
“Wouldn’t be kicking you out, because it’s your own house.” She managed a breathless laugh. “I admit it’s a first for me, too. But that’s all I can offer and...and...”
As she struggled to figure out what to say he touched his lips gently to hers. “And what?”
“And I’m offering it.” She gulped in disbelief that the words had actually come out of her mouth. But as his lips sweetly, softly pressed against hers, warm and tender and oh-so-delicious, her disbelief and uncertainty faded. She lifted her hands to the sides of his strong neck as heat radiated from him, warming her even through her coat. It all felt so good, so wonderful, so right, she knew she wouldn’t regret being with him tonight. Just one evening of excitement and passion with a strong, sexy man before everything in her life changed.
He pulled back, and the eyes staring into hers were that smoldering, dark onyx again. “You might not believe it, but I’m not normally a one-night-stand guy. If that’s all you’re willing to offer, though, I find it’s damned impossible for me to say no. We’ll go to my apartment and have that nightcap, and you can decide then where, if anywhere, you’d like the rest of the evening to go before I take you home.”
His hand wrapped around hers again, and he led her up the stone steps. He was moving fast, and she nearly tripped in her heels. He looked at her feet and slowed down as his hot gaze lifted to hers again. “Sorry. I forgot you had those things on. Very sexy,” he said, leaning down to brush his warm lips against her cheek. “But not so great for walking, hmm? Thankfully, we don’t have to go far.”
They didn’t speak again on the short trek, and Hope’s breath was short, but not from the walk. Her chest was filled with a crazy excitement that completely overwhelmed the nervous butterflies in her stomach.
They trotted up short steps to a gorgeous Victorian-style stone building with two ornate front doors, and Hope had to pause to admire it.
“Is this a semi? Do you own this one side?”
“Yes, it’s a duplex and my neighbor is a nice, quiet, older lady. But since I move around a lot, renting is always the way to go.”
Apparently it was true that the man wanted nothing to tie him down, but it wasn’t any of her business why he felt that way. His hand palmed her back as she stepped inside the door on the right, the butterflies now flapping a little more insistently. He shut the door behind them, and his eyes met hers for the briefest moment before he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close and kissed her.
There was nothing sweet or gentle or teasing about this one. It went from zero to sixty in a split second, hot and intense, his tongue exploring her mouth with a thoroughness that weakened