It Must Have Been the Mistletoe(10)

What was she thinking? From the moment he’d first kissed her out in the rain, she’d wanted him to do it again. And now that he had, she wanted more! This was not like her. She was usually so careful when it came to passion. But there was something dangerous about this man, something she couldn’t resist.

Her mind wandered back to her conversation with Tess and the little Christmas gift her friend had given her. Maybe she ought to let her naughty side out a little more often. When she was younger, she’d been much more open about her sexual feelings. Was it just a natural part of growing up that sex became more conservative? More…respectable?

She didn’t want to be respectable! Alison wanted to be free to enjoy the pleasures that a man’s body could give her. She wanted to be so overwhelmed with desire that she couldn’t think straight, couldn’t control her body or her mind.

Drawing a ragged breath, she kicked off her muddy shoes and socks, then joined Drew at the sink. She washed her fingers in the icy cold water he’d brought in from the pump. When he silently handed her a towel, she dried her hands, then rubbed the towel through her hair.

“I’ll give you some privacy,” he said as he carried a huge pot to the back door. “You can change, if you like.”

The door clicked shut behind him and Alison stared at it for a long moment. It was odd that she didn’t feel any reservations about spending the night in this man’s cabin. She knew perfectly well where it all might lead and yet she didn’t care. She felt drawn to him, to the two very different men he was—the devil and the angel.

He was kind and caring, quietly watching over Ettie, preparing a bath for Alison, helping her navigate down a slippery mountain road. And then there was the man who made her heart pound and her body ache with need. The man who could turn her breathless with just one touch. In all her life, she’d never met a man who was both a good guy and a bad boy.

She found clean sweats in the basket and then walked over to the fireplace and slowly stripped off her dirty clothes. She was cold to the bone and she turned her back to the fire and closed her eyes, letting the heat warm her skin.

Even her underwear was damp. She shrugged out of her bra and skimmed her panties over her hips, then turned to face the fire, hoping to warm the front of her.

Alison felt exhaustion overwhelm her and she stared down into the flames, her thoughts drifting. This had been the strangest day of her life, yet she didn’t want it to end. The heady mix of fear and anticipation and desire was like some crazy carnival ride, so…liberating.

She wasn’t sure what would happen next, but if it involved kissing and touching Drew Phillips, then she was ready. Men like Drew didn’t come along often, especially in her life, and she was going to take full advantage when they did.

Bending over at the waist, she ran her fingers through her hair and wished for a brush. For a long time, she let her thoughts drift to the man who’d rescued her from the rain. He was so…sexy. The way he looked at her, with that lazy smile, and the way he touched her, as if he already knew what would make her writhe with pleasure.

Alison hadn’t ever considered herself a sexual creature, although she put great importance on sexual compatibility. But in the past, sex had always come along with a relationship. Right now, though, a single night of toe-curling, mind-numbing sex with no strings attached sounded like the perfect thing.

The door creaked behind her and Alison slowly straightened, her hands still tangled in her damp hair. She glanced over her shoulder to find Drew staring at her, his gaze skimming her body. She fought the impulse to cover herself, curious as to what he’d do if she didn’t.

“I—I’m sorry,” he murmured, quickly turning to face the opposite direction, the water sloshing out of the pot and dripping onto his boots.

Alison grabbed the sweatshirt and tugged it over her head, then pulled on the pants, smiling to herself. This time the good guy had won out. What would she have done if the bad boy had crossed the room and ravished her? “Sorry,” she said. “All done.”

Drew faced her again, sending her an apologetic smile. He cleared his throat. “You…you have a beautiful body…speaking purely as a physician.”

She laughed softly. “I’ll take your word for it.”

He crossed the room and stood in front of her. “You don’t have to be afraid. Nothing will happen here that you don’t want to happen.”

She nodded. “I know. I feel…safe. And much warmer. And if something happens, that’s all right.”

He reached out and drew her into his arms, rubbing his hands over her back. It was a natural gesture, but once he’d pulled her into his embrace, Alison felt the familiar tug of desire. Their bodies fit so perfectly together and she didn’t want him to let go. Drew hooked his thumb beneath her chin, making her gaze meet his.