It Must Have Been the Mistletoe(14)

“It’s getting nasty out there,” he said. “The rain has turned to sleet.”

There was no reason to worry about the weather, Alison mused. She was warm and cozy here and satisfied to spend the night—in his arms and in his bed.

“Your bath is ready,” he said, bending over and swirling his hand through the water. “Get in quick or it will turn cold.”

Alison crossed to the tub. She ran her hand through the shallow water, then stood. Drew straightened in front of her and she held up her arms, an invitation to him to undress her.

He grabbed the bottom of her sweatshirt and gently tugged it over her head. His gaze slowly took in her naked breasts, then he reached out and cupped his palm beneath the soft flesh of one.

His touch was fleeting. There one moment and gone the next. When he slid his hands beneath the waistband of her sweatpants, Alison held her breath. Slowly, he lowered them down over her hips and then lifted each leg until she was free of them. He held her hand as she stepped into the tub.

The water was only about six inches deep, but Alison sank down and splashed it over her body. Here in this rustic setting, the primitive bath was a luxury. Sleet hissed against the windows of the cabin and the wind clattered through the trees. But she was safe and warm.

“How am I supposed to wash my hair?” she asked.

“Get it wet. I left shampoo on the floor. I’ll make up a pitcher of water to rinse.”

She leaned forward and dunked her head into the bathwater, then worked shampoo through her hair. But as she tried to rinse most of it out, she got soap in her eyes. “Rinse,” she called. A moment later, he was behind her. She held on to the edge of the tub and tipped her head back.

“Farther,” he whispered.

A rush of warm water ran through her hair and down her back. Alison smiled as he furrowed his fingers through the wet strands. When he was done, she opened her eyes to find him gone again, but a few seconds later, he was back with another pitcher.

Drew set it down on the floor. “You can use this to rinse off,” he said, then draped a towel over the side of the tub. “Let me know if you need me to wash your back.”

“Can I ask you something?” Alison murmured.

“Sure.”

“Before, when you undressed. I noticed that you were…aroused. Was that because of me? Or was it just that I was a naked woman and you’re a man.”

“I’m a doctor. I’m used to looking at the human body. I can be controlled when necessary.” He laughed softly. “But, I’m having a hard time standing here and acting as if everything is cool. This is like some teenage fantasy come true. It’s not because you’re just any naked woman. It’s you I’m attracted to, not only your body.”

Alison stood up in front of him. “Rinse.”

He grabbed the pitcher and stood. Carefully, he poured the water over her, smoothing his hands over her slick skin in its wake. It had been so long since a man had touched her that she craved the sensation.

They’d have just one night together, one chance to do what their desire compelled them to do. The water was the perfect temperature and she closed her eyes as he moved lower. Alison took a deep breath and let it out slowly, waiting for him to finish, anticipating what would come next.

When he took her hand and helped her out of the tub, dripping wet, he didn’t offer her a towel. Instead, he pulled her against him and kissed her.



HER BODY WAS EVERYTHING he’d imagined it would be, soft curves and silken skin, limbs that moved sinuously and fingers that seemed to touch all the perfect spots on him.

They stumbled over to the kitchen table and Drew lifted her up to sit on the edge, then stripped off his own clothes. The glow from the kerosene lamps cast them in soft light and deep shadow. Slowly, he ran his hands from her shoulders to the tips of her fingers, then back again.

“Where are those condoms we talked about?” he asked.

“In the bottom of my bag.” Alison leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his chest. “I think you better get them—fast.”

Drew crossed the room and rummaged through her bag. When he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he handed it to her. Alison dumped the contents on the table.

“Wow,” he said. “That’s a lot of stuff.”

She grabbed up a small box and held it out to him. “Twelve. I hope that’s enough.”

Drew laughed. “I think we’ll be okay.” He set the box beside her, then wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, her thighs pressing his hips.

“Is this going to happen?” he asked, toying with the damp hair that brushed her shoulder.