It Must Have Been the Mistletoe(59)

“Is it the sex toys?” she asked when he couldn’t find the right words.

Tyler’s jaw dropped. And, of course, his gaze flew to the box of colorful toys and wrapping, which looked like one of Santa’s really kinky elves had been hard at work. Rita was sitting was sitting cross-legged now, gift wrapping the toys. His mouth watered as his attention snagged on a bottle of peppermint-flavored body oil.

“Why would the toys be a problem?” he asked, as if the constant barrage of sexual images they inspired wasn’t causing his body a moment’s stress. “We already had this talk, didn’t we? I’m not a prude.”

Just because he was too much of a gentleman to jump her body didn’t make him uptight, dammit. It made him…what? Crazy? Frustrated? Teetering on hornily insane?

“Look, the toys aren’t a problem,” he told her, stuffing his hands in the front pocket of his jeans to disguise how much of a nonproblem they were. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea for the two of us to be here, sharing a room. You’re a great gal and I really like you,” he added, a little surprised to realize just how true that was. “But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, or to give you the wrong idea.”

There. He’d sounded both reasonable and convincing. Determined, yet friendly. Tyler dropped into a chair, relieved. Not bad for a guy sporting a half-frozen hard-on.

Head tilted to one side, Rita listened attentively. When he wound down, she finished tying a pair of fur-lined handcuffs with a bright red velvet ribbon, then set them aside.

“The wrong idea?”

“You know, like…”

“Like something could happen between us?”

“Exactly.” Tyler pointed a finger at her as if she’d just scored a point, then realized he’d agreed with her. “No. I mean, I’m not assuming something would happen just because we’re together in a room.”

“Really?” She slowly rose to her feet, her fluffy blue sweater and baggy, cuffed jeans sexier than any form of black lace. “You don’t think all that time together in close quarters has us thinking crazy thoughts about each other?”

He nodded, mesmerized by the sight of her bare feet, with their candy-cane-striped toenails.

“Or maybe it’s the sex toys. You know, constant exposure to the kink is wearing down our resistance.” She gave a little shrug, her body brushing against his as she stepped in front of him.

“I don’t think it’s any of that, though. I think it’s us. There’s something hot between us.” She stood so close now he could feel the whisper of air as her lips moved inches from his. “I think I’d like to see what it is.”

Her palm warmed his thigh, leaving tingles as it slid upward. His eyes fogged. She gracefully lowered herself between his knees. He damned near whimpered at the sight of her, looking like some good-ol’-boy fantasy.

“Don’t you think it could be a mistake?” he asked, his voice so husky he was surprised he could get the words out.

Her smile should have been declared illegal. Wicked and bright, it lit up her eyes and made his brain sputter. She arched one dark brow, then slid a whisper-soft hint of a kiss over his lips.

Pulling back, she tilted her head and traced a finger along the crease of his thigh, heading toward his bulging zipper.

“If you like, we can always blame it on the mistletoe.”

“Oh, no. I’m keeping all the blame, or credit, for myself,” Tyler declared.

He didn’t give himself time to find his sanity. Instead he tunneled his hands through the silky mass of her hair and tilted her head back, finally giving in to the endless craving that’d been driving him crazy.



THIS WAS WHY SHE WAS always in trouble, Rita realized as Tyler’s tongue plunged between her lips. She saw something that looked fun. She couldn’t resist trying it out, even though she knew it wasn’t right for her. She got caught up in the experience. Then when she ignored all the warning signals and it exploded in her face, she was always devastated and shocked.

But, at this moment, she didn’t care. Tyler’s lips were the stuff of magic. Soft and hard at the same time, they coaxed hers into a sweet dance. His vivid blue eyes held hers captive, making the kiss all the sexier for that extra intimacy.

Still on her knees, Rita shifted. Sliding her hands up his thighs, she felt his breath catch. Heat surged, igniting intense need deep in her belly. She wanted to touch him, to feel him. To taste him—all of him.

She couldn’t believe she was this turned-on by the simple touch of his mouth on hers and his hands in her hair. God, once he hit the erogenous zones, she’d explode fully clothed.