White-Hot Holiday(10)

Her voice dried up before the searing fire in Aaron’s eyes. Blood pounded in her ears. Dum-dum-dum. His thumbs moved over her sensitized flesh in slow circles, skittering her thoughts.

“Naomi,” he said again. Each time he uttered her name in that low, gravelly tone, a shower of sparks trailed down her spine. “Just because I’m wealthy and took you to a fancy restaurant, that doesn’t put me in the same boat as your ex.”

She swallowed, but all her breath seemed to be caught beneath her ribs. “I know that.” Agitation beat in her veins. Why did Aaron affect her so much? Why couldn’t she hold herself aloof from his mesmerizing charm? Heaven forbid she should claw her way free from a bad relationship only to fall under Aaron’s spell. She lifted her chin. “But you are both driven and career-oriented and hungry for success.”

His umber eyes flared. His grip tightened. “I’m. Not. Justin.” He punched out each word.

No, he wasn’t Justin, she thought hazily. Justin’s nearness had never affected her like this. She’d never felt swoony being held by him, never been hypnotized like she was now with Aaron. Her resistance faded. All she could think about was how she wanted to slick her fingers through his short, crisp hair, clasp his face with both hands, and bring his mouth down on hers. And then, as if she had telekinetic power, his head was drawing closer, and she realized he had pulled her into his arms, and his hot, masculine scent was all around her, captivating her. Then reasoning fizzled away as his mouth found hers, and she was lost.





Chapter Four


The animal heat of Aaron’s body enveloped Naomi, seeping deep into her pores. One broad hand splayed across her waist while the other cupped the back of her neck, his fingers imprinting her skin. His virility was almost overwhelming, yet his kiss was restrained and tender, his lips gentle and searching, rather than demanding. The fiery desire he held in check was evident in his possessive hands, his rigid body, his pulsing heat, which made his sweet kiss all the more potent and irresistible.

She ached to relinquish control, to surrender to her need and the lure of his body. But the worm in the apple reared its maggoty head once more. How could she abandon herself to another man so quickly? Hadn’t she learned anything in the last year? Why couldn’t she be happily single? Disgusted by her weakness, she jerked her head away, breaking the kiss, and their mouths wrenched apart with what felt close to physical pain.

She came back to earth with burning lungs, her thoughts scrambled. Aaron stared back at her, also breathing hard, his eyes still alight with a passion so fiery her heart skipped a beat.

“Naomi—”

“That was crazy,” she said at the same time. She stopped, gulped.

He stood too close to her. He sucked up all her oxygen. “Crazy nice?”

“Crazycrazy.” She touched her lips tentatively, felt the lingering heat imparted from his mouth. Sensuousness curled like smoke through her veins. Oh God, how she wanted Aaron to kiss her again.

His gaze flickered over her from top to toe. “It was crazy nice for me,” he said, his voice dense and dark like molasses. He didn’t seem to know what to do with his hands. He reached out to her, then appeared to change his mind and rested them on his hips. “Naomi?”

He wanted to know if the kiss had been crazy nice for her, too. She pleated her lips together, reluctant to analyze her feelings too deeply.

“You only kissed me to prove a point,” she said.

“That wasn’t the only reason.” He gave her a crooked little smile. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you since the day we met.”

She shook her head. “You’re something of a player, aren’t you?”

“Is that what Luke told you?”

“Just about. You’re dedicated to your job. You don’t have the time or inclination for a proper relationship.”

His eyes glinted with amusement. “Jeez, we’re just talking about a little kiss here.”

Aaron was right. She shouldn’t treat the situation so seriously. She should just laugh it off, like he was doing.

“Too true.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder and tried to look carefree. “It was nothing, really. I shouldn’t be fussing over it.” She edged past him and walked farther into the house. “Let’s forget about it, shall we?”

As she groped for the light switch in the family room, his footsteps followed close behind. “I didn’t mean we should forget it.” His breath fanned her hair, bringing her up short. “I want to improve on it.”

Unable to move, she stared ahead at the Christmas tree, which winked softly in the dimness. Its piney scent filled the room. Aaron’s hands rested on her shoulders, his touch light and gentle, as he turned her round to face him.

“Mistletoe,” he murmured. “For once in my life, I need some darn mistletoe.”

The diffused light burnished his sculpted cheekbones, his straight nose, his wide, firm mouth, his endearing dimples. She felt her barriers shaking again. Damn, she had to stay strong, if only to prove to herself that she wouldn’t turn to putty the moment a handsome man paid her any attention.

“Aaron.” She braced an unsteady hand against his shoulder to stop him getting closer. “We can’t do this.”

“Why not?”

“Because” She chewed her lip. “Because you’ll be gone in less than forty-eight hours, and we’ll probably never meet again.”

Taking her hand from his shoulder, he held it in both of his. “I’m not trying to seduce you into my bed, if that’s what you’re worried about.” She flushed at the image he invoked. “I like you, Naomi. I like you a heck of a lot. You’re interesting and smart and incredibly gorgeous, and I’d like to kiss you a little more.”

His voice pulsated through her body, each word plucking at her sensations, strumming her desire until she was close to dissolving into the liquid heat of his eyes and his voice. But deep inside a kernel of reason stood firm in the maelstrom. A minute ago he’d more or less admitted to being a player. Wasn’t he playing her now? Showering her with compliments, telling her how gorgeous she was and how he just wanted to kiss her, nothing more. Yeah right. Like the seasoned pro that he was, he knew as soon as he began kissing her again, she wouldn’t be able to refuse him anything. This was the perfect night for seducing her. They were alone in the house, and he’d be leaving the morning after tomorrow, so there’d be little chance of any embarrassing complications after he’d slept with her.

Indignation rose in her. She wouldn’t be so naive as to fall for his smooth patter. She pulled her hand free, folded her arms over her chest, and gave him her sternest schoolteacher look. “I’m flattered, but it’s not going to happen. Good night, Aaron.” She caught his astonished expression before she pivoted on her heel and hurried out of the room.



Alone in the family room, Aaron thrust his fingers through his hair as frustration boiled in him. How could he have got the evening so wrong? He’d had the best intentions. He’d wanted to take Naomi somewhere nice for dinner to spend more time with her and get better acquainted. He wasn’t to know dressing up and dining in a plush restaurant would revive bad memories of her breakup.

He wiped his damp forehead. The room was hot and stuffy since the house had been shut up all afternoon. He became aware of Milo snuffling at his shoes. Picking up the puppy, he turned on the overhead fans, then flung open the sliding doors leading onto the deck and walked out. He sucked in the night air and leaned against the railing, murmuring to the puppy in his arms, who whined eagerly and stretched out to lick his face.

Over at the annex a dim light came on at a window. Naomi. He shouldn’t have kissed her. Luke had warned him off, and she thought he was just trying to get into her pants. He should go to her room and apologize. But his body was still throbbing from the pleasure of that first kiss. The taste of her lingered on his tongue—mint and rosemary. The feel of her soft skin and silky hair was imprinted on his fingers. If he went to her now, he might not be able to resist kissing her again, and that would only make things worse.



I’m such an idiot.

Naomi pulled a face at her reflection in the mirror. Why had she let Justin ruin her evening with Aaron? Aaron had simply wanted to do something nice for her, and she’d repaid him by harping on about her ex, and worse, likening him to Justin. That hadn’t been fair.

Aaron might have kissed her just to prove he wasn’t like Justin, but she could never regret that kiss. The electricity from it still sparked in her. Its effects lingered in the dilation of her pupils and the way her lips were parted, as if pleading for more. Aaron had kissed her, and she’d stomped off, convinced he was trying to seduce her.

Well, what was so bad about that? Wasn’t it flattering—not to mention a huge turn on—that a sexy hunk like Aaron Cade wanted to lure her into his bed?

Not that she had any intention of succumbing that far. She was too much her mother’s daughter. She didn’t have the right temperament to sleep with a man she’d only known a few days. But it was no use denying that Aaron did something wicked to her sensibilities. And he was a fantastic kisser, the best she’d ever had in her limited experience.