Unwrap Me. Susan Lyons

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СКАЧАТЬ his luck. “A little. Without you to keep me warm.”

      Quickly he changed CDs, putting in the one with the bird calls, and then went to sit beside her. “I have something to warm you up.”

      “Again? So soon?” she teased.

      He chuckled. “Sorry, I’m not twenty any more. Give me a few minutes. And in the meantime, sit up and close your eyes.”

      She pushed herself up, draping the blanket over her shoulders, and raised her eyebrows.

      “You’ll like it. It’s my favorite way to end an evening at the beach.”

      Obligingly she closed her eyes, and he took her hand and put a mug in it. “Sip slowly. It’s hot.” He heard the first track, a melodic bird song, end.

      When she’d taken a sip, she said, “Yum, nice. Is it that After Eight hot chocolate?”

      “Close. Peppermint hot chocolate.”

      “I didn’t know you could buy that.” She opened her eyes and then frowned when she saw the candy cane. “Wait a minute, I said no Christmas stuff.”

      He avoided pointing out that she’d unwrapped her Secret Santa gift. “It’s only a stir stick. A harmless peppermint stir stick. Doesn’t it make the hot chocolate taste great?” In the background, some bird was giving a haunting, melancholy call. That track ended, and another started, this one a happy, spring-like trill.

      “It does,” she admitted, the frown line in her forehead easing.

      He grinned to himself as she swooshed the candy cane around in the drink and then sucked on it. Just wait until he used his own peppermint stick to tease her sexy pussy. She’d become a candy-cane convert.

      His cock was recovering now, but he ignored it because the fourth track was playing. “Think I’ll switch CDs. What do you feel like?” He got up and walked over to her CD player.

      “I think it’s time for bed.” Across the firelit room, her gaze met his.

      He stopped the player, and silence filled the room. Nick hoped she’d ask him to stay, to hold her all night and wake up with her. But they’d said no strings attached, and maybe, for her, that would be a string.

      Jude ducked her head, dark hair sliding past her cheeks. “Feel like a sleepover?” Her tone was casual. Too casual. He guessed this was a hard decision for her.

      For the first time, he wondered why she was so set against having a serious relationship. He sure as hell wasn’t about to complain or question his luck, but Jude definitely wasn’t like any other woman he’d met lately.

      “Sounds good,” he said equally casually. “Want to sleep on the beach or find a real bed?”

      Her soft laugh sounded more relaxed. “I vote for comfort.”

      “Then let’s head for bed. And bring our hot chocolate. I’m looking forward to my peppermint stick.”

      6

      Jude was nervous about facing Karen on Monday, so she holed up in her office with the door closed. But eventually she had to make a trip to the ladies’ room.

      Emerging from a stall, she wasn’t surprised to see Karen standing there. One hip propped against a sink, arms crossed, her friend grinned knowingly. “You’re avoiding me, and Nick won’t return my calls. If you hated each other, you’d both be reaming me out for introducing you. So I figure…” She wriggled her eyebrows suggestively.

      Washing her hands, Jude stared at her own reflection and saw her cheeks go pink. “What can I say? You sent me a nice present. But he’s your brother-in-law, so I don’t feel right talking about it. Uh, him. Our relationship. Well, it’s not really a relationship, but, uh, you know.”

      “Sex! Yes! Am I good, or what?” Karen pumped a fist in the air. “Come on, spill.”

      Praying someone would come in, she said, “It’s private.”

      “Okay, I don’t have to know all the details. But he’s cute, isn’t he?”

      Jude’s lips kinked up of their own volition. “Objectively speaking, I’d say more handsome than cute.”

      “And nice. As far as I can see, his only flaw is thinking he won’t get married for another ten years.”

      “Suits me perfectly.”

      “Mmmm-hmmm.” Her friend’s smile was smug and superior. “I do have a knack for choosing the perfect gift. So what have you two been up to?”

      “I told you that’s private.”

      Karen snorted. “Not the sex, the other stuff. Or has there been any other stuff? Maybe you spend all your time in bed?”

      “No.” Not all of it. “Saturday night we had a picnic in front of the fire. Sunday we went to the aquarium and then cooked Thai food.”

      “No Christmas stuff? I’m surprised. Nick’s really into all that.”

      “Well, I’m not, and I told him so.” He’d been good about honoring her no-Christmas rule, though it was impossible to avoid the decorations that festooned the city. Every time she saw sparkly lights, ornamented trees, or Christmas banners, her stomach went sour and her heartburn came back. How could people buy into the hypocrisy?

      Karen frowned, then shrugged. “Anyhow, what counts is I take the gold medal for gift giving. Sounds like the two of you are joined at the hip. Seeing him tonight?”

      “Uh-huh. We’re going to barbecue salmon.” Joined at the hip? Hmmm. They had been spending an awful lot of time together. Should she worry?

      “Barbecuing in the middle of winter?” Karen shook her head. “Come have dinner with Kris and me. After, you can help us make a gingerbread house.”

      Jude shuddered. “Me and gingerbread houses don’t mix. Thanks anyhow.”

      Now this was her idea of a good time, Jude thought later when she opened the door to Nick, who was in jeans and a forest-green jersey, hair still damp from the shower. She went into his arms, stretching up for a kiss.

      Her toes were curling by the time he broke away.

      “Oh, yeah, I want more of that,” he said. “Just give me a sec.” Hurriedly he shrugged out of his coat and put down a bag. “Okay, come back.”

      She fitted herself into his arms and nuzzled his neck. “You smell good. Like the great outdoors.”

      “You smell like summer. Flowers and ripe peaches. Let’s see how you taste.”

      This time the kiss lasted longer, went deeper. Deep enough she felt it all through her body. His mouth was delicious, his scent intoxicating. Her hands gripped his butt, and his did the same to hers, so their bodies were pressed tight together. She felt the rigid heat of his erection through their clothes. As his tongue explored her mouth, she imagined his cock inside her doing its own exploration. Her body craved СКАЧАТЬ