Cinderella Christmas

by Shelley Galloway

She could only speak the truth. "You make me feel that way."

  Morgan palmed her gently, driving her crazy as he rubbed her nipple with a callused thumb. She shivered from the contact.

  And moaned softly when he kissed her deeply again.

  Brooke Anne gripped his hips and reveled in the sensations. She felt uninhibited. Special.

  As if she was loved.

  Love?

  Was that what she was feeling?

  Was she ready for that?

  With a ragged sigh, she pulled away and was thankful when Morgan did nothing to stop her. Tugging the two halves of her sweater together, she stammered, "I think...I think...we ought to talk a little bit, now."

  His eyes lit up. "Absolutely. I want you, Brooke."

  Oh! "Not about that. About us. About our feelings." Trying to look tough even though her bra was unfastened and her sweater was unzipped, she said, "I still think we have some issues to resolve."

  "What do you need settled?" Morgan murmured, running a hand through her hair.

  "Our feelings."

  Wariness entered his eyes. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean what I said. I think we should have a clear understanding between us before we let ourselves go any further."

  Stepping back, Morgan rubbed his forehead and cast her a regretful glance. Then he coughed. "I think I'd better go sit down."

  Feeling bereft, Brooke Anne watched him cross the room. She turned her back, clasped her bra and zipped her sweater. Then, hesitantly, she sat next to him and tried not to think of all the things that they could be doing if she'd just kept her mouth shut.

  "Brooke Anne? You...you're exactly right about the two of us needing to talk, I think we have a lot to discuss before we go any further."

  Although this had been her idea, Brooke Anne was too afraid to start. Simply nodding, she waited for him to continue.

  "I...I've kind of told you this, but not in so many words. My parents expected a lot from me. They wanted a kid they could be proud of." He looked at her from the corner of his eye. "Good grades. Good manners. Pleasant demeanor."

  "And you had all those things?"

  "I did. I did well in school. Went to a good college. Got my degree in the requisite four years. Got my MBA, too. Found a good job...got promotions."

  She studied him. He had leaned forward and was resting his elbows on his knees. "I'm sure they were proud of you," she said.

  "They were. Are." He exhaled. "I learned my work ethic from them - persistence, diligence, honesty-but not how to communicate." He waited for her reaction.

  She fought hard to keep her expression neutral. Hurting for him, she rested her hand on his arm. "What do you mean?"

  "I never felt especially close to them. We never really said much to each other. I never felt like if I had been sent to the principal's office, flunked out of school, or been fired, that they'd still feel the same way about me. I've never felt that unconditional love."

  Brooke Anne thought of her own family and of her last conversation with her mother. She squeezed his arm. "I'm sure they do love you unconditionally, Morgan. You're their son."

  "Maybe." He took a deep breath, as if summoning up a great deal of courage. "Brooke Anne, I know how to do a lot of things, but not how to convey my emotions very well. If I've seemed distant, it hasn't been because I'm that way inside."

  Patting his arm gently, she said, "I like how you are, right now. I don't want to change you."

  Now it was her turn. He deserved complete honesty after baring his soul. "Although you know how sensitive I've been about our differences in finances, I've been carrying around skeletons, too. Two years ago, before I moved here...I had a serious boyfriend. I thought...I thought we had a future together, but it was obviously one-sided. He broke up with me in front of all our friends one night, after he'd had too much to drink."

  "Oh, babe." Morgan said softly, pulling her into his arms.

  Her lip trembled, "It gets worse. See, I guess he'd been seeing someone else at the same time. Everyone had known about it but me. I was completely; publicly embarrassed."

  "He sounds like a loser."

  "Oh, he was...but knowing that didn't make what I was feeling any easier," she said, hoping Morgan realized just how hard it had been to share her story. "I'll been afraid to trust anyone ever since."

  Understanding dawned in his eyes. "Oh. Well I see."

  She shook her head. "No, you don't. What I've been trying to tell you is that I haven't been ready to start a new relationship, or to try to trust anyone until...you." She swallowed hard. "I really care about you."

  His breath hitched, followed by a small chuckle. "Damn. You did it again."

  Trepidation coursed through her body. Was he laughing at her? Right after she'd bared her soul to him? She moved away, only to be caught back up in his arms. "Brooke Anne, I meant you beat me to it again. I've been trying to summon up the nerve to tell you that you're special to me - really special - but you said it first."

  She stared at him in surprise. "Really?"

  "Really," he said, kissing her softly. "I care for you very much."

  There. Finally. They'd each made their true, honest emotions known. Gone were the doubts and uncertainties that she'd harbored over the past two years since Russell broke up with her. That had plagued her during the past few weeks with Morgan.

  Maybe their differences really didn't matter all that much.

  At long last, she felt secure - as if she was on even ground. And because of that, she felt more desirable than she had in ages.

  When she met his lips again, it was with pure pleasure and a new awareness of him. They had a real, solid relationship now. "Morgan, are you hungry?"

  "God, yes," he said, brushing his hands down her body once more.

  "I mean, for food? For Chinese?"

  His gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he turned his head to the frosted windowpane, the card table littered with a thousand jigsaw pieces. "I am. Let's order Chinese food, do this puzzle and hang out, Brooke Anne."

  "Just that?"

  His expression whimsical, he nodded. "Just that. I'd like to spend a night just being with you. Getting to know you. We've got plenty of time ahead of us to do more, don't you think?"

  "I do." Tears pricked her eyes as she realized the extent to which he cared for her. If he was willing to wait to make love until they knew each other better, it was a sure sign that he was completely serious about them building a relationship.

  "Then go order some sweet-and-sour pork."

  "I've got some wine, too."

  "Terrific," he said with a smile. "I can't think of a better way to spend the evening."

  She bit her lip to keep from saying anything.

  "Almost," he amended with an answering grin. "I almost can't."

  *****

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Five days later, seated by Morgan's side at Tomi's concert. Brooke Anne found it impossible not to laugh. There they were again, dressed up and seated next to each other. And, just like at the ball, an unspoken tension seemed to accompany them. Both were torn between the happiness of being together and an increasing awareness that there were still issues between them that would one day have to be ironed out.

  At least, that was Brooke Anne's take on the situation. But she'd be a liar if she pretended the only thing about Morgan Carmichael that interested her was his conversational skills.

  There were quite a few other talents he possessed that were firmly rooted in her mind - the way he kissed for example. So slowly, so expertly, as if she consumed his thoughts when they were together.

  And even when they were apart.

  She couldn't wait to kiss him again...but that wasn't all she was looking forward to. She was anxious to reacquaint herself with the way he felt next to her, their bodies locked in a no-holds-barred embrace, and wondered how things would be if they progressed further than that.

  Just the thought of the two of them being together, with no di
stractions, no words left unsaid, caused her pulse to quicken. She wanted to be alone with Morgan. Explore every inch of him. Feel his bare skin against her own. Savor the desire for him as long as she could.

  Did he feel the same way? Was he as anxious as she was to venture into a new dimension of their relationship?

  She hoped so. She'd dressed with care. Her rose-colored cashmere sweater was one that her mother had given her years ago. And the knit fabric of her long black skirt hugged her body in a way that made her appreciate all the exercise she got cleaning for a living.

  She'd even bought a small bottle of new perfume. Thinking about where she'd applied it, Brooke Anne felt a little tremor go through her. Had she really been anticipating that he was going to be kissing all those places?

  Well, to be honest... Yes.

  Swallowing hard, she turned her attention back to the choir.

  "You okay?" she whispered to Morgan, as the group sang a compelling version of "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing."

  "I'm better than okay. The choir's terrific, and it's fun watching Tomasina."

  Brooke Anne glanced over her shoulder to where three of her other friends sat. She smiled brightly at Vivian, Monique and Karen. All three of them had given her a thumbs-up when they'd seen Morgan. And he'd seemed happy to have the chance to meet them after the concert. That meant the world to her - that he wanted to meet her friends.

  Morgan put his arm around her and she settled in closer to him, then turned her attention to Tomasina, who had just stepped up for a solo.

  The special thing about her best friend was that she knew when she looked good, which was pretty much all the time. You could tell because there'd be a slight upward tilt to her chin, a little more attitude in her step and a gleam in her eye that dared any observer to think otherwise.

  Brooke Anne was used to it. In fact, it was what made Tomi, Tomi. Brooke Anne had laughed when she'd heard Tomi's husband make a comment about it once. He'd teasingly stated that it was hard being married to a woman who woke up beautiful and only got better-looking throughout the day.

  Tomasina had given him a nice kiss for that.

  Tonight, dressed in a red satin robe with a snow-white collar, Tomi looked ethereal. As she sang "What Child Is This" more than one person dabbed at their eyes. Without a doubt. Tomi's voice was inspiring.

  Brooke Anne looked over at Morgan to see his reaction. He appeared transfixed by Tomi's beautiful contralto voice. Brooke Anne was glad she'd brought him to the concert. In fact, she was glad about the general direction things were going with Morgan since that evening they'd spent at her apartment, eating Chinese food.

  By now they'd put in enough phone time together to get a good sense of each other's likes and dislikes, Brooke Anne had the feeling that they'd be able to overcome their differences.

  When the concert ended, after the crowd had given the choir a standing ovation, Brooke Anne took Morgan over to Vivian, Monique and Karen.

  "Nice to meet you," he said, after all the introductions had been made. "I've been looking forward to it."

  "The feeling's mutual," Monique replied.

  Morgan laughed. Turning to Brooke Anne, he said, "What have you been telling your friends about me?"

  The women shared secret smiles. "That's confidential," Vivian said sagely.

  "Only that you're the best thing that's ever happened to her," Karen piped in.

  Morgan pulled Brooke Anne toward him in a one-armed hug. "Whoa! Looks like I need to go hang out at your office."

  As she thought about their endless jibes and girl talk, Brooke Anne shook her head quickly. "No way. You've got your own job. You stay there."

  The three women laughed. "That's okay, Morgan. We'll expect to hear regular updates about you from now on," Karen said.

  Embarrassed by the conversation, Brooke Anne eyed Morgan. She couldn't tell if the teasing bothered him or not. Then he gave her that smile - the one he saved just for her.

  It suddenly felt as if her whole body was on alert, waiting for him to touch her again. Kiss her. Wrap her in his arms.

  Take her to bed.

  As Vivian and Monique smiled at her knowingly, Brooke Anne slipped out from under Morgan's arm. "Um, I think we'd better go find Tomasina and congratulate her," she said.

  "Whatever you want," Morgan replied, much to the amusement of her girlfriends.

  Quickly, they said their goodbyes, then went in search of Tomi.

  "You were great, Tomi," Brooke Anne said once they found her, standing with Ron and Vanessa. "I think your voice just keeps getting better and better."

  "It was a good night," she replied, her gaze panning from Brooke Anne to Morgan. "Where are you off to now?"

  Brooke Anne was confused. "Aren't you having a party, like usual?"

  "Yes, but it's just a family party this year," Tomi said with a smile for Vanessa. "I'm afraid you two will have to find something else to do."

  Her friend's words were a complete surprise. "Tomi, what are you talking about? I thought you said -"

  Tomi glanced at the clock on the wall and gasped. "My goodness, will you look at the time!" she said. "I've got to go. The mall closes at nine and I promised Vanessa we'd get her picture taken with Santa before heading home. Y'all have a fun time tonight."

  Tomasina turned her back on Brooke Anne and Morgan and within seconds was lost in the crowd.

  "I can't believe that!" Brooke Anne exclaimed, as she and Morgan walked out to the parking lot. "I've always gone to her house after the Christmas concert."

  "I think it was her not-so-subtle way of saying that we ought to do something a little more romantic instead." Morgan opened her car door for her. "Just the two of us."

  "You think so?"

  "I do."

  "Any ideas?"

  He gave her a speculative glance. "A couple."

  Memories of being wrapped in his arms on her couch came tumbling forward. "How about a late dinner?"

  "Sounds good by me."

  They drove along the narrow downtown streets, the hilly terrain making Brooke Anne's stomach jump - or maybe it was Morgan who'd put the butterflies there. By contrast, he looked so calm, so self-assured. Focused.

  Brooke Anne was more aware of him than ever. His scent, his laugh.. .that wayward curl that fell across his forehead. Oh, she wanted to be near him. She hoped dinner would be quick.

  An hour later, Morgan rubbed his thumb over the fine bones of Brooke Anne's hand and wondered if it was possible for their server to be any slower. He was in a hurry to get out of the restaurant, find somewhere secluded and pull Brooke into his arms. And if her heated glances were any indication, she was in a hurry, too.

  It had been too long. Too many days had passed without any body contact, without her kisses. He'd spent hours daydreaming about how it would feel to hold her close again.

  When had he gone from being attracted to her to...in love?

  He poked at his chicken, then set his fork down again. He had no interest in food.

  "Aren't you hungry?" Brooke Anne asked him.

  "What? No, not really. How about you? You haven't touched much of your meal, either."

  She looked at her plate. "Gosh, I haven't. I guess my mind has been on other things."

  "Such as?"

  A slow wash of red spread across her face. "Nothing important... really."

  He recognized that catch in her tone, that look of longing she was trying to hide, because he felt the exact same way. "What do you want to do?" he asked, the huskiness of his voice betraying his innocent question.

  She licked her lips. "I want...I want to be alone with you, Morgan, to tell you the truth."

  He stared at her mouth, at the spot where her tongue had darted out, and swallowed hard. Signaling their waiter, he said, "Check, please."

  Brooke Anne smiled at Morgan. "You know what this means now, don't you?"

  He couldn't wait for her to tell him. "What?"

  "We're leaving yet another meal unfinished.
"

  "Let's just stop eating. Food doesn't seem to work for us."

  She met his gaze. "I couldn't agree more."

  *****

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Morgan took her to his town house. He hadn't meant to. He'd planned on going for a walk after dinner, enjoying some scintillating conversation, then charming her into kissing him again.

  But the weather had turned rainy, he had no conversation and she already wanted to kiss him.

  The least he could do was make sure they had privacy - and they were both too old to go parking.

  If Brooke Anne felt uncomfortable being at his house, she didn't say a word. She just smiled at him as soon as he closed the front door, and stepped into his arms.

  Just like that.

  Her body felt every bit as petite and feminine as he remembered. Taking care not to crush her, Morgan curved her close to him and, unable to stop himself, slipped a hand underneath her sweater.

  She had smooth skin. Like velvet. He flattened his palm against her back, savoring every inch of her, little by little. Somehow they made it to his couch.

  "Brooke Anne, I've missed you," he said softly, as he bent to kiss her. "I've missed being this close to you...." His voice drifted off at her inviting smile.

  "Then come here," she said, and pulled him toward her.

  The offer was impossible to resist. Morgan touched her lips with his, sensed her passion. Her welcome. He traced the line of her mouth with his tongue.. .tempted her to let him in. And grunted with pleasure when she did just that.

  Within minutes, they were lying on the couch, and he was helping her off with her sweater. She seemed so sweet to him. His fingers trembled as he brushed them across each of her ribs, and finally reached the edge of her bra.

  She didn't even hesitate. Looking him in the eye Brooke Anne unhooked the clasp nestled between her breasts. Creamy flesh spilled forth. The lacy garment fell to the floor. And Morgan's blood heated up another hundred degrees. "Brooke Anne," he said quietly. "I've wanted you so badly."

  She inhaled shakily. "Me, too."

  She met his lips and he caught her up in his embrace. She was giving herself to him. In trust.