One Winter's Night

by Lori Borrill

She set the wine down and took one of the hats in her hand. “These are for my brothers. I’ve made scarves for my mom and dad.”

  “Wow, you’re good. Do you know what they charge for these at the specialty shops?”

  She shook her head, feeling more pride than she should over the simple compliment.

  He pulled the hat down on his head and she laughed. The green-and-yellow knit cap with the fluffy pom-pom on top, ear flaps and braided tassels made an odd fashion statement when combined with John’s white dress shirt and red holiday tie.

  “How do I look?”

  “Like a snowboarder on his way to court.” She moved close and gave him a sultry smile. “Maybe if you lost the formality.” Placing her hands on his chest, she began loosening his tie.

  He raised a brow in intrigue. “Yeah, maybe the tie,” he said, the humor in his voice sobering to something seductive.

  His gaze moved to her lips as she slowly unraveled the knot, tug by tiny tug. Desire began to fill the air, weighing heavy and still like a fog forming over the room. It pooled low in her belly and warmed her skin, and as her fingers worked, she had to stifle the urge to go up on tiptoes and take a taste of that strong square jaw. Instead, she slipped the tie from his collar and tossed it on the table next to her knitting basket.

  She quirked a brow and shook her head. “It’s still not quite right.”

  “No?”

  The molten look in his eyes said he was only playing along, anxious to see where she intended to take this seduction and being ready and willing to go wherever that was.

  She went to work on his shirt buttons, tugging open the top one before biting her lip and moving to the next. His heavy breath caressed her fingertips as she spread the fabric to reveal the first hints of the smooth muscled chest underneath. Her mouth watered for a taste of it, and her body tingled with the thought of that warm breath wafting over her naked breasts. By the time she got to the third button, she’d gone from warm to hot to aching for some serious action.

  She cleared her throat. “I think the problem is this whole shirt just needs to go.”

  “I think you’re right.” In one slow move, he pulled the hat from his head, slipped his arm around her waist and closed his mouth over hers.

  A luxurious wave of liquid heat poured through her at the taste of those lips and the feel of his firm arms holding her close. It smoothed over her like a bubbly warm bath, swiping the tension from her shoulders and draining the strength from her limbs.

  With a sigh she leaned into the embrace. She’d wanted this all night—had wanted more—and now that she had it, she wasn’t disappointed. The man felt like pure bliss, and what he did to her body and senses was nothing short of splendor.

  She coiled her arms around his hips and cupped his ass, smoothing her body close as a rapidly growing erection filled the space between them. It was long and impressive, the thick ridge surging sensation where it circled low and began to thrum into a slow, steady pulse. The scent of sex and man hung thick. And when he dug his fingers into her hips and squeezed, that slow pulse picked up speed.

  “You’re amazing,” he whispered through the kiss. “I’ve been half-crazed for this since I first held you on the dance floor.”

  He moved his kisses from her lips to her chin then started a path down her throat. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes and moaned. “This would be so much better naked.”

  “This would be more than a kiss if we were naked.”

  “I want more than a kiss.” She trailed a finger over his thick ridge, just to make sure he didn’t misunderstand. “Lots more.”

  It was all the prompting he needed.

  Letting out a low growl, he scooped her into his arms and carried her across the room. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to tell me twice.”

  He deposited her on the first soft place he could find, which was the large sectional sofa only three feet away, then moved to take her in his arms, but she pushed him back and straddled his lap instead. She couldn’t remember ever wanting a man so badly, and now that she had him, she intended to take full advantage.

  Tossing off her shirt and bra, she exposed herself to him, relishing the feel of his warm palms as he placed them on her breasts.

  “These are beautiful,” he groaned.

  He nibbled at her skin before taking her breast in his mouth, smooth pleasure snaking down her spine and leaving her aching for more. His tongue felt like spun satin, he smelled like fresh soap, and as he licked and sucked, she lolled her heat to the side and let the sensations consume her.

  “Oh, that’s good,” she uttered in a husky voice. His expression had grown dark and fiery, filled with a hunger that surged her pulse and heated her flesh. If the man had been sexy before, he was deadly now with that hot needy look in his eyes. It revealed strength she hadn’t seen before, a focused intent that went beyond simple lust.

  She tugged the shirt from his slacks and shrugged him out of it, revealing a body deliciously sculpted. It wasn’t at all what she’d expect of a man who’d proclaimed to “push paper,” and as she ran her hands over his firm, smooth skin, her curiosity grew. Who was this man who could be so gentle and friendly one moment then hot and sultry the next? What made him laugh? What made him burn? Oh, she wished she had the time to unravel all his secrets. Instead, she’d have to settle for the few she could uncover this weekend—most notably how this strong sexy body would feel inside hers.

  Clasping her waist, he pulled her up from his lap so that her navel was at his lips. “I need a taste,” he said, using quick fingers to unzip her pants and slip them down below her thighs. Then he bent low and opened his mouth over her mound.

  Glorious sensations coiled through her and she cried out with a sound that was half gasp, half moan. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this luxurious, and as he began to stroke and lick, she shrugged off her pants to give him better access.

  His throaty groan seduced her, weakening her knees and pushing her body toward an edge she didn’t want to reach too soon. She wanted the night to last, had more things she wanted to explore, so just as she neared the peak, she slipped off the couch and knelt between his legs.

  “It’s my turn.” She reached for his zipper and watched his expression sizzle. His lips were moist, his strong jaw flushed, and as she coaxed him out of his slacks, awareness deepened his already smoldering gaze.

  His stiff cock sprang up between them and her clit pulsed in response. She wanted to feel the fullness in her womb, but the man was making her crazy. Before this went any further, she wanted him crazy, too.

  She closed her mouth over the tip and sucked him in. His shaft jerked and swelled, and as she began stroking the smooth length, a guttural moan oozed from his lips.

  “You’ll be the death of me,” he muttered with a sexy growl, but instead of attempting to pull away, he laced his hands through her hair and coaxed her along.

  Lightly, she toyed, using her tongue to moisten his hard cock then blowing cool air to calm the force. Over and over she worked him, hot then cold, hard then soft, letting his low moans sing like music until his breath shuddered and he quickly jerked away.

  “My pants,” he said, his voice tight with need. “I’ve got a condom.”

  She retrieved it and sheathed him, then climbed on his lap and hovered over his tip. She ached to slide down over him but she forced herself to go slowly, wanting to draw out these pleasurable moments for as long as she could. With a sly smile, she teased herself over him, sliding down onto the tip then backing off, going a little farther next time then pulling away. His hands fisted at his side and his jaw clenched tightly, his need to take her quickly obvious in his eyes. But like her, he held back, letting the sensations percolate slowly.

  He cupped her face in his hands, drew her lips to his and kissed her, tangling his tongue with hers while she slowly and torturously eased him into her tight space, the thick length filling her and snatching her breath. And when she’d finally settled full
y, she paused, wanting to simply relish the connection of their bodies fully joined.

  Her heart pounding in her chest, she bent close and whispered, “I love the way you fill me.”

  “It’s pretty good from this end, too.”

  Holding her hips, he gently began rocking, slowly at first then building momentum as they found a smooth rhythm. The room was cool but their bodies were hot, and soon a moist sheen covered them both as they neared the edge.

  He reached between them and began stroking her clit with his thumbs, the sharp surge of pleasure quickly pushing her back to that edge. And as he circled and stroked, her body began to tremble.

  “Go, baby,” he urged. “Come for me.”

  He didn’t have to ask twice. Just the urgent look of restraint on his face pushed her over, and as she held his shoulders and came, he groaned out a breath and came with her.

  It was a tidal wave of pleasure that seemed to go on forever, their bodies bucking and thrusting until there was nothing left but the faint rippling of sensation that echoed and pulsed. And when her body finally calmed, she laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. “That was really, really good.”

  He turned his head and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

  “Promise me we’ll do that again before the weekend is over,” she added, though the thought of this weekend ever being over sliced through the moment.

  She brushed it off as he closed his arms around her and agreed, “Oh, yeah. We’ll definitely be doing that again.”

  6

  JOHN POURED TWO GLASSES of the wine he and Anna hadn’t gotten to the night before. The moment they’d shed their clothes, things like food and drink were shoved aside for another time. As was sleep.

  But now, after spending half the evening making love and an entire day touring the sights of Chicago, they were thankful to relax on Anna’s couch with their containers of take-out Chinese food and her bottle of Two Buck Chuck.

  He’d offered to get dressed up and take her out to an upscale restaurant for dinner, but she’d shot him down, arguing that he’d already spent enough money on her and that Irene’s cat, Korky, got grumpy when left alone all day. So they’d settled for a casual meal in the living room next to the Christmas tree and a roaring fire, and John couldn’t have been more pleased. He got enough fine dining on the job. What was really lacking in his life were these relaxing times in a comfortable place with a beautiful woman and good food. Heck, even the cheap wine tasted like ambrosia as long as he was sharing it with Anna.

  Handing her a glass, he held up his in a toast. “To a wonderful weekend with a beautiful woman.”

  Her smile lit the room. “It’s been more than wonderful. It’s a fantasy Cinderella weekend I’ll never forget.”

  She tapped her glass to his and took a sip, unaware that her words bothered him. He hated that she was leaving Monday. Every hour spent with her left him hungry for more, and the idea that this would be over in two days didn’t sit well at all. Only he had no idea what to do about it.

  In a heartbeat, he’d give her whatever money she needed to stay, but he knew she’d never accept it. And really, he couldn’t argue with her objections. Despite how he felt, they still barely knew each other, and borrowing money from him was no way to start a budding relationship. But damned if he could stomach the thought of simply letting her walk away. So after much contemplation, he’d decided his only option was to find out as much as he could about her and hope that a solution somehow revealed itself before their time was over.

  “So tell me about your nursing career,” he said. “You said you’d discovered a calling. How did that happen?”

  Some of the fun in her expression sobered. “It’s not a pleasant story, really.”

  Recognizing the sudden sadness in her eyes, he placed his hand over hers. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to talk about it if it upsets you.”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t mind. It’s sad but it was a pivotal point in my life that changed everything about me. It’s important.”

  She took a sip of her wine and began to tell him about Kelsey, her best friend since childhood who was killed in an automobile accident two years earlier.

  “We were on our way home from Jackpot,” she said. “We’d just spent the weekend at the casino and were having a great time, laughing and gabbing and daydreaming about all the places we wanted to see someday. Then out of the blue, we came around a bend and an eighteen-wheeler was in our lane.”

  “You were in the car with her?”

  She nodded. Placing her hand on the fat calico cat sitting next to her, she began to pet his soft fur as she went on. “I don’t know how I escaped without a scratch, but Kelsey was hurt bad. She was bleeding and crying. I found my cell phone and called for an ambulance, and it took what seemed like hours for one to show up. I was with her in the car, rode with her in the ambulance and watched her fade away before they had a chance to even get her into surgery.” She winced. “I was the one who told her family that we’d lost her.”

  John stilled. “Oh, babe, I’m sorry.” He cupped her hand in his, touched by the strength he saw in her eyes as she retold the story.

  “It was a tough time, but it changed me forever. Before the accident, I was going along without thinking much about my future. My job didn’t challenge me, and though I’d always wanted to someday experience life outside of Twin Falls, I’d always thought I had the rest of my life to get there. Now I’m not wasting time. I’m following my dreams and appreciating every day I have on this earth.”

  “And your dream was becoming a nurse.”

  She shook her head. “Actually, no. Before the accident, I didn’t really know what I wanted. The only things I dreamed about were someday hitting Disneyland or maybe meeting Brad Pitt.” Shrugging apologetically, she added, “I was pretty much your average ambitionless twentysomething, content to take whatever came along.”

  The comment hit close to home. Though John had excused his choices based on who he was, he couldn’t deny that taking the job at his father’s company was any different. For him, that was the easy route, the one that didn’t make waves and basically landed in his lap. But despite the prestige and pay, he knew it wasn’t the life he wanted.

  “Nursing was a skill I uncovered after the crash,” she explained. She closed her eyes for a moment and lowered her voice. “It was a really bad scene. Kelsey was in pain and sometimes hysterical, and as her injuries began taking the life from her…” She paused to swallow the emotion in her throat. “That was very difficult.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, squeezing her slim hand in his.

  “Through it all, I stayed calm and in control, and afterward, the EMTs told me I was a natural. I spent some time with the hospital pastor, who got me to understand how important I was to Kelsey in her final hours. That as humans we can’t control who lives or dies, but the support and comfort we give each other in those final hours makes a difference.”

  With a deep breath she picked up her wineglass and took a sip. “In the months after, I realized I wanted to become a nurse. It was something I knew I’d be good at, and it was a career that would give me purpose. I want to be there for people when they need help, and go home each day knowing that I’d done something that made a difference in someone’s life, no matter how small a gesture it might be.”

  “It’s an honorable profession that requires a special kind of person,” John said. And he didn’t doubt Anna was that kind of person. He’d already seen her unique mix of strength and compassion, and he could easily see that combination translating well into the field of nursing. He sure wouldn’t mind having her at his bedside if he were ever hospitalized.

  Drawing her close, he cupped her chin in his hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “I’m only sorry you had to go through such a horrible experience in order to find that out.”

  The pretty smile returned to her face. “It was horrible, but I know Kelsey wouldn’t have wanted it to destroy me. I think she’d b
e happy knowing something good came of her death. That’s very important to me. Without it, her loss is just a tragedy.”

  For a few minutes, he sat and studied her, admiration and respect welling for this amazing woman who kept sinking further into his heart. He wondered how he would have fared if life had tested him like that, and he knew it was a question that might never be answered unless he stood up and took a chance.

  “I’ve always wanted to be a cop,” he found himself blurting.

  She reacted with surprise, which was pretty much the same response he’d gotten from the few friends he’d confided in.

  “What made you choose your father’s company instead?”

  He grinned. “That same ambitionless twentysomething mentality.”

  She picked up her container of chow mien and started digging through the noodles with her chopsticks. “I’d hardly call running a big company like that ambitionless.”

  “Not in the typical sense, but it was the path of least resistance. The job was handed to me. It’s what my folks wanted, and it was hard to turn my back on the money.”

  She took a bite of her food and studied him while chewing, finally saying, “But you’d always wanted to be a cop.”

  “Ever since I was old enough to know what they were.”

  “So are you thinking about changing careers?”

  “Quite a bit lately.”

  “What’s stopping you?”

  He chuckled. “You’re the first person to ask me that. When I’ve mentioned it to friends, they mostly scoff at the idea and laugh like I’ve lost my mind.”

  “Why? What’s wrong with being a cop?”

  “I’d be walking away from a very hefty salary at a company where I’d ultimately rule the roost.”

  “But do you want to rule a roost?”

  “It doesn’t excite me, no.”

  Shrugging, she casually went back to her meal. “Well, you know what I think of that. We only get one turn in life, so you better make it good.”

  She made it sound so simple, as if giving up wealth and power for a job where he would be underpaid and underappreciated—not to mention the potential dangers—was a no-brainer. But maybe it was. Maybe his problem was that he spent too much time overanalyzing his choices and worrying about everyone but himself.