Holiday Temptation

by Donna Hill

  “I’d love to hear you play sometime.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

  * * *

  Traci sipped her drink and tried to put the pieces of Noah together. He seemed to have so much ambition and potential. He’d graduated college. His best friend was a business owner. And yet, Noah served coffee every day and occasionally played with a band. True, he talked about his dream of having a café with an entertainment space, but the couple of times that she broached the subject, he found a way to steer clear or talk around it. Now, this wasn’t to say that what he did for a living would change her feelings about him. It was an honest living. What it did, however, was have her question his drive. Was he only a dreamer and not a doer? Men who talked a good game were a dime a dozen. Been there, done that. She hoped that Noah wasn’t one of them. She wanted to believe that he wasn’t.

  She pushed those thoughts aside and let herself melt into the charm that was Noah. His laughter, the light touches, the spark in his eyes when he spoke to her as if she was the most important person in the world.

  It had been a long time since she’d been made to feel utterly special to someone else. And the fact that it was Noah only intensified her feelings for him, combined with the perfect atmosphere, delicious food, and incredible music. She couldn’t ask for more.

  “You were so right about the singer,” she said once Dawne’s set was over. “She is amazing.”

  Noah grinned. “Ready to meet her?”

  The flush of excitement lit her eyes. “Yes!”

  He pushed back from the table, came around to help her from her seat, and once again took her hand. Slow warmth rolled up her arm.

  Noah led her around the table to the side of the restaurant and down a narrow hall to the dressing room of the performers.

  He tapped lightly on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Noah stepped in first and brought Traci in behind him.

  “Hey, lady.”

  “Noah!” Dawne got up from the cushy love seat and darted over for a hug. The petite powerhouse stepped back and looked up at him. “It’s been a while. How are you?”

  “Can’t complain.”

  “You should have let me know you were here. I would have loved to have you on set.”

  Noah chuckled. “Maybe next time.” He turned his gaze on Traci. “Want to introduce you to a new fan. Traci Long, this is Dawne.”

  Dawne extended her manicured hand. “Any friend of Noah’s is a friend of mine. Glad you liked the music.”

  “You are amazing.”

  She smiled demurely. “‘Preciate that. You guys want something to drink, eat?” she asked, pointing to the spread on the side table.

  “No, we’re good. Gonna let you unwind. I just wanted to holler at you and introduce my lady.” He squeezed Traci’s hand and her heart thumped.

  “You must be some kind of special,” Dawne said to Traci. “This guy here, he doesn’t bring anyone around. Trust.” She gave Traci a wink.

  Traci’s cheeks heated. Her stomach did that flutter thing. She stole a glance at Noah, who smiled back at her to confirm what Dawne confessed.

  “Guilty as charged.” He draped an arm around Traci’s shoulder, then leaned down and kissed Dawne on the cheek. “Take care. When are you back in town?”

  “Hmm, I head out to Atlanta in the morning for a short stint, then I’ll be back in about two weeks.”

  “I’ll try to catch up when you get back.”

  “Do that,” she said, pointing a finger at him. She turned to Traci. “Really nice to meet you.”

  “You too.”

  * * *

  “I had an amazing evening,” Traci confessed when Noah pulled to a stop in front of her building. “And meeting Dawne . . . wow. Thank you.”

  “Anytime. I hope you know that.” He drew closer. “I want to spend more time with you. I want you to know me. I want to know you. You with that?”

  She swallowed. “Yes. I’d like that.”

  His mouth lifted into that half grin that made her insides quiver. He leaned closer, and so did she, until their lips touched. A current of desire whipped through her at the contact. Noah’s mouth was like a live wire that sizzled and sparked. When he dipped his tongue into her mouth, she sighed in pleasure. He pulled her closer and a part of her wanted to leap across the gearshift and into his lap as desire bloomed.

  “Damn, woman,” he muttered as he pulled away. He cupped her face in his palm. “You make me crazy.”

  She licked her lips and tasted him again. “So do you,” she whispered.

  “Go, before . . .”

  “Before what?” she dared to ask. Her heart pounded.

  “Before I forget that I’m a gentleman and this is a car parked on a public street and not a bedroom.”

  Traci took a breath and eased back. “We’ll talk tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, definitely.”

  She clutched her purse to her chest. He disengaged the locks on the door. She reached for the handle and sat on the fence of indecision, but only for a moment.

  “Why don’t you come up?”

  His eyes widened. “You sure?”

  She nodded.

  Noah turned off the car. The rain had stopped. They got out.

  Chapter Eight

  Traci’s legs shook as she mounted the stairs to her top-floor apartment. Halfway, she second-guessed her decision. But it was too late now. She felt him behind her. She fumbled for the key in her purse, finally found it, and opened the door.

  Before she had a chance, Noah helped her out of her coat, letting his hands linger on her shoulders before he placed a kiss on the back of her neck. A shiver ran along the length of her spine. She arched her back and mentally moaned.

  Her voice shook. “Can I fix you something?”

  Noah turned her around to face him. He held her arms and looked into her eyes. “I’m going to say this so that we’re real clear. I want you in the worst kinda way. I want to make love to you until the sun comes up. I want to hear you call my name and me call yours. I want to do things to that banging body of yours that you will want me to always do. But . . . only if you’re sure. Only if you want me as badly as I want you.”

  Traci took a calming breath. She reached up and draped her arms around his neck. “What are you waiting for?” she said against his mouth. She took his hand and led him to her bedroom.

  The moment they crossed the threshold Noah took her into his arms, pulling her hard against him. His mouth covered hers in a breath-stealing kiss. His fingers played along her back and cupped her plump behind to pull her closer. His erection pressed against her belly. He bent his knees so that he could push up between her legs. She moaned and rotated her hips against him. He sucked in air.

  Traci held on to his biceps as they bumped and grinded against each other. Then with his large hands firmly planted around her rear, he lifted her off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he walked over to the queen-sized bed. They tumbled onto the thick teal-colored down quilt.

  Noah wasted no time in beginning his long-awaited exploration of her body. He deftly unbuttoned her white blouse to reveal the lacy black bra that barely contained the swell of her breasts. He planted tiny, hot kisses along their arch. He slipped off one strap and then the other, then tugged the cups downward. An involuntary groan rumbled deep in his throat.

  He sat up and pulled her up with him. “I need to see all of you,” he said in a gravel-laden voice. He unhooked her bra, tossed it aside, then unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans.

  Traci rose up onto her knees and wiggled her jeans down over her hips.

  “Stand up.”

  She did.

  Noah pulled the jeans all the way down. Her lacy panties matched her bra. He softly moaned and nuzzled her center, making her nearly collapse against him. She gripped his broad shoulders. The warmth of his breath whispered along her inner thighs, followed by swipes of his tongue. Her eyes squeezed shut and her finge
rs dug deeper. He continued his tease all the way down her legs. He then lifted one foot and took off her ankle boot. He tossed it and followed suit with the other foot, then removed her jeans and panties. They wound up in a heap on the floor.

  Noah eased back a bit so that he could take her in, from the top of her wild curls to the bottom of her feet. Hungry eyes, shadowed by lowered lashes, took snapshots of her to store in his memory for those rare times in the future when they would be apart.

  “You are so beautiful,” he murmured while he stroked her thighs. “Lay back,” he commanded.

  Traci gingerly lowered herself down, praying that she wouldn’t tumble over in the process, then stretched out on her back.

  Noah began at her ankles, kissing the insides; then slowly and deliberately he moved up her legs, teased behind her knees, laved and nipped the inside of her thighs, until the muscles in her stomach fluttered uncontrollably. She gripped the sheets in her hands when he reached her center. He pressed his mouth against her, and licked her like dessert. Her body arched as if shot with a surge of electricity. She was going to explode—any minute. She bit down on her bottom lip to keep from screaming.

  He parted her thighs wide and held them in place to give him all the access that he desired. He suckled the tiny fruit until it was hard and pulsing against his tongue. Her whimpers pushed past the hold that she had on her lips and floated like musical lyrics into the air.

  Noah draped her thighs across his wide shoulders and slipped his finger into her deep, wet opening. Traci’s scream was raw, rising from the depths of her being as her hips jerked upward. She sputtered words and sounds that Noah couldn’t make out in between her cries of his name. All that mattered was pleasing her, taking her to heights that she would not soon forget.

  Traci felt so hot. She felt as if her body would self-combust. Wave after wave of exquisite heat raced through her limbs. She couldn’t put words to what Noah was doing to her body because she couldn’t process anything more than feeling. She felt alive, and powerful, and submissive, all at once. She wanted this feeling to go on and on, though she knew nothing this good could last forever. But she was intent on experiencing every possible sensation before she gave in to the inevitable release that was building like a firestorm and tearing across what was once dry land.

  Noah slid a second finger inside her and she gasped as her wet walls closed and opened around them. He rose up on his knees and unfastened his pants with his free hand while he continued to pleasure her. “Open your eyes,” he said, his voice as hard as his cock when her lids fluttered upward and saw what he had waiting for her.

  Traci’s lips parted, but no sound came out. Her heart raced. She wanted him. She desperately needed to know what he would feel like inside her. She lowered her legs, leaned up, and stretched out her hand and wrapped her fingers around his width. Noah sucked in air through his teeth. For a moment his eyes drifted closed and he embraced the feel of her hand around him.

  Slowly she stroked him, up and down, while intermittently letting her thumb graze over the head to awaken the tiny dewdrops that slicked its surface. She’d done as he’d asked. She’d opened her eyes and now she saw the effect of what she was doing to him reflected in the jutting veins in his neck, the flaring of his nostrils, the pulsing of his cock, and the dark, dangerous look in his eyes that only intensified her own desire. Yet, through it all he continued his ministrations on her.

  Noah reached to the side of the bed, where he’d tossed his slacks. He dug in his pocket and took out his wallet. He gave it to Traci.

  “Take one out.”

  Traci swallowed. She flipped open the wallet and found a string of three condom packets behind his money. She pulled them out and put the wallet on the nightstand. She handed the condoms to Noah.

  “No. I want you to do it.”

  Traci hesitated. She’d actually never done this before. She’d watched, but never done it. “I don’t . . .”

  “Tear one apart from the rest.”

  She did and then put the remaining two on the nightstand.

  “Now just tear off the top with your teeth.”

  She felt around for the contents inside the gold packet then put the corner of it in her mouth and ripped off a section. Noah smiled.

  “Take it out.”

  Traci gingerly pulled out the condom.

  “Go ahead, put it on me,” he said so low that his words were almost lost.

  Traci looked up into his eyes and saw the desire that matched hers that only seemed to intensify with this very intimate act that had turned into erotic foreplay.

  “Just place it on the head and slowly roll it down. Leave a little room at the top.” He grinned mischievously when her eyes flashed to his.

  Traci kept her eyes trained on him, relishing the expression of delight on his face as she slowly, very slowly, rolled the latex over him. She made a game of it, rolling it down a little, then stopping to cup his swollen sacs, then rolling again, stopping to place a kiss on his belly.

  Noah gritted his teeth. He totally enjoyed the game she was playing, but he was tired of playing now. He wanted her. He wanted release, and he would have it.

  He gripped her wrist and stared hard into her eyes as he urgently assisted in the sheathing.

  Traci grinned. “Are you okay?”

  “No,” he groaned, “but we’re going to fix that.”

  Traci giggled and flopped back against the pillows. “Okay,” she whispered with a taunting look in her eyes.

  Noah uttered something deep in his throat. He reached behind her and snatched up a pillow, then shoved it under her hips.

  Traci’s breathing escalated. Noah was momentarily transfixed by the rise and fall of her breasts. He lowered his head and took one of the dark brown nipples into his mouth.

  “Ooohhh.” Traci thrashed her head against the pillow.

  He attended to the other side and back again. “Open your legs for me, Traci. Just for me,” he whispered into her ear.

  The simple request nearly made her come. She did as he asked. She spread her legs as wide as she could and bent her knees.

  Noah groaned. He held the weight of his throbbing penis in his hand and slowly pushed past her opening.

  Their first contact sent shocks through them both and they moaned in unison.

  Noah gritted his teeth as he pressed deeper. The wet heat of her, the tightness of her, the feel of her wrapped around him, sent him hurtling toward the edge. Only sheer will held him back. He needed to please her, to hear her scream in release, before he let go. So he took his time, stroked her slow and deep, teased her with kisses and caresses, until she was a single vibrating mass of sensation. He could feel her need rise in the way her body began to tense, her moans began to grow louder and more rapid, the sheen of perspiration that coated her body, and the way her breasts had swollen. The only sounds were their moans and the slap of damp flesh.

  She was so wet and slick, but so tight, that he wanted to scream in his own pleasure. It was like being with a woman for her first time; yet he knew it wasn’t, not by the way she rocked her hips, lifted her breasts for his kisses, or locked her knees against his waist.

  Then there it was. Her neck arched and her belly flexed. Her fingertips pressed into his back.

  He slid his hands under her behind and pulled her hard against his thrusts.

  “Noah!”

  Her body shook and the grip and release of her insides around his member were so hard and fast that it sucked the essence out of him, sending him spiraling. He wasn’t even sure what he’d said other than calling on a higher power through his teeth as the flood of his release made him infant weak.

  Traci wrapped her legs fully around him and pulled him tight against her.

  Their hearts pounded like crazy. Their breaths were just a beat above gasps. Aftershocks zipped through them, jerking his still-hard penis and pulsing her vagina until they were utterly spent.

  “Damn,” they both muttered, then broke out in
satisfied laughter.

  Noah reached between their joined bodies and made sure that the very used condom made its exit along with him.

  “Bathroom is first door on the right,” Traci said.

  Noah grinned and padded out of the room to the bath. Traci watched in utter pleasure at the magnificence of the man from the toned wide shoulders down to the tapered waist, narrow hips, tight just-right ass and great legs. And that was only from the back. She nearly salivated when he returned and she gained a full-frontal view. OMG was the only coherent thing she could put together in her mind.

  He came to her with a warm washcloth and a towel and, without a word, began to wipe her down. The simple act was so caring and tender that tears sprang to Traci’s eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked. A deep frown etched a line between his eyes.

  She sniffed and suddenly felt ridiculous. “Nothing,” she croaked. “Just happy.”

  Noah’s smile was slow and then the warm light returned to his eyes. He leaned closer and gently touched her lips with his. “That’s all I want for you—to be happy.” He stroked the loose hair away from her face and then pulled the sheet up to cover them. Traci curled on her side and Noah spooned with her. He draped his hand across her waist, gave her a tender kiss on the back of her neck before they both drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Nine

  “So,” Traci breathed as she lifted a slice of crispy bacon toward her lips. “You know my sordid past, what about you, any ladies in waiting?”

  Noah snorted a laugh. He took a sip of juice and thought about what he would tell her and how much. He set the glass down. “There was somebody, once.”

  “Only once?” she teased.

  His lowered lashes hid his eyes. “Just once.” He tried to joke and held up one finger. “Anita. About five years ago. She wanted to head down the aisle.”

  He paused for so long after that admission that Traci had to nudge him to finish. “So what happened?”

  “Let’s simply say that she was with me because of who she wanted me to be rather than who I was.”

  Traci frowned. “And what was that?”