Pure Satisfaction--A Hot Holiday Romance

by Rebecca Hunter

  Adrian must have ordered breakfast. Had he also arranged for the flowers? Or was that part of the resort’s romantic Christmas setup?

  Before she could decide, Adrian’s footsteps came through the main room and into the kitchen. Her heart sped up as he came closer. Forget about what he said. It doesn’t mean anything. Ruby took a calming breath and turned around.

  Oh, Lord, he looked so good shirtless, his muscles defined and on display. For once his hair was a mess, and he didn’t seem to care. Her heart stuttered in her chest as he crossed the kitchen in long strides, coming straight for her. He stopped right in front of her.

  “Merry Christmas,” he said, shoving his hands in the pockets of his pajama pants. “No touching the food until we’ve opened presents.”

  “Merry Christmas.” Her voice was breathless. Easy, girl. “Coffee isn’t food, is it?”

  “Hmm. I suppose we could work something out.”

  She reached for the mug on the counter next to the coffee maker. By the time she had poured herself a cup, Adrian was next to her, holding the carton of milk.

  “Thanks.” She took it out of his hand, poured in a bit, and handed it back to him. “The place looks amazing. Do they decorate everyone’s cabin like this on Christmas?”

  He gave her a very Adrian stare. “Not everyone at the resort celebrates Christmas, Ruby.”

  “Well, it’s the loveliest idea for a Christmas morning surprise that I’ve ever seen,” she said, keeping her gaze on him. “Whoever is responsible for it.”

  Adrian’s eyes were fixed on hers. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then spoke. “I want this to be the best Christmas you’ve ever had.”

  Ruby blinked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. He looked so determined, like he was going to make sure it happened. This was the same Adrian who had given her his snidest comments and most judgmental stares? It seemed impossible that the Adrian she knew from the office was also the same person who’d spent yesterday morning prepping their tamale meal, then dedicated himself so thoroughly to really good sex. Now he’d arranged the most beautiful flower display, just to make her Christmas special. Why didn’t he show this side of himself more often?

  “Thank you. Truly.” Ruby stood on her toes and met his lips with hers. “Let’s open presents.”

  He blinked at her, like the kiss was the last thing he’d expected from her.

  She grabbed his hand and led him into the main room. She plopped down on the couch, next to the tree, and Adrian sat next to her, stretching his long legs. Without his shirt, he looked much more relaxed...and ridiculously sexy. She was about to make a comment about what kind of package she wanted, but he spoke first.

  “Open your gift,” he said lifting his chin in the direction of the red present.

  She knelt under the decorated palm tree and brought the gift back to the couch, setting the card aside on the coffee table. She tore off the paper and found a book, just like she’d guessed. But it definitely wasn’t one she’d guess he would buy for her. On the cover was a close-up of two people, visible from their mouths down, entangled in a kiss. The woman wore red lipstick, and hints of the man’s tongue could be seen. Ruby knew about this book because a handful of bookstores had refused to carry it, claiming the photos were too explicit.

  “Thank you. I love Stef Yang’s work,” she said, smiling up at him. “We should definitely look through it together.”

  His eyes widened. “Do you already have this one?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve just heard about it. It’s perfect, really.”

  Had he peeked inside yet? Ruby opened the book to the middle. One of the pages was white, blank except for the word Richer. On the other page was a photo of a woman’s bare breasts. Hanging in between them was a pendant with a diamond wrapped in a silver nest. She glanced over at Adrian, but he wasn’t looking at the book. His gaze was fixed on the coffee table, and he looked a lot less relaxed now, which was a little odd.

  “You should open the card, too.”

  Ruby cringed. “Sorry. I’m one of those rude people who goes straight for the presents.”

  He didn’t say anything, though she had left herself perfectly open for one of his little jabs. Something was off. Adrian reached forward and set the card in her hand.

  She tore off the flap and opened the envelope. The card had a palm tree with Christmas lights on the front, and as she opened it up, a piece of paper fell out. She set the paper aside and read the card. Printed in Adrian’s careful writing were just five words:

  You deserve the very best.

  So simple, but her heart thumped like mad. What the hell was she supposed to make of this?

  Ruby bit her lip and unfolded the paper. It was a printout of...an email? It was to Adrian from a Sydney Wentworth. Same last name, so a relative? She read on.

  Hey, look! A note from my brother, who ditched us for Christmas this year. Just kidding. :) Hope you’re actually enjoying yourself for once.

  I checked out the photos from the contest she won and the work she’s done for NY Creatives Media. You’re right. She’s good. I sent a note to three galleries I’ve worked with that might be a good fit. She’ll probably get an email from them after the new year, and she can take it from there.

  But I still have questions about her, and you know exactly what I mean. When you get home, I’ll expect answers. It’s either that or I tell the rest of the family. Mom being who she is, I’m pretty sure I’m your best bet. The rest of the family says hi.

  Merry Christmas. Take care yourself.

  Ruby stared at the letter, her head spinning. Adrian had a sister, and they sounded close. What was his mother like? And most important, three galleries? There was too much to process.

  “It’s not a guarantee,” Adrian said softly. “Just a connection, something to get your foot in the door. Like Sydney said, you can do what you want with it.”

  “How...how did you know I won that contest?”

  “The internet knows everything, Ruby,” he said gently. There was something new in his voice, something she hadn’t heard before. Then after a pause, he added, “I looked on your social media.”

  She gave him a look of mock horror. “No, you didn’t.”

  A smile teased at his lips. She blinked at the man in front of her, still stunned by the note from his sister. Still stunned by what he’d done for her. His gift to her was so...unexpected. So thoughtful. The usual stern, implacable stare, the condescension—all of it had faded. His expression was softer. Maybe even a little vulnerable. Before she could get over her surprise, he bent down for a kiss, just a brush of his lips, his body so close, making her body light up.

  “You did this for me?” Her voice was barely there. “I’m not sure what to say...except thank you.”

  “I stayed under twenty dollars, too,” he said with a hint of smugness.

  Slowly, she shook her head. “Of course, you figured out how to give me something that’s worth so much more than its price tag.”

  Adrian gave a little grunt of acknowledgment. A week ago she might have read it as dismissive, but now she could see hints of the pleasure he was taking in her response.

  Her mother used to lavish her with expensive gifts from wherever she’d traveled recently, but those always felt more like an apology for barely showing up than a gesture of generosity. Adrian’s gift was real, both cleverly within the boundaries and outrageously generous. If she didn’t distract herself soon, she was going to get too emotional.

  She dropped the card and the paper in her lap and reached for the white box still under the tree. She had found the perfect gift in a boutique not far from the Kalani...or what she’d thought was the perfect gift, before Adrian had raised the bar moments ago.

  He took the box and lifted off the top, peering in. Then he chuckled.

  “A hat?” He pulled out the black, n
ewsboy-style hat and fit it on his head. Then he leaned back on the couch, his mouth twitching up into a smile. Oh, my. This new side of Adrian, lounging shirtless on the couch, was beautiful. Why didn’t he smile, really smile, more often?

  In the middle of her shameless gaping, Adrian sat up and grabbed the hat off his head. “There’s no way this was under twenty dollars,” he said, inspecting it. “It’s much too nice.”

  “You mean thank you?”

  “I love it, Ruby,” he said quickly, his gaze meeting hers. Then he looked back down at the hat, and she knew he couldn’t let the money piece drop. Ruby let him suffer a little in silence until he couldn’t take it anymore. “But this was over the twenty-dollar limit, right?”

  Ruby tried to bite back her smile. “Just a little bit.” More than a little, actually, but once she caught sight of it in the store, she’d known it was perfect. It was stylish, a little old-fashioned, and a lot sexy. He had mentioned on the dinghy that he hadn’t brought a hat to Hawaii, and from the hint of redness across his cheeks and over his nose, he definitely needed one.

  Adrian looked thoroughly scandalized. “But those were your rules.”

  “Oh, Adrian,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t you know that there are times when the rules don’t matter?”

  He met her eyes, and in that moment, it felt like they were both thinking about much more than just the hat. Was he thinking of rules about executives not sleeping with staff? Rules about marriage? Rules about avoiding commitment? At this moment, it was feeling less and less like any those rules mattered.

  He didn’t answer her. Instead, he put his hat back on his head and then scooped her up. In her next breath, she was lying on the couch, and he was on top of her, looking down at her with those serious gray eyes. His skin was warm under her hands, and his erection was growing against her.

  “Merry Christmas, Ruby,” he said, kissing her. “I hope it’s a memorable one.”

  She looked up at him, smiling. “Very.”

  The full weight of his gaze fell on her, and bolts of giddy anticipation rushed through her. His eyes were dark with hunger. How could she have ever thought him unaffected? This resort really did grant wishes because this unveiling of the real Adrian had become hers.

  “Want to know a secret?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “I used to think of you as a grumpy ancient Greek statue,” she said, her voice breathless. “So beautifully built.”

  She lifted a hand to his face, running her fingers down over his cheekbones, along his jaw. He shuddered as her fingers reached his neck. She moved her hand lower, over the flat planes of his chest, down his sides. A groan came from deep inside his chest, so she moved her hand lower, to the space between them, until she reached his cock. It was hard but still tucked away. She cupped her hand around it and adjusted it, and he let out a breath of relief, but like a good statue, he didn’t move.

  A hint of amusement glittered in Adrian’s eyes, but he said nothing. She ran her palm down his hard length. Another groan escaped him, deeper, and his whole body tightened. Taunting him was so deliciously fun, and she could see how close he was to his breaking point. His jaw was clenched, and his pulse was ticking hard at the base of his throat.

  Ruby lifted her other hand to her chest. Her nipples poked through her flimsy tank top, the two darker circles showing through.

  “Is that what you want to be, Adrian? A beautiful statue, hard, impenetrable?” She teased her nipple, moving her fingers over it, and she moaned as sharp pleasure burst through her. “Or do you want to give in? Do you want to let yourself go and indulge in the things you crave?”

  His eyes were fiery, and he stared down at her with single-minded intensity, like a starving animal ready to devour her.

  “You’re not a statue,” she whispered. “Not even close.”

  She pinched her nipple, giving it a little tug, and another burst of pleasure shot through her. She shut her eyes, and Adrian’s hand closed around her wrist.

  He guided her hand down and squeezed his cock with it, hard. Ruby’s pulse exploded as euphoria raced through her. This was what she craved, this moment when she knew it was finally happening.

  “I want to give in, too. Take care of me.” The words were dangerous, the ones she wasn’t supposed to think.

  Adrian dropped his lips to her cheek as he thrust into her hand. “I’ll take care of you, sweetheart. You know I will.”

  Oh, the satisfaction those words brought her. Everything about this was driving her crazy. Every inch of that beautiful body covered her, and he wedged his cock right between her legs so it pressed on her clit. He rested on his forearms, taking long, deep breaths, his expression stormy and intense. Then he lowered his mouth to hers for a kiss. It was a devastating kiss, slow and calculated to make her fall apart.

  Her hands tangled in his hair as their tongues slid together, and his hips ground against hers, sending more sparks of pleasure through her. One of his hands traveled down, and he tugged at the waistband of her shorts. She shimmied them off, turning the kiss sloppy, but she didn’t want to stop. God, she had never been as hungry for anything in her life as she was for Adrian right now. His hand moved over her mound, and he slid two fingers inside her.

  “So perfect.” His voice was tight and barely there.

  The words filled her with a new wave of warmth, hitting her deep inside. Then his fingers were gone, and he guided his cock through her folds, pushing the tip inside. Then more. More. Slowly, so slowly.

  He gritted his teeth as he sank into her. He had dirty-talked his way right through sex before, but this time he was silent. The implacable look on his face was gone. His whole expression lit up with a kind of wonder as he stilled, deep inside her. Then he started to move. In and out, in and out, adjusting the angle so he hit her clit each time. He held himself over her, looking down as the heat built inside. His thrusts were relentless, and his eyes were on fire.

  Over and over she met his hips until she came, crying out her pleasure. Adrian buried his head in her neck and shuddered, groaning against her.

  His breaths slowed, and he pulled back a little. The morning sun shone through the window, lighting up his face as he gazed down at her. “Merry Christmas, Ruby.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THE WARM AFTERNOON breeze blew across the lanai, nudging Adrian back to reality. He was staring out at the ocean, his mind wandering to places it shouldn’t go, instead of concentrating on his book. He’d read the same paragraph three times, and it still hadn’t sunk in.

  Ruby lay with her head in his lap and her long, bare legs stretched out across the outdoor couch. She was wearing tiny shorts and a tank top with no bra. He’d already had her once, on the couch, and now, just a few hours later, he wanted her again. The intensity of his want wasn’t fading.

  Ruby, on the other hand, looked the opposite of intense. She looked thoroughly engrossed in a sci-fi mystery she’d decided on. Her hair fell over his legs, and her mouth was parted a little. She also didn’t seem to notice just how distracted he was by her, which was probably a good thing.

  Not that she’d mind. She’d probably encourage it, in fact. But it felt wrong, mostly because he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about the future.

  What would happened when they sat in the same room together back in New York? It had already been difficult to block her out before Hawaii, and now he couldn’t even read a book with her next to him. He’d have to get this under control.

  Because how the hell was he supposed to find a wife who wanted a family and a quiet, settled life as badly as he did if he couldn’t stop thinking about Ruby, who wanted nothing to do with relationships? How would this emptiness of being alone ever stop?

  Except...it had faded a little today, spending Christmas with Ruby.

  The thought made him a little uneasy, so he tried to block her out and p
icture his goal: wife, kids, a house, a dog or two. But that image didn’t come, just the guilt of trying to erase the woman next to him.

  Ruby sighed and bent one leg, tucking her foot under her leg. Damn, she looked so young right now, reading on the couch. She seemed so relaxed. And he was afraid to think too much about the tenderness he felt as he looked at her, so content. It was dangerously close to the feelings he’d been searching for... But it was with Ruby, the staff member he shouldn’t be touching, who had explicitly stated she was staying away from anything that required compromise. The warmth that ran through him now felt even more risky than just lusting after her. Because no matter what happened here in Hawaii, it wouldn’t last.

  Pushing that aside, he set his book on the table in front of the couch, next to his new hat, then leaned back and rested his hand in Ruby’s hair. He stroked it off her face, and it tumbled over his legs. She smiled a little but kept reading.

  “I can’t believe you’re missing out on a perfect intimacy photo here,” he murmured.

  “Nah. No social media photos today. I’m way ahead on my posts, and I took a walk through the resort with my own camera this morning.”

  His hand stilled as her words registered. Today they weren’t playing Cristina and James. Today was private.

  A burst of happiness flooded his body. What was he supposed to do with all these...feelings? Maybe he could figure out some middle ground. Maybe this didn’t have to end right when they got back to New York. Maybe they could let whatever this was run its course. Without anyone finding out. All the realities of their differences would certainly make this obsession fade, wouldn’t it? She’d almost certainly be okay with that since she wasn’t looking for anything serious.

  He closed his eyes as he stroked her hair, memorizing the way the silky strands felt under his hand.

  “What’s on your mind?”