A Dream Christmas. Кэрол Мортимер

enjoy her company now, but as soon as they slept with each other—because they couldn’t hold out for ever—the chase would be over and he’d get bored and break her heart. Or she could leave and not see him for very long periods of time which would—drum-roll, please—break her heart.

       Sucks to be you, Taylor.

      AS HE BADE the last of his guests goodbye, James couldn’t believe that the party he’d—well, mostly Riley—had prepped and planned for was over, that it was scarcely a week until Christmas and not long before Riley walked out of his life and headed back to Cape Town. How was he going to function in NYC without her?

      And why did the thought of needing her feel like a punch to his heart? He didn’t need her, he told himself; he just liked having her around. When she went, he’d be fine. He always was.

      Why didn’t he feel convinced?

      Riley stepped out of her backless shoes and groaned. ‘Arrrgh. Gorgeous shoes but they hurt like hell.’

      James pulled down his black tie and tugged at the button on the collar of his white dress shirt. ‘You looked gorgeous tonight, Ri. Did I tell you that?’

      Pleasure sparked in her eyes. ‘You did but I don’t mind hearing it again.’

      ‘And the musicians were perfect and the food was wonderful.’

      ‘You’re full of compliments tonight, Moreau. You feeling all right?’

      But he wasn’t in the mood for teasing. He placed a hand on her shoulder and stroked her arm from collarbone to wrist. ‘Thanks for doing this, for being here tonight. It was fun and you stayed.’

      Riley licked her lips. ‘I stayed because it was fun.’ She stepped back and bit the inside of her lip. ‘I should go … or maybe go and make coffee or … something.’

      Or something … like coming to bed with me, James thought. He knew he shouldn’t, but his body was tired of being denied, of listening to his super-cautious brain.

      ‘Or something. Could that something be a kiss?’

      Riley’s eyes widened. ‘We really shouldn’t, James.’

      He placed his hands on her hips and gently pulled her towards him. His heart soared when she practically fell into his arms in her eagerness to get closer to him. ‘So tired of shouldn’ts and couldn’ts and musn’ts,’ he murmured. ‘I think I should and could and must kiss you … everywhere. Tell me you want to do the same.’

      ‘I want you … I always want you …’

      James nibbled her jaw and inhaled her perfume and immediately felt heady. ‘That’s a good start … keep going.’

      Riley groaned and he sighed. ‘But I don’t think it’s a good idea, James.’

      ‘Don’t think, not tonight.’ Because tonight she was his and he intended to make very sure that she knew that, understood that.

      He placed a hand on her heart and her nipple under his hand reacted immediately, instinctively. ‘Your heart is pounding and your skin is flushing. You do want me. Don’t deny yourself—don’t deny us. Don’t think. ‘

      Her eyes drifted over his body, darkened, and he knew that she liked what she saw. Her puckering nipples were a pretty good giveaway as to how turned on she was as well. He stepped closer to her, his fingers dipping down and lifting the hem of her dress to her thighs so that he could slide his thigh between her legs, creating a little friction, a lot of heat. Passion clouded her eyes as her hands came to rest on his chest. He brushed his thumb against her lip, over the throbbing pulse point in her throat, across that pointed nipple.

      ‘Dammit, Jay. That feels so good.’

      ‘You feel so good. You are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. I can feel your heat on my leg and I bet that if I put my hand between your legs, Ri, I’d feel that you’re wet.’

      Riley let out a breathy whimper.

      ‘You are, aren’t you?’ he demanded.

      ‘Mmm.’

      ‘Look at me, honey.’

      Heavy lids lifted and … those eyes—God, they killed him. Deep, dark, passionate. ‘Wet for me?’

      ‘Mmm.’

      His erection jumped against the fabric of his black suit trousers. ‘Let’s go to my room, Riley. Let me love you.’

      He thought he heard Riley say, ‘One last time,’ but then he heard nothing as all his blood headed south as Riley walked over to the bigger of the two couches, dropping her dress as she walked away. She clapped her hands and the overhead lights went off and the fairy lights on the Christmas tree provided the only light in the room. He just stood and looked at her as she stood in front of that tree, naked except the tiniest silver-grey thong. His eyes crossed and he wondered who was seducing whom. As long as he lived he’d never forget what she looked like, perfect skin bathed in the flashing lights of the decorated tree. Almost naked, waiting for him.

      Not wanting to get left behind, he yanked his clothes off and went to stand in front of her. When he was close enough, he slipped his hand between her thighs, tested her and sighed at her wet, glorious warmth. Her fingers followed his, burrowing under his to capture her own moisture and then she took her fingers away to draw patterns on his thick, hard-as-steel erection which jumped in response.

      ‘No regrets in the morning, James?’

      ‘No regrets, ever, Ri,’ James answered before lowering her to the couch and making her his.

       CHAPTER SIX

      WHEN RILEY WOKE up the next morning she quickly realised that she was still naked and lying in James’s enormous bed. His empty bed. She patted the space next to her and moved her leg to make sure that he wasn’t lying there, out of her reach.

      Dammit … how was she going to deal with this? She’d said that she’d never put herself in this position again and yet here she was, about to do the walk of shame again. Except that there was nothing shameful about sleeping with James, not this time. She had been completely sober, totally aware of what she was doing, aware of her actions, prepared to take the consequences.

      She had wanted one last night with him, one last experience of loving him, touching him, tasting him. She’d taken every opportunity to do just that and the memories of last night would fuel her fantasies for a long time to come.

      ‘You’re going to set the sheets on fire because you’re thinking so hard.’

      Riley whipped over, shoved the curtain of red hair out of her eyes and saw James sitting on the edge of the chair, his forearms on his knees, looking intently at her.

      ‘How long have you been watching me?’ she demanded.

      ‘A while.’

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Because I can.’ James sat back and placed his ankle on his knee. ‘We need to talk.’

      Riley flopped back on her pillow and groaned loudly. ‘Oh God, here we go again. Let’s just pretend that we’ve had this conversation already. You only do one-night stands, don’t read anything into it, blah, blah, blah.’

      ‘I want you to stay in New York,’ James quietly stated.

      Oh, really?

      ‘Why?’ Riley demanded.

      James rubbed the back of his neck, a sure sign that he was uncomfortable. ‘Riley, you are fabulous at your job; I don’t want to lose you!’

      Could he possibly have found a more pansy-assed excuse? Riley thought and sent a pillow sailing in his