Jingle This! (16 page)

See? This is why she wasn't going to sleep with him.

"Give me a break, Roger. Neither of us care about you guys." Kyle put his hand on Angie's lower back. "We're going to go dance and we'll stay out of your way. Have a good evening."

She allowed Kyle to direct her only because it was an excuse to get away from Roger and Sheila. But once they got to the floor, she tried to pull away.

"You're going to let them bother you?" Kyle slipped his arms around her and pulled her close. "They aren't worth it."

Angie kept her body tense. "It's not them that upset me. It's you. Thanks for the reminder that work is more important than me."

Kyle frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"Because Roger came over and gave you that possessive-male-glare-thingy so you let go of me. That's why I'm not going to sleep with you. Because you'll put New Age or Sheila or something before me and break my heart again."

Kyle stopped dancing and stared at her.

And stared.

And stared.

"Stop looking at me!"

He shook his head once, then kissed her. Not some brotherly thing on the forehead. It was a bad-girl-sex kind of kiss. The kind that made heat pool inside her instantly, and work its way downward. The kind of kiss that no one at the party would be able to misinterpret.

Not even Roger or Sheila.

She pulled back and studied him. "You know what you just did?"

"I sure do." He kissed her nose, and his eyes were as dark as she'd ever seen them. "Let's go introduce you to the person at Swift who signed you on. And then let's go back to your place and make love until we can't walk."

What woman could say no to that?

* * *

She shut her apartment door behind Kyle, then leaned against it. Could her heart be pounding any louder?

Kyle faced her, his hands in his overcoat pockets. He said nothing. Just waited.

For her. He was waiting for her to make the first move. To say yes, she wanted to make love to him.

"I want to." It came out a whisper.

He didn't move. "But?"

Ah, he knew her too well. Yet another reason to love him. Which was yet another reason to fear him. "I'm afraid."

He smiled. "So am I."

She rolled her eyes. Could he say anything else more right? "Kyle."

"What?" He took two steps forward until he was directly in front of her.

"Um..."

He began unbuttoning her coat. One button at a time, his gaze never leaving her face. "What is it, Angie?"

"I can't remember."

The back of his right hand grazed her breast as he finished unbuttoning her coat. Something shot through her that nearly took her down. "I want to make love to you, Angie."

Oh, hell. How many times did a woman get a chance to make love to a man who affected her so thoroughly? Sometimes a girl had to take a risk. What was a broken heart, anyway? She'd survived last time right?

She was going in.

Sometimes, even a big ass diamond isn't going to save you if you really screw up.

–Angie Miller

First thing on the agenda? Engage in a detailed study of his kissing technique. Angie let Kyle remove her coat while she embarked on her detailed research, which he seemed most happy to oblige her with. He tasted like champagne and chocolate—had they had champagne at the party?

It was too hard to remember things from that long ago when she had to spend her energy trying to recall how to keep her legs from buckling while his hands explored the zipper of her dress.

Interesting. She could tell him what would happen to her dress once he unzipped it and flipped the straps off her shoulders. But who was she to interfere with the joy of finding things out for himself?

Especially since she really wanted to get that coat off him. She tugged at his jacket, yanking it over his shoulders just as cold air hit her body, and the silk of her dress slid down her legs like the most sensual of caresses.

"Sweet Jesus," Kyle whispered as his gaze swept over her body, as his hands traced her hips almost reverently. "It took me three years to get to this point?" He palmed her hips and yanked her to him. "That was too damn long." Then he kissed her, the most intense, passionate kiss she'd ever experienced. It was more than a kiss. It was a declaration of ownership, of pure, raw desire, of need so powerful it reached inside her and tore apart her defenses.

Excitement trilled through her and she faltered. Was she really going through with this?

Yes.

Her hands shaking, Angie tried to give herself room to breathe, to gather herself emotionally. "This isn't fair," she said as she untied his bow tie. "You're still dressed."

Kyle grinned, untamed lust racing like fiery shadows in his eyes. "Are you going to take care of it, or should I?"

"I will." Her breath caught as she unbuttoned the top button, revealing a hint of skin. Oh, God. She wanted more. With a sudden rush of daring that was so unlike her, she grabbed the front of his shirt and tugged it open, popping off the top three buttons. She giggled with embarrassment as they clicked to the floor and rolled away. "I've always wanted to do that," she confessed. God, was she a maven of debauchery or what?

"Damn, woman." He grabbed her wrist and backed her against the front hall table. His eyes were blazing with heat, and desire pooled in her belly. This wasn't the staid businessman she knew. This was a man, a lover, a promise of seduction and passion. "You're incredible." He kissed her again, fiercely this time, as he pinned her hips against the table, giving her nowhere to go to escape him.

Excitement shivered through her, and she shoved his shirt over his shoulders. His muscles were bunched, like solid steel beneath her hands, flexing as he kissed his way down her neck and across her collarbone.

"You taste like vanilla," he whispered.

"Scented body lotion," she gasped, gripping his shoulders to keep her balance. "I didn't know it had a flavor."

"It's not the lotion." He bit her collarbone light, and she gasped. "It's you." He raised his head, his eyes blazing. "And you taste incredible."

"Oh," she managed, shocked by how badly she was craving more. "How come you gape at my breasts when they're covered, but you ignore them when they're yours for the taking?" Oh, God. Had she just said that?

But Kyle just grinned wickedly. "Oh, I'll get to them. Patience, my sweet."

The promise in those words had her hands trembling. "How about now? Why don't you get to them now?"

He picked her up instead, and she obligingly wrapped her legs around his waist. The feeling of his skin against her thigh was unbelievable. She so had to do that more often. Seriously—

Kyle slid his hands over her hips to her bum, his fingers kneading at the flesh in an ungodly tempting manner. "Where's the bedroom?"

"Here. Let's stop here." The bedroom was like twenty feet away. How was she supposed to keep her breasts waiting that long? Oh, sure, her bottom was getting its due, but it wasn't enough. His hands should be everywhere, his lips—

"On the floor?" He raised his brows, his expression so heated that she felt her insides begin to burn.

"It's carpeted," she pointed to it. "Really soft."

"Rug burn's a killer. I can't promise I'm going to be gentle."

Oh… The promise in his eyes was too much.
Too much.
Anticipation danced through her as he caught her hair and kissed her, holding her head exactly where he wanted it while he claimed her. He carried her toward the bedroom, never breaking the kiss. Okay, so maybe this trip wouldn't be such a long one. Definitely a good way to pass the time.

He set her on the bed. Was it her bed? She didn't even know. It was soft and squishy, but she couldn't be bothered to look at what she was on. Not with her first view of his chest as he took a step back, giving her full view of the body she'd undressed. She traced his nipples with her thumbs. "They look lonely. Are they lonely?" She took care of the matter with some feisty attention from her mouth that had him making all sorts of delicious sounds that made her feel like quite the goddess. She tugged at his pants, desperate for more. "Too many clothes," she whispered. "I want all of you."

"I wouldn't want to disappoint you." He showed his agreeable nature by helping her remove all his clothes in record time.

She feasted her eyes on parts of him previously hidden, then blinked in surprise, suddenly nervous. "Whoa. I'm not so sure this is going to be a successful endeavor." It was quite apparent he was enjoying himself and ready to do anything she requested, but hello! Geometry didn't seem to be working in her favor. Kyle was… Dear God. He was more than she'd ever seen…

He broke into a smoky grin that had her insides demanding a chance to prove nothing was impossible. "Then we'll have to spend some time making sure you're ready."

Oh, yes, yes! Spend some time!

"Black lace panties, fishnet stockings and black high heels." He lifted her foot to his chest and kissed her toes. "I never realized exactly how sexy that combo is."

Heaven help her, she'd never thought about how seductive it would be to have a man kiss his way down her foot, but she was thinking about it now. Oh, yes, she was.

One finger trailed down her inner thigh while he slipped her shoes off. Oh wow. She was never going to be able to look at those shoes the same way. And to think she'd casually kicked them into the closet the last time she'd taken them off. This was way better!

The shoes hit the deck, and then Kyle wound her stockings down her hips, over her thighs, knees, calves, ankles, heels, arches, toes. The fact that he followed their path with his lips was responsible for the sudden convergence in her belly of every drop of heat in her body, so that all the warmth was pooled just north of where his left hand was gripping her thigh.

Travel north, young soldier! No, wait! You missed the turn! Go back! Go back—

Kyle's mouth finally met her breasts, and she gasped as he lightly bit down, sending spirals of heat rushing through her. "Is this what you were wanting?" he asked, his voice low and sexy.

"Yes." She almost laughed at how shaky her voice was. But what did she expect with that kind of sensual voice emanating from the vicinity of her very alert nipples? Frantic now for more, she palmed his chest, sliding her hand over his taut abs, and lower… She clasped her fingers around him—

"Angie!" He croaked out a guttural groan and his body jerked above her.

Empowerment rushed through her and she stroked him again. "You like that? I could do it again. Or what about this? If I did that..."

He grabbed her hand and moved it. "I'm not made of stone, love. Wait a few minutes on that."

Love?
He'd called her love? Fresh heat surged through her, an intense reaction that could never be coaxed by mere physical touch.
I love you too, Kyle.
Ack! What was that? When had she decided to admit her feelings? That was stupid, dangerous and...

A foil packet dropped on her chest. "Want to help?"

Yes, yes, yes. She did. "Is it jumbo sized? Because that's what we're going to need." She grabbed the packet and tore it open.
Faster, Angie, faster!
Okay, so she maybe loved him. Did she? She knew she did. The emotions were rushing so intensely that she couldn't think clearly. She could only feel. Exhilaration and liberation rushed through her, and she knew she'd never been in a more perfect place. He was everything she wanted, and he was hers.

She had to have the man she loved, now. She pushed Kyle onto his back, then settled on his thighs while she took care of the condom.

He grabbed her hips and pulled her toward him, easing her onto him. He slid easily inside her, and she gasped at the sensation of their bodies coming together. After three years of wanting, it felt so incredible, so right, so perfect. "Okay, so I was wrong," she whispered as she braced her hands on his chest. "We're a good fit."

"A perfect one." He settled her in place and began moving under her. His hips moved in a mesmerizing rhythm, and he gripped her hips, making her shift in response. "Let yourself go, love."

Love again? Love?
Love?
Then he thrust again, and the orgasm swept over her, tearing his name from her throat. Kyle shouted, and then every muscle in her body spontaneously burst as the orgasm took them both.

Love. He'd called her love.

Twice.

She was never going to be the same.

* * *

Angie reread the story she'd written. It was unbelievable. Incredible. The best she'd ever written. She and Kyle had stopped at Starbucks on the way to work and interviewed a darling young couple who were holding hands while burning their tongues on lattes. They'd been married for two years, and were so in love it was palpable.

Just like how she felt about Kyle.

They'd been two hours late for work this morning, because they hadn't quite made it out of bed when the alarm went off. It had been just as amazing as the first time, and he'd called her "love" three more times.

Oh, yes. He loved her. And soon he'd realize it. And her life would be perfect.

Her door flung open and Heidi stuck her head in. "You busy?"

"Come on in." She couldn't wait to tell Heidi. Or maybe not. Heidi would lecture her for making a mistake, for setting herself up to be burned again. Maybe it would be better to wait until she had proof of Kyle's love. Not that she needed proof for herself, but it would make Heidi feel better.

Heidi shut the door then sat down, and Angie realized her friend's eyes were all red and puffy. "What's wrong?"

"Quinn."

"Is he hurt?" Angie's heart cranked to a stop, and her gut imploded. "What happened?"

"I think I'm going to call off the wedding."

"Why?" So, he was okay. Relief poured through Angie. Wedding jitters she could help with.

"Because he loves work more than me."