No Mistletoe Required Page 5

  His hidden meaning registered loud and clear. “I think they’ll manage.” No need to tell him she’d been willing to ask him the same thing. Let him think it was his own idea. Men functioned better when they assumed they were in control.

  He went behind the screen and she heard zippers start to work.

  Beth walked up behind her, the movement obvious thanks to the bells attached all over her costume. “Please tell me you’re going to go play “Hide The Candy Cane” with that fine specimen of man.”

  “Beth!” She tried to look stern, but only ended up laughing instead. “That is both a disgusting image and also none of your business.”

  Her Kappa senior tried to look innocent. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mrs. Claus. I thought it would be a variation of “Hide and Seek: Holiday Edition.” If you’re the one with the dirty mind, well...”

  She pushed Beth toward the side of the room where the refreshments were. “Take five, Elf Lord.”

  “Fine. But you have to promise me one thing.”

  She raised a brow. “Dare I ask?”

  Beth’s innocent grin morphed into a wicked promise of a grin. “That you’ll drag him out of here and go be a ho, ho, ho.”

  She pointed a finger at the table and Beth turned and walked away with a laugh. But after the senior’s back was turned, Anna smiled. “With pleasure.”

  Chapter Five

  “Where are we off to?” Anna asked, climbing in the cab of his truck with no help from him. He offered, fully prepared to get his hands on her delicious bottom, but she gave him a look that might have withered another man’s nuts.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. We both missed lunch. So I figured an early dinner wouldn’t be amiss.”

  She nodded as he started out the parking lot. “Absolutely. God love those kids, but they’re exhausting. I could use a burger or something.”

  “Just what I had planned.” He thanked the Lord she wasn’t expecting something fancier because he had plans and they absolutely did not involve a sit down restaurant. After pulling through the closest drive-through and ordering a sack of food, they drove to the nearest main road.

  “Your place or mine?” He tossed out the question casually, hoping she wouldn’t be offended.

  Her answer came just as easily, without hesitation. “I live about ten minutes away. You?”

  “Closer to twenty, with traffic.”

  He pulled to a stop at a red light and they glanced at each other.

  “My place,” she said.

  “Your place,” he said at the same time.

  They both laughed, and she gave him directions.

  Dan wasn’t sure what to expect, though from the outside the apartment was nice enough.

  He stepped in behind her and did a quick three-sixty as she locked the door behind them. The place was tidy, though not unlived in. A coffee mug sat by the sink, a few magazines were fanned out over the kitchen table. A pair of shoes sat next to the couch. “Not bad. A little small.”

  “Just me. And I spend a lot of time over at my parents’ house too.” She took the sack of food and set it down on the table. “Plates?”

  “For fast food burgers?” He scoffed and pulled out a chair for her.

  “So you don’t need plates for fast food, but you’ll pull out my chair?”

  “Plates are a waste. Manners are always worth something.”

  “What’s it worth you this time?” she asked as she dug into the bag, pulling out his two burgers and her one.

  He took the fries container she handed him and grinned. “Keeping on your good side.”

  She laughed and threw a fry at him. The thing hit his forehead and bounced to the table, prompting Anna to laugh harder.

  He liked the sound. She was so little, but her laugh boomed through the quiet apartment. His body tightened, and the hunger he felt resonating through him was localized a little south of his stomach.

  There was no way he was going to make it through lunch without giving in. Why bother starting? He pushed his burgers away and stood. Looking a little confused, she did the same with her food. And when he held out a hand for her, she placed her palm on his with total confidence.

  Talk about sexy. He walked down the short hallway, pausing outside the two doors. “Which one?”

  “Left.”

  With that simple word, he turned and picked her up, carrying her into the bedroom.

  Anna shrieked with laughter and gripped his shoulders. “Put me down!”

  “But you’re so easy to carry.” He turned sideways to get through the door way.

  “Because I’m so short?” she challenged.

  “You’re travel-sized.” He kissed her nose and settled her on the edge of the bed. “This okay?” Please say yes.

  She smiled and walked her hands up his arms to his shoulders. “Absolutely.”

  He bent down to kiss her, taking his time with it. Enjoying the simple pleasure of their lips meeting. Their first kiss had been fast, all singing nerves and groping hands. But he could be gentle, enjoy the journey.

  He ran his hands under the sweatshirt she’d put on after removing the costume, and she shivered as the air touched her skin. He wasn’t sure why she kept the air on so high if she was so cold, but females were complicated like that. He went to lift the garment up and off, but she stalled his movement with a hand on one wrist.

  “Leave it on,” she whispered against his lips. “I get cold easily.”

  He wanted to see her. See all of her. But another time would be just as good, and her comfort ranked over his desire. So he let the shirt drop back down and absorbed the grateful sigh she gave with another kiss, this time deeper. He maneuvered her around and lowered her to the comforter, her small size making it simple.

  She didn’t waste any time reaching for her own pants. “My fingers are too cold to work the button on your jeans,” she warned. “You’re gonna have to help.”

  “No problem.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she shimmied and did a little booty wiggle to push her yoga pants over her hips and down her thighs. Dual soft thunks behind him told him she’d toed off her running shoes and then she kicked until the pants were gone.

  “You’re doing too much watching, not enough undressing.” To illustrate her point, she reached up and grabbed either side of his jeans and tugged. Already unbuttoned, they slid down his thighs until they hit his knees. Doing a similar dance to the one she’d done before, he managed to knock his shoes off and his jeans followed.

  “Better.” She reached up and pulled him down, covering her small body with his entirely, and kissed him.

  Pulling her panties down one side at a time, one inch at a time, he realized this was the best gift he was getting this Christmas. Best to take his time with the unwrapping. Savor it.

  Rethinking his strategy, Dan left her panties where they were, barely down past her hip bone, and she let out a strangled groan. “Dan. Come on!”

  “Let’s slow it down.” He inched them down just a little at a time, brushing his lips against the exposed skin, blowing heat against the goosebumps that rose. Her hands clenched at her sides but she didn’t push further.

  Finally, he slipped one hand inside the cotton and slipped two fingers inside the wet warmth.

  “Oh my God,” she said on a sucked in breath.

  He froze. “What? What’s wrong?”

  She smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. Cool fingers.”

  He laughed and leaned up to kiss her. “They’re definitely warming up.”

  She groaned again, this time at his bad joke. But the groan morphed into a moan when he started moving inside her, teasing, finding what she wanted and the speed she wanted it at. Finally, when she was all but clawing at his upper arms, he took pity on her and stripped her panties down all the way, giving him better access to her clitoris.

  “Dan.”

  He ignored her, teasing and learning the spots that made her wriggle beneath him that much har
der. He found a particularly interesting spot just next to—

  “Seriously, Dan, now.” She nipped at his shoulder, and by catching him off guard, managed to push him over so she straddled him. After bending over him, which positioned her sweatshirt-covered breast in just the right position to tempt the ever-loving hell out of him, she fumbled in her bedside drawer and produced a condom, holding it between two fingers. “Me or you?”

  He wasn’t about to argue with the lady. “Me.” He wouldn’t mind letting her roll it on, but he was too close to the edge for it this time. Covering himself, he rolled again so she was under him and positioned over her, poised just out of reach of her center.

  “Hey,” he said softly.

  She cracked one eye open. “What?”

  “Look at me.”

  Both eyes popped open. “Hmm?”

  “I just wanted to see your eyes when I did this.” He slid in without hesitation and was satisfied with the dazed look in her eyes. Her lids shut slowly, like they didn’t have the strength to stay open and then she arched up.

  “More, please.”

  “Not a problem.” He worked the rhythm, following her cues, listening to the slight changes of her breathing that mingled with the hum of the HVAC, the hitch in her throat when he found an angle that worked. Pressed down and rubbed a circle against her with his pelvic bone and watched her eyes fly open.

  “Oh my God, do that again.”

  “What, this?” He repeated the circle, pressing harder this time.

  “Yes, that.” Once more he circled around, and she flew apart in his arms, shouting to the ceiling without a care that anyone would hear. He pumped in and out a few more times, keeping pressure on her, drawing it out until he couldn’t hold out any longer and gave a hoarse yell of his own before collapsing just to the right of her, using the last of his strength to make the shift so he wasn’t directly over her.

  Because falling on top of her and flailing like a drunken Muppet wouldn’t have been all that gentlemanly of him. Nor would it help in convincing her to repeat the process. No matter how spent his limbs were.

  After a few moments, he rolled to his side and headed to the bathroom for a quick clean up. When he turned to her again, she moved into him, her chilly nose burrowing against his warm skin.

  “Cold,” she muttered.

  “Why do you keep the air up so high if you’re cold all the time?”

  “I like to burrow when I sleep.” Her voice was softer, like she was drifting already.

  He took the edges of the comforter and wrapped it around them like an enchilada. “Better?”

  “Yeah.” She moved as if trying to get even closer, though she was already plastered to him. One of her legs slid between his. He tipped his head down, lips pressed against the crown of her head, curls tickling his nose as he breathed in her scent.

  They stayed like that for awhile, just existing next to each other, content to not go anywhere or say anything. Then she sighed and rubbed a hand under his sweater and over his chest.

  “Best volunteer day ever,” she whispered.

  He laughed. “Can’t complain myself. Though I’m hoping you don’t thank all your Santas this way.”

  She pinched him where his shoulder met his pectoral. “I most certainly do not. Normally I hand out thank you cards and a box of cookies. But I forgot to run to the stationary store before showing up for work this morning so...” She giggled when he gave a fake snarl and nuzzled into the vulnerable skin of her neck.

  “Besides, the evening Santa is the morning janitor. And he doesn’t need any stuffing to make a convincing Santa belly. Not really my type.”

  “Sounds like a good fit for the part, though.” He rubbed one foot up her leg, then realized...

  “Are you still wearing your tube socks?” He peeked under the blanket before she could slap at his hands.

  “I beg your pardon,” she said in mock outrage, the effect ruined when she laughed. “Yeah, of course I am. My feet are always the coldest of them all!”

  “Women and their ideas about temperature control.”

  “Mmm. I think there was an insult in there somewhere, but I’m too content to bother finding it. Can we stay, just a little while longer? I have to go back sometime soon. But it’s nice and peaceful.”

  “Of course.” He wrapped his arms, and thus the covers, more tightly around her and held her close.

  “This time of the year sucks usually, you know,” he said idly, rubbing a pattern down her back.

  “Really?” she asked, her voice dim.

  “Usually.” He thought for a moment. “You’re making it better, though.”

  Her only answer was her deep, undisturbed breathing. He wondered if she even heard him. Or maybe he didn’t want her to.

  And why he was sharing with someone who was, by all accounts, no more than an acquaintance?

  Because she felt like way more than that. It didn’t feel like any of the weekend flings he’d had in the past. One where he’d get what he wanted physically, share the same pleasure with her and walk away without regrets or lingering feelings. No, it felt like the beginning of something way more serious. Something he didn’t want to walk away from that easily.

  It was a scary—but not altogether unpleasant—thought. But the real problem was...where did she see them heading?

  * * *

  Anna’s muscles relaxed as Dan’s truck pulled into the hospital parking lot. She was eager to have a minute alone. Put some distance—real, physical distance—between them. Her body was responding way too easily to his every touch, his move. Too aware of every little shift, breath, thought.

  Which was great between the sheets. Okay, rather on top of the sheets, since they’d never actually made it under the covers. Hell, she was still shivering with the occasional aftershock from their lovemaking. But now, now she just needed a little time to decompress.

  Dan grabbed her wrist gently. “I thought you were done for the day.”

  “Nope. Long break, well deserved. But I want to make sure everyone understands how to break down the set and what to leave out for the next day.”

  He frowned. “You work way too hard at this. It’s just a volunteer position.”

  “It’s important,” she bit off, then soothed her ruffled feathers. “It means a lot to me. And to the kids.” Especially when I was one of them.

  “All right.” His fingers caressed the inside of her wrist, dancing over her pulse point.

  “You’ll come back next weekend, right? To volunteer?” She gave him a cheeky smile. “I’m sure we’ll have another Santa, so you don’t have to worry there. But strong arms are always welcome to lift and carry.”

  The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Yeah, of course I’ll be there.” He looked at the clock then back at her. “Actually, before the weekend, do you maybe want to—”

  “Oh, crap.” She glanced at the clock herself. “Is that the time? I really have to get back.” She opened her door and slid out before he could protest. “Thanks for the early dinner. And for, well, you know. The fun. I’ll see you next weekend.” With a quick wink, she shut the door and walked towards the entrance to the hospital, waving as he backed out. And once his truck disappeared around the corner, she headed for her own car.

  Yes, she needed to be there for the breakdown. But that wasn’t for another two hours. So she had some time to kill. Mostly she just wanted to sit alone for a minute and read the book she had stashed in her bag. Alone time, true quiet time, was hard to come by in December, so she would grab it while she could.

  But by the time she hit chapter three, her cell phone was ringing. No way to ignore it. Could be a volunteer with a serious question. She checked the screen, then winced.

  No, not a volunteer. Worse.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Anna, sweetheart. I haven’t heard from you in a few days so I thought I’d touch base before your busy work week started up again.”

  Anna rubbed at the tension headache building
behind her temple. “It’s December. You know I have the volunteer thing at the hospital.”

  “Oh, right. Right.” She paused. “Are you still heading that up all by yourself? It’s an awful lot of work for one person, and I think if you just asked for some—”

  “It’s not too much,” she cut in. Rude as it was, she’d have to interrupt. Otherwise, she would still be sitting in her car, on the phone, when the morning staff came in. “And I enjoy it.”

  “When is your next checkup scheduled?”

  Her hand raised automatically to rub at the spot in her breast where they’d removed the lump. “Next month.”

  “That sounded vague. Do you really have the appointment scheduled? You know what Doctor Brown said. Even though this recent tumor was benign, because of your medical history they have to keep a close eye on you.”

  “Yeah. I know, Mom. I’m a nurse.” And an adult.

  “You’re a pediatric nurse, not an oncology nurse.” But her mother sighed in retreat. “Fine. Let me know when it is, and if you need company. I know those are never pleasant, even when the scans are all clear.”

  Which they had been, the past year. One more year. One more year and she would be out of the woods, in her own mind anyway. Be able to breathe without the possibility hanging over her neck like an ax. Ready to date again. Prepared to risk it with a real relationship.

  Her mind flew back to Dan. No way a guy like him would still be on the market in a year. Not with her luck. But to tempt fate now, so soon after another scare...it wouldn’t be fair. No, just not fair to any man she started with. If something new came up, she couldn’t bear it, having walked into the relationship knowing her risks.

  It hurt a little, knowing the chances she was letting pass by. Though really, no guy had inspired her to feel so wistful before. They’d been a fun distraction for a few weeks and she could easily move on. But Dan...

  One more year. She could last one more year.

  Chapter Six

  The minute he was home, Dan grabbed his cell phone and speed dialed Geoff.

  The other line picked up, but the only thing he heard was a croak, and something that sounded like something falling, followed by a moan.