For she had eyes and chose me
– Othello
Jonas had gone to bed without a fuss. The threat of Santa not coming was enough to get the naughtiest of children to crawl beneath their bed covers, and Jonas was no exception. He’d cleaned his teeth, climbed into his snowman pyjamas and then hung his stocking on the end of his bed before hopping onto his mattress and closing his eyes. He’d even waved off Kitty’s offer of a book. The Night Before Christmas was no match for his impatient mind.
She’d waited for an hour before sneaking back in and filling his stocking. An assortment of gifts, brightly wrapped, spilling over the top in a satisfying way. Mia and Everett may have lacked many things, but generosity wasn’t one of them.
It was almost midnight by the time she finally climbed the stairs to the loft room. Mia and Everett still hadn’t arrived home. Snow had started to fall again, the flakes sticking to the windowpane and swirling in the beam of the outside lights. She hoped they’d be home soon, that the snow wouldn’t hold them back. That Jonas wouldn’t awaken on Christmas Day to find his parents had no choice but to spend it in Washington, DC.
Walking into her bedroom, she reached out to switch on the light. A figure was sitting on her bed. She jumped, clutching her chest with her palm, her eyes almost popping out of her head.
Adam. It was Adam.
Breathe, Kitty.
‘What are you doing here?’ she whispered. ‘You gave me the shock of my life.’
‘Who were you expecting, Santa Claus?’ He gave her a lopsided grin. ‘You took for ever, by the way. I almost fell asleep.’
‘I was busy,’ she told him. ‘I had to make sure Jonas was asleep before I could put his gifts in his stocking. He still believes in Father Christmas, you know.’
Adam winked. ‘You’re one hell of a sexy Santa. Maybe next time you can wear the suit.’
She raised an eyebrow, liking this playful Adam. ‘Do you have a thing for fat old men?’
He grabbed her, pulling her onto the bed with him. Hooking his leg around her hip, he held her down. ‘I’ve got a thing for you, baby.’ He ran his nose along her jaw, pressing his lips to her throat. ‘Fat, old, I don’t care. I just want to hold you.’
She slid her fingers into his hair, holding him close. ‘That might be the nicest thing anybody’s said to me.’
Adam’s lips moved against her neck. ‘Then you’re talking to the wrong people, sweetheart.’
It felt as though any time she was talking to somebody but him was wrong. They were in a snow globe, the two of them – hell, the whole family, if you wanted – just them and their winter wonderland, protected from the world outside. Maybe there was something in Adam’s need to retreat. Something concentrated and precious. She couldn’t help but think she wanted this bubble to last for ever.
‘Are you staying the night?’ It was wrong, she knew, but the thought of him leaving her felt worse.
His lips had reached her clavicle. Kissing, nipping, licking, he made her flesh his own. ‘I can’t leave the dog on his own.’
Damn, she’d forgotten about the puppy. It would be nice to think he wouldn’t be her problem after tomorrow, but that would be one hell of a lie. It was only just beginning.
‘So you just stopped by to say hi?’
‘Something like that.’ He’d reached the swell of her breast. Unbuttoning her blouse, he moved his lips down until he met the lacy edge of her bra. ‘I needed to see you.’
Her breath caught as he edged the cup down, until her breast was exposed. ‘That’s nice.’
He traced a line of fire with his tongue. Down her breast, around her areola. She could feel her skin pucker and tighten.
‘It is nice,’ he agreed, the tip of his tongue barely glancing her nipple. ‘Very nice.’ His lips closed around her, sucking her in, and any words she could think of escaped her mind.
When he took her other nipple between his thumb and forefinger, his exquisite pinching made her arch her back off the bed. Every touch sent pleasure shooting down her. Every bite made her moan softly.
‘I want to make you come like this,’ he whispered.
‘I’m not sure I can…’
‘I want to try. A Christmas gift for me.’ He smiled against her breast. ‘A gift that keeps on giving.’
But she wasn’t giving, she was taking. Pulling pleasure from him inch by inch, until her body felt as though it was floating. Her body was vibrating, her cells singing a silent song, as he kissed and loved her until she was nothing but sensation.
An orgasm ripped through her like a tornado, leaving devastation in its wake. For a minute her body was a storm, then she was falling. Down, down, and into his waiting arms.
He held her tight, his lips soft against hers. Tasting her pleasure, giving it back. Her muscles loosened, exhausted, her eyelids heavy as she curled into his embrace.