A Perfect Holiday Fling (9 page)

“Has that happened a lot this year?”

She rolled her eyes. “You have no idea. I’m everyone’s favorite charity case when it comes to matchmaking.”

“I guess I’m lucky Maplesville is filled with such inept matchmakers.”

A shy, yet suggestive smile traced across her lips.

The attraction arcing between them was unmistakable. Stefan was dying to take her to a quiet, shadowy area of the patio and pick up where they’d left off at her clinic earlier today. He’d been tasting that kiss all afternoon; could hardly think of anything other than tasting it again. And more.

Damn, but he wanted to taste so much more of her.

The heat remained between them, smoldering just underneath the surface as Stefan shared stories of some of his more interesting adventures over dessert. Her laughter at his antics spurred him on, compelling him to share more than he usually did just so he could hear the sound.

The empathy she offered for the friends he’d lost in battle reached deep into his soul, comforting him like a warm hug. And Stefan found himself falling deep; so much deeper than he’d ever intended when they’d started this fling.

He’d had casual relationships, but he tended to keep things light. His focus had always been on his job, preparing for the next deployment, formulating his game plan for moving up in the ranks.

Now that it may all be coming to an end, there was room for other plans. Over the past few days, he’d had time to consider the things he’d sacrificed for his career. As he settled into his sister’s welcoming, comfortable home, he mulled over just what he had been missing out on.

What would life be like for him if he settled down in a town like Maplesville? If he one day had a family of his own?

The possibility of that happening didn’t seem so farfetched. In fact, it seemed closer than he ever thought possible.

Once they were done with dinner, he and Callie strolled down Main Street in the heart of Gauthier’s downtown. With their arms entwined, they spent several hours leisurely roaming the quaint downtown area. Callie pointed out the family businesses that lined the street, many that had been there for generations. The storefronts were all decked out in Christmas finery, with huge wreaths, twinkling lights, and full green garland loping over the doors and windows.

She told him about an extraordinary discovery that had been made earlier in the year, where what had been proven to be a stop on the Underground Railroad had been found in the basement of the building that housed the local law firm.

“It’s nice to see the town fully embracing its history,” Callie said. “I love Maplesville, but I have to admit that with the new outlet mall, and the chain stores moving in, it’s starting to lose a bit of its coziness.”

“Maplesville still has a small town feel to me, especially in the older neighborhoods, like the one where Stef lives. It’s a lot different than where we grew up.”

“Where was that?”

“Where wasn’t that?” Stefan said. “We went from one Army base to the next.” He looked over at her. “My dad was Army.”

“Which would explain why your sister is in the Army Reserves, but it doesn’t explain why you chose the Navy.”

“I’m a rebel,” he said with a wink. There was no need to expound on his contentious family life. He’d come to terms with his upbringing. He was past it.

With their clasped hands swinging lazily between them, they strolled around Gauthier’s Heritage Park, along with numerous families out enjoying the holiday display. The trunks of the huge oak trees were wrapped in multicolored lights, while oversized Christmas ornaments hung from their branches. There was a waterwheel in the center with red and green spotlights shining on it, making the water that churned look as if it had been dyed for the holiday season.

By the time Stefan pulled his Jeep into the driveway behind Callie’s red SUV, his stomach was in knots. He wanted her to invite him inside. He
needed
her to invite him inside.

But he wouldn’t campaign for it.

Over dinner, she’d told how hard it had been for her to get back into the dating scene after her ex-husband’s duplicity. Stefan refused to push her into doing anything she wasn’t ready to do.

But, if she thought she could handle it…

“Thank you for dinner,” she said, turning to him in the Jeep’s front seat.

“Thanks for the tour of Downtown Gauthier. Maybe you can eventually show me around
this
town.”

Her eyes creased at the corners, and the side of her mouth tipped up in a shy grin that looked so damn good on her, Stefan had to grip the steering wheel to stop himself from touching her.

“I’d like that.” She leaned across the center console and pressed a closed-mouth kiss to his lips. “Good night.”

“Good night,” Stefan replied.

The gentlemanly thing would be to walk her to her front door, but Stefan didn’t trust himself not to follow her inside and kiss her until they couldn’t breathe, which would negate the whole gentleman thing. He also didn’t trust himself not to drop to her feet and beg for an invitation inside, which would defeat the whole
man
thing altogether.

She picked up her purse from where she’d stashed it on the floor and got out of the Jeep. Stefan let the engine idle as he watched her walk up the driveway. Just as she passed the front bumper of her SUV, she pivoted and started walking back toward him. Stefan lowered the driver’s side window.

Callie pushed out a deep breath and asked, “Do you want to come in?”

His heart stopped for a beat.

Stefan shut off the engine and yanked the keys out of the ignition, pleading with himself to calm the hell down. She’d only invited him to come inside her house. That didn’t mean he had a written invitation into her bed.

As if she’d read his mind, she turned to him and said, “Stefan, we’re both clear about what’s going to happen once we get inside, right?”

“I’m hoping like hell it has something to do with the condoms in my wallet. And I’m not talking about making balloon animals.”

A smile flashed across her face. “I see enough animals during the day. I have no need to see any made out of condoms.”

He grabbed her by the hand. “Then what in the hell are we still doing out here?”

***

Callie barely made it inside the house before she attacked Stefan the way she had been dying to all night. The glow streaming in from the full moon provided just enough illumination as they hurriedly made their way to her bedroom. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons on her shirt in her haste to get the thing off. After three buttons Callie gave up and pulled the shirt over her head.

She stopped in the middle of unzipping her skirt to stare at Stefan’s bare chest. It looked as if it had been molded by a master sculptor, his stomach rippling with tight muscles.

“Good God, you’re beautiful,” she panted.

His brief smile only added to the devastating effect, highlighting that crazy-sexy dimple. He nodded toward her lap. “You want to finish with that, or do you need some help?”

“I’ve got it,” she said. “You do yours.”

Together they peeled the clothing from their lower halves, except Stefan went one step further, getting rid of his pants and underwear at the same time. Or had he not had on any underwear?

Her jaw went slack. “Have you been commando the entire night?”

“Callie, you’ve got about five seconds to finish undressing before I do it for you.”

She wasn’t wasting another moment. Callie quickly removed her bra and panties and climbed onto her bed. Stefan joined her, kneeling in the middle of the plush bedding and cradling her face in his palms. He pressed his mouth to hers, urging her to open for him. At the slightest relenting, he slid his tongue past her lips, plunging it inside her mouth.

Callie moaned at the taste of him, a mixture of the hot chocolate they’d had on the drive back from Gauthier and something else, something that was all Stefan.

He urged her to lean back, following her as she reclined on the pillows stacked against the headboard. His hand snaked between them, caressing her breasts, pinching and plucking at her nipples, causing them to tingle and ache with want.

“Are you ready to enjoy this?” he whispered against her skin as his lips trailed down her neck. “Because I’m ready to enjoy this.”

“Ooooh, yes,” Callie moaned, dropping her head back as her eyelids slid closed.

She concentrated on the rough texture of his calloused palm as it slid along her body, past her ribcage, to the spot between her legs. Callie squeezed her thighs tight, keeping his hand securely in place, damn near dying as he used her own moisture to rub the tight bundle of nerves at the apex of her sex until it throbbed and pulsed.

He lowered his head and caught one nipple between his teeth. Closing his lips over it, he sucked the point into his warm, skillful mouth while his fingers continued their magic between her legs.

Callie felt the orgasm building low in her belly. Her legs began to tremble; her chest felt as if it was on the verge of bursting wide open. Stefan gave another deep draw on her nipple and her world exploded. She pitched her head back and cried out toward the ceiling.

Before she had a chance to recover from the deluge of sensations coursing through her, Stefan lifted the condom he’d tossed on the bed and tore it from the packaging. He quickly rolled the latex over himself, then he knelt between her legs, spread her knees apart and entered her with one firm, solid thrust.

Callie gripped his shoulders as he hovered over her, his massive, muscular chest already gleaming with a sheen of sweat. She buried the back of her head in the pillow, her eyes squeezing tight as she focused on the feel of his rock-hard erection entering and retreating, moving deeper and harder with each thrust, lighting her entire world on fire.

Her inner muscles involuntarily clenched, and Stefan went rigid.

“Shit,” he whispered. “Don’t do that again if you plan on this lasting more than five minutes.”

“I can’t help it,” Callie whimpered.

She clutched at his back as his hips lunged once again, back and forth, pumping faster and harder against her. Stefan hooked an arm behind her knee, angling her body up and pushing even further. With every strident thrust, her inner muscles grew tighter and tighter, until her entire being erupted again, the second orgasm hitting her so hard, so fast, Callie was certain she would pass out from the sheer force of it.

Stefan buried his head against her neck, his thick erection sinking deeper, driving faster, plunging harder, until he gave one final, impossibly deep thrust before collapsing.

He made a move to roll off, but Callie wrapped her arms around him, holding him to her. She needed his comforting weight on top of her.

Moments later, he reversed their positions, rolling over and gathering her in his arms. Callie rested her head against his chest, relishing the warm cove he created. She could stay right here, just like this, forever.

If only the man lying with her wasn’t leaving soon.

Callie couldn’t prevent the sigh that escaped her lips. And, apparently, Stefan didn’t miss it either. He tipped her chin up toward him. “Hey, you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She attempted a smile.

But she wasn’t fine at all. Satisfied, yes, but her heart was heavy with the knowledge that his time in Maplesville could quickly be coming to an end.

The unfairness of it caused a dull ache to settle in her chest, because for the first time in months, Callie felt as if she was exactly where she wanted to be.

Chapter Seven

Stefan gripped the fork in his hand, holding onto it for all he was worth to prevent himself from going after Callie. She stood at the stove wearing an oversized LSU sweatshirt, her long legs bare and more enticing than anything he could ever encounter in this life or the next.

“Do you want more eggs?” she called from the kitchen.

He wanted
her
. Again. Despite the fact that he’d had her twice last night and again this morning. The only reason he was holding himself back is because he was out of condoms.

She carried her plate to the table, which was nestled in the cove created by a bay window that overlooked the back yard. She took the seat at a right angle to his and crossed those spectacular legs, and Stefan had the overwhelming urge to drop to his knees and take a love bite out of the smooth, light brown thigh that was so gloriously on display.

She pointed her fork at his plate.

“You don’t like your breakfast?”

He glanced down at the food he’d barely touched. “I was waiting for you,” he lied. Truth was, he’d been so mesmerized watching her cook that he hadn’t thought about eating.

Now that she was near again, he was suddenly ravenous, his body craving sustenance after the workout he’d put it through last night. He dove into his breakfast, making quick work of it.