Tingle All the Way (13 page)

“Where are they now?”

The air in the room thickened. Her
expression had gone stone cold. “I don’t know.”

“You’ve never tried to find them?”

“Why?” She shot him a look of dissent. The
Ice Queen had returned with a vengeance. “I think their actions speak louder
than words. My aunt was good to me, but we had nothing. I went to college and
law school on scholarships and grants.”

“Where is she now?”

“Milly passed two years ago.”

“You don’t have any other family?” Damn. He
wished he hadn’t asked the question.

She swallowed hard. “No.”

Barry reached for her and she stepped back.

“I don’t need your pity.”

“It’s not pity that I offer. Come here,
baby.”

Kayla hesitated for only a minute, and then
she walked into his open arms. As he held her, she released a tight breath
before smoothing her palms up his back.

“I’m in awe of you,” he admitted with
pride.

“Why?”

“Because look at who you are. What you’ve
become on your own mettle. You’re an amazing woman.”

Pulling from his embrace, she moved toward
the door, but not before he could see the rosy color that dotted her cheeks as
she spoke.

“We better get going.”

Kayla was relieved that Barry switched on
the radio to mask the silence that stretched between them in the car. While
Christmas carols played quietly, she tried to sort through the barrage of
emotions that had left her feeling vulnerable. Why had she told him about her
abandonment and Milly? She had never shared that secret with anyone.

Maybe it’s the holidays
, she attempted to justify her actions. Holidays were always
difficult on individuals who had no family to share the gaiety and warmth of
the season with.

“And maybe it’s because you love him and
you felt it necessary to share your most guarded secret with him,” a small,
familiar voice whispered into her ear.

Just knowing that Hector was close lent her
comfort. But could he be right?

Her logical side insisted it was
impossible. Love? While another side of her felt there was some truth in the
faery’s assumption. The thought of losing what they shared together left her
heart aching.

Maybe it
was
because she was lonely?

“And maybe it’s because you love him. Admit
it,” Hector murmured softly.

“
Shhh.
” She needed to think.

“Did you say something?” Barry asked as he
stopped the car before his parents’ house.

“No.”

“I’ll get your door.” He opened his and
moved around the car.

When she got out he pulled her into his
arms and kissed her tenderly.

“
They’re here!
” They drifted apart
to see Cecilia moving quickly down the sidewalk.

“How late are we?” Kayla muttered.

Glancing at his watch, Barry used the same
hand to gather hers in. “Thirty minutes.” There was no time to say more. His
mother pulled him into a big bear hug, kissing his cheek before she did the
same thing to Kayla.

“Merry Christmas!” His mother was a ball of
energy. “I’m so glad to see you again.”

“Mom.” He released a breath. “It’s been
less than twenty-four hours.”

“I know. I know. But it’s still good to see
the both of you.” She threaded an arm through each of theirs and literally
dragged them along the path into the house.

Conway and Stan met them at the entrance to
the living room.

The minute Kayla’s gaze touched Stan’s
something intimate moved between them. But he only kissed her lightly on the
cheek, wishing her a Merry Christmas before he extended Barry his hand.

After the greetings were over, Cecilia
ushered them into the living room where lights twinkled on the tall Christmas
tree. The sight was something to behold. Stockings lined the fireplace that
glowed with orange and red flames popping and crackling in the blazing fire.
Her breath caught when she saw a sock with her name on it hanging between
Stan’s and Barry’s.

They each took a seat, Barry next to her on
the couch.

“We do stockings first.” Cecilia sat in a
comfy armchair across from Stan, while Conway gathered them from the mantle and
handed them out.

Both Stan and Barry laughed out loud as
they pulled a lump of coal from theirs.

“I guess that means the two of you have
been naughty this year.” Cecilia’s eyes twinkled with mischief.

They both looked at Kayla and she felt
warmth fan out over her face. Then they turned back to their stockings and
found several gift cards and other items, while Kayla peeked into her stocking
knowing she probably deserved a piece of coal too. Instead she found several
gift cards to a number of stores she frequented and a small box containing a
golden ankle chain.

“I can’t possibly accept this. It’s too
much, I didn’t—”

“Wait ’til you see what we got you,” Barry
said.

Chapter Ten

Barry loved the expression on Kayla’s face
as one after another presents were handed to her. Shock disappeared to genuine
appreciation at the cashmere sweater from his folks. Stan had given her an
expensive bottle of perfume. To Barry’s eternal gratitude, his friend had
picked up a present for Barry to give Kayla. It was a golden set of
diamond-studded handcuffs for her ankle bracelet.

The gift had both his parents’ brows
rising, but Kayla laughed, the musical sound warming him inside and out. She
appeared to be in good spirits when the maid arrived, announcing it was time
for dinner.

Everyone rose.

While he escorted Kayla to a dining room
used for intimate parties and family, Stan took Barry’s mother’s arm. When they
were all seated, his father bowed his head and gave the blessing.

“Amen,” everyone chimed together.

Then silverware clinked, crystal chimed as
wine was poured, and chatter flowed as generous servings were placed on each
plate. Barry gazed around, realizing how lucky he was. Everyone he loved sat at
the table with him, enjoying excellent food and even better company.

Next year would there be a little one to
share in their happiness?

He reached for Kayla’s hand and squeezed.
Would they be greeting the season with a son or daughter? When their eyes met,
Barry could swear he saw the same joy he felt in her eyes. Before he realized
what he was doing, he leaned in and stole a kiss.

Color rose in Kayla cheeks. “Barry?”

“Sorry.” He hid a smile beneath his weak
apology.

And he wasn’t the only one.

His mother beamed ear-to-ear. His father
discreetly grinned behind his glass of wine, while Stan winked knowingly.

Kayla openly spoke to his mother and father
about her position at Buckman and Chase.

“Charles said you have the most wins of any
attorney in the firm, given your time there,” his father shared.

“Great record.” While Stan cut his turkey
into bite sizes, he looked up at Kayla. “Ever wonder what’s the difference
between an attorney and a pit bull?” He shoved a chunk of meat into his mouth,
chewing behind a grin. “Jewelry.”

“Ha. Ha.” Kayla retorted quickly with, “How
many stockbrokers does it take to change a light bulb?” She paused before
continuing. “Two. One to take out the bulb and drop it, and the other to try
and sell it before it crashes.”

Everyone laughed. A couple more playful
exchanges were made as dinner progressed. Soon the dishes were cleared and the
cook’s pumpkin pie and her special bread pudding, Barry’s favorite, were set
before him. He took a bite and savored the cinnamon sweetness.

Did Kayla cook?

Barry realized he didn’t even know very
much about her and he wanted to learn everything. He gazed at her profile as
she chatted with his father about the case she had won against his company.
There appeared to be no hard feelings on either side and for that he was
thankful, because he wanted his family to care about her as much as he did.

His mother pushed her plate away. “I can’t
eat another bite. Should we adjourn to the living room? Your dad is looking
forward to watching football.”

She was right, his dad hightailed it
straight for the channel changer and his chair, flipping the television on as
he took a seat. The game grabbed his and Stan’s attention as they sat down. His
mother sat beside Kayla and began to chat.

Barry took it as a good sign when he
overheard Kayla share the same story she had with him earlier about her family,
or lack thereof. He glimpsed his mother holding Kayla’s hand in hers. It made
him happy to see her so accepting of Kayla.

They were only halfway through the game
when his father’s head nodded, his eyes closing. His mother smiled at him, love
glowing in her eyes. His parents had the kind of marriage Barry wanted—one that
would outlast the bad times.

Barry got to his feet. “It appears Dad has
had enough company. I think it’s time for us to go.” He extended a hand to
Kayla and she took it, rising.

“I can’t thank you enough for such a
wonderful day,” she gushed with sincere appreciation.

“It was our pleasure.” His mother kissed
Kayla softly on the cheek. “Barry, I expect you not to be a stranger and bring
this lovely woman back to visit me.” Before they said their goodbyes, he
promised to do just that.

After placing their gifts in the backseat,
he got into his car and looked over at Kayla. “Stay with me tonight.” What he
wanted to say was
stay with me forever
.

“This is becoming a habit, one I could get
used to,” she jested.

“Then move in with me.” When her lips
parted on what he expected to be a negative response, he hurried to add, “Don’t
answer now. But tell me you’ll think about it.”

This time when she searched his face, he
didn’t get the feeling she was looking for ulterior motives, but for what? He
wasn’t sure.

“Barry, we don’t really know each other.”

“I know enough about you that I want to
wake up each morning with you in my arms. Just promise me you’ll think about
it.” He didn’t bring anything up about the possibility of a baby because he
didn’t want to make her feel trapped or that she had to make a choice based on
what the outcome might be. Barry wanted her to come to him because she wanted
him.

“I will.”

They didn’t speak during the remainder of
the trip home. When the garage opened and they got out of the car, he
immediately took her into his arms, shuffling them out of the cold into the
kitchen. Even before they got to the living room, he relieved her of the little
black dress and the slip she wore, leaving her in heels, stockings, bikini
panties and a matching bra.

Golden hair framed her soft features as she
kicked off her shoes and pressed her body to his. Her mouth opened to his
caress and he dipped into her heat, stroking and mating with her tongue.

“Too many clothes.” She tugged at his
shirt.

While he undressed she did the same.
Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a condom. Opening the package, he rolled
the latex over his throbbing cock. When he finished, they came together in a
rush of kisses and caresses.

Kayla whimpered and he countered the sweet
sound with a groan. She tasted and felt so good, her sleek body sliding against
his with uninhibited desire.

A sense of déjà vu struck him as he pinned
her to the same wall where he had first taken her. “Wrap your legs around my
waist.”

As before, she lifted a leg and he assisted
her up so those beautiful, long limbs surrounded him. He wasn’t surprised to
find her wet and ready as he entered her. Yet this time his strokes weren’t
hurried but slow and deliberate. A desperate need rang within him to show her
what she meant to him.

Barry didn’t fuck her. He made love to
her—the moment so poignant his chest constricted.

Sliding a hand to the small of her back, he
brought her body tighter against his, raising his hips at the same time to slam
into her cradle. Hungry for her taste, his lips searched, seeking the hollow of
her throat. As he swirled his tongue over the silky skin, she arched, grinding
into him. He felt the shiver that ran down her skin and he moved back to look
into her eyes.

Kayla licked her lips, her eyelids sliding
to half-mast as she breathed his name on another sultry shudder. Then her body
tightened, her arms locking around his neck like a vise. A flutter quaked
around his cock before her inner muscles squeezed and she cried out, shattering
in his arms.

The continued rippling and pulsing of her
pussy combined with her moans of pleasure pushed Barry over the edge. Heat
flushed over his face and scalp. The tingle that had started as a throb in his
balls spread to the base of his dick. All of a sudden the sensation raced down
the shaft as another wave surged up his spine, making a beeline to his brain.
He took a single breath, held it. Exhaling, all the passion and power trapped
inside him released in a gush. Barry shook with the force, his knees
threatening to fail him. It took all his effort to remain standing.