Unexpected Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Series Book 1) (10 page)

“That’s such a line.”

“Did it work?” Colin’s mouth turned up into a grin.

She struggled to keep her breath even. It was a losing battle. “We should probably get to bed,” Andi whispered. “It’s a big day tomorrow with the ball and—“

His mouth locked on hers, and not for the first time that night, thoughts of her self-imposed dating rule flashed through her head and almost just as fast, she came up with a dozen reasons why it didn’t apply. She pressed her body against his, closing the gap between them. Her drink spilled into the water as Andi reached around Colin’s back and pulled him closer. He tasted of the rich wine, and she drank him in.

Andi wrapped her legs around his waist. The feel of his bare, slippery skin on the inside of her thighs caused the pressure to build into a flaming center of molten heat. Colin secured his hands on either side of her legs, letting them slide up and over her bikini bottoms. His fingers teased the ties that secured her bathing suit closed, before plunging them under the fabric to squeeze the flesh beneath.

She pulled her mouth away from his, gulped a breath and let out a moan as Colin moved his mouth to the top of her breast that was just peeking out of the water. She groaned again and tipped her head back, giving him better access to her chest. Colin responded by lifting her up to expose more of her body from the water. With one hand still holding her bottom, his other hand deftly untied her bikini top and swiped it to the side. He grasped her breast and squeezed with just enough pressure to liquefy her resolve.

The cold air bit at her skin, but Andi hardly noticed as Colin’s expert hands caressed her, while at the same time his mouth explored her bare skin. The combined sensation built up in her until Andi thought she’d scream out with pleasure. One second before she could do just that, Colin released his grip on her and gently pushed her back to the bench so she was once again covered by the hot water.

“I’m sorry,” he said, when he met her gaze.

“Sorry for what?” she breathed. “I wasn’t complaining.”

“No.” He chuckled. “You most certainly were not. But because of your little rule, which I respect,” he added quickly, “I think I might be complaining sooner rather than later, if you know what I mean?”

“About that rule—“

“No, no,” Colin cut her off. “I respect it. And I respect you and—“

Andi threw herself forward in the water, smashing her chest into his. She met his mouth with a ferocity she wasn’t even sure she possessed. Blaine certainly had never brought out the level of want and desire that Colin had ignited in her. She kissed him deep, wrapping her arms around his neck and entwining her fingers in his wet hair. Andi couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever been the aggressor in a relationship. Perhaps it wasn’t her. It was the man. And this time, the man in front of her was certainly worth the aggression.

“Andi,” Colin groaned, pulling himself away from her. “I’m serious. I’m respecting your boundaries. I want to, actually. Although, I must say, you are not making it easy on me.”

She didn’t let go of him. “I don’t believe you,” she said.

“Believe what?”

“That you actually want to respect my boundaries, because your body is sure as hell telling me different.” She tried to kiss him again, but was stopped when she saw his face and she knew she’d been beat. “Dammit,” she said and pushed backwards in the water. She reached behind her and hastily retied her bikini top.

“I’ve got to admit,” he said. “It’s really hot to see you so worked up. But I like you, Andi.” He started to move closer to her, but she held up a hand to stop him. If she had any hope of cooling down, she needed personal space. “And you might think I’m a sleazy one-night stand kind of—“

“I didn’t say that.”

“Ah, but you did,” he said with a small smile. “But it’s not like that with you. I told you I was going to change. And I’m going to prove it.”

He’d put her off. Colin couldn’t even believe it himself. When she’d said she couldn’t or wouldn’t have sex with him right away, he was unpredictably okay with it. Of course, that got a lot harder when he saw her in a bikini and harder still when he was kissing her. But he knew it was the right move with her and, instead of feeling frustrated, Colin felt inexplicably happy lying in his bed alone.

He stretched his arms over his head and let out a sigh. Andi made him happy. The last few days were truly some of the best he’d had in a long time. For a moment, he considered climbing out of bed to find her and get one more goodnight kiss. But no, he knew himself too well. He’d shown restraint once; he didn’t know if he’d be able to let her walk away again. No, it was definitely a better idea if he stayed put.

Colin reached over to the bedside lamp when there was a knock at the door.

His body responded instantly.

He pulled the comforter higher, covering his boxer shorts. “Come in.”

The door pushed open slowly and Andi stuck her head around the corner. Her hair had been pulled back into a ponytail and gone was the sexy dress and even sexier bikini. Instead she wore her Bugs Bunny t-shirt and fleece pants. Andi had never looked hotter.

“I’m sorry to bug you,” she said. She moved slowly into the room. “But I…well…I know this sounds stupid, but I didn’t want to be alone.”

Colin groaned. “You’re killing me, Andi. I told you, I respect your—“

“No,” she said quickly. “I don’t mean sex.” She came closer to the bed and Colin could see the sadness in her eyes.

“Come here.” He sat up in the bed and gestured to the space next to him. The mattress sank with her slight weight when she sat and Colin wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. “Is everything okay?”

She fit perfectly in his arms, and at the moment, he thought holding her was just about the best thing he could think of doing.

“I’m fine,” she said. Her voice was muffled against his chest, but she made no motion to move, so he rubbed slow circles on her back. “I was just thinking how nice it’s been to be with you. I know it sounds stupid, but for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel so lonely.”

Colin froze, his hand in the middle of her back. Andi looked up then.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I should go.” Andi moved to get up and with one hand, Colin reached up and pulled her gently back down to the bed.

“No,” he said, his voice husky. “I want you to stay.” He stroked a stray piece of hair off her cheek and looked into her eyes until she blinked and smiled.

“I’d really like that,” she said.

Colin slid over, making room for her to crawl under the covers next to him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d ever spent the night with a woman and not had sex with her. Probably because it had never occurred before, let alone with a woman he was so attracted to.

As soon as she tucked her head onto his shoulder, he knew that the night would be a torturous exercise in restraint. In an effort to distract himself, he laughed and said, “I guess men’s fantasies about women wearing sexy lingerie to sleep are just that, fantasies.” He stroked Andi’s shoulder, lifting her t-shirt away from her skin slightly.

“You have a problem with my pajamas?”

“Quite the contrary, actually.” He lifted his arm so she could snuggle closer to his chest. When his arm was wrapped securely around her, he added, “In fact, I’ve never seen sexier nightwear than what you have on right now.”

She laughed, but he was serious. Seeing her so relaxed with him at that moment made the old t-shirt and fleece pants hotter than anything else he could have imagined.

He pulled her close and inhaled her sweet scent. She smelled fresh, like the outdoors, and faintly of apples.

“Colin?” She sounded exhausted; her voice was barely a whisper.

“Yes?”

“Thank you,” she said.

“Andi, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the night,” he said. The weight of her on his chest felt good and he realized he’d meant what he’d said. For the first time in a very long time, Colin felt content. He let his hand slide through her silky hair and kissed the top of her head. “Good night, Andi,” he said, but she was already asleep.

CHAPTER TEN

December 24

The sound of a phone ringing jarred Andi from her slumber. She rolled over and fumbled around the bedside table before remembering she wasn’t in her own room. Had she really spent the night next to Colin? The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was lying in his arms. Before going to his room, she’d crawled into her own empty bed, but the thought of spending the night alone hadn’t been an appealing one. Going to Colin felt natural, and he hadn’t turned her away.

With her eyes still closed against the morning sun, Andi swept her arms to the other side of the bed. Nothing. Her eyes popped open. She was alone. Except for her cell phone, which was on Colin’s pillow. Still ringing.

Andi let out a sigh, stretched her arms over her head one last time and reached for the phone.

“Good morning, Eva.

“I’ve been trying you for like half an hour. Do you have any idea how much work we have to do today?”

Andi rolled over and looked out the window. The late December sun was just starting to peek over the mountains, sending red and orange rays across the landscape and through the pines. It was the most beautiful thing she could imagine seeing in the morning. Except of course, the sight of Colin, half-naked and wrapped in a towel, which she saw when she turned towards the bathroom door.

“Andi, are you listening to me?” Eva’s voice came through the line and Andi realized that she in fact had not been listening.

“Of course,” she said.

Colin smiled and mouthed the words, “Good morning.”

Like a love-struck teenager, she grinned wide and could feel a blush burn on her cheeks. It was ridiculous. It’s not like they had sex. But maybe that was it; sex wouldn’t have been anywhere nearly as personal as what they’d shared instead.

“Thank you,” she mouthed back to him, pointing to her cell phone.

He shrugged and turned her attention back to Eva. “I’m listening,” Andi said to Eva. “But we still need some sort of theme for the party. We might just need to go with a basic Christmas ho, ho, ho theme. You know, wreaths, holly, mistletoe, all that.”

“No way. That’s way too simple. I have a great idea and I know where we can get some costumes last minute.”

“Like, really last minute,” Andi said. “You know you need to be here in a few hours.”

“Don’t you want to hear the idea?”

Andi’s eyes tracked Colin’s movements across the room to the dresser, where he pulled out a pair of jeans and a clean shirt. She sat up in bed, letting the covers fall to her waist. For one delicious moment, she thought he might drop his towel right in front of her. Instead, he bundled up the clothes, and with a smirk in her direction, made his way back to the bathroom.

“Tell me the idea,” Andi said with a small sigh.

“I think we should go with the Night Before Christmas,” Eva announced. “I can get some mouse costumes, and sugar plum fairies. We can even have the staff break into small skits throughout the night. And, wait for it,” Eva said. “I found the best soundtrack to play at the end of the night. It’s the sound of reindeer hooves and then we get a Santa to call out, ‘Merry Christmas to all—‘“

“‘And to all a good night,’” Andi finished for her. “I’m familiar with it. It sounds great. Let’s do it.” Andi kept her eyes on the bathroom door, waiting for Colin to reappear. “How did you think of that?”

“Well,” Eva paused, “it came to me when I saw that invitation on your desk last night. You know, the one from the Porters.”

Andi’s stomach clenched the way it always did when she remembered the family she’d once thought of as her own. The same family who’d dropped her the minute their son did.

“Are you okay, Andi? I’m sorry. I really need to learn when to shut up, but I—“

“It’s fine,” she said and then realized that it, in fact, was fine. The feeling in her stomach was gone as quickly as it came. “I actually kind of forgot all about the party.”

“For real? That must be some guy you’ve got there,” Eva said with a laugh. “Well, I guess I’ll get to meet him tonight anyway. I’m looking forward to it. Anyone who could convince you that not only is Christmas okay, but inspire you to throw an actual Christmas party, well, he’s got to be amazing.”

“He is pretty amazing,” Andi said with a laugh and then added, “Now stop talking to me and get in the car. We have so much to do.”

“Hey,” Eva said. “I’m on it. You get out of bed with Mr. Wonderful and get your butt moving.”

“I am not in bed with Mr. Wonderful,” Andi protested. It was remarkable how well her friend knew her. More often than not, Eva knew her better than she knew herself.

“Whatever. I’m out,” Eva said. Andi heard her laughter come through the line before she disconnected.

Tossing her cell to the pillow next to her, she leaned her head back against the headboard and sighed.

“So, I’m Mr. Wonderful, am I?”

Colin’s voice spooked her and she sat up sharply to find him standing at the end of the bed with a big smile on his face.

“That was Eva,” she said. “She’s on her way.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Eva thinks she’s funny.”

“So, it’s just your friend who thinks I’m wonderful? Not you?”

“Stop it.” Andi threw a pillow at him, which he caught with one hand. “I have a million things to do.” She pushed the quilt off her legs and started to climb out of the bed.

Colin moved around the side of the bed and wrapped his arms around her, pushing her gently back into the mattress. He kissed her soft and sweet on the lips and said, “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’re pretty wonderful too.”

Andi murmured her appreciation against his mouth and then firmly pushed him off her and to the side. She straddled his waist and planted a quick kiss on Colin’s forehead. “Save it,” she said. “We have a million things to do.”

He smiled a wicked smile and said, “Oh, I can wait. Because tonight will be our second official date.”

“I suppose it will be,” she said and jumped to her feet. She headed for the door but before she left, she turned back to see him watching her.