Mistletoe Not Required (10 page)

And when the unrelenting passion drove her to the point of madness, she lowered her body onto his heat and strength and, with a sigh of delight, she took him inside her. Their gazes fused and pleasure reigned. She arched and slowly began to move with him.

Finally, this time when she reached that glorious vortex, he was right there with her, sharing the flash and sizzle as they took flight over the edge together.

Neither of them moved for several minutes. Or it might have been hours. She might have slept but she was sure she hadn’t. How could she sleep after the most amazing experience of her life? All she was sure of was that this guy lying beside her, his breathing slow and even and a hairy thigh resting heavy between her legs, was out for the count.

No pillow talk, then. And it wasn’t what she and Jett were about anyway. One night was all it had ever been, all it would ever be; they both understood that. And she was relieved he was asleep because it would make it easier to slip away, redress and let herself out—
sans
panties.

No need for conversation. No awkward moments and face-to-face morning-after. She needed time alone to think about the night, to replay it in her mind—and store it in her heart.

Because in spite of all the warnings she’d given herself, she was falling for him. Falling for him in a bigger way than she’d ever dreamed of. Oh, he was a playboy and way too sure of himself, but the more time she spent with him, the more she discovered about him. And she liked what she was finding. Behind that devil-may-care attitude, he was the kind of guy who liked to have fun and respected others. He’d respected her decisions and let her make the first move. Respect was something Jason had never had. Certainly not for her anyway.

And if she wasn’t careful, she could easily let herself be fooled into naïvely thinking Jett felt the same way she did. Just because they’d had great sex.

Except for her, the sex was only part of it. But it would be a fatal mistake to make more of this than what it was. A one-nighter. A fling. The knowledge that she’d know her future within weeks had given her the impetus to grab tonight and make some memories.

But no matter what future she was dealt, she didn’t want a man and the complications that came with him. She had too many other commitments. Others were counting on her. So staying here snuggled up next to him was a
bad
idea. She shifted experimentally. If she could just extricate herself...

‘Where do you think you’re going?’ a surprisingly wide-awake voice muttered next to her ear.

‘Down to my room,’ she whispered. ‘Go back to sleep.’

‘Like hell you are. And I wasn’t asleep.’

‘Oh.’ She tried again to ease away but her leg remained trapped. ‘I didn’t bring anything with me.’

‘You brought the important stuff.’ A firm arm reached around her waist and pulled her back until she was flush against him. He was hard and erect against her bottom and obviously ready to go again.

‘Tell me about this idiot boyfriend,’ he murmured against her ear.

‘He doesn’t exist any more. Not to me.’

‘How old were you?’

‘Eighteen.’

‘No other boyfriends?’

‘I went out with a few guys in high school, but they were mostly platonic, study buddies—that kind of thing. Nerds, you’d probably say. Then I met Jason, who wasn’t a nerd by any stretch of the imagination. Our relationship was a bit like a cheap sky show. Bright sparks that fizzled fast.’

‘That’s all? Just a spark and fizzle?’

She remembered the way things had ended. ‘So after the underwhelming experience, I decided I wasn’t missing much. And I was studying—I didn’t have time for guys. I should go...’

‘Why?’ His hand slid round and found a nipple to play with. ‘Stay.’

And she couldn’t think of a reason why she shouldn’t. Didn’t really want to because
she didn’t want the night to end
. ‘Since we’re both awake...’ She turned over so they were face to face and stared into his eyes and saw her desire reflected back. ‘Want to play again?’

He grinned, teeth white, eyes laughing in the dimness. ‘I’m ready if you are.’

She traced the curve of his lips with a fingertip and grinned back. ‘I know.’

‘My turn on top,’ he said, and rolled her onto her back.

TEN

Jett watched the
sky turn grey and the first hints of dawn creep through the shutters. The sleeping form outlined beside him snuffled and shifted but remained asleep. A grin hooked the corner of his mouth. Who’d have thunk it? Olivia snored like a trooper.

He watched her face in the pearlescent light and was tempted to wake her with a kiss on those plump and pretty lips and have his way with her again. Something powerful and almost possessive snagged in his chest. He’d had beautiful women, experienced women with all the right moves, but none of them had seduced him the way Olivia had. She’d not only seduced his body, but also his mind, with her intelligence and humour and a stubborn determination to rival his own.

He gritted his teeth against such feelings. He’d sailed on her boat as she’d requested of him, suffered his bit for charity and was leaving this morning.

Just because they’d shared a bed, a few truths and something less substantial that he hadn’t quite figured out yet, didn’t mean he was going to change his plans. She knew he was leaving and she had her own career path mapped out. They both understood where the other was coming from.

He was up and showered and dressed before she woke. He ordered breakfast for two then checked his emails. He had the morning sorted. They’d share coffee and croissants before they parted ways. He’d offer any further assistance for her foundation should she need it, then his chauffeured ride would drop her home if she wanted before taking him on up to Cradle Mountain. He figured he’d enjoy the scenery along the way while he jumped on the Internet and got a head start on some foody ideas during the four-hour journey...

Except he’d got used to having her around over the past week. Her boundless energy and enthusiasm was contagious, giving a much-needed boost to his flagging motivation and lack of direction of late. The way her eyes flashed when she was angry or bewildered with him. When she smiled in his direction and made his heart pound a little bit harder.

Should he ask her to come with him? Just for a couple of days? Just until this spark lost its sparkle?

He scowled at his laptop screen. Him and his sister’s best friend. Yeah, right. When the spark lost its sparkle it could all get
very
messy.

He was still scowling when the tousle-haired beauty walked into the room. Wearing last night’s discarded silk shirt. The top two buttons were undone, leaving a generously exposed cleavage. Its hem barely covered enough thigh to be decent; her legs flashed honey-gold in the sun’s early morning glow.

‘Someone went clubbing last night,’ she said, fiddling with the cuffs.

‘I went to check out the casino earlier in the evening.’

‘I’ve never been to a casino, but I’ve heard it’s fun.’

‘Never made it. Wasn’t in the right mood.’

‘Oh. Lucky for me.’ She smiled, looking sexy and adorable, and his body throbbed to instant attention. He wanted to have her here, now, and to hell with breakfast and his plans. ‘There’s a hotel robe in the bathroom that might be warmer,’ he suggested, tearing his gaze away and returning his focus to his PC.

‘I’m not cold.’ She’d moved in record time because an arm shot across his line of vision. ‘See, no goose-bumps.’

He nodded, resumed tapping keys. ‘Just finishing something here...’ She smelled of warm, musky, satisfied woman and he couldn’t help it—he filled his lungs with her scent.

‘You’re supposed to say it looks better on me than on you.’

He’d heard that cajoling feminine tone before, just not from Olivia. He spared a glance. Beaded nipples clearly outlined against the fine fabric. He knew they were the colour of coral and tasted like mulled wine. His eyes lingered longer than he’d intended. He could feel his blood pressure rise. And other parts. This wasn’t going the way he’d planned. ‘So it does. Keep it if you want.’ He doubted he’d wear it again—he didn’t keep mementos.

To his surprise, she agreed, ‘No reminders,’ then reached for last night’s goody bag. ‘We didn’t get to eat the food I brought over.’ From the corner of his eye he saw her pinch off a grape and hold it out to him. ‘Hungry?’

He looked up and met pretty sea-blue eyes. Yes, he was, but not for food. ‘I’ve ordered breakfast for...’ he checked the time ‘...fifteen minutes.’

‘So we have fifteen minutes.’ Popping the grape in her mouth, she started unbuttoning the shirt in a brisk, businesslike fashion.

When he watched in disbelief, she shrugged, slipping another button free, her eyes twinkling like jewels. ‘Once more for the road?’

He pushed back from the table, already pulling his shirt over his head, not bothering with buttons. ‘You’re trouble, you know that?’

‘So you’ve said.’ She pulled a foil packet out of the shirt pocket before she let the garment slither off those elegant creamy shoulders and onto the floor. ‘More than once. I—’

He’d grabbed her around the waist, swung her up, hoisted her onto the table and spread her thighs apart before either of them knew what he was about. A glass table arrangement rocked unsteadily behind her.

He paused for a second, stunned. Something that looked like panicked excitement streaked across her gaze.

‘Don’t stop.’

‘Don’t intend to.’ He slid one finger inside her.

Her gasp fired his blood to fever pitch. Snatching the condom from her fingers, he fumbled as he rolled it on then dragged her buttocks to the edge of the table. Craving the clench of her hot wet heat around him. Craving that one last time, the way an addict craved his last fix before rehab.

She leaned back on her elbows, offering. Demanding. ‘Yes! Hurry.’

His vision hazed, his body shuddered, and he heard himself swear once, violently, before he leaned over her, lowered his body to hers and plunged inside. The impact drove the air from both their lungs.

‘Jett!’

It wasn’t pain he heard in her breathless plea. It was the same urgency that beat through his own blood. His name on her lips, over and over, her hands barely clinging to his sweat-damp shoulders, hips arching to meet his thrusts.

No slow and gentle this morning, his control was in tatters, and, he knew by looking into her eyes, she didn’t want it. She wanted fast, uninhibited abandon. That was what he gave her and what she gave in return.

Sheer mindless passion. Frantic mouths and muttered pleasure. Flesh met flesh, every harsh breath expelled matched the fierce pace they’d set.

She gave him everything without fear or hesitation, eager for more, as if she’d never get enough, her whole body vibrant and alive, her face aglow.

As if she was trying to live an entire life in these few crazy moments.

He drove her up, higher, faster. The room around them blurred, lightning cracked and they flew together through the eye of the storm.

Olivia collapsed against the table, its glass surface cool against her damp back. Jett’s body on hers was a still-unfamiliar and exciting weight, their sweat-slicked skin fused together in interesting places. She wondered if she’d find the strength to move before breakfast arrived.

He peeled himself off her, the sticky pull bringing a smile to her numb lips. He didn’t speak when he lifted her off the table except to order her to ‘Stay there,’ and disappeared into the bathroom.

She picked the silk shirt up off the floor, brought it to her nose. His musky scent mingled with her own.
No reminders.

She set it atop his packed bag, her mind still spinning, her legs still shaking. Who’d have thought sex could be like this? Not only the physical experience but the—she searched for a word—connection.

Had her life been different and if she hadn’t applied her days and nights to the challenges of study and founding Snowflake with such dedication, maybe she’d have had more opportunities like this one.

But it would have been a waste. Because no one would ever do it for her like Jett.

No reminders?
Huh.
Maybe not tangible mementos but the memories were going to live on for a very long time. She was
so
going to pay for this one night.

Jett appeared, still bare-chested and holding the fluffy robe he’d mentioned. He didn’t come close and slip it around her shoulders as she half expected and fully hoped, but held it out at arm’s length. His eyes were dark and unreadable, giving her no clue how he felt. ‘You okay?’

‘Yes.’ She took it from his hands.
It’s over, Olivia. Pull yourself together and smile.

It was a waste of a smile because she watched him shut his laptop, stow it in a briefcase beside his luggage. Not looking at her. All cool business. As if they hadn’t just had wild animal sex on the table.

‘Breakfast’s late,’ he muttered. As if he was in a hurry to get going and its tardy delivery was holding him up.

‘Just as well, don’t you think?’

She didn’t know if he even heard. He seemed preoccupied. Almost on autopilot he reached down and swiped up the cotton shirt he’d whipped off earlier in his frenzy to have her and began undoing the buttons.

Desperation seized her. She wanted him to answer her, to notice her. To look at her the way he’d looked at her moments ago. ‘Thanks for that,’ she said, faking casual, glancing at the table still smeared with their skin prints.

No response.

‘With everything so busy, who knows when I’ll get lucky again.’

That
got his attention.

What the...?
Jett’s gaze snapped to Olivia as she pulled the robe’s tie firmly at her waist, swamping her in white terry towelling. He took a moment to process her words. Before he could draw breath, she beat him to it.

‘Careful what you say, Jett, your sexist streak isn’t going to impress me.’

He frowned, dumbfounded with the strange look in her eyes and her throwaway attitude.
Getting lucky.
He’d used the words himself more times than he could count. Some deep-down, primitive
possessive
part of him wanted to roar. He bunched the shirt in his fists before tossing it onto the sofa. ‘Nothing to say.’ Except, ‘Just don’t let anyone take advantage of you.’

Because he knew she was inexperienced and vulnerable and he couldn’t stomach the idea of another Jason using her for all the wrong reasons.

‘I’ve been practically celibate for twenty-six years—you don’t think I know how to say no?’ She pointed an accusing finger in his direction. ‘Has it occurred to you that
you
took advantage on Christmas Eve? If Brie hadn’t rung when she did... Think about it.’

‘You’d have said yes.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Re-a-lly.’

‘You wouldn’t have been able to stop yourself.’

‘Right,’ she scoffed.

‘Because we’re good together, dammit. And you know it. You let me take advantage. You were
begging
me to take advantage.’

She shook her head. He watched her pace away and wanted to take her in his arms and hold her close and... And what? For God’s sake. He drew in a slow, deep breath and somehow reined in his frustration.

‘Okay, I admit it,’ she said. ‘You were different—
are
different. When I saw you I’d never felt that way before. Like I was shivery and melty at the same time. Like I was in a storm at sea with a broken mast.

‘But none of that matters because I’ve no intention of having sex with you again, Jett. Next time we meet it’ll be as friends. When Brie’s there. Because one thing I sincerely hope is that this thing between us won’t spoil what you and Brie have—family.’

Her absolute conviction in what she was saying riveted him to the spot. She infatuated him. That combination of strength and tenderness and understanding.

Breakfast interrupted anything he might have said and while he signed for it and the staff set it up on a wrought-iron table in a corner overlooking the marina, Olivia grabbed her clothes and the handbag she’d left on the table and slipped from the room to shower.

Jett shrugged into his wrinkled shirt, poured coffee for them both and watched a few New Year stragglers down on the docks looking much the worse for wear while he waited for her.

He should be relieved. She wasn’t some clingy female who demanded more than he wanted to give. He shook his head. Didn’t mean he couldn’t still ask her to accompany him to the mountains for a few days. He could talk her round. He could change her mind.

When Olivia didn’t show after five minutes, he drank his coffee and broke open a croissant. He’d heard the shower switch off, but the women he knew spent an inordinate time in front of the mirror.

A few minutes later he heard her muffled voice through the closed bedroom door and got up and went to investigate. She sounded agitated but he wasn’t about to eavesdrop on a private conversation. He tapped on the door. ‘Everything okay in there?’

Instant silence, followed by a muffled ‘I’ll be there soon.’

Frowning, he returned to the table, poured himself another coffee, then dialled Room Service for a fresh pot.

She entered the room, dressed in last night’s clothes, her bag slung over her shoulder, scrolling over the screen on her phone as she hurried to where she’d left her shoes and slipped them on. She didn’t even glance his way. ‘I can’t stay for breakfast. I have to leave.’

He’d said the same often enough when
he’d
been the one rushing out after a night of casual sex. He raised his china cup towards her. ‘Not even for coffee? I ordered another pot.’

She didn’t answer; perhaps she hadn’t heard him because she was busy digging around in her bag. ‘Crap!’

He flicked her a look. ‘Problem?’

She shook her head, still preoccupied with finding whatever she was searching for. ‘Nothing for you to worry about.’ She finally pulled out a set of keys, then put them back for no reason he could work out other than she was checking she had them. ‘I hope you enjoy Freycinet Lodge.’

‘Cradle Mountain. And I was thinking, if you—’

Eyes narrowed, he stepped closer and got his first good look since she’d come into the room. Her face was the colour of porridge. ‘You said you were fine.’

She saw him looking at her trembling hands and clenched her fingers around her bag strap. ‘I have to go.’