Holiday Sparks by Taryn Elliott Page B

swayed a little and he kissed her forehead before drawing her under the spray again. They finished up, quietly drying off before they slipped back into his bed. Without words he settled her against him until his smooth chest was her pillow.
    She’d never comfortably slept with a man before. She liked her space. But she slid her thigh over his and dropped off without another thought in her head.

Chapter Six
     
    Ben watched the sun creep up his midnight-blue comforter. He’d forgotten to pull his blackout curtains before taking Darcy to his bed. Not that it would have mattered anyway. He’d been staring at the ceiling for the last hour.
    Another day with four hours of sleep under his belt. He didn’t care. Not when Darcy was curled so trustingly into his side. He slid his thumb over her shoulder and smoothed back down her arm.
    He was used to sex being fun. He liked the feel of a woman in his arms. He was one of the few of his friends who actually didn’t dread the morning after. All the other mornings were okay because it didn’t matter if the woman was clingy or cranky or even indifferent. He could usually coax them into a good mood and they would leave with a smile, relationship or not.
    But nothing about Darcy could be relegated into something so safe. The moment he’d touched her in the store he knew it was going to be different and still he’d wanted her in his bed.
    His instincts never steered him wrong. From adjusting his major in college to leaving the safety of his job in Boston to start his own business with Cesar, and now the Christmas venture—all of it fit him.
    But Darcy terrified him.
    He’d known that opening himself up to her would be a gamble. And it still was. Hell, he only had half the cards in his hand and he was tempted to scoop up his chips and run. Except he wasn’t going to run. He’d figure out some way to get to know her a little better. He really didn’t want the cool Darcy back with morning-after weirdness.
    The winter sun curled its fingers around her arm and teased the edges of her chin. Her lemon-blonde hair tangled across his chest. And she felt so good in his arms he was fairly sure sleep would be nonexistent without her.
    When the sun crept up to her golden lashes they started to flutter. Her hand slid across his chest then down to his hip. He dragged air through his nose and didn’t move. Morning wood took on a whole different meaning when a woman was involved.
    She rubbed her nose into his chest and settled back into him. Her forearm skimmed under the sheet and her soft skin bumped the head of his cock. Her smooth thigh brushed along his as she slowly woke up.
    Braced for the excuses, he caught her gaze flick to his nightstand. He didn’t know what time it was, but instead of bounding out of his bed, she grazed her nose over his pec and swiped her tongue over his nipple, then dragged the back of her fingers down his cock.
    He hissed when her swirling tongue was followed by a bite. He buried his hand in her hair, hoping it was enough to show her that he liked it. Her touch was tentative but his achingly stiff cock didn’t care.
    Hot breath blew over his nipple as she lifted her arm enough to see beneath the covers. Her name was a grumbled whisper as she stroked down his shaft and tightened at the base like he showed her the night before.
    Efficient, that was his Darcy.
    His? The possessive feelings from last night were already starting up again.
    His hips flexed on the second trip up and back, his body already tuned up from lying under her for hours. And he liked her weight. Soft and solid and long-limbed. Her kisses skimmed his ribs with open-mouthed nips and swipes of her warm tongue.
    Silently she coasted over his belly, her cat-green eyes bright in the sun as she watched him. She dipped her tongue into his navel, pushing the sheets aside. He swallowed down the urge to paint her lips with the tip of his cock.
    What the hell was wrong with him? He should be laughing and