My Hot Holiday by Kate Crown Page B

sorry."  My voice is slightly higher than usual, and I watch Mr. CEO reaching like a juggler for each book.
    Can the floor suddenly open and become my escape from this disastrous reality?
    As he retrieves the books and begins to stack them on the small table in front of us, I stare at him in silence, feeling mortification hitting me hard.  My throat's tight, and there's a burning sensation growing just below my collarbone.
    For the first time in my life, I feel drawn to a perfect stranger and am willing to act on it.
    I lean down to pick up the last of the mess and as I slowly rise, I smell him before I feel him.  Before I can utter a word I feel strong hands on each of my hips.  My eyes close as I drink in the moment, the feel of his warm body...
    "I think I just found my Christmas gift..." his deep voice whispers into my ear.
    I swallow hard, feeling nauseous with desire.  This can NOT be happening!
    I feel my insides shake as I try to resuscitate myself. I bite down on my lip and try to respond...
    "You..uh...did?"
    REAL NICE, Jillian...THAT’S your answer?
    With a low sound of approval rumbling in his throat, he forcefully moves the two of us against the bookcase.  All of my attention is locked on following this man on his mission.  His hot lips match the heat of his hands that are beginning to lift my shirt and fidget with the clasp on my pants.
    "I sense that you want this, Jillian," he says, pulling me so close to him that I almost feel like a part of him.  He is about as dominating as they come.  Animal instinct takes over.
    His strong-handed finesse makes my head spin, but not as much as the seductiveness of his wet lips.  He is kissing me furiously now, and I can feel the tingle from his stubble on my lips and tongue.
    His mouth leaves mine and I can feel his hot breath on my neck, licking my skin and yanking me closer.  With one clean swoop, he kicks the books off the table in front of us and leaving the bookcase behind, he blazes a path to the table, pushing me firmly against it.  My cheeks burn with desirable sensation.
    "I need to unwrap my Christmas gift..." he demands.
    I tug at my wrists, more concerned than ever that I am making the biggest mistake of my life.  But somehow his power over me becomes intoxicating, only making me more drawn to him.  My breath falls roughly, with only little gasps of air escaping that reveal exactly how he is affecting me.
    His mouth is firm, yet gentle in a way I hadn't expected.  His lips move slowly, coaxing my own to move in response.  His hold on my wrists loosens, his fingers softening, shimmying down the length of my arms...grazing the sides of my breasts.
    This can't be happening...
    One of his hands slips around my neck, tilting my face higher.  His other hand drags a hot trail down my throat.  His thumb must be able to feel the pulse that's vibrating through my body.  Then, I realize it isn’t just passion causing me to vibrate.
    "Jillian?"  The sudden and unexpected voice ripped through my haze of lust.  I blink and struggle to sit up.  Aren't we alone?  Who is calling my name?
    "Jillian, are you there?" the familiar voice says.
    Jake's head lifts with a jerk.  Then, it hit me.  My cell phone!  I had shoved it in my back pocket while trying to juggle the presents and I must have pocket dialed.
    NOOOOOO!  Not NOW!!!
    Jake follows my stare to the illuminated smartphone that I had pulled from beneath my perspiring body.  I feel judgment oozing from Mom's face, which is displayed across the screen.  Who thought preprogrammed pictures of your contacts were a good idea?
    My lips still tingling, I squeeze out from beneath Jake.  Fortunately, he makes no move to stop me.  I rapidly hit the "END" button on the phone and shut off that unfortunate line of mistimed communication.
    He sits back against the bookshelf studying me.
    "You're shaking, Jillian."
    I don’t want to admit it, but it isn't the sudden phone interruption as much as this man