Winter Kisses by A.C. Arthur Page A

that.
    Disconnecting with Adonna, Karena immediately dialed the number she’d written down and received an automated voice-mail message. With a frown she left a message stating that she was calling for Monica and that he could get in touch with Karena instead.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” Sam asked the moment she finished leaving the message.
    â€œMonica’s assistant says this guy’s been looking for Monica and sent some package to the gallery for her. He’s being very persistent so Adonna wanted to know if I knew when Monica would be back so she could give this man some type of answer.”
    â€œIsn’t it her job to brush people off until Monica gets back?”
    Karena nodded, looking down at the slip of paper she’d written the number on. “Yeah, it is. And Adonna’s usually really good at it. So if she’s calling me, this guy must really be working her nerves. Anyway, I told him he can contact me if what he needs is urgent.”
    â€œBut you don’t think it is?” Sam asked, watching his wife carefully.
    â€œTruth is, I don’t know what to think about it. I’ve never heard this guy’s name before so I wonder how he even knows Monica.”
    â€œShe’s not a hermit, Karena. She’s made a lot of business connections. Maybe she’s following up on more stock for the gallery.”
    â€œMaybe,” Karena said, sitting back and vowing toenjoy the back rub her husband was so intent on giving her. But “maybe” didn’t sit well with her.
    Â 
    Monica’s eyes closed of their own accord as contentment flowed generously through her body. It started at her feet, right in the center, then up to the balls, over the toes then back down to the heels. Sensations moved from that locale upward, settling in her calves until they were warm and tingling, easing up to her thighs until they had their own heat spearing through them, pressing into her center that now throbbed and wept for attention of its own. Her breasts were heavy, nipples tingling; her arms felt languid, her mouth slack as her tongue slid slowly over puckered lips.
    Alex was giving her a foot massage.
    But it felt as if he were massaging every part of her body. She’d never felt so relaxed and simultaneously aroused before in her life. He’d taken a few pillows from the sofa, laid them on the floor and instructed her to lie on them. She did as he asked even though she wasn’t totally sure she should. When she’d been in the bedroom there was a chill in the air, an attestation to the fact that the electricity was out. Since the cabin obviously operated on all things electric, there was no heat. But here, in front of the still-roaring fire and being touched by this man, Monica was on fire.
    She knew she should tell him to stop. Every time he touched her, every time they were together, memories of her past crept closer to the surface. Alex was a different kind of man, she kept telling herself. Still, she’d thought she’d known before, thought the man was exactly who he said he was. She’d been wrong.
    When his hands moved from her feet to cup hercalves then up even farther to brush along her thighs, Monica shivered and twisted a little. His touch grew stronger, fingers pressing into her inner thighs. While her heart hammered in her chest, her vaginal muscles clenching with expectation, the increased pressure from his hands changed something in her mind.
    Monica tried to move again, wiggled so that she would be free of his grasp. She heard him mumble something but his hands didn’t leave her body. He was closer now, his lips brushing along her jawline. She turned her head, but still didn’t open her eyes. Pressing her elbows into the pillows and her heels to the floor, she tried to move away, to get away. But he was heavy and he was on top of her, holding her hostage…again.
    She had to get away, that was all Monica could think. So she