Chapter Two.
Finished with his St. Nick duties, Matthew headed into the nurses" lounge to change out of his Santa suit and wait for Faith to join him. After initially stunning him with her unabashed and very naughty proposition, he"d told her to meet him in the private lounge so they could discuss the details of her Christmas wish, which he was more than willing to fulfill, in every way.
Taking off the fluffy white wig and beard he"d donned for the children, he set them in the rental box, along with the wire-rimmed gla.s.ses, then combed his fingers through his hair to restore some order to the thick strands. For the past six months, he"d been waiting patiently for a moment like the one Faith had presented this afternoon. He"d bided his time, subtly flirting and pursuing her despite her rejecting his invitations to lunch or dinner, hoping she"d eventually come around and take a chance on him.
A slow grin lifted the corner of his lips as he unbuckled the wide black leather belt around his padded waist Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that Faith would turn the tables on him and make such a brazen advance, or issue such a seductive overture. Not that he was complaining. She"d just given him the opportunity he"d been angling for, and he had no qualms using her request to his advantage.
There was no denying the chemistry between them, and while she might just want a one-night affair to sate her desires, he craved something far more long-term with her. Over the ensuing months he"d come to realize that she was the kind of woman he"d been searching years to find-genuinely sweet and caring, inherently sensual, and one of the few women who didn"t have one eye on being the wife of a pediatric surgeon, and the other eye on his bank account and all that his money might be able to buy them.
Since he"d had so much time to get to know Faith on a casual, amicable level, he"d learned that what you saw was what you got. And because she"d never tried to pretend otherwise like so many other women he"d dated, he was already half in love with her. Now, if all he had was twenty-four hours to convince her that what was between them was more than a sizzling attraction, then he was going to make the most of every minute with her-physically and emotionally.
But first, they"d start with their basic mutual attraction because that was the reason she"d finally come to him. From there he was certain that trust and intimacy, the foundation of any solid relationship, would develop naturally.
Just as he unzipped the fancy, fur-trimmed coat, Faith entered the room and leaned against the closed door. She tipped her head, causing her auburn hair to frame her cla.s.sical features in soft layers, beckoning him to run his fingers through those silky strands like so many times before.
An irresistible smile curved her glossy lips and her green eyes glowed bright with antic.i.p.ation as they met his gaze from across the room. "Hi there," she said, the husky tone of her voice flowing through him, warm and smooth, like fine aged whiskey.
He took in her black sweater top, embroidered with candy canes for the holiday, and admired the way the knit fabric outlined her full b.r.e.a.s.t.s, tapered into a trim waist, and followed the curve of her hips to a pair of black slacks. "Hi, yourself. I was beginning to think you"d changed your mind," he teased.
She licked her bottom lip. "Not a chance."
"Me either." He shrugged out of the heavy coat and removed the padding around his waist, which left him wearing a plain white cotton undershirt and baggy pants held up by nothing more than a pair of black suspenders. "Would you lock the door so I can finish changing?"
"Oh." Her eyes widened as realization dawned. "I can come back in a few minutes when you"re dressed."
"No, I want you to stay," he said, before she could slip right back out of the lounge. "Lock the door, Faith."
Cheeks flushed pink, she obeyed his order, but he could tell she did so tentatively. For as daring and impudent as she"d been with him in the children"s ward less than an hour ago, now that she was completely alone with him she appeared much too reserved for a woman supposedly intent on seducing him.
That was about to change.
"Faith, you"re the one who asked for this, and in order for me to fulfill your Christmas wish, every bit of inhibition stops here and now," he said with purpose. "You wanted a night of unforgettable, anything-goes s.e.x with me, any way you please and any way I desire. I plan to take you up on that offer, and that means no modesty allowed between us, in any way. Agreed?"
"Agreed." She exhaled a breath and nodded, seemingly in need of that pep talk that gave her permission to embrace the wanton he knew was tucked inside that conservative facade of hers.
"Good." Satisfied with her acquiescence that left the door wide open to all kinds of erotic possibilities, and needing her within touching distance, he crooked his finger at her. "How about you come on over here and help me take off these snug boots?" It was as good an ice-breaker as any, a way to dispel any last bit of tension with a more playful overture.
He sat down in a nearby chair and watched her approach, enjoying the subtle sway of her hips and the s.e.xy self-a.s.surance that lit her eyes as she neared. Now that he"d established that he wouldn"t accept anything less than an equal partnership in their affair, she wasn"t holding back, and all that feminine confidence thrilled and aroused him.
When she reached him, he motioned for her to turn around. "To get the best grip and leverage, I need to slip my foot between your legs from behind so you can grab the heel and give it a good firm tug," he explained.
She lifted a brow skeptically but did as he suggested and faced away from him. When he had his leg positioned between hers, she leaned forward from the waist and grabbed the heel of the black vinyl boot. A surge of heat spiraled straight to his groin, making his c.o.c.k swell thickly as he imagined her in this exact same position but completely naked-legs spread, bottom tilted in invitation, and the pink wet folds of her s.e.x tempting him to take her in such a provocative position.
"Tell me when to pull," she said, unaware of what an opportunist he truly was. But she was about to find out.
"In a minute. I"m admiring the fantastic view and indulging in a very carnal fantasy." He reached out and gently caressed and squeezed her b.u.t.tocks. "You have a great a.s.s, you know that?"
She glanced around at him, all that glorious hair of hers tumbling over her shoulder and framing her face in a wild disarray. "Are you trying to shock me?"
"Not at all," he drawled, and grinned like the devious rogue he planned to be with her tonight. "I"m just speaking what"s been on my mind for months now. And since we"ll be spending the night together, hopefully most of it naked, I figure that gives me permission to speak what"s on my mind."
She laughed and relaxed. "I suppose it does."
He let his thumbs drift along the crevice of her bottom and lightly stroked and teased between her legs. "Then I guess I can tell you that I"d love to f.u.c.k you in this position, with me taking you from behind, hard and fast and deep."
Her breath caught and her eyes darkened at his frank s.e.xual dialogue and very intimate touch. "Matthew..."
He liked the way his name sounded on her lips, a soft, sweet plea that let him know she was his for the taking. When the time came. "But first, we"ll take it slow and easy and work our way up to that particular fantasy," he said, and let his hands settle on the feminine curve of her waist. "Pull off my boot, sweetheart."
Regaining her composure, she tugged hard on the heel, and the tight-fitting shoe slowly eased right off his foot. She grinned at him, looking amazed at her efforts. "Hey, that really did work well!"
He chuckled. "Of course it did. The view was just an added bonus for me."
She helped him remove his other boot and put both of them in the rental box. Then he stood, slipped the suspenders down his arms and let the bulky, red velvet trousers drop to the floor. Her gaze flickered down the length of him, taking in his snug boxer briefs that outlined every detail of his solid erection.
He reached for his jeans and stepped into them. "If you don"t quit staring at me like that, there"s no way I"ll be able to zip up my pants and walk out of here without being accused of indecent exposure."
A light shade of pink swept across her cheeks. "Sorry," she said, not sounding apologetic at all for checking him out.
Shaking his head in amus.e.m.e.nt, and despite his own discomfort, he did his best to fasten the front of his jeans.
"There"s something I want to ask you," he said, switching the mood from s.e.xy and frisky to something more serious. He needed to know what was going through her head as far as he was concerned, which would give him a better idea of what he was ultimately up against with her. "You"ve been turning me down for the past six months. What made you change your mind about me?"
Faith mulled over his question for a quick moment, thinking about how to best answer it. "I"ve been turning you down, yes, but that doesn"t mean I don"t want you."
"Which makes your request all the more intriguing," he murmured, and covered his broad muscled chest with a beige cable-knit sweater.
She shrugged her shoulders and strove for a nonchalant att.i.tude. "Maybe it"s a simple matter of wanting each other-"
"And getting it out of our systems?" he finished for her.
Hearing her thoughts coming from his lips, she had to admit that her plan had a shallow ring to it. Then again, she was being honest with him, and their agreement thus far was all about mutual pleasure, nothing more. "Sure. Why not?"
He stared at her, his gaze direct and intense. "And you think one night together is going to accomplish that?"
There was a wealth of doubts in his statement that surprised her, yet she had to remain firm. One night would have to be enough, because anything more would mean involving her heart and emotions, and she wasn"t willing to risk that part of herself with him, knowing they had no real future together.
Beyond their attraction, he was way out of her league socially, and she"d already traveled down that road with Martin. She was a simple schoolteacher who lived modestly, and from what she knew of Matthew Carlton, he"d grown up in a very wealthy, privileged household. And apparently, judging by his broken engagement and the slew of women he"d dated, he wasn"t looking for anything long term or permanent.
Well, neither was she, she reminded herself determinedly. "That"s all I"m asking for, Matthew. I wouldn"t think my request would be a problem for you."
A slight frown etched his brows. "And why is that?" he asked, obviously interested in hearing her explanation.
She leaned against the wooden table behind her that employees used for their meal breaks and braced her hands on either side of her hips. "You do have a certain reputation around the hospital for being quite the ladies" man."
"Trust me, that reputation is highly overrated," he muttered, seemingly very bothered by her perception of him.
She regarded him speculatively. "Are you denying that you"ve dated some of the nurses in this hospital and all of them on a short-term basis?"
"No. I"ve gone out with a few of them, all on casual, friendly dates." He shrugged, as if the time he"d spent with those women was insignificant. "Nothing serious at all, but that"s by choice, and the women knew that up-front."
"Exactly." Those same women had shared intimate details of those dates, fueling the gossip around the hospital about Matthew"s notorious reputation. "And I"m letting you know that I respect your rules, because I"m not looking for anything serious, either."
He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture reflecting the sudden frustration she saw flitting across his expression, though she had no idea what had him so bothered when she was willing to make their affair as uncomplicated as possible between them.
"One night is all I want," she told him again, her tone adamant.
That brief moment of discontent faded, and his mouth quirked into a slow, s.e.xy smile that tightened her nipples and made her melt inside, despite her convictions. "Okay, I"ll agree to that," he said. "For now."
A contradictory statement if she ever heard one. His gaze glimmered with ulterior motives as he slowly stepped toward her, and her heart beat wildly in her chest as he grasped her waist and pushed her back against the table, giving her no choice but to sit on the hard wooden surface.
"Umm, what are you doing?" she asked curiously, though she wasn"t at all opposed to whatever he had in mind. Not when her body was already humming in keen antic.i.p.ation.
"Something I"ve been wanting to do for months now." Splaying his palms against her knees, he pushed her legs wide apart so her thighs bracketed his lean hips.
A slow, insidious ache spread through her limbs, a need so strong it nearly overwhelmed her. A need as hot as the wanting that blazed like blue fire in Matthew"s eyes. "And what"s that?" she asked breathlessly.
The grin that eased up the corner of his sensual mouth was pure unadulterated male. "I want to see how well we fit together."
Chapter Three.
Matthew had no doubt that their bodies would be a perfect match, that physically they"d complement each other flawlessly. But this moment was all about giving Faith a preview of what was to come. A bit of foreplay to increase the hunger already smoldering between them, and show her just how amazing making love was going to be... his reputed reputation be d.a.m.ned.
Cupping her bottom in his palms, he pulled her forward and pressed the hard ridge beneath the fly of his jeans against her s.e.x. A moan slipped from her throat, and if it wasn"t for their clothing, he would have been inside her by now. Deep inside her. Mindlessly lost in the softness and heat of her body.
Pushing that erotic image from his mind, he framed her jaw in his hands, lowered his head, and nibbled delicately on her plump lower lip. "I want to see how compatible our mouths are, and I want to taste you deep inside," he whispered in between soft nips of his teeth and the lazy coaxing stroke of his tongue. "I want to feel your b.r.e.a.s.t.s against my chest, your belly against mine, and your legs wrapped tight around my waist."
"Yes," she breathed and parted her lips for him, offering him everything he asked for. Everything he craved. Her pa.s.sion. Her desire. Her heat.
With a raw primal groan, he slid his hand into the silky ma.s.s of her hair, tilted her head, and angled her mouth beneath his for a deeper, more satisfying possession. His tongue delved into the honeyed warmth as he kissed her hotly, greedily, thoroughly. His other hand slipped beneath the hem of her sweater, and he groaned once again when his fingertips encountered soft baby-smooth skin. Skimming higher, he traced the undersides of her full b.r.e.a.s.t.s, then enclosed a taut mound in his hand and kneaded the generous flesh. The fabric of her bra was thin and insubstantial, all satin and sheer lace, enabling him to roll and pluck her taut nipple between his fingers.
Her breathing deepened, and she slid her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, a little wild and a whole lot needy. She arched into his touch, causing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to crush against his chest and their bellies to brush and align. When she hooked her long slender legs around his hips and rocked against his stiff c.o.c.k, it was all he could do not to come right then and there in his too-tight jeans.
Knowing things were spiraling way out of control, and quickly, he pulled his mouth from hers, reluctantly released her lush breast, and buried his face against her throat. She smelled so good, so sweet and deliriously feminine, and he couldn"t stop from taking a soft bite from her neck.
She gasped, and he soothed the sting with the damp stroke of his tongue, then nuzzled the soft underside of her jaw. "G.o.d, that kiss was so worth waiting for." She was worth waiting for, and his goal was to prove that to her over the course of the next twenty-four hours.
"Umm, yes, that was very, very nice," she agreed, her voice a sultry purr of sound as her palms slid lazily over his shoulders and down to his chest.
He was tempted to strip off his cable-knit sweater and T-shirt, just so he could feel her hands stroking his bare flesh. But here in the nurses" lounge wasn"t the place, and they"d already lingered longer than he"d intended.
"There"s a whole lot more where that kiss came from," he promised, and lifted his head.
He met her gaze, saw the unquenched desire in her eyes, and a reciprocating heat washed over him in waves. "I want this evening to be special and memorable for you. A night you"ll never forget." A night that would, he hoped, change her opinion of him and open her eyes to what was truly between them.
Her lips, damp and puffy from their shared kisses, lifted into a slumberous smile. "I want that, too."
"In order for me to give you that night to remember, I need some time to get a few things taken care of." He tenderly brushed back a wayward strand of hair from her cheek and grazed his thumb along her jaw. "Do you mind waiting for me in the children"s ward for, say, about an hour?"
"An hour and no more," she said sa.s.sily, then leaned forward and took his mouth in a kiss that staked a sensual, mind-blowing claim on him.
Less than an hour later, Faith found herself sitting in Matthew"s Lexus Coupe as he maneuvered the sporty vehicle into the circular drive in front of Chicago"s St. Claire Hotel, an elegant, five-star establishment that was known for its opulence and extravagant amenities. Matthew came to a stop at the curb, and a valet was immediately there, opening the pa.s.senger door and offering his hand to help her from the car.
She stepped out onto the sidewalk, pulled her winter coat closer around her body to ward off the chill in the December air, and stared in awe at the beautiful architecture of the old building. The exterior of the hotel was gilded in gold accents and adorned with lavish Christmas decorations and an abundance of twinkling lights, and as she glanced around and took in the rich look of the hotel"s guests, she couldn"t help but feel a little intimidated by the excessive wealth surrounding her.
Matthew came around the front of the car and met up with her on the sidewalk carrying a small leather duffle bag, and an easygoing smile in place. "Have you ever been to the St. Claire before?"
She shook her head, though he was obviously very comfortable in such a luxurious environment. "No. A place like this isn"t exactly within my vacation budget," she said wryly. "What are we doing here?"
With a hand pressed against her lower back, he guided her toward the double doors leading to the lobby, which a doorman promptly opened for them. "This is where we"re spending the night."
Stunned, her jaw nearly hit the floor as two things registered at once. First, that he was actually going to pay the astronomical price they charged for a room. And second, he was giving her the entire night together, until the next morning, sleeping in the same bed, when she"d only expected a handful of pleasurable hours with him.
Oh, wow.
She glanced up at his face, struck anew by just how good-looking he was, how astonishingly s.e.xy and confident. And for the moment, for the night, this incredible man was all hers, and she decided that she was going to enjoy him and everything else about their short time together. Including their stay at the St. Claire. "You sure do know how to dazzle and spoil a woman, don"t you?"
He winked at her. "You haven"t seen anything yet, sweetheart. Before the night is over, you"ll feel completely and totally pampered."
Silently admitting she liked the sound of that, she looped her arm through his and whispered in his ear, "And seduced, I hope."
"Oh, yeah, seduced and sated," he said, his tone positively sinful.
Faith stood by his side as he checked in at the registration desk and mentioned the reservations he"d made an hour ago. It was then that she realized what those "things" were that Matthew had mentioned to her in the lounge that he needed to take care of. At the time, she"d briefly wondered if he had another date he needed to cancel to spend the evening with her, and was relieved to find out that he was merely a man who liked to plan things and be prepared.
Staying in a hotel was the ideal arrangement for their tryst, as well. It eliminated the intimacy of having him in her apartment, or her in his domain. In the morning they"d part ways, no muss, no fuss, and no evidence of their night together to deal with once they checked out.
Yes, it was the perfect plan, except she realized she didn"t have an overnight bag with her, and he did. As soon as they"d secured their room key and were walking across the lavishly decorated lobby, she said, "Matthew, I don"t have a change of clothes, or toiletries-"
"Trust me, you"re not going to need much," he said before she could finish, the intimate insinuation threading through the tone of his voice quickening her pulse. "And what necessities you do need, I"ve got covered."
Before she could argue, he steered her into the hotel"s boutique, a specialty shop that offered guests everything from men and women"s casual and formal wear, to jewelry, to accessories and even high-priced gifts and collectibles. She immediately felt out of her element and overwhelmed by the high-priced items.
Matthew smiled at her, oblivious to her sudden discomfort. "I hope you don"t mind, but before you and I head up to our room, I have a few last-minute Christmas gifts I need to buy, and I was hoping you could help me pick out a few things for my sister, Tracy."
"Me?" she exclaimed incredulously. "I don"t even know your sister."