Chapter 7 #2
“No. The only thing I want is to kiss you.” Ian gathered her in his arms and stared into her eyes, trying to understand why he wanted her so much.
He lowered his head and touched his mouth to hers, then captured her lower lip and sucked gently.
Her lips parted and his tongue found hers.
He kissed her slowly, deeply, feeding from the sweetness within.
She moved closer to him and molded her body against his.
He shuddered. Suddenly, an emotion unlike anything he had ever experienced spread throughout his chest. He broke off the kiss.
“I’d better get going. I have some work to finish for a meeting tomorrow morning. ”
Maya stared up at him, seemingly confused. “Okay.”
He donned his jacket, took her hand and walked to the door.
“I’ll talk to you later.” Unable to resist, he kissed her once more and slipped out the door.
In his car, Ian leaned back against the headrest and closed his eyes.
His heart thumped hard in his chest and beads of perspiration dotted his forehead.
What is going on? The feelings coursing through his body scared the hell out of him.
He glanced down at his hands, which were trembling.
Taking a deep breath, Ian willed himself calm.
It was nothing, he assured himself. Just getting caught up in the holiday spirit brought on from shopping.
He’d be back to normal in a couple of hours.
Except he wasn’t back to normal hours later.
In fact, four days later, his emotions were still running high.
Because of her schedule, he and Maya had been playing phone tag all week and had merely exchanged a few texts.
Normally, when it came to women, that old adage “out of sight, out of mind” worked perfectly for him.
This time, his feelings for her were steadily intensifying despite the lack of communication.
During Thanksgiving dinner, Ian couldn’t help noticing the heated looks, subtle touches and secret smiles that passed between his brother and sister-in-law.
Chris seemed...content. He glanced around the dining room table and saw the same contentment reflected in the faces of his parents, aunts and uncles, and two of his cousins who were married.
For the first time, Ian felt a twinge of jealousy.
He toyed with the food on his plate, his appetite rapidly waning, and was more than happy when dinner ended.
“You all right, Ian?” Chris asked when they were alone in the kitchen.
“Yeah, why?”
“You’re quieter than usual and you didn’t have seconds.”
Ian shrugged. “I wanted to save room for dessert.”
“That’s never stopped you before.”
“I just have a lot on my mind with work, that’s all.”
Chris scrutinized Ian for a lengthy minute. “I see. So, how’s Maya?”
“I guess she’s fine. I haven’t talked to her since Sunday.”
“And you’re miserable as hell,” he said with a chuckle.
“Why would I be miserable? I keep telling you it’s not that kind of relationship.”
“If you say so. I’m going to get dessert. You coming?”
“In a minute, after I empty the trash.”
Chris nodded and left the kitchen.
Ian stared after Chris until the door closed.
He braced his hands on the counter and bowed his head.
His brother was spot-on, but he had no intention of saying so.
Releasing a deep breath, he grabbed up the trash bag.
Maya was coming over to help him decorate on Sunday, which gave him three days to get his head back on straight.
Sunday afternoon, Maya parked in Ian’s driveway and shut off the engine. Before she made it up the walkway, the door swung open and Ian stood there barefoot, wearing jeans and a T-shirt that molded to his magnificent physique. He unleashed a smile that warmed her all over.
“Hey. Come in.” He kissed her and closed the door. “What’s in the bag?”
She held up the bag. “I made truffles for a bridal shower. I thought you might like some, so I made a few extra.”
He placed his hand on his chest. “A woman after my own heart.”
His heart. Was she really after his heart? Although his words were teasing, a tiny part of her wished she did have his heart. She went still.
“Maya?”
She shook her head to clear the errant thought and extended the bag. “So,” she said brightly, “are you ready to decorate?”
Ian took the bag, still staring at her curiously. “Yeah. Let me run upstairs and get my shoes and a sweatshirt first. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.” As soon as he was gone, Maya covered her mouth in disbelief and paced the floor.
Maybe helping Ian decorate was a bad idea.
They were behaving like a real couple—the shopping, hand-holding, laughter, decorating—and it was getting to her.
All week she’d been wrestling with her growing feelings and she had no idea how to make them stop.
“All right, let’s get these lights up outside.”
She whirled around at the sound of Ian’s voice. “I don’t remember you buying any lights.”
“I picked them up this week,” he said, leading her out to the garage. He pressed a wall switch and two of the three garage doors lifted. “I figured I might as well add the lights, since you talked me into getting those lighted lawn structures.”
She helped him carry everything out to the front and waited while he went back for a ladder. Over the next three hours, they strung the lights, arranged and rearranged the lighted lawn decorations. It was near dusk when they finished.
“I think we’re done,” Ian said. “Be right back.” He jogged to the garage, plugged in the lights and jogged back.
“Wow! It’s beautiful.” Maya took in the sight of all the twinkling white icicle lights bordering the first and second levels, and the single white lights framing the large picture window.
Ian joined her at the curb and slung an arm around her shoulder. “It does look good, huh?” He turned her face toward his and tilted her chin. “Thank you,” he whispered just before taking her mouth in a long, drugging kiss. “Your lips are cold. Let’s get you inside and warm you up.”
Maya shivered from his kiss as much as from the cold. She followed him inside to the kitchen and slid onto a barstool.
“I made chicken soup and thought we could have that and turkey sandwiches.”
“You made soup? From scratch?”
He chuckled. “Yes, but I took a couple of shortcuts. I used store-bought chicken stock, and sautéed the vegetables to give it that simmered-all-day flavor.”
“I’ll have to remember that the next time I make chicken soup.” She laughed and hopped down from the stool. “I need to wash my hands.”
“I’ll have everything ready in a few minutes.” He directed her to the kitchen table when she returned and it wasn’t long before he brought bowls of soup and plates with the sandwiches over.
“Mmm, this smells delicious.”
Ian took the seat at the head of the table. “Hopefully, you’ll say the same thing about the taste.”
Maya spooned up a portion, blew on it for a few seconds to cool it, then put it in her mouth. “This is really good.”
“Thanks.” They ate in silence for a while. “I have one more decorating project I’d like you to help me with before you leave.”
“What’s that?”
“My tree.”
“Wow, you’re really going all out,” she said with a smile.
Ian reached for her free hand and stared intently at her. “You inspired me.”
The tender look in his eyes rendered her mute momentarily, but she quickly recovered and gently pulled her hand from his.
“Aw, I’m glad. That’s what friends are for,” she added to lighten the mood.
They completed the meal while conversing.
After cleaning up, he led her into the formal living room, where a live tree at least eight feet tall stood.
Boxes of ornaments had been neatly stacked beside it.
Ian rubbed his hands together. “Shall we?” He handed her one box and opened another.
As they hung ornament after ornament, once again, the intimate atmosphere caused an inner turmoil and made her wish for something beyond their original agreement.
“Here, I saved the last one for you.”
Maya opened the box and found a beautiful angel tree topper—angelic brown face, silver gown, lace bodice adorned with pearls and shimmering sequins, and cascading organza ribbon.
“I know how much you love angels.”
She was in deep, deep trouble. With his help, she climbed the ladder, placed the angel in her spot, climbed down and waited while he lit the tree. “It’s lovely.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he whispered.
Maya turned to find his gaze locked on her.
“One last touch.” He produced a small cellophane package from behind his back and held it up.
“Is that...?”
“Yep. Gotta have a little mistletoe.” Ian lowered his head. “Maya,” he murmured against her lips, “will you help me christen my tree?”
Her mind screamed no! But her body answered with a resounding yes. He undressed them both and drew her down to the carpet in front of the tree. When he kissed her again, she locked her arms around his neck and forgot about everything except the pleasure he was giving her.