Guilty Pleasures: A Collection (16 page)

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 breasts 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 cock, 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 the realm of his 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 deliciously 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. “God, 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 nurse’s 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 hopefully 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 sassily, 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 and Spa, 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 passenger 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 easy going 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 secondly, 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 sexy and confident. And for the moment, for the night, this incredibly 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 male 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.”

That didn’t seem to be an issue for him as he led her over to the women’s section of the boutique. “Let’s see. She’s twenty two, the baby of the family, and a senior at Yale who’s home for the Christmas holiday. She’s about your size, maybe an inch or two shorter, her taste runs to the more modern than traditional, and she loves the color purple.”

Faith rolled her eyes at him. “I still don’t know her well enough to judge what she’d like.” And no way did she want to be responsible for any kind of gift he bought at these outrageous, over-inflated prices.

“Okay, then how about your opinion, from a woman’s point of view?” he suggested, and selected a designer purse from a nearby shelf and showed it to her. “What do you think of this?”

The four hundred dollar price tag flashed in front of Faith’s eyes, and her heart nearly stopped in her chest. She was certain Matthew didn’t want to know what she thought of a purse that cost more than her monthly car payment. Luckily the approach of a woman—a saleslady Faith assumed—saved her from responding.

“Hey, Dr. Carlton,” the beautiful, sophisticated blonde said in a friendly, bemused greeting. “How have you been?”

Matthew put the purse back on the display and smiled fondly at the other woman. “I’ve been great, Ash.” He kissed the woman’s cheek affectionately, then made introductions. “Ashley, this is Faith Roberts. Faith, Ashley St. Claire. The St. Claire’s are long time friends of the family.”

Oh, yes, she was most definitely
way
out of her league, Faith thought. “It’s nice to meet you.” She shook Ashley’s hand, and instantly felt enveloped in a gracious and friendly warmth that dispelled a bit of her insecurities.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.” Ashley smiled from Faith back to Matthew, her eyes sparkling inquisitively. “I haven’t seen you in a while. What brings you by?”

“Last minute Christmas gifts,” he said, waving a hand over the display of women’s accessories and keeping his explanation for their presence as discreet as possible, which Faith appreciated. “I didn’t want to fight the crowds down on Michigan Ave., and I remembered how much my mother and Tracy love the stuff here.”

Matthew glanced back at Faith and gently squeezed her hand. “Would you excuse us for a moment?” he asked her. “I have some business I need to discuss with Ashley.”

“Sure. Go ahead. I’ll be right over here looking at the collectibles.” And keeping her hands to herself, because she wasn’t about to test the “you break, you buy” policy.

With her fingers clasped behind her back, Faith pretended interest in a collection of crystals and prisms while watching Matthew and Ashley out of the corner of her eye. His dark head was bent close to hers, their voices too low for her to decipher. Ashley looked her way a few times, nodded at something he said, and made some kind of reply of her own. When Matthew gestured toward the women’s section of the boutique, Faith decided to let them have their conversation . . . privately, without her trying to figure out what they were talking about.

As she continued to gaze at the crystals, she found herself drawn to a three dimensional prism. The multitude of cuts were striking, enabling the overhead lights to catch on the many facets, which sent shards of rich, brilliant colors against the wall and ceiling.

Mesmerized, and despite her vow to keep her hands to herself, she reached out and touched the prism, her breath catching as those same colors spun around her in a dizzying display of vibrant reds, purples, greens and blues.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

She jumped at the sound of Matthew’s low, seductive voice right behind her. She’d been so enthralled with the crystals, she hadn’t heard him approach. “Yes, it’s absolutely exquisite.”

She turned around, glad to have him back and all to herself again. “Ready to finish finding something for your sister?”

He nodded. “I certainly am.”

“How about a scarf,” she said, opting for a more practical gift. She picked up a lavender hued wrap, the cashmere weave infinitely soft against her fingertips. “She’ll get a few months wear out of it when she goes back to school for the winter season.”

“See, you
are
good at this.” Grinning, he reached for the other coordinating accessories. “I’ll get her the hat and gloves and matching socks, too.”

She couldn’t fault him for being so generous with his sister, a quality she found endearing and such a natural part of his giving personality. Something stirred within her at those admiring thoughts, a startling warmth that threatened to breach the barriers she’d erected around her heart nearly a year ago.

Doing her best to dismiss the emotional tug demanding her attention, she continued their easy conversation. “Is Tracy your only sibling?”

“No.” He moved on to a case displaying fine jewelry, peered at the selection, then gestured Ashley back over to them. “I have an older brother, James, who is married to an incredible woman. They have three great kids, all boys, and a fourth one on the way, due this Spring, which they’re hoping is a girl.”

The love for his family was tangible, and made her miss her own parents and sister even more. “Do you all get together for Christmas?”

“Absolutely. Christmas Eve my parents have a huge party for close friends, and then Christmas morning is a private gathering for just our family. We open presents and have brunch and hang out for the day.” An indulgent grin curved his lips. “I usually end up on the floor with my nephews playing with them and whatever new toys Santa has brought them.”

“That sounds nice,” she said, unable to keep the wistful note from her voice. A part of her actually envied his big family, the nephews he obviously adored, and their traditional Christmas ritual. And just how involved he was in it all.

When Ashley arrived at the display case, Matthew pointed out a piece of jewelry for her to show him. She withdrew the dainty, pearl drop choker with a trio of diamonds off-setting smaller pearls along the delicate silver chain and placed it in his big hand.

“Let me see how this looks on you,” Matthew said, and Faith held up her hair and let him clasp the choker around her neck, thinking his sister or mother were very lucky, indeed. The necklace was beautiful, and as she looked into the small hand mirror Ashley offered, for a moment she felt like a princess wearing such an exquisite piece of jewelry.

Matthew fumbled with the clasp as he removed the choker, his fingers brushing erotically against the nape of her neck, causing her to shiver. “I’ll take the necklace, and the matching earrings, too,” he said to Ashley.

Grasping Faith’s hand in his, he continued checking out other items in the jewelry case, but nothing else seemed to catch his eye. “So, how are you spending your Christmas?” he asked. “With family?”

“No,” she said quietly. “They’re all out of town.” She explained where her sister now lived, and how her parents had decided to take a vacation for the holidays.

He looked taken aback. “You’re all alone for Christmas?”

The concern in his eyes tugged on her heart and emotions, more than was wise, and she forced a casual shrug. “I won’t be
all
alone. I’ll be spending the day with Charlie.”

“Charlie?” His brows pulled into an adorable, possessive frown that almost made her laugh. “Who’s Charlie?”

Was that jealousy she heard in his deep voice, she wondered, more than a little surprised that he’d feel that way with her, considering his own untamable reputation. “Charlie is my cat.”