Christmas Holiday Husband by Kris Pearson Read Free Book Online Page A

contours...caressing the hard planes of his intoxicating body.
    “It’s still me, Ellie. Look at me. Talk to me.”
    She shook her head, biting down hard on her bottom lip.
    “You’ll hurt yourself. Don’t do that,” he admonished, reaching over and cupping her face in his warm hands, just as he’d done at breakfast time.
    He was far too close! Ellie squeezed her eyes shut and attempted to pull away, but Tony sent his fingers sliding around the back of her head to play in her hair and caress the skin of her nape.
    “You’re so lovely,” he said. “The magic’s still there for me. Not you?” Finally she opened her eyes again to find him watching intently. She parted her lips to reply with something—anything—to make him go away. No words came.
    “No husband...” Tony said. “But maybe there’s someone else—yes?”
    Ellie swallowed and nodded. Let him think that. For of course there was Cal. Definitely someone else. “I do have another commitment,” she murmured, hoping he’d take the hint and leave her alone.
    “Serious?”
    “ I think so.”
    He gave a slow nod. “Only think so?” he queried. “So all is not quite lost?” His beautiful mouth quirked with mischief.
    Ellie froze as he leaned closer. The hands that had been playing in her hair tipped her face up toward his, holding her captive.
    “No, don’t do this,” she managed.
    “Oh yes, Ellie. You’re on my territory now. He can’t lay claim to you here. And I would enjoy so much to know you again.” His mouth brushed over hers, warm as sunshine, soft as thistledown. It was the gentlest of seductions.
    She tried to say ‘No, Tony’ but the words went missing, erased from her brain by the insistent gentle pressure of his lips claiming hers, lifting away, settling again. Slowly she pushed her hands up around his neck, feeling intense pleasure as the sensitive undersides of her arms slid over the skin of his shoulders. She drew him close, revelling in his warmth and strength, discovering again the unique heady fragrance and the dark-chocolate taste of him.
    In return, his big hands smoothed down her back, slipped under her T-shirt, and circled her waist to pull her hard against him. It was almost too much to bear—to be in his arms again after all these years—to feel his beloved skin against hers. How much closer to paradise had she ever flown?
    And then his tongue stabbed between her lips and she responded helplessly, sliding into the sensuous dance as though their last embrace had been mere minutes ago instead of all that empty aching time. Soon she was breathless, gasping for air. Eleven long years seemed like nothing. Her nipples pressed bullet-hard against his chest. His erection jutted so fiercely that the layers of tough blue denim between their bodies may as well have been tissue paper. Nothing could disguise his readiness to take her again.
    And everything she now risked hit her in a rush. Commonsense crashed down in a chilling, drenching wave. If she allowed Tony into her room he’d see Cal’s photograph, and then there’d be hell to pay.
    Either he’d assume she’d tracked him down to claim money for Cal’s support, with all the wretched recriminations, blame and bitterness that would cause. Or he’d demand to meet the boy who looked so like him, and to share in his life.
    She knew the inevitable end to that. Tony’s engaging personality would seduce her son as easily as he’d seduced her. He’d steal Cal away in the blink of an eye, leaving her bereft of the greatest love in her life. Sick with horror, she pulled back, desperate to escape either danger.
    Tony rose with her, confining her against him, shoving her chair aside with his hip, nudging her into the doorway of her room.
    “No, Tony!” she gasped, writhing to be free. For Cal’s photograph stood beside her bed. And much as she might want his father, she’d never compromise herself by letting Tony think she was after his money.
    And she’d certainly