Christmas Babies by Mona Risk Page B

said you were going to show
it to me.”
    “Ah, yes. Of course.” She climbed
up as fast as she could, not looking behind her, knowing he was there, one step
after her. With a sigh of relief she opened the door and gulped the fresh night
air. “Here it is.” Her arms rose to encompass the area ahead of them. “The
terrace, the pool, and beyond it the beach.” They strolled onto the pool patio.
    “Beautiful.” He leaned over the
rail and contemplated the beach. The ocean shimmered with thousands of stars
under the moonlight and the sand projected the rays dropping from the sky in a
golden band . “So romantic.”
    Unfortunately.
    “Let’s go back,” she said, eager
to hide from temptation in the safety of her condo.
    He turned to face her. “Madelyn,
do I make you nervous?” His whisper hardly covered the hum of the surf.
    A gasp lumped in her throat. She
shook her head. “Why do you say that?” Her attempt at chuckling failed
miserably.
    “You can’t wait to run away.”
    She frowned at him. “To be
honest, I’d rather avoid this type of conversation.”
    He raised his hands. “I’m trying
to understand you.”
    “Why?”
     “Because you’re different.
Special. I’ve never talked about my childhood to anyone. When I’m with a
woman—”
    “Please, spare me the details. I
heard about your womanizing.”
    “And you believed every juicy
detail, right?”
     She bit her lip and considered
him. He was so handsome. No wonder women threw themselves at his neck.
    “How about now, after I confided
in you?” His voice intensified. “Can you see why I can’t commit to a woman? Why
I don’t want to have children I might neglect when I’m so dedicated to my work?
When I practically live at the hospital?”
    “I’m the same,” she whispered.
    “I know. That’s why I trust you.
That’s why I’m so attracted to you.” He reached and caressed her cheek.
“Madelyn, would it be so bad if I kissed you?”
    She inhaled and exhaled slowly. “Nick...”
    “Don’t you want to try and kiss
me?” He brought her against his chest.
    “I want to, but—”
    “But?” He added so close to her
lips.
    She jerked back. “Only kisses.
Nothing more.”
    He looked at her as if she
sprouted a horn on each side of her nose. “Are you serious?” He stroked her
hair with a gentle hand. “Only kisses...for how long?”
     “For a very, very long time.” Stark
fear gripped her. Good God, she had enough trouble with her health. How could
she complicate her situation with a pointless attachment? “Nick, I can’t afford
a relationship. Any type. No marriage, no commitment, no romance, no affair,”
she muttered, panic rising.
    “Wow.” He laughed and wrapped his
arms around her waist. “Then only kisses...until you decide you want more.”
    “I won’t change my mind.” She
lifted a finger in warning.
    “Absolutely nothing more than
kisses. Like that.” He grabbed her hand, kissed her palm and slowly sucked on
each finger. Her eyes dazed and reason deserted her. “You can trust me,” he
added when he ended the seductive game on her fingers.
    “I do.” She melted against him. His
lips brushed her cheek, pressed on her closed eyelids, glided along her jaw,
taking an eternity to skate over every spot of her face. For all his previous
pushing, he wasn’t in a rush anymore.
    Folding her arms about his neck,
she tilted her head to do some kissing of her own. Especially on the dimples that
creased his cheeks and the side of his lips that often curled with his
charismatic grin. As if he was waiting for this signal he captured her lips,
molded them with his and slid an eager tongue in her mouth.
    A sigh escaped her. Now she knew
how Nick’s kisses felt and why so many women wanted to date him. Elation filled
her heart, immediately followed by angst. Nick Preston could never be hers.
    Enjoy your moment, girl .
    Her mind shut out all thoughts
and concentrated on feeling. Nick’s tongue explored and patted,