The Twilight Before Christmas by Christine Feehan

were amazing. They should have been gray but they were more silver, a startling color that made her heart do triple time. He had the kind of thick, dark hair that made her want to run her fingers in it, and he wore it longer than most men. Kate felt a bit faint looking at his heavily muscled chest, then up into his glinting silver eyes. “Well, darn it, Matthew, all this time I thought I was in the presence of greatness.” She managed to conjure up a lighthearted laugh. “It’s not nice to destroy a woman’s illusions.”
    He frowned. “I didn’t say I wasn’t the bad boy of Sea Haven.”
    “I thought Jonas Harrington was the bad boy of Sea Haven.”
    Matt looked affronted. “I never come in second place.” His hand came up, unexpectedly spanning her throat.
    Kate was certain her heart skipped a beat. His palm was large, and his fingers wrapped easily around her neck, his thumb tipping her head up so she was forced to meet the sudden hunger blazing in his eyes. It was the last thing Kate expected to see, and his intensity shocked her. “Matthew.” She breathed his name in a small protest. It wasn’t a good idea. They weren’t a good idea.
    He simply lowered his head and took possession of her mouth. His kiss was anything but gentle. He dragged her close, a starving man devouring her with hot, urgent kisses. The breath slammed out of her lungs, and every nerve ending in her body screamed at her. Electricity crackled between them, arcing from Matt to Kate and back again. Fire raced over her skin, melting her insides. He took the lead, kissing her hungrily, hotly, his tongue dueling with hers, demanding a response she found herself giving.
    Her arms crept around his neck, her body pressing close to the heat of his. She felt so much heat, so much magic she couldn’t think straight.
    The blare of a horn made Kate jump away from him. Matt cursed and glanced at the highway in time to see his brothers waving, hooting, and honking as they drove by. “Damned idiots,” he said, but there was a wealth of affection in his voice impossible to miss.
    Kate pressed a trembling hand to her swollen mouth. Her skin felt raw and burned from the dark shadow on his jaw. She didn’t dare look in the mirror, but she knew she looked thoroughly kissed. “They saved us.”
    “They may have saved you, but I’m in dire straits here, woman.” And dammit all, he was. What was it about this woman that made him lose control whenever he was around her? Was she really a witch? He was going to have a few things to say to his brothers when he got his hands on them. He wasn’t looking forward to the ribbing he was going to get after being caught necking like a teenager with Kate Drake. It didn’t help matters that he saw Jonas Harrington cruising by very slowly, obviously looking for them. Damn Danny and his radio. It would be all over Sea Haven if they weren’t more careful, and the last thing he wanted was for Kate to run from him because of gossip.
    He touched Kate’s red face. Her soft skin was raw from his whiskers. “I should have shaved, Katie, I’m sorry. I wasn’t planning on kissing you.” So, okay, he wanted to kiss her. He’d hoped to kiss her. He’d actually gotten down on his knees briefly last night when no one was around and asked for a Christmas miracle, but she didn’t need to know how badly he wanted her.
    The way he said Katie, turned her heart over, sending a million butterfly wings brushing at her stomach. “I don’t mind.”
    He caught her face in his hands. “I mind. I need to be more careful with you.” Abruptly he let her go and opened the door. It was the only safe thing to do when she looked so tempting. The chill from the sea rushed in to displace the heat of their bodies inside the car.
    Kate didn’t wait for him to come around and open her door. She was too shaken, too shocked by her reactions to him. It was so un-Kate-like of her. Kate the practical had just made a terrible mistake, and she