Free Holiday Bound by Beth Kery Page B

coffee?” he asked.
    Again, she nodded, temporarily unable to speak.
    He opened up a cupboard and withdrew two mugs. “I got your stuff from your SUV.”
    “I see that. Thank you. You really shouldn’t have gone out in the storm. You might have gotten lost.”
    He stood at the stove, pouring coffee into the cups. His only response to her statement was to shrug his broad shoulders. He glanced up at her face as he handed her the mug. Some ice crystals clung to his dark goatee. She resisted an urge to feel them melting beneath her stroking finger.
    She reached for the coffee instead.
    “You’d better come and get warm by the fire,” she muttered, averting her gaze.
    She followed him into the living room. They needed to talk about this in the rational light of day. What had happened last night had been wild—aberrant. Words would help to contain the power of their potent tryst. An honest discussion— it was a crazy mistake. Let’s just forget it ever happened —would put everything neatly into perspective.
    Angeline opened her mouth to begin this difficult, but necessary containment. Unfortunately, her gaze fell on the mussed sleeping bags. The memory of falling asleep with Alex’s arms surrounding her swamped her brain.
    “Angeline?”
    She blinked, realizing Alex stood with one hand upon the mantel, watching her as she gaped at the cozy nest where they’d shared each other’s body heat all night. She looked at him, her mouth still hanging open.
    “Merry Christmas.”
    His simple greeting took her so off guard he might as well have proclaimed that it was snowing roses.
    “I… Merry Christmas. I’d forgotten about it…with everything.”
    His gaze dropped to her shaking hand. He stepped forward and took the trembling coffee cup, setting it on the mantel next to his. He turned, grabbing her still-outstretched hand. When he started to draw her into his arms, Angeline flinched and took several steps back. His expression went rigid, but she forced herself to meet his fierce stare.
    “Alex, it was a mistake. Surely you must see that.”
    That obstinate, insolent look she’d become all too familiar with yesterday settled on his features. “I see no such thing.”
    He picked up his cup and took a sip of coffee.
    “How can you say that?” she demanded. “We don’t even know each other!”
    “I thought we made a pretty good start last night. Nothing to stop us from continuing to get acquainted if you want to find out more about me, though,” he drawled. Angeline saw the small smirk that gorgeous mouth highlighted to perfection with that dark goatee and knew he was trying to provoke her. The realization stiffened her spine with anger.
    “I hardly think adding to the crime is going to make things better.”
    She tensed when his small smile faded and his eyes turned to blue chips of ice. “I think you’d better go clean up in the bathroom, Angeline.”
    “What? Why?”
    “Because it’s the only other room in the house that’s reasonably warm. I put the heater in there earlier.”
    “I don’t understand how that relates to—”
    “It relates because if you make one more stupid comment about last night being a crime, your ass is going to end up under my palm. Like I said, best you go into another room at the moment.”
    “Alex, threatening me when we need to discuss this is hardly help—”
    She stopped in the middle of her protest when she saw the hard gleam that entered his eyes. Heat surged into her face and pussy, causing her to replay in her mind what he’d just said. Her own body seemed to be able to interpret that look in his eyes better than her brain could. Alex was irritated at her, but the idea of spanking her had aroused him, as well.
    Just like it had her, on some deep, primal level, apparently.
    He took a step toward her and Angeline took a step back.
    “It wasn’t an idle threat. Better go,” he said quietly, his tone carrying a hint of warning.
    She spun around and retreated. She