Free The Christmas Wish by Maggie Marr Page B

leggy? Not so much. A man like Tyler could have his pick of women, so why would he choose her?
    He wouldn’t. This, whatever it was, had to be convenience. The whole thing was convenient for Tyler. Not real.
    His brows creased. He lifted her chin with his fingertips and forced her to meet his gaze. “Brinn? What is it?”
    She stepped back. Away from him. She couldn’t help it. She’d made a horrible mistake with Marco. A mistake she never wanted to repeat.
    “I…” Her gaze fluttered toward the floor. What could she say that wouldn’t make her sound desperate and needy and just completely weak and pathetic? “I have something for Charlotte!” Brinn walked away and cool air replaced the heat between them. “I’m sorry, I just thought of it, and I don’t want to forget.” Brinn moved around the counter and back into the kitchen, where she opened the cabinet beside the refrigerator and pulled down a wicker basket. She picked up three cellophane-wrapped cookie castles. “There are three granddaughters, right?”
    Tyler smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “They’ll love them.”
    Brinn walked out of the kitchen and handed him the three wrapped cookie castles.
    “I guess I should go. Early morning for you tomorrow.”
    Ache cascaded through her heart. If only she could make the leap. Believe that Tyler really did want her, no matter how pudgy or rectangular her body was. She wasn’t ready. As much as she liked Tyler, as much as he turned her on, how could she ever believe that he would be interested in a girl like her?
    He lifted his coat and his scarf dropped to the floor. Brinn reached for it, and as she stood, Tyler—gorgeous Tyler—was right in front of her. Sun-kissed hair that dared to retain shades of blond even in the dark of winter. Bright blue eyes that still held shadows of want. That square jaw and those damn lips. Lips that had traced down her neck. Heat fired between them. A desire they couldn’t fake.
    In a split second, Tyler’s lips were on hers again, this time not tentative or seeking but with a solid passion and hard desire. Brinn kissed him back with the same urgency. Forget her belly fat. She wanted him and he wanted her. Brinn pressed the flat of her hand up under his Henley to the hard, well-muscled plane of his belly. Little electrical pulses shot through her fingertips. Her hand moved up the fine hairs on his belly to his chest.
    Oh my God, his chest. Pure perfection. She pulled the Henley up and over his head. He stood in her living room without a shirt. She leaned back. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. That body.
    Brinn was wet for him, and that was before his fingers pulled her sweater up and over her head. He slid his fingertips around to the back of her bra and opened the clasp, and her breasts fell free.
    “Brinn, you’re gorgeous.” He pulled her tight bud of a nipple between his lips.
    Heat seared through her, and a sharp breath rushed over her lips. Brinn’s head fell back as his mouth worked her nipple and his other hand slipped down the front of her pants and grazed her panties. Her hips arched forward. With one deft snap, her jeans were unbuttoned.
    He walked her back to the couch and they both sank onto the soft material. She rested her head on the pillow, and he bent over her, his lips sucking her nipple while his other hand caressed her breast. Such pleasure. Such pleasure she hadn’t experienced in so long. His lips trailed across her chest to her other breast and pulled her nipple into his mouth. His hand unzipped her jeans and pulled them down over her hips, her knees, her legs.
    She was nearly naked. Her entire body splayed out in front of Tyler. She fought the sudden urge to cover herself, to cross her arms over her breasts and her middle. She was so exposed. He was so beautiful and she was simply so…
    “Brinn, you’re amazing.” Want filled Tyler’s eyes. Pure desire.
    Her fear seeped away. His lips trailed over her belly and he