A Madaris Bride for Christmas Read online

  She was kissing him back, her sensuality flowing into him. Possessing him. He released her mouth momentarily for air and then he was kissing her again.

  Lee wasn’t sure how long he would have continued if the pilot’s voice hadn’t come across the intercom, letting them know the plane would be landing in twenty minutes and asking them to fasten their seat belts.

  He placed her in the seat across from him. When he reached out to fasten her seat belt he inhaled her scent. “Mercy.”

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, and he felt her tense.

  He brushed a kiss across her lips to assure her there was no need to panic, that everything was fine. “Nothing. No reason for any alarm. You just smell good.”

  “Oh.”

  Lee kissed her again before sitting back against his seat and buckling his own seat belt. She knew how this night would end. He’d given her fair warning. He couldn’t wait to make love to her again, get inside of her, thrust hard, go deep.

  He watched her eyes journey downward to the crotch of his pants. She could see that he was aroused. Desire warred with other emotions within him, driving him to the brink, nearly pushing him over the edge. His want for her was so thick he could almost touch it. Taste it. Swallow it.

  They would dance part of the night away and make love during the rest.

  He couldn’t wait.

  * * *

  One minute Carly was strapped in the seat watching the sky during the plane’s low descent into Phoenix, and the next she saw the objects below. The lit buildings and houses appeared like fireflies out of the dark.

  “It won’t be long now,” Lee said. “If you’re nervous about landing, don’t be. Kevin is the best pilot there is.”

  She glanced over at Lee. “I’m not nervous.”

  Just wary, she thought. Now that she was actually here in Phoenix she was antsy, but it had nothing to do with the flight.

  She glanced back out the window at the exact moment the plane made a smooth landing.

  “We’re here.”

  She looked at Lee, held his gaze and nodded. “Yes, we’re here.”

  Chapter 10

  Lee had arranged for a stretch limo to transport them from the landing strip to the club he’d selected. The moment he and Carly were tucked away in the backseat of the spacious vehicle and the chauffeur closed the door, he pulled her into his arms.

  For reasons he didn’t quite understand, he wanted this woman with a need that scared the hell out of him. And this kiss was just as hot as all the others had been. His tongue held possession of hers as heat surged through every part of him, sending the pit of his stomach into one hell of a tailspin. When he finally broke off the kiss to breathe, he used the tip of his tongue to trace the fullness of her lips from corner to delicious corner.

  “Don’t you have to tell the driver where we’re going?” she whispered softly.

  A smile curved his lips. “He knows.” He then wrapped his arms around her and tucked her close to his side, liking the feel of her there.

  “You still aren’t going to tell me where we’re going?”

  He looked down at her and another smile teased his lips. “Have you ever been to Phoenix before?”

  “No.”

  “Then it doesn’t matter. This is new territory for you, and I regret you can’t see much at night. That only means I’m going to have to fly you here again during daylight hours.”

  He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “And how are you doing, Carly? Specifically, how is your body doing?”

  He watched the bemused frown that settled between her brows. “My body?”

  “Yes. Are you still sore?”

  Her face tinted in a blush and he wondered if she and Knox had never discussed such intimate subjects. As much as he wanted her tonight, the last thing he wanted was to cause her any discomfort.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  His smile curved as he tightened his arms around her. “I’m glad.”

  Silence ensued between them for a few moments.

  “Can I ask you something, Lee?”

  “You can ask me anything. Always remember that.”

  She nodded, and he could tell she was choosing her words carefully. “If I agree to marry you, how and when will we go about it? It was your idea, so I’m sure you have a plan.”

  Yes, he had a plan. He had even been thinking about it yesterday and earlier today.

  “I have a plan, but it can change. If you prefer a big wedding I don’t want to deny you that.”

  She didn’t say anything for a minute. “And if that’s not what I want?”

  “Then we’ll go with my plan, which is to marry immediately and—”

  “Immediately?” she asked, glancing up at him.

  “I see no reason to wait.” In fact, he didn’t want to wait. The sooner he could wake up with her beside him the better. “There are numerous places in Vegas that would marry us, so that’s not a problem. And then you can move into my suite with me.”

  “But what about my place?”

  “My suite’s bigger, but if you want us to live there then I have no problem doing so.”

  She pulled out of his arms and looked at him with a stunned expression. “You would make such a sacrifice if that’s what I want? You would do that for me?”

  He pressed his lips together. He’d come close to saying he would do anything for her. Why? Why was he letting this woman get under his skin just because they were fantastic in bed together? Better than fantastic. Off the charts. She was definitely the yin to his yang. Never had he allowed his emotions for any woman to get this out of control.

  Instead of answering her question, he presented one of his own. “Are you a witch?”

  Her brows flickered. “A witch?”

  “Yes.”

  The beginning of a smile touched her lips. “Why would you think I was a witch?”

  “Because you enchant me,” he said honestly. “I’ve dated numerous women but none like you.”

  She rested her chin on her hand. “How am I different?”

  He thought about her question. “I think you’re a remarkable woman. Warm. Sensitive. Smart. Loving and—”

  “You don’t know me well enough to make those kinds of assumptions.”

  “No, but I am spending time with you, getting to know you and letting you get to know me. I guess you can say we’re courting.”

  She threw her head back to laugh. She had a beautiful neck. “That’s an old-fashioned word.”

  He chuckled. “It is, isn’t it? My only defense is that I’ve heard my great-grandmother use it a few times.”

  He paused. “Now to get back to our earlier discussion and to answer your question. Yes, I would do that for you. For us. Is that what you want to do, Carly? Do you prefer living at your place?”

  She glanced down and nibbled her bottom lip. “It’s really not my place. I lease it from Heather and Joel. But you knew that, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Figured you did. And as far as where we live, it doesn’t matter. Either way people will find out.”

  “You would want to keep it a secret?”

  She shrugged her shoulders lightly. “I do work for you.”

  “I thought we’d discussed that before.”

  “Okay, in your mind, I work for Chef Blanchard, but the chef works for you. You own the hotel,” she pointed out. “You’re considered the big man.”

  He smiled. “Then you’ll be the big man’s wife.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m serious.”

  “So am I. Those who are going to talk, let them. There isn’t a non-fraternization policy at the hotel, so we haven’t broken any rules.”

  “But things are happening so fast. Most people will know we just met.”

  He smiled again easily. “Time is not a factor when two people want each other and want to be together.”

  She didn’t say anything for a second. “When will you tell your family?”
/>   “I won’t have to. Word will get out, but I’ll make an official announcement when I take you home for Christmas. Don’t be surprised if Mama Laverne insists on a more formal wedding when we get to Houston. She has this thing about being a witness to every Madaris wedding, to make it official. She figures she’s important enough to demand a repeat performance no matter who it inconveniences.”

  Carly didn’t respond, and Lee couldn’t help but wonder if she was leaning toward giving him a yes.

  “We’ve arrived, sir.”

  The chauffeur’s words had Carly raising up out of his arms and leaning forward to look through the limo’s window. She then turned back to him with a bemused expression on her face. “It’s closed.”

  His lips eased into a smile. “Yes, to everyone but us.”

  * * *

  “Welcome, Mr. Madaris. Everything has been arranged as you requested.”

  “Thanks, Lewis.”

  “You’re welcome, sir.”

  Carly drew in a deep breath as she examined Club Plateau. It was simply beautiful, massive—with one dance floor above the other, the two separated by a beautiful spiral staircase. She figured the three poles were for anyone tempted to dance on them. The floors appeared to be made of glass with beams of lights shining through them. Sections of the ceiling were covered with mirrors, causing prisms to glint across the room.

  Suddenly, music began playing and the lights over the dance floors dimmed. She glanced around and saw the man Lee had called Lewis leave, closing the door behind him. Before she could ask, Lee said, “There will only be the two of us here tonight. Lewis will be back when it’s closing time.”

  “And when is closing time?” she asked. Standing beneath the lights, his features looked more striking, even more handsome.

  “Whenever I call him.” He paused. “The music? Do you remember?”

  She listened and couldn’t stop her face from creasing into a smile. “Yes. It’s the same music that was playing the night we met. When I was dancing alone.”

  “And I cut in.”

  “Yes, you cut in,” she said, grinning.

  “Well, tonight I’ll start from the beginning.” He leaned slightly toward her. “May I have this dance, Carly?”

  She tilted her head in a nod and said, “Yes, you may.”

  Lee took her into his arms. The moment he touched her, an electrical charge rushed through her. A quick glance told her he’d felt the charge too. He drew her closer and she tried to relax against him. But when she felt his solid masculine body pressed against hers, chest to chest, her stomach flip-flopped and an intense need built at the juncture of her thighs. Each time their thighs touched she was assailed with physical proof of just how aroused he was. She wouldn’t have been able to relax even if her life depended on it.

  So they continued to dance, wrapped in each other’s arms, while trying to ignore the heat stirring between them. The music didn’t help matters. Each piece was slow, drugging, arousing.

  Then when one song ended, the next was upbeat, both jazzy and soulful. He twirled her around, eliciting a laugh from her as they shifted into the swing.

  “Hey, you’re pretty good at this.” She smiled at Lee.

  “So are you. Where did you learn to dance?”

  “From Heather. She couldn’t believe someone could actually have two left feet. When she saw I was that person she taught me dancing steps in our dorm room.”

  He twirled her around again. “What about you?” she asked.

  “My cousin Reese is married to Kenna. Before they married she took dance classes. To keep up with her on the dance floor we had to basically teach ourselves.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “It was,” he said, twirling her around again.

  “Who’s playing the music?” she asked when the next song began. She hadn’t seen a DJ and he’d said they were the only two at the club.

  “It’s set to automatic. There’s enough music recorded to dance way past midnight.”

  Carly knew she couldn’t dance that long. When the dance ended, Lee took her hand and led her toward a table where a bottle of wine and glasses sat waiting for them.

  Lee poured the wine and handed her a glass. She took a much-needed sip. “Nice.”

  He took a sip of his own and stared at her over the rim of his glass. His eyes held hers and she felt as if she could read his thoughts. He wanted to enjoy the taste of her the same way he was enjoying the taste of his wine.

  Not able to handle the intensity of his gaze, she placed her glass down. “I need to dance again,” she said, swiftly moving toward the dance floor.

  When he moved to follow her, she said, “No. Sit. I want to dance for you.”

  “Okay,” he said, pulling a chair from the table and sitting down in it.

  Another song played, not too fast and not too slow. She closed her eyes. Her feet began moving to the rhythm and her body followed. The beat flowed through her hips with a sensuous wiggle, a turn around the room and another wiggle. Then she repeated the routine all over again. She loved the feel of her dress flaring wide then brushing against her legs.

  When the song came to an end, so did the dance, and she opened her eyes. Lee was still sitting in the chair, but he was staring at her in a way that nearly burned her to a cinder. Her nipples pressed against her dress. As his gaze raked over her, she saw the deep hunger blazing in the dark depths of his eyes.

  He stood and reached out his hand to her. She walked toward him, intentionally swaying her hips seductively with every step. When she reached him, just as she had done that night on the balcony of the Grand MD, she leaned up on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.

  * * *

  Lee wanted her. Now. Right here. This very minute. It wouldn’t take much to strip off her clothes, take her on the table. It was tempting, and very hard not to do when she was kissing him as if his mouth was the only one she ever wanted.

  She was voracious for his lips.

  And he was voracious for hers.

  He deepened the kiss, wrapped his arms around her and took over. His hand came to rest on her backside, a liberty he hadn’t taken during their first kiss. But he was taking it now. She eased closer to him and his erection found a soft spot against her belly.

  She broke off the kiss and he watched her gasp for air. “We’re leaving now,” he said. “Club’s closed.”

  * * *

  “No rush getting us back to Vegas, Kevin,” Lee said, carrying Carly up the steps to the jetliner. He hadn’t released her since sweeping her into his arms at the club. He had even held her during the limo ride back to the airstrip. For some reason, he hadn’t wanted to let her go. And he had kissed her, practically fusing his lips to hers. His desire for her had intensified with every stroke of his tongue.

  He gently placed her in the jet’s leather seat, buckled her in and whispered, “Only because this part is required.”

  He then took his seat across from her to buckle in for takeoff. His gaze traveled over her face—the eyes staring back at him, the kiss-swollen lips, the cute button nose. Whether it was habit or naughtiness, he watched as she parted her mouth to use the tip of her tongue to lick her bottom lip. He knew it was naughtiness when she crossed her legs and began easing up the hem of her dress to reveal one gorgeous thigh.

  Lee felt his stomach tighten and his arousal expand. A low growl of need rumbled deep within his throat. His hand went to the buckle of his seat belt. He was tempted to get up and go to her. To kiss her. To take her. But he held firm and when he felt the jet race down the runway he counted the minutes, the seconds.

  He was out of his seat the moment the plane leveled off. His fingers trembled in his haste to undo her seat belt, and then he pulled her out of her seat and kissed her deeply, needing to mate his mouth with hers.

  “Please come with me,” he pleaded when he ended the kiss. He wished he could carry her, but the jet’s narrow stairway wouldn’t allow it.

  She nodded and placed
her hand in his. He led her up the staircase, pausing several times to taste her lips. A thrumming heat spread through him each time his mouth devoured hers. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her.

  When they reached the landing, he made quick work of scanning his palm near the door, and the moment it slid open, he pulled her over the threshold. The door automatically closed behind them.

  “I need you now,” he said, his voice throaty and unsteady as he wasted no time whipping her dress over her head and tossing it over his shoulder.

  The sight of her bare breasts, plump and budding, made his mouth water. His gaze moved down beyond her small waist and landed on the sexy scrap of black lace shielding her femininity. His libido kicked up a notch and it felt as if his erection would burst through his pants.

  Crouching down in front of her, he pressed his face to the juncture of her thighs and breathed in her scent. He then eased her thong down her legs and tossed it over his shoulder as well.

  “Not a bad shot,” Carly said through what sounded like a trembling breath.

  Lee gazed up at her. “That’s not my best one. You’ll get my best shot later,” he said, staring at the part of her he was in eye contact with. Her femininity. Using his fingers, he stroked her between her thighs. Damn, she was wet.

  He opened his mouth on her. His tongue was voracious, ravenous. He alternated between licking and sucking. He feasted on her, indulging in a way that had her moaning his name aloud, over and over again.

  Lee eased her legs farther apart so his greedy tongue could go deeper while pulling her hips close. She moaned and climaxed hard. He tasted it. Savored it. Felt the way her thighs trembled against the sides of his face and loved it.

  He finally released her and she slumped against him, too weak to stand. He quickly swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed.

  * * *

  Carly could barely move as she watched Lee remove every stitch of his clothing. Her body responded, firing to life again. How was that possible when just seconds ago she had been too weak to stand on her own?