Unwrapping Holly: Read Free

things.”

    HE STARED DOWN AT HER, the hunter in him silently vowing to brand this woman with pleasure. Her hands were warm on top of his, her mouth lush and temptingly close. Cole Wiley hadn’t come here tonight looking for seduction, but he’d found it. And he’d be damned if he was walking away from it—from the she-devil of a seductress who could make a damned cup of coffee arousing.
    He’d never expected to end this night hot and hard for a stranger. He’d come to The Tavern to fulfill a holiday tradition of football and beer with his two younger brothers. In fact, with the bed-and-breakfast that he and his brothers were in the process of buying, and a contracting business still in full bloom, seduction had been the last thing on his priority list. But lingering a few minutes longer than his brothers had set him directly in Holly’s path and changed that list.
    Cole could honestly say that not only would exploring new things with this woman be a God-given pleasure he would heartily embrace, he fully intended to make sure it happened. He wanted her in a bad way. Wanted her naked, hot, and calling his name. She possessed a combination of innocence and naughtiness that had him burning to find out more about her. Oh yeah. Holly got to him in a way no other woman had in a very long time. She reached inside him and drew a response that he could no more control the necessity of his next breath.
    “Exploring new things makes life interesting,” he said finally, all too aware that she was awaiting his reply.
    A smile hinted at the corners of that lush mouth. “I do believe I like ‘interesting,’ ” she murmured, and then lifted the cup to her lips, sipped the beverage, his hand still beneath hers. Her sweet floral scent, unique and sultry, mingled with the scent of coffee.
    He lifted the cup from her hands and set it on the bar so that he could step closer to her. “The night is young,” he commented. Her jean-clad knees now touched his thighs, and he forced himself to resist the urge to press her legs apart and step between them. He wanted to enjoy every single second of this game they were playing, take it slow, savor the burn, until it became pure fire.
    He set his palms on her legs, and her hands went to his. They stared at each other, arousal darkening Holly’s eyes, telling him what she had yet to say—about her desire, need. His hands began to inch up her legs, his thumbs tracing the line of her inner thighs. Her lips parted, and he sensed her hesitation a moment before she pressed down on his hands. “No. We can’t. I—”
    “Wanted to explore new things,” he interrupted. She greeted his words with a prim look of shock that did nothing to conceal the arousal lurking in her eyes. That she pretended to be appalled when she was not, well, that downright had his balls high and tight. Turned him on in a hot, hard way and told him she’d never dared anything sexual beyond the bedroom. He intended to change that. And so he challenged her. “Why not start exploring with pleasure?”
    As the seconds ticked by, seconds laden with sexual tension, a magnetic force slowly lowered their heads together. Anticipation charged through Cole; the warmth of her breath teased his face. Would her lips be as soft as they looked? Would she taste sweet like her heart-shaped face and delicate features said she would, or spicy like her attitude? He was seconds from the answer when her cell phone rang once and then started to vibrate. They froze a hair from seeing that kiss become reality.
    “Proof,” she whispered. “The night is not so young.” The phone rang again and she pulled back, though her hesitation was clear. “I have to go.”
    He didn’t move; he wouldn’t allow her a chance to escape. “Boyfriend?”
    She laughed. “Uh, no.” There was a combination of certainty and disbelief lacing the words. As if she couldn’t believe he’d thought such a thing. “Parents. Home for the holidays.”
    Good, Cole