

Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped

Aliyah Burke

HOLIDAY SURPRISE: UNWRAPPED

Copyright © 2008 Aliyah Burke

Cover illustration copyright © MMJ Designs

Editor: Jessica Bimberg

ISBN: 9781301967490

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web-without permission in writing from the publisher or author. The unauthorized replication or allocation of any copyrighted work is illegal. File sharing is an international crime, prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice and the United States Border Patrol, Division of Cyber Crimes, in partnership with Interpol. Copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 per reported instance, and seizure of computers.

This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author's imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

Published by: Sensual Romance Publishing at Smashwords Publishing

To my readers! Thank you for all of the unbelievable support all y'all have given me over the years. I know I can't show it enough but it's truly appreciated. I hope you enjoy this free read and again, thank you for the support! Happy holidays to all y'all!!
Dedication

To those who are alone on the holidays, may you find the one who makes your heart sing the praises of the season and beyond.
Chapter One

Kassia Green slogged through the park's icy snow toward the street. Her bags hit her legs with each shuffled step. Somewhere deep within her she had hopes of snagging a much-needed taxi, faded though they may be. The afternoon was in its last legs and most people were on their way home. She'd been gone far too long and her mood...not a good one. This time of the year taxi's were hard to come by, despite there being so many on the streets. With her luck they just drove around not really wanting to pick up a fare. What the hell did she know? This wasn't her city and it sure as hell wasn't her state.

"Probably get shoved to the ground by some prick who just absolutely has to have my taxi. That's of course, assuming I can flag one down to use," she muttered right before her foot sank into a puddle of freezing water. Her shoe filled immediately with cold and her foot attacked by biting pain, sending chills through her already cold body. "Shit! I am really hating this time of year. This...this is what I get for agreeing to housesit."

She'd given up her warm house, sunny days and comfort to come up here, somewhere past the north of sanity in order to keep the house for her cousin, Balt. Apartment really, but he hadn't wanted it left empty during this cold spell. And that man had some hot ass woman he was taking to the Caribbean this year so he wouldn't be home over the holidays. And Balt had called her asking for a favour.

So despite all her common sense, she got on a plane, braved all that damn de-icing they had to do on the wings at some airports and flew up to Massachusetts. They just happened to be having one of their hardest, coldest winters on record. Yeah, it worked out so well for her.

Ignoring the intense need to cry out in frustration, she shook off the water best she could and continued on her trek. At least she could see the street and some of the little vehicles which could—if they stopped—deliver her to her warm abode. The day had been horrible dealing with people who sucked the cheer out of the holidays. She wasn't a nice person when she wasn't comfortable and cold—didn't make her comfortable. Ergo, her own temper had been kicked up a bit. Didn't always lead to the best situations.

It was a tossup of what to call this time of the year. There were so many different religions it was insanely easy to offend someone, but what she didn't understand was why this supposed "cheerful" season turned people into such assholes. Pulling her wool coat tighter to help ward off the chill in the air, she continued on, hoping her foot wouldn't freeze.

What I wouldn't give for some warm sand under my feet and a good drink in my hand.

At the curb, she waved for a ride and expelled a groan of relief when one taxi finally stopped in front of her. "2607 North Lexington," she said as her body slid across the surprisingly undamaged leather seat. Her bags sat beside her on the seat.

A nod was all she got from the driver and Kassia sank against the backrest and let the welcomed heat sink in. The entire ride was silent which worked for her, given the state of her body, exhausted. To top it all off, she didn't handle the cold very well.

But then that's why I live in Texas along the Gulf Coast. Because it's warm there, year-round. All damn year. Which is what I like. Warmth. Sun. Not, snow, ice and cold. The staple for here.

"Here you are, Miss." The voice brought her back to awareness.

Paying her fare, Kassia took a deep breath, gritted her teeth against the cold she knew was coming and opened the door, bags in hand. "Thank you," she tossed to the driver as she bolted for the front door of the apartment. The wind whipped around her, stabbing her with piercing needles on her skin where it hit her wet clothing. Even the wool coat didn't seem to be extremely effecting in stopping the onslaught of winter's bite.

Cursing under her breath when her fingers didn't work fast enough with the keys and juggling her purchases, she finally got the lock undone and pushed into the warm apartment. Kassia sagged against the door, dropped her purse and bags on the floor, then reached for the uncomfortable foot to tug off her drenched shoe. Although, to be fair, it wasn't so much drenched anymore as it was frozen. Much like her foot.

Muttering continuously about the weather along with how much she hated the cold, she headed for the laundry room. Tossing her wet and damaged shoe onto the tiled floor, she spun around and hobbled back toward the bedroom shedding her outer clothes on the way. A long hot shower was in order. A very long, very hot shower to banish the chills, which had taken up residence in her body far, far away. It was colder than a witches tit out there and only going to get worse. More snow had begun to fall by the time she arrived at the house. At this rate, she'd never be warm again.

"I hate the north, I hate the snow, I hate the cold, and goddamn it, I hate holidays that make people act like asses!" she hollered as she entered the master bedroom to retrieve her book she'd left in here this morning as she walked through as she did every day.

"I hate people who come screaming into a room and wake someone up!" a deep voice retaliated her statement.

A wail of terror rushed out of her throat filling the room. "Ahhhh!" Scrambling back out of the room nearly tripping over her own feet, Kassia began searching for her cell phone. Call the cops. That phrase ran like a litany through her head. "I'm calling the cops!" she yelled as she dashed for the phone.

Someone jerked the handset out of her hand before she could even complete dialling. Pathetic really considering it was only three lousy numbers she had to hit. Well, one of them the same one twice and she still couldn't pull it off. Now, she would most likely die.

"Who the hell are you?" A masculine tone demanded as the intruder spun her toward him.

Kassia gulped, speechless, as she stared at the man before her. Her gaze was met by a solid muscular torso. Bruised but muscular. Holy hell. Can I have one of him wrapped up for Christmas? She gawked at the man holding the phone tight in one large fist. He stood tall, about six-three. Sandy-brown hair covered his head, the style, cut short in the back and on the sides giving him a delightfully sexy, messy look. Slate eyes glared at her from below bushy brows.

Her eyes moved lower only to see again that bared chest. Kassia swallowed trying desperately to get moisture in her mouth. Calling the cops ceased to even be a memory. A wall of tanned skin faced her. A wall she suddenly had this urge to touch, repeatedly. Looking south she ogled over the lightly haired tanned torso, marred by numerous dark purple and green bruises. Who the hell managed to get the upper hand on this man? Her brows furrowed until her eyes slipped down a bit more.

Shit! Pointing up in her direction was a fully erect cock. Jerking her gaze up, she met his and found humour and annoyance lurking in it. And arrogance. "You're naked!" she yelled.

"Well, doll, considering that's how I was when I went to sleep, it's a good bet I'll be that way when I jump outta bed because of a screeching harpy who seems set on ruining my rest." His thick drawl made her toes curl. In a very good way.

"Screeching harpy?" She screamed a second time, her voice high and pitchy, unfortunately proving his point.

He arched one dark eyebrow. "That's what I said, sweets. Now, who the hell are you and what are you doing here?" His deep voice skated along her skin and she tried to hide her shivering reaction.

"I'm supposed to be here." She reached for the phone he held, doing her best not to stare at his erection.

Not exactly the easiest thing in the world for her to accomplish. He wasn't small by any means and thick...oh lordy she shouldn't be fantasising about him in this way. She couldn't help it. None of the men she'd been with had been so blessedly endowed. Hell, it even had a drop of pre-cum on the large mushroom head. Her pussy pulsed as she envisioned lowering herself upon his shaft. Or having him take her against a wall, the floor, hell, anything. She bit back a whimper and struggled against the urge to squeeze her thighs together. She'd take rug burn for him.

Yes, it definitely had been a way to long for her not to have had any sex. That's what the problem was. She could control this. Right? Right.

"Let's go," he said, grabbing her with his free hand, his calluses burning her where they touched.

Kassia took about two seconds before registering he was dragging her back to the bedroom she'd just bolted from. Hot or not she wasn't allowing him to do that. "Hey! Let go of me!"

"I'm not going to hurt you. I want to put some pants on, but I also want to keep an eye on you. Stop struggling," he snarled all surly sounding.

Seriously man? Just let you drag me back there to do God knows what? Hell no, I'm not going out like that. "No way, let me go!" Kassia pulled harder, digging in her one shoeless foot and one heeled foot to the runner in the hall. It didn't have much effect aside from annoying him more.

"Have it your way sweets," he muttered, exasperation evident. The man spun toward her and with ease manoeuvred himself before her then tossed her over one shoulder.

Gasping with surprise, Kassia stared down at the floor and found her gaze directly in line with his firm ass. Slamming her eyes shut, Kassia froze. She didn't feel malice from him just frustration. A small squeal burst from her throat as she fell to the bed and bounced twice.

"Why you—" Kassia narrowed her eyes but averted her head so she couldn't see him. Not that it alleviated the temptation to see him again. The sound of fabric sliding over skin tantalised her ears and teased her senses. The urge to look swamped her, she wanted to stare at him, indulge herself in his form.

"Alright, sweets. What say you and I figure this out real quick like so I can get back to my nap."

Whipping her head toward him, she glared. "You are leaving. Alone or with the assistance of the cops."

His jeans fit him like a second skin, outlining everything he had to offer. Since she'd seen it, she was well aware of all that entailed. Her mouth watered at the sight. A thin line of dark brown hair dipped below the waistline and she longed to follow it, since she knew exactly what lay beneath the material. Hell, even when she'd been tossed over his shoulder, his scent had been a turn on.

Oh God, I'm pathetic. Turned on by a man who I don't know from Adam and who could very well turn out to be a serial killer or rapist.

He waggled a finger at her as he shook his head. "Don't think so sweets." One tanned arm reached for a shirt. he couldn't hide the hiss of pain as he pulled the cotton tee over his head. "So, let's try this again. Who the hell are you?" There were a few seconds before the pain vanished from his eyes.

Kassia pursed her lips together and glared at the man standing tall in the room. Then a most unpleasant niggling tingle of familiarity hit her. It was almost like she'd seen him before. Shaking it off, she ran her tongue over her teeth and crossed her arms, ignoring the spike which hit her when her taut nipples were rubbed. "Who are you?" Unable to take the stimulation, she lowered them back to her sides.

Instead of answering her, he stood there eyes narrowing briefly before they widened. "Oh shit," he swore. "Are you JoJo?"

Was she JoJo? There were only three people in the world who called her that. Her cousins. And one of them was who she was house-sitting for. Her cousins, Balthasar, Caspar, and Melchior were known as "The Three Wise Men" in the family. So he at least knew them well enough for her to be mentioned.

Kassia swung her legs over the side of the bed and sighed. There was no reason to call the cops now. "To some," she replied with a cautious nod.

He shoved a hand through his hair and exhaled noisily. Heath "Rebel" Dixon stared down at the woman sitting on the bed. The pain in his torso and leg giving way to one centrally located on his body. She was beautiful. With her dark mocha skin, full pouty lips, and eyes the colour of dark cinnamon, she reminded him of a confection, and he definitely wanted to taste her.

His mind went back to how she felt slung over his shoulder as he carried her into the room so he could dress, how her curves pressed against him and how the smell of falling snow combined with a light gentle spice. Heath felt his cock stiffen again. Again? Like it had ever gone done. He'd been sporting wood when she woke him and seeing her hadn't done a thing to lessen the desire coursing through him.

"I know The Three Wise Men." He watched her big eyes widen with something akin to frustration and relief. Interesting. "I'm closest with Balt. And he's the reason I'm here."

"Why would Balt send you here?"

She crossed her arms a second time over her chest bringing his attention back to her breasts where they sat snug under her eggplant turtleneck. She was fidgety. Unsure. And he had to give it to her, were their situations reversed, he wouldn't be totally confident either. Although he also would give her credit for not showing fear.

Good question. "He told me to stop by if I was in town, I was and so I did. And with this storm bearing down on us, I figured I would stay here." She narrowed her eyes and he realized she didn't totally believe him. Smart woman. "Look, you can call him if you want."

"Dial his number," she demanded as she positioned herself before him. He arched a brow at her doing his damndest to ignore that spicy scent wafting from her. "You say you know him, dial him up or I call the cops."

"Fine," he returned as twinges of pain bolted through him. I need my meds. Heath did as he was told, hoping that Balt had his cell on him. Before he pressed send, Heath stared at the spitfire facing him down. "You know, when you find out I'm okay to be here, we'll be staying here together. Alone." He wanted to roar with satisfaction as her gaze widened before dipping below his waist and back up to his eyes. Meds hell, this woman could cure all that ails me. "Here," he said handing her the phone, "my name is Heath Dixon but everyone calls me Rebel. Just in case you wanted to question him on my identity." She shot him another glare.

He listened to her soft dulcet Southern accent as she talked to Balt. What is she doing up here? Why didn't I meet her before? As her mouth formed the words she spoke he imagined slipping his cock in between her luscious lips. Would she watch him as she sucked him or would her eyes close allowing those thick lashes to grace her cheeks? As his mind caused his pants to feel snugger, he watched her stand on one leg and tug off her other shoe.

"Damn it all," she swore and she ended the call.

Going for an innocent look, he smiled at her. "Did he clear it all up?"

Her fingers tightened around both shoe and phone. "He says you have an open invite to stay here." Throwing the cordless behind her onto the bed, she stomped around him and out the door to the room which doubled as spare room and office.

Well that explains why I didn't see her things around when I arrived. She wasn't using his room. Without thought, he followed her and leaned in the doorway watching her. "What are you doing?" he asked as she pulled out a suitcase and began putting a few items in it.

"Leaving. Obviously there is no need for me to housesit if you're here." She wouldn't look at him.

"JoJo," he began only to stop when her head snapped up and she levelled a glare of death at him. Hands out in an appeasing gesture he breathed deep. "Well you didn't see fit to tell me your name."

"Kassia," she bit off.

Much better than JoJo. Pushing away from the door, he prowled toward her. "Kassia," he drew out on a long breath. "Don't go." Her surprise and suspicion was apparent.

"Why?" she asked standing upright before shoving her hands into her back pockets.

Heath licked his lips and imagined how she'd taste. Envisioned her on her back, legs spread as he knelt between them thrust home into her wet heat. The throbbing from his cock told him it agreed with him whole-heartedly. Shoving his own hands into his pockets so he didn't grab her, Heath stopped before her.

"You made plans to be here so why not stay. I promise I'm not nearly as disagreeable as I was when we first met." He flashed a smile determinedly ignoring the pain coursing through every inch of him. "Besides, Balt would kick my ass if you felt you had to leave just because I was here."

The tip of her tongue snuck out to lick her lips and he felt the jolt straight through to his groin. He could see her shudder and immediately remembered the lone shoe and snowflakes in her hair.

"You're freezing. Go take a shower and warm up." Her mouth gaped like a fish before she recovered and he knew that wasn't what she'd expected him to say. He winked and added, "Unless you need some help...undressing." The flush that tinged her cheeks made him long, all over again, to kiss her. Learn what she tasted like, everywhere. Discover if she was a loud lover or a woman who tried to keep her moans contained. Nawh, he bet anything she was a screamer.

"Out," she demanded pointing at the door.

He shrugged with more nonchalance than he felt and turned easily to leave. At the door, he faced her again and said teasingly, "You know, I'm pretty good at washing backs. Let me know if you need any assistance."

Heath grinned and walked out. The grin faded the moment he no longer faced her, his leg was killing him. By the time, he made it to his bag and got out his pills the room was spinning. Popping three in his mouth, he chewed them up and lay down on the bed awaiting sleep to overtake him.

"Contact rear! Contact rear!" Captain Reese hollered. Seconds later the unmistakeable sound of automatic gunfire rent the air.

Rebel swung around bringing his weapon up even as his finger squeezed the trigger on his M16A2 rifle as he fired upon the insurgents, which rushed over the hill. They reminded him of rats escaping a sinking ship. Except these rats carried RPG's, grenades and automatic weapons. A flow of endless bodies to fire upon and he did. Firing constantly as he went.

Instinct took over and he ducked to slam home a new magazine before running towards the approaching swarm of men who wanted him dead. Not just him but the men they'd come to rescue as well. Sweat ran down his face and he blinked it away, refusing to let it ruin his sight and chance to make it back alive. Staring down into the face of one he'd just killed, he swallowed back the bile. Christ, it was just a kid. These fuckers had no qualms about using their young to do their dirty work.

He loved his rifle. Rigged as fully auto it spat out 5.56 mm rounds in bursts of three. In his periphery he saw his teammates moving beside him in perfect sync. As they always did. They worked together like a well-oiled machine. High and low they shot through the line approaching them. This wasn't about taking prisoners. This was nothing more than a fire fight. Ugly, brutal and all to common here. Unfortunately, it seemed there were two more for everyone they killed. Where they all came from he hadn't a clue. But this was what they did? They had an intricate tunnel system underground and could move freely. This was their land.

Explosions went off right and left. Pain ricocheted through him and he sank to the ground as one leg gave out beneath him. A few bullets had torn through and it was unable to hold his weight anymore. Curses streamed from his mouth as he continued to shoot at the approaching enemy. Doing his best not to become a helpless target.

"Rebel!"

"I'm fine," he called back. Not really but they had enough to worry about without him also needing to be saved. He could hold his ground here for a while yet, then they could help him.

"Can you move?"

"Ready to retreat?" he countered as he fired at a few more, ejected the magazine and slammed another home. Thankfully, he could carry twice the ammunition with his weapon taking the 5.56mm rounds as opposed to the 7.62mm round and the weight remained the same. He was going to need a lot with the number of men running down upon them.

"Shit!"

It wasn't that the man cussed for the Irishman did that quite frequently. It was the sorrow and resignation which he heard that grabbed his attention. Heath "Rebel" Dixon turned his head in the nick of time to see his best friend, Seamus "Blarney" O'Leary get blown apart into little pieces as a grenade ended his life. The concussing wave threw him back as well, knocking the rifle from his hands as the world around him became blurry. Blackness faded in and out and when he looked up at the sky, which filtered with dirt, smoke, and the metallic stench of blood, he couldn't make sense of anything. Where was he? What had happened? Why couldn't he hear anything? Where was Seamus?

A man stood over him, staring at him with evil eyes and a sneer on his face which didn't bode well for Rebel. The male shouted something in a language which didn't make any sense to him, not that it mattered. He no longer had the capacity to stay awake. Darkness surrounded him, removing him from the pain radiating throughout his body. The last thing he remembered before succumbing to the blackness waiting for him was the recollection about his best friend dying right beside him.

Seamus.
Chapter Two

Kassia stood under the pounding shower spray and let the heat battle back the cold that had invaded her body. As she ran the sudsy loofah over her body, her thoughts took a turn towards Heath "Rebel" Dixon. Not that she'd really gotten away from thinking about him. It had been a long time since she'd seen a man that good looking who seemed to be interested in her in return. Despite how they'd met.

"For all I know," she muttered, "he was dreaming of his girlfriend and that's why he had the erection. Hell, maybe it was a boyfriend."

The lather from the soap ran down her breasts and she closed her eyes and allowed herself to imagine it was Heath holding the bath sponge, running it all over her body. His larger form would take up a good portion of the shower, ensuring they remained close to one another. His hard chest would be at her back as his hands moved, slowly all along her skin.

Her nipples hardened as she moved her hand across them. Crossways along her belly and down over her tightly clipped pussy. Her legs shuddered as she passed over her clit, touching it lightly.

Heath had large hands, she panted as in her mind she envisioned his fingers thrusting up inside her getting her ready for his long, thick cock. She gasped aloud as her digits mimicked the action. dropping the cleaning object her other hand began to tease a peaked tip. Kassia turned into the pounding spray, moaning aloud when the powerful streams hit her overly sensitive breasts, sending more shivers of ecstasy through her. Her body burned with the need for release and she obliged it, moving her wrist faster bringing herself to euphoria. At the last second, Kassia bit back the scream that roared up from her belly. She came hard and leaned against the wall of the shower to regain her breath. It took a while for she was light headed.

"Jesus, I'm pathetic. A man I barely know has me frigging myself off in the shower after spending less than fifteen minutes with him. I really, really need to get laid." Quickly she finished her shower, turned off the water and paused for a second with her hand on the frosted glass door of the shower. "Okay, Kassia, get a grip."

She slid it back and reached for the fluffy blue towel hanging from a silver bar. Wrapping it around her body, she tucked in the extra between her breasts and walked to the large mirror over the sink. She smeared a hand over the glass and stared at her reflection. still flushed. as if she had been pleasured very thoroughly and for a long time.

Well, it hadn't been for a long time but it sure as hell awakened what she wanted more of and it wasn't her own hand. Or toys, not that she'd brought any with her. But she wanted a man, who knew what he was doing.

Heath. Yeah, she had no doubt that there was a man who knew what to do with a woman he got into bed.

Shuddering as his name floated through her mind, she dried off and got dressed in some of her favourite lounging clothes. As she tied the drawstring of her sweats, for a second she wanted to wear something nicer. Would he notice her then? Smacking herself in the head, she stuck her tongue out at her image. When had she gone so insane just from meeting a man?

Kassia paused at the door as Balthasar's words echoed through her.

"Heath is a great man, JoJo. I trust him with my life. Don't worry you're safe with him there. I know he may be a bit rough around the edges compared to what you're used to, but he hasn't had much opportunity to be happy and carefree. He served his country and...well, it hasn't all been an easy ride for him. Go easy on him, Cuz, spend the holiday with him. You never know, it may be just what the both of you need."

"I doubt that, Balt," she'd replied.

Her cousin laughed at her. "He is a friend, JoJo, be nice to him. Try to, and I do mean try to curb that tongue of yours and leave some skin on his back."

Since Heath had been in the room with her, she'd felt his gaze upon her, she didn't respond as she wished to. With a huff, she said her farewells and hung up. A military man, that information circled around in her head. Did she have to worry about him snapping and shooting her? If it had been a concern, surely Balt would have told her it wasn't safe for her. Nothing like that had come from him. He'd given her his word that his friend was safe. He'd never lied to her so she trusted him.

Her lips curved up into a smile as she fiddled with her necklace. A little bit of that man, could just be what I need. Balt may be right-on about that. Nothing little about him though, that's for damn sure. Suddenly the holiday wasn't looking so bad. Kassia opened the door and stepped through, ready to face whatever fate deemed appropriate for her, namely one handsome man who went by the nickname Rebel.

She didn't see him anywhere even when she turned on some lights to combat the oncoming night. Worrying her lower lip she stopped outside the bedroom door of the room Heath claimed for himself. The room was swathed in darkness, knowing where the bed was, she inched in quietly. Her heart hammered in her chest, she wanted to run but she also wanted to know if he was in here. Not to mention okay, given the bruises which slathered his torso and the limp he'd tried unsuccessfully to hide.

"Heath?" she questioned the blackness, suddenly wondering about the brilliance of coming in her unannounced. Balt said he had the potential to be a bit high strung at times and again she wondered if his being a solider had lowered her chances of leaving with all limbs intact.

A low moan moved through the dark to her ears. The sound reverberated with pain and sorrow. Immediately she reached for the bedside lamp, her fingers searching for the switch to bathe the room in a gentle golden glow. When the light arrived she breathed a bit easier, for about two seconds.

Her gaze fell to the bed and she saw the bandage high on his left leg. Must have missed it before when my eyes landed on his cock. Not that she blamed herself that impressive sight had been mightily distracting. Sweeping her intent gaze up his form, she noticed he at least wore boxers this time, but nothing else. All muscles all over. That hadn't been a figment of her imagination either. She didn't know many men built like him. Correction, she didn't know any men who had physiques as Heath did. Damn!

His moan came again and she could read the agony on his face. It had sounded like he'd called someone's name, but she wasn't positive about that. Somewhere inside she frowned, not wanting him to hurt. On the other hand, she could just sit here and stare at the magnificent specimen before her. Who was she to wake him? Chiding herself for her thoughts, Kassia leaned over and placed a hand on his slightly sweaty shoulder.

"Heath..."

Before she could finish, he'd hauled her close, draping her over him. One strong arm held her tightly to him, against her belly she could feel his erection swelling. She rubbed against him, even as she tried to free herself from his iron-clad grip.

"Hey," she demanded, fear lending it's voice to her. "Wake up and let me go would you?"

"Are you absolutely sure that's what you want?" His voice swirled around her as his warm breath caressed her ear. Instead of loosening, his arm tightened and his hips arched slightly into her.

No! It's not what I want, hold me tighter. Strip off my clothes and make the fantasy I had in the shower come to fruition, at least once. More if you're so inclined. "Yes," she managed to mutter, having to swallow a few times before the words would even slip free of her lips. "I would appreciate it very much."

"This is a much better way to wake, sweets, than with you screeching to the heavens." His nose brushed along the skin behind her ear, delivering spikes of pleasure through her. "Well, from fear anyway."

"Let me go," she commanded.

His chest vibrated as he chuckled yet it didn't sound totally humorous, even to her ears. "Already have, sweets. You're laying on me totally by your own accord. Not that I mind, I like you pressed up against me like this. You've got a rockin' body."

Her body flushed hot and she ground against him before she found her control and climbed off him as fast as she could. "You...you...you're—"

"I know what I am, Miss Green, no need to tell me again." He fixated his stare off to the far corner.

There was no teasing, no warmth left in his tone at all. Almost like a switch had been thrown. The heat which had swarmed her from his touch when she'd lain on him banished beneath the chill in the air. The look in his gaze mimicked his voice, hard and unforgiving. Again, from the back of her mind came this urge, this desire to make him feel better.

What the hell is wrong with me? I barely know the man. What does it matter to me if he's grumpy and snippy? I should just leave him alone and suffer through this time we have to share the house together. It's not like she was going anywhere. She wanted to stay and try to figure out what mysterious hold this Heath Dixon had on her.

Like she really needed a crisis of conscious now. The last guy she'd been with had been a whiner but with him, she didn't give a crap, found him to be a pussy and completely unmanly for his actions. Not Heath. The man didn't whine but she could tell he hurt. And she wanted to take that away from him.

Biting her lower lip, Kassia put her hands on her hips and stared down at him, pretending he wasn't lying on the bed wearing a pair of boxers with an obvious ridge in them. Not an easy task but she was determined to do this. Her foot tapped as it was wont to do when she had a bad case of uncertainty. She could do this, she wasn't scared of him or anything. And she wasn't counting the fear that she'd jump him because she couldn't control her own sexual urges.

"I came in here to see if you'd be going out for dinner or would like to share a meal with me."

He turned his head and looked at her, Kassia could see the shock in his expression before he erased it and she was back staring at a blank emotional slate. "You sure?"

Nope. Not at all. Pasting a small smile on her face she nodded. "Of course. If we're going to be here together for a few days we may as well try to get along with one another." She shrugged her shoulders. "Your decision, I'll be eating in about an hour. Sorry for disturbing you."

Licking her lips, Kassia allowed her gaze to run one more gamut of his prone form. Damn, damn, damn this man is hella fine! Even with all the ugly bruising tattooed across his chest, he just had this thing about him which made her fingers itch to touch him, and her long to lick the smooth skin. Without meeting his gaze, she left the room and headed for the kitchen.

Once there, she rested her hands against the ledge of the counter and blew out a large breath. What the hell was she doing? Playing with fire most likely. Heath Dixon was a man so far out of her league, she would be in way over her head. Shoving that away for a bit, she thought about what to make for dinner. Unsure of what it was he normally ate, she stuck with something a bit more basic.

She'd just pulled skillet containing the sausage and peach stuff pork chops from the oven, when Heath walked into the kitchen. Her heart kicked up a few notches but she remained focused on what she was doing and transferred the hot dish to the waiting trivet on the table, it was just them, they could serve themselves from the pan. There wasn't any need to dirty up more dishes. The twice-baked rosemary blue potato mash already sat on the table along with the fresh tossed salad.

"Perfect timing," she said setting the hot pads back on the kitchen counter and going for drinks.

"Smells delicious."

"Hope you can eat pork or like it. Otherwise it's sides for you."

He brushed by her and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from moaning aloud at the brief contact. Heath hadn't put on a shirt and while she wouldn't admit it aloud, she was grateful. He had pulled on a pair of black sweats so he wasn't walking around in his boxers. Not that she minded...but...it was better this way. At least that's what she desperately tried to convince herself. She watched him move toward the small round table and picked up on the limp, it was even more prevalent now than it had been before. Either that or she knew what to look for.

Christ, even his back had bruising and other marks which she really didn't want to hazard a guess on what horrific conditions had caused them. Whatever it was, the man had gone through some serious pain. When he turned back to her she'd composed her face hiding the revulsion she'd felt at seeing them.

"Does it bother you, sweets?" he asked, propping a hip against the counter. "My marks? Do they disgust you? Want me to cover them up?"

She blinked and pulled glasses from the cupboard. "It bothers me to think of what you went through for them to be on your body. Other than that, no." Ice then water from the fridge for her glass. "What would you like to drink?"

"Water's fine." She filled his as well. "So it doesn't bother you seeing all this over me?"

Placing the glasses down on the counter, she sighed and faced him. She refused to give him the satisfaction of her saying yes. Holding his gaze, she crossed her arms and glared.

"What bothers me is you trying to get a reaction out of me. I already told you what about them bothers me. The fact you keep pushing the issue tells me you're spoiling for a fight and while I normally don't have a problem with that, I'm hungry. It's been a long day and I've not had anything to eat since seven this morning, so if it's all the same to you, could we table the 'try and freak out Kassia' bit and eat?"

"Would I get a reaction if I ate naked?" he asked as she walked by him.

Her hands wobbled a bit and she was grateful if he noticed he didn't say anything about that. There would have been a definite reaction had he done that. They sat across from one another and she dished him up first before her, said a quick prayer in her head and looked up to find him already shovelling food in.

She didn't mind, she enjoyed a man who could eat. And he looked like he'd not had a home cooked meal in a long time. Not that he was skinny, for he wasn't overly so, just like he needed some extra tender, loving care.

And what? You're going to be the one to give it to him? Her mind put up the proposition.

She ignored the unwanted commentary and focused on eating. He was on his seconds when she had just finished her first serving. Settling back in the chair she watched him eat. Head down, it was obvious he was used to a timed meal.

"You can take your time," she commented.

His head jerked up and he pinned her with his steel hued eyes. "What?"

"Your meal. You're eating like it's going to be taken from you if you don't finish in minutes. Slow down."

He stared at her and she had the funny feeling he wished to say something to her. Instead he blinked, sat back a bit, and ate slower. She kept her fingers along the cold glass as she watched him. A few moments passed and he stared at her.

"You're not eating anymore?"

"I'm good."

Truth was, she wasn't entirely sure she could eat anymore. She'd never been so aware of a man before in her entire life. It didn't make sense. Knowing this one for less than five hours and yet all she could think on for longer than ten seconds was how it would be to have him fucking her.

"You're a great cook. I haven't had food like this in...a long time."

His praise had her smiling. "Thank you. I enjoy cooking." She got up and started some coffee before watching him in her periphery. Even though his gaze wasn't on her she got the feeling he observed her.

She fixed coffee and set a mug of it down before him then took hers to her chair and added liberal amounts of sugar in hers. No cream. She just liked it sweet. Unbidden her gaze drifted back to the marks on his upper body. She couldn't imagine going through whatever it took to get those marks.

"You want to ask about them, ask."

She flushed, ashamed to have been staring. "I'm sorry. I just can't imagine what you went through to have such marks on your body."

He put the fork on his plate and stared at her. She nearly held her breath as he drank some coffee and sighed. "I was held prisoner for a few months. These are the remainders of my time at their fine establishment."

Kassia waited. There had to be a punch line coming for the joke she must not have gotten. However, he didn't say anything else, just went back to eating.

"You're serious?"

"Not something anyone would joke about, sweets."

"And your leg too?"

"Shot twice. My hosts weren't exactly keen on good hygiene for me. It healed poorly and I'll always have a limp."

"Who the fuck would do such a thing?"

His entire body tensed, fingers flexing around the fork in his hand. "Those who want to see our country fail."

"Balt said you served in the military. What branch?"

"I was a sergeant in the Army."

She heard the strain when he said 'was' and understood he wished he still served. "Do they hurt?"

"Not as much as my healing ribs but yes."

"Do you have something to put on the bruising?"

"I pop pills and hope I heal."

She thought about the cream in her bag but kept it to herself. "I know it doesn't mean much, but I'm sorry. For what you had to go through for keeping us safe."

Heath sat at the table and observed the woman who'd just fed him one hell of a meal. She looked comfortable in her sweats and baggy shirt. It didn't matter to him what she wore, she was gorgeous. Right now, however, all he could focus on was how she'd thanked him for his service and apologised for what he'd gone through.

She stood at the sink, washing the dishes. Her moments were graceful and arousing. He admitted it, he'd wanted to shock her by not wearing his shirt. She'd recognised what he'd attempted to do and called him on it. A small smile lifted his lips, he should have known a cousin of Balt's wouldn't be such a wimp.

The only picture he'd ever seen of her was from years back, she'd definitely changed since then. And he understood why she didn't recognise him. There was a picture of him in this house with Balt but he had long shoulder length hair and a full beard. He was about to depart on a mission and had stopped in to see his friend briefly. hell, had he not been one of the two in the photo, he'd not have known who it was either.

Their semi-truce over dinner may have vanished. Either way, he didn't know what to say to her. He was attracted to her and she was the first woman who'd looked at his bruising and scars and not run the other way screaming. That wasn't all though, she had something special about her. Something which made him want to protect her.

"Who's Seamus?"

He blinked and scowled at her. "What? What did you say?"

She wiped her hand off on the dishtowel, her hip propped against the counter's edge. "Seamus. You said just now that Seamus would have liked me. So I asked who he was."

Heath shoved back his chair, the sound painful to his ears and jumped to his feet. "Don't ever mention his name again."

Then he returned to the bedroom and sat in the corner chair by the window. His leg throbbed but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. She had no right, none to mention that name. It didn't matter if he had said anything.

No logic came to dispute him and he sat there, stewing in the room as more snow fell adding more to the accumulated amount on the ground.

The knock on the door snapped him from the trance he'd been in. He'd lost track of time. "What?" he barked.

"May I come in?"

Gods her voice, it was the thing wet dreams were made of. "Sure."

He waited for her to turn the light on but she didn't. Her steps were soft as she crossed the carpeted floor to stand beside his chair. He stared up at her from beneath lowered lids. She looked composed and only when she took her gaze from the window to look at him did he lower his.

"I brought you some cream which should help your bruising." She held out a tube.

He stared at it. "Why?"

"Why should it help? It's Arnica, it stimulates activity of your white blood cells. It also has anti-inflammatory qualities in it."

"No, why would you bring it to me?" By all accounts she should be pouting for his treatment of her. At least the women he was acquainted with would be.

"Because you're in pain and could use it. I can put it on your back if you'd like."

"So this is all out of the goodness of your heart." The words slid out on a sneer and she jerked back like he smacked her.

"You, Heath Dixon, are an ass. Handsome as sin, but an ass. You don't want it, just say so. I was only trying to be nice because you look like you could use a friend. My mistake, it won't happen again. Fuck getting along, we can just pass each other in silence for the remaining days. This was my fault for believing Balt when he said you were one of the good guys." She whirled around and left.

He slumped back against the chair and cursed when some of the wood hit an extra sore spot. What the hell is wrong with me? She didn't do anything wrong. He was pissed over Seamus and took it out on her. The one person who'd actually been nice to him merely because.

"Great job asswipe," he admonished himself. "Piss off yet another person."

He scrubbed his hand over his face and pushed to his feet. His leg screamed in agony for being in the position it had for so long. Christ, how long had he been sitting there? Hobbling to the door, he bit back his moan and made his way to the living room, there were still lights on.

"I know Chris. I'm just not sure it's the best thing for me to do," she said into the phone.

Chris. That could be a man's name. He didn't stop until he stood before her, then he watched her.

She tried to pretend as if she didn't see him and continue to carry on her conversation but he knew he was getting to her.

"I'll call you later, Chris. Miss you too. Have fun." She ended the call and crossed her arms while glancing up at him. "Yes?"

"You're right. I am an ass."

She wasn't impressed, he could tell for her expression didn't change. He shifted his weight a bit and fought the urge to sit down. His leg didn't normally hurt him this much but this cold weather wasn't helping matters any.

"Anyway, I came to apologise for my behaviour and perhaps take you up on the cream."

Her gaze lowered to his leg and she nodded. He didn't move and she had to slid past him. Inhaling deeply he allowed her scent to fill his nostrils. Lord, he didn't know women could smell so good without trying hard. And he would bet anything she didn't try.

She returned a few moments later and held out the tube. Anger still lingered in her gaze and he wanted to make it disappear. He liked her with a gentle glow in them and a lingering smile on her face, as if she knew a secret and couldn't wait to share it with everyone else.

Ensuring to graze her fingers with his own as he retrieved the tube from her outstretched hand, he hid his smile at the slight catch in her breath. Mad or not the attraction still sizzled between them. And he intended to keep it that way.

"Are you going to talk to me again?" Her response was to walk away from him. "Guess not," he muttered, watching that admirable view of her swaying hips. Kassia never looked back at him just went to the room she currently occupied and he winced when the door clicked shut.

Limping back to his room, he picked up his phone and dialled his friend, Balt. The cream sat beside him on the bed.

"Hello?"

"Balt," he said by way of greeting.

"'Sup, Rebel? That cousin of mine treating you alright?"

"She cooked supper. Did an awesome job, haven't eaten that good since before I signed up in the service."

Female voices could be heard in the background. Heath rolled his eyes, Balt was never one who went without women as companions. He wasn't a man who believed in men only, dude loved the ladies. And they loved him in return.

"Am I keeping you from something?"

"Nawh, they'll be here after I get off the phone with you. What's going on?"

"I fucked up with Kassia."

"You hurt her and I'll break every fuckin' bone in your worthless goddamn—"

"Calm down," he interrupted. "I'm not talking like that but good to know where I stand."

"Man, I love you but she's special. We get along better than she and her own siblings do. All three of us will protect her with every breath in our body." A brief pause. "What were you talking about then?"

"I was an asshole. She was only trying to help and i...well, I sorta took out my frustration on her."

"The pain?"

Balt was one of the few who actually knew what he'd gone through over there in the little cave as they tortured him for information. Blowing out a breath he nodded. "Yes. You know me, I can be a royal ass, but unlike most, she didn't back down and apologise for upsetting me, she stood up and called me on my behaviour."

His friend chuckled. "That's our Kassia. Never one to back down, my feisty little cousin. So what's the problem. Go apologise to her."

"I did."

"Well then, there you go. Problem solved."

"Don't think so man, she walked away without saying a word."

Silence met his claim. After a while Balt spoke again. "You telling me she walked away without speaking at all?"

"Yes."

"That's not like her, Kassia's not one to hold a grudge. What the hell did you say to her?"

Heath flopped back on the bed. "I told you." He shifted into a more comfortable position. "Although I did yell at her about saying Seamus' name."

"Dude, I can't fix this for you. Kassia will clam up if she is hurt. It takes a lot to get her there so whatever the hell is going on between you, must have done that."

"How do I make it up to her?"

"Are you into the Christmas spirit?"

Not this year. Hell, he hadn't been for more than a few years. He didn't get home to celebrate it and even had he been allowed to leave, he wasn't welcome there so it was pointless.

"Not really, no."

"I suggest you get that way. Kassia loves this time of year. Loves it. Although how she can get in the mood when she's in hot Texas instead of surrounded by snow I have no clue." Muffled sounds reached him and he rolled his eyes, well aware of what was just about to happen to his friend.

"I'll let you go, I've no desire to be on the phone with you while you're getting blown. I'll figure it out. Thanks for letting me crash here man."

"You're just jealous no one is there to do you. Don't make me regret it, Heath. Don't hurt my cousin, I told her you were good people's. I would hate to be proven a liar."

Ending the call, Heath dropped the phone to the mattress beside him before sitting up. He gingerly removed his shirt and opened the tube she'd given him. Balt was wrong about one thing, there was a woman here he wouldn't mind blowing him at all. Despite the attraction, she wasn't talking to him right now and he doubted she'd be up for some sex.

Although, many said there was a fine line between making love and making war. They'd fought so now perhaps they could make up. Without words, just remove clothing and see what happens.

With a sigh, he began applying the cool cream to his injuries. When it got to be to much for him to reach, he bit the bullet and got back to his feet. It wasn't a huge distance from the master bedroom to the spare room Kassia claimed yet it felt like a huge yawning void he crossed. Resting for a second, he took several deep breaths before knocking.

Kassia opened it moments later and he forgot to breath. Her hair sat piled up haphazardly on her head, some wisps floating around her face. She watched him with eyes full of suspicion but she didn't back away or slam the door in his face, so he took it as a good sign. Progress.

He held up the tube and shrugged. No change in her expression. "I would appreciate some help if you're still willing."

She brushed by him and walked back to his room, her door drawn shut behind her. He smacked his lips and pivoted around. Still not a word but at least she was willing to help him. His room sat ablaze from the lights she'd turned on. Overhead as well as the one by the bed. She stood by the head and fiddled with the cap.

Respecting her wish for silence, he crawled across the king-size bed and lay on his stomach. His breathing suffered when the mattress dipped and he knew she sat beside him. That subtle spicy scent she wore wafted around him and he bit the inside of his lip, grateful to be on his stomach so she couldn't see the rock-hard erection threatening to poke a hole in the mattress.

The medicinal smell of the cream reached him and he tensed waiting for her to slap it on his bruises. He should have known better. Her touch was light and soft as she worked it in. Electricity thrummed through him and he locked his body so he wouldn't turn and reach for her. He longed to encourage her touch to linger over other body parts.

Small concise circles worked in the medicine and before he knew it, he had relaxed beneath her touch. Lulled by the hypnotic movements of her hands, he drifted off to sleep. When he came too, there was only one light on in the room, the one beside the bed, and a glass of water sat next to his pill bottle.

Balt had been wrong. She wasn't just an amazing woman. Kassia Green was the one he needed in his life. Strong enough to stand up to him, unafraid of his temper, and yet, caring enough to help him. That made her his.
Chapter Three

Bacon. Eggs. Toast. Even roasted potatoes. The smells were like right under her nose. Lord her dreams were getting all together to real.

"Come on, sweets. Open those beautiful eyes."

Great, now she was hearing his darkly seductive tone in her dreams. Only dreams didn't usually touch. She cracked her lids and saw a tray of food resting on the bed beside her prone body. Lifting her gaze from the wooden tray, she found a pair of steel grey eyes waiting.

Heath.

She blew out a breath and tried to figure out what he was doing here and why he brought food that smelled so damn good. "And you're in my bedroom at this hour why?"

"Breakfast." He jostled the tray. Crap, there was even coffee and orange juice on it.

"What will it cost me?"

"Just hear my apology."

She shook her head and pushed up, shoving her hair back from her face so it no longer trailed down over the shoulder of her night shirt. "I don't need one."

"I need to give you one."

He sat on the edge of the bed, the tray remained steady by his hand. As well as between them. She fought off a yawn. All she wanted to do was crawl back beneath the blankets and pretend she was back in Texas where it was warm and sunny.

"You brought me breakfast. Which, despite the early hour is very thoughtful." She didn't hold grudges long. They were too much work. And she had much more important things to spend her time and energy on.

"Early hour? Balt said you got up early."

"I'm still on Texas time which is earlier than I prefer to get up. Especially when it's so damn cold out."

"Just need a heated body to curl up against."

Heat flooded her at his casually spoken words. "Right." She ate a bite of the scrambled eggs. They were fluffy and delicious. A pleased moan escaped her lips. "This is good." Another bite. "Really good."

"Do you have plans for the day?" he asked. His voice seemed a bit deeper than it had been before.

A sip of coffee—which was sweetened as she liked it, a lot—before she answered. "Nope. Was going to bake some things, why?" She ate some potatoes. "I forgot to ask, how are you feeling today?"

"Better thank you."

It didn't take a genius to figure out he didn't like talking about what happened and she wasn't about to pry. She wasn't a therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist or whatever he might need to work through the memories of his horrible experience. Kassia also had no designs to be any of those things. However, she had no problems being a friend.

"Good." And she let it go at that. "So what did you have in mind to do today?"

The second the question was out, she realised how it could be interoperated. His eyes blazed molten before they cooled.

"I was going to go shopping and thought you might like to come with."

She ate a bite of wheat toast, staring at him the entire time she chewed. "You want to spend the day with me?" Let's face it she hadn't been expecting that.

"Scared to be around a cranky old bastard?"

The edge leaked in over his words and she felt the chill down to the marrow of her bones. "Not hardly," she scoffed. "it would take much more than you snapping and growling to scare me. I'm just surprised you'd like to be around me."

He took her other piece of toast and bit into it. She wanted to be angry but she couldn't find it in her. Besides the act seemed so intimate it threw her. Dragging her tongue along her lower lip, she shrugged.

"I'm up for a trip. Walk around, see all the cold and cranky people who forget this is a season for celebrating." She set the tray to the side and began to swing her legs off the side only to pause. "You need to leave."

His smile did that funny thing to her insides again. "Why? You're wearing a shirt."

Perhaps she was but that was about it, aside from her panties. And he didn't need to see them. "Out."

"Don't forget, I am good at washing backs," he said as he took the tray with him to the door. "Or fronts." Then he slipped out.

She flopped back on the bed and groaned. I know how this is going to end. Me frigging myself in the shower. Yet again. Pounding her hand on the mattress, she took a few seconds to control her raging hormones. Then she headed for the shower, determined to make it short and without her getting off to mental images of what she believed Heath Dixon could do to her. Or she him.

She failed at that simple task.

Three hours later she walked beside Heath in a shopping centre as he pushed a cart and added some things in it, here and there. Staring at all he added, she cleared her throat.

"Did you forget to pack a few things?" she asked.

"A few. I just want to be prepared for when the worst of this storm hits."

She grabbed his arm, stopping him. Damn he was all muscle. Today he wore jeans and a sweatshirt, none of which did any good to calm her out of control traitorous libido. Heath glanced down at her, brow raised in silent question. "Worst of this storm? It's going to get," she grimaced when someone shoved her in the back and hurried on without the slightest apology, "worse?"

Oh god at this rate she was going to be stuck here until summer. Heath continued to stare at her and she realised she hadn't let go of him. Dropping her gaze, she did the same to her hand, shoving it into her pocket for good measure. "I thought they were kidding when they said that," she muttered more to herself than him.

"More snow's coming. Don't worry, Kassia. We'll be fine. I just wanted to get a few more things. They know how to handle snow up here."

"great." She loved Christmas, truly she did but at this particular moment, she was seriously considering killing her cousin. What was that called, parricide? The killing of a close relative. Just plain old murder, is what it would be. Nope, wait, premeditated because she sure as hell was thinking about it now.

"What's wrong?"

"Just finding this unfair that my unscrupulous cousin Balt is off shagging with some big titted woman in the Caribbean while I'm here at his house stuck in all this damn snow. That apparently has more to come."

"Not a fan of the snow I am coming to realise."

"I like warm." Where she could wear shorts and tank tops, not be bundled up so much she had a hard time seeing her bloody feet.

"I'm coming to understand that about you. Let's go. Lunch is on me."

She fell into step with him again as he continued pushing the cart through the store. Heath turned many heads but to his credit he didn't seem to even notice the women who openly ogled him. He kept his eyes straight ahead but she wasn't fooled, the man was aware of everything surrounding them.

She noticed his limp didn't seem as pronounced today and she was glad. They weren't walking as if doing a power walk so maybe it was good for him to get out and stretch it. The bruises on his neck were hidden by the upturned collar of his coat and yet she wondered if they were bothering him as well.

The rest of the day passed with fun and ease. She liked Heath, genuinely liked him. He had a sense of humour, which she admired, and he wasn't just some dumb solider who'd worn a uniform, like many of the ones she'd met. Still, despite all of that, she could see the strain and worry in his expression when he thought her attention was otherwise occupied. All she had to do was remember there were some things she didn't say to him and they would get through this time without any problems.

They shared a taxi on the way back and she helped him carry his purchases up. While he put his things away, she got started on a meal. She had just spent twenty-four hours in his presence and she had a great deal of concern of how she would make it the rest of the time. Keeping her hands to herself that is.

* * *

Kassia sighed as she folded the last of her laundry. Three days had gone by since she'd arrived back at Balt's place to find her "guest" sleeping in the master bedroom and three days of intense longing had been the effect on her. She dreamt about him, brought herself to orgasm in the shower and bed thinking about him. Any spare minute she had it seemed her mind found a way to conjure up Heath's image. Just watching him eat dinner was a turn-on. She walked around in a state of arousal and she was ready to kill someone.

They'd also gotten to know one another better and she actually liked him, so it wasn't just attraction riding her.

"I just need to fuckin' get laid, that's all," she muttered, disgusted with herself for her feelings. It wasn't like he didn't seem interested, he did. But he seemed content to let her set the pace, he wasn't going to make the first move. "Great, suddenly it's all about women's lib n' shit. Why can't he just grab me, back me against a wall and kiss me senseless? Or something like that."

With the heel of her foot, Kassia shut the dryer door, turned it on, grabbed her stack of folded clothes and turned. Heath stood in the doorway, his shoulder resting against the wood of the doorjamb. His eyes the colour of molten steel as he stared at her. One corner of his sexy bow-shaped mouth quirked up in a disarming sexy grin. Yet, determination and promise also lingered.

Shit! He heard me. The hand on the bottom of the pile tightened into a fist as she tried to control the shudder that raced through her. Her pussy clenched and her nipples hardened as she stared at him. He wore a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a dark umber hued mock-turtleneck. The scent of the crisp outdoors filled her nose and she could see a smattering of crystallized snowflakes which refused to melt.

"Yes?" Kassia asked arching a brow and praying he couldn't see the flush she felt in her cheeks.

Instead of answering her, he pushed away from what held him up and moved toward her. Stalked was more like it, Kassia had never felt so hunted in her entire life before. The man pursuing her made her wonder if she'd just bitten off more than she could chew. His eyes pinned her to the very spot she stood and made her feel as though her feet sat encased in hardened concrete.

"What?" she tried again.

"I was just thinking..." Heath trailed off as he stopped before her, head cocked to the side.

Her heart rate increased tenfold. "Thinking what?"

"How right you were."

She couldn't contain the shudder those words evoked within her. Licking her lips, Kassia nearly grinned at the lust that filled his eyes. "About?"

Heath reached out with one hand and tucked some hair behind her ear. For a second his gaze softened as he stared at her. Then it changed, the slate colour grew heated and burned her. His fingers wrapped into her hair and he tightened his hold. "This," he said in a low growl. Before she could blink his mouth landed on hers with a ferocity that made her toes curl. His other hand knocked her clothes to the floor then he hauled her up against his hard body. Kassia immediately arched into his touch, her senses on fire.

His mouth nibbled along hers before he slid his tongue along the seam of her mouth. "Open for me sweets," he ordered, his voice low and seductive. She opened to admit him and purred as he stroked along one cheek then the other. He tasted like coffee and mint; it was heady and addicting to her. The hand splayed against her back moved lower and lower until his fingers caressed the top of her butt. Even with her pants on, she could feel the heat from his palm searing her, branding her as his.

Kassia whimpered as his touch skimmed along the edge of her waistband before moving up under her shirt and trailing idly across the small of her back. The calluses teased her sensitive skin. Each time they headed down, she arched her hips forward into him. Her hands tangled themselves in his mock turtleneck keeping them anchored close. When he began rocking back against her she nearly melted.

Every inch of her body ached for more of his touch. Kassia jerked up on his top, sighing into his mouth as her hands landed on his warm skin, trying to be mindful of his bruises. Sucking hard on his tongue, she moved her arms up so his shirt inched higher, her meaning clear. The second he stepped back from her, he whipped off his sweater and let it fall to land on the mess her once neatly-folded clothes had made. It took two attempts to swallow as she stared at him. Not an ounce of fat was on his muscled physique. And yes, she'd known that but seeing it bared for her was a whole other experience.

"Your turn," he said in a voice gravelled with desire as his hands began pulling up her baggy sweatshirt. She closed her eyes as he removed it and released a hiss.

"Kassia." That single sound dragged from him and brought her eyes back to his.

Raw lust and primal desire sat etched into his face. Holding his gaze she dragged her nails lightly across his chest, hitting his nipples. His eyes were stormy with emotions as he stared at her. He reached for her and lifted her off the ground sitting her on the dryer, the warmth from the machine minute compared to the roaring fire the man before her created within her.

Heath felt like he was going to explode in his pants. The urge to make her his own swarmed over him with a force he'd never experienced before. She sat on the edge of the running dryer, her curvaceous body easily riding the rocking motion, telling him she'd ride him with ease. She wore a sugared plum lace bra, the hue offset beautifully with her dark skin tone. Her stomach wasn't perfectly flat. He didn't care.

"Beautiful," he muttered. Her skin was like the softest silk he'd ever felt. Wetting his lower lip, he tugged on the elastic waistband of her pants. Heath leaned in and kissed her again as she placed her hands on the top of the dryer and lifted her hips to help him in his quest. Her panties were plain cotton similar in colour to her bra. The spicy aroma of her arousal reached his nose and his cock throbbed insistently in his jeans.

He palmed one breast, loving the weight of her in his hand. His senses swirled as he tweaked her nipple. Her whimper shot straight through to his soul. It didn't take long for him to remove the bra. Firm breasts sat before him, nipples the colour of dark chocolate kisses, his mouth watered at the prospect of suckling on them.

Grinding his back teeth, Heath reached for her again as he stepped up flush to the dryer. Moving her so their pelvises pressed against one another, he ground his mouth on hers in a demanding take-no-prisoners kiss. He growled with primitive pleasure as she gave what he asked and more.

Tongues thrust against one another. The fire in his blood heated hotter and hotter as she whimpered and latched her legs around his waist. Her curves felt amazing pressed against him and he longed to be buried deep within her. Reaching up with his hands, he shoved them deep into the silky mass she called hair and increased the power behind his kiss. The heels of her socked feet dug into the flesh of his buttocks.

Ending the kiss, Heath's teeth drug along her bottom lip until he released it. Damn her for being so desirable. A flush tinted her dark skin, her lips were swollen from the kisses they shared, breasts still peaked and calling his mouth to taste them. Taking two fingers he pressed them to her lips, his cock pulsed when they parted slightly and drew him in to her warm wet mouth, her tongue swirling around and between them. Biting back a groan he withdrew them and dragged his knuckles down over her chin and along her neck to her sternum. Circling each nipple, he continued on his path down over her belly to the front of her panties.

Dipping below the elastic waistband Heath allowed his fingers to skim over the hair covering her pussy, the dampness giving him more proof of her desire for him. One digit slid between the full lips and into the welcoming heat. A hiss of pleasure left her mouth as her hips shifted forward pressing him further into her. Her body tightened around him conforming to his finger, cradling it in velvet softness.

"Heath," she mumbled as her hands began undoing his jeans.

Her sultry voice only aroused him further. He inhaled sharply as her hands pushed his boxers down to follow the path his pants had taken. Heath shuddered as her smooth hand softly gripped his cock. In response, he added another finger to her tight wetness and got another sound of satisfaction from Kassia. Their heavy breathing combined with the low rumble of the dryer as he thrust in and out of her while she stroked him at the same pace.

Her teeth sank into his shoulder blade as her body clenched around him and coated his driving fingers with her thick cream. Heath could feel his balls tightening as her hand held him in a snugger grip, moving faster and faster.

"Stop Kassia," he ordered amazed at how deep and gravelled his voice was.

Her jaw released his skin and she looked at him. "Why?" Her tone filled full of passion.

"I don't want to cum by your hand, not this time. I want my cock buried deep inside this pussy." He scissored his fingers as he spoke eliciting a groan and more desire to flare in her dark eyes turning them to melted cinnamon.

Removing his fingers Heath held her gaze as he placed them in his mouth and cleaned them. She tasted divine. Were it not for the urge to slip between her thighs and unload within her, he would be on his knees feasting on her essence. He stripped off her damp panties and placed the head of his arousal at her opening, grateful the height of the dryer made it so he wouldn't have to put a lot of weight on his injured leg. But for this taste of heaven, to hell with my leg.

One press forward and his eyes drifted closed with the feeling that swamped him. Her body welcomed him and he never wanted to leave. Emotions welled up in him unlike anything he'd ever felt before. The urge to dominate, brand, and yes even own, swamped him. A hiss of pleasure slipped from his lips as her velvet internal muscles gripped him. Kassia wrapped her legs around him again, allowing him deeper access yet. In and out he pumped the vibrating of the dryer adding to the experience. Her hands splayed across his back and her nails began digging into his skin.

"You feel so good, sweets. So fucking good."

"More," she panted. "Oh God, more!"

"Yes," he grunted. "Much, much more."

He thrust faster feeling his own eruption swarming down on him. Taking one hand, he slid it between them and found her swollen clit. She gasped as his fingers began to tease it, her head dropped back exposing her neck. Heath licked up along the rapid pulse beneath her skin, loving how she tasted. She writhed beneath his touch and tightened her muscles around him. His fingers circled faster on the sensitive nub and he powered into her with increasing intensity.

"Oh, oh, oh!" Her scream filled the laundry room as she came hard on his cock.

Heath took one hand and braced himself against the dryer as he drove into her again. Once. Twice. Three and then four times before he erupted deep within her core. His release triggering another from Kassia and in seconds her yell travelled with his own shout of pleasure to fill the room.

It took him a moment to regain his balance, feeling lightheaded from the power of his ejaculation. Kassia was still wrapped around him, except now she'd sat forward and her face was buried in his neck. Lifting her, Heath winced at the extra weight on his leg but ignored it, refusing to let her out of his embrace, walked them back to the bed where they'd first met, and laid them down on it.

Time to start all over again. So he did. Hours later they fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms and covered by thick blankets as more snow fell outside.

His nightmare woke him and he sat up with a shout, reaching for the weapon he no longer carried, sweat poured down his face. It took a minute of panic for him to realise where he was. He wasn't a prisoner, he was in the States in bed with a very desirable woman.

"Heath?" Kassia's soft voice helped ground him even more.

He stared at her as she sat up beside him in the early afternoon light. "Yeah?" Damn it now his voice was even harder than he intended it to be.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Everyone said he should. Go to shrinks and get shrunk so he could put it past him. Move on. He hadn't gone. The Army couldn't make him go anymore. Slanting his gaze to the woman at his side, he blew out a much needed breath. She watched him with gentle eyes. There was no pressure in her expression and—thankfully—no pity. He didn't know if he could handle that from her.

"We were sent in on a rescue mission to...somewhere in the Middle East."

Some habits were hard to break and he wasn't allowed to tell what he'd done or where he'd done it. Despite feeling tossed aside by the military he would never break that. He still had his honour. Heath lay back down and drew her close to him. Kassia came willingly, her warm body draping over him as she snuggled near, one leg over his right one as she rested against his chest.

"We'd reached them and were in the process of getting out when the attack came." His heart began thundering in his chest beneath Kassia's palm. She didn't say anything just waited for him to continue. "They came in droves over the hills, firing at us, trying to kill all of us. Most of them young boys but what they lacked in experience they made up for in sheer number."

Sweat appeared on his brow as the memory of that day assuaged him. Even now he could smell the smoke, dirt and blood as it had been that very moment in time. So thick one could almost taste it. The metallic scent of life as it leeched into the dry ground only to be sucked down swiftly. Tingeing that as well came the scent of ammonia as many of the young children pissed themselves in fear. Hell, some older men as well."

His hand dug into the blankets as he tried to slow his breathing. Kassia's hand smoothed over his chest but she still didn't speak.

"I took two in the leg and couldn't run anymore. So I fought from a stationary position. We were just about ready to leave, all the packages had been loaded. A teammate," Lord help him he could still see Seamus' clear green eyes and red hair, "a teammate headed towards me to help me back, despite me telling him I was fine." He shuddered, bile rising in his throat. "I watched him get blown to pieces right beside me, his blood covered me as the force of the grenade threw me back."

His stomach churned and he fought the urge to throw up. Kassia had fallen still but he knew she listened attentively. Forcing his fingers to relax from where they clenched the blankets, he took a deep breath.

"Don't remember much after that until I woke up as a prisoner. They moved me to another place, North Africa somewhere and took great pleasure in shock treatment, water boarding, beating and a whole slew of other things you really don't wish to know about."

"Then they rescued you."

A short bark of laughter escaped. "Right." He hadn't thought there was anything left to rescue. His mind and body had been a mess, hell, he still was. Didn't stop them for drumming his ass out swiftly however.

"That was Seamus? The one you saw die right beside you?" She'd pushed up and stared down at him while asking that question.

That familiar anger surged through him at someone else using his name. Swallowing it back, he nodded. "Yes. My best friend. We joined up together, hell, we were in grade school together."

Kassia sat up beside him, her hair falling forwards over her shoulder, hiding her breasts from him. She crossed her legs and tucked the blanket around her. "you feel guilty because you survived and he didn't."

It wasn't a question and he didn't pretend it was, merely nodded.

"You have nothing to feel guilty for, Heath. Don't diminish his sacrifice because of your guilt. Remember him how he was, that's the best way for you honour his memory. You say he was your best friend, I don't think he would want you to blame yourself for his death. In fact I'm sure of it."

"Easier said than done," he replied.

"Losing someone you care for is never supposed to be easy. If you could just move on then what would that say about you as his friend?"

She bent down and kissed him. Pressed her tongue deep into his mouth and poured her goodness into him. He allowed her to set the pace and give what she would. When it ended his cock had risen beneath the blankets.

"I don't know how to let it go. I'm angry at the world."

"I'm not a shrink so I don't know what to tell you. I've also never been in that situation but I would guess..." she paused, "...I guess if it were me, I would like to think I'd find a group of people who'd been through what I had. Talk to them. Hear how they've gone and are working towards recovery."

"You don't think I need to see a head doc?"

Kassia lay back beside him, curling her warm soft body against him again. He held her close.

"Not unless you feel you do. I find it hard to believe they can talk anyone through anything. There's not any way they've experienced it all and sometimes it's not clinical how you need help. You need to hear from someone who's gone through it. I could be wrong, but that's me."

"Seamus would have liked you."

"What was he like?"

Heath hadn't spoken about his friend since he died. Hell, he hadn't allowed himself to drift back down memory lane on how things once were with the two of them. Even with Seamus' parents he'd kept them at arm's length. But here and now, with Kassia, he found himself ready to talk again. Honour his friend's memory and keep the good alive.

"Seamus was a prankster. He loved fuckin' with people just to see if he coudl get a rise out of them." He brushed his lips along her forehead. "He was the kind of man who would saran wrap a toilet seat, just because. And he'd do it in the general's office, for no other reason than seeing if he could get away with it. He lived for his jokes."

He talked about Seamus until they got to horny to ignore the lust coursing through them. Heath watched Kassia as she rode his cock, the blissful expression on her face enough to keep him hard. He didn't know how she did it but this woman made him think and feel things he'd never believed possible for him to do. As he came deep inside her body, he was hit with another emotion. Love.

Rolling her to the side, he held her tight as they drifted off to sleep. Love and thoughts of it's meaning floated through his mind. Had he fallen in love with a woman he'd only known for three days?

Chapter Four

Kassia stirred and stretched. Damn I'm sore. Opening her eyes, she looked at the time and groaned. Seven at night, at least there was a light on in the room. Heath must have awoken briefly before she did. Rubbing her eyes, she turned her head to look behind her on the bed and couldn't stop the satisfied smile from gracing her face. Heath lay there sleeping. One arm up over his head and the other down by his side, she could see the stubble on his face, her body trembled as the memory of how it felt on her skin filled her.

Is it strange I feel so comfortable with a man I hardly know?

It truly wasn't for while they'd not known each other long, they did know one another. And with the stuff he'd shared with her before they fell asleep this last time, she could say that with even more certainty.

With one last lingering glance at the slumbering man, she tossed back the blankets and climbed naked out of bed. She was just about to the door when a sleepy yet still sexual-infused voice reached her.

"Where do you think you're sneaking off to, sweets?"

Sweets. Who would have guessed that single word could make me giddy like a schoolgirl? Ignoring her immediate thought to cover up her nudity, Kassia turned back to the man who lay on his side, head propped up on one arm as he watched her intently with those slate coloured eyes.

"It's seven and I'm hungry," she explained with an easy shrug. "And I want some clothes."

His eyes raked up and down her form. "Look just fine to me." He sat up in bed, his powerful chest drawing her attention, even without the bruises she would be hard-pressed not to stare at him. "But if you want a shirt, there's some in my bag right there and they're clean."

The idea of wearing his clothes appealed to her and so she moved to the bag and pulled out a red shirt. Slipping it over her head she found him watching her once her head cleared the top. "And you?" she asked.

"I'm good over here." As she stared he got out of bed and pulled on his boxers followed by a pair of warm-up pants that said Army up one leg.

As he moved toward her she noticed his limp. "Are you okay?"

His smile was more of a grimace. "I'll be fine."

Kassia walked toward him without the slightest hesitation. She knew it was from sleeping and not moving. He tended to get stiff. Wrapping her arms around his bared torso she pressed feathery kisses along the warm skin. "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help."

"Sweets," he murmured in her ear as his arms circled her, "you've already taken my mind off the pain." His lips brushed across her forehead.

The heat raced up her face making her grateful it was hidden from his gaze. "Are you hungry?" Why do I feel the urge to take care of him and not just for now, but forever? "I can make something real quick."

"What say we order in?"

Almost like a real couple. Drawing back so she could look him in the eyes she asked, "And do what in the meantime?"

He winked and dropped his large, strong hands to settle on her ass, pulling up the shirt she wore so he touched bare skin. "I'm sure we can think of something."

Tugging his head down for a kiss she whispered, "I'm sure we can."

Two hours later, Kassia sat across from Heath at the table. Dinner sat on plates before them but her attention was on the handsome man instead of the food.

"So after they let me go, I figured I could use a little R&R away from any place where people knew who I was and wanted details on what I'd gone through. Balt gave me an open invite to crash at his place, so I took him up on it." He took a drink of his Red Dog and shook his head as it went down his throat. "Don't know how he can drink this."

Kassia smiled as she spun her bottle of Samuel Adams Winter Lager in her fingers. Not her favourite drink, but one she did enjoy occasionally. "Everyone likes their own thing. Why aren't you spending time with family? This being the time of year it is n' all."

His eyes turned colder than the snow, which still fell heavily out the big window. He finished the drink and applied pressure to the can. His bicep flexed and the material crumpled beneath the strength of his hand like a car in a crusher. A shiver ran up her spine but Kassia refused to show him fear. Damn he can really be intimidating.

"I'm not welcome there anymore."

What? Let it go, Kassia, let it go. But she couldn't. "What? Why the hell wouldn't they want to see their son?" She was immediately furious on his behalf.

If the chill his gaze had taken on before scared her, the blank look it had now did so even more. One naked shoulder lifted in a terse motion. "I'm not their son, not anymore. All I am is a failure in their eyes. A disgrace."

His tone was devoid of emotion and Kassia wanted to go to him and hold him against her. But it made sense out of their first meeting when he'd gone chilly and told her he knew what he was and there was no need for her to say it. So instead of getting up and going to him, she placed the bottle to her lips and allowed the rich full-bodied flavour to slide down her throat. Licking her lips, Kassia held his gaze.

"I find that hard to believe," she said softly.

"Well, believe it or don't but it's the truth." He looked down, picked up his fork and toyed with the noodles on his plate. Heath sighed and to Kassia it sounded almost ripped up from his soul. "Ever since I joined the Army at eighteen it's been like that. I have a younger brother who can do no wrong in their eyes, so they're happy." A shrug, not as harsh as before happened. "So I'm used to spending holidays alone. Not like we were home much anyway."

What did one say to that? What was there to say without sounding like you felt pity for them? "I see," she commented. "Well, I plan on having a tree up in here so I hope it doesn't bother you."

He sent her a disarming grin. "I look forward to spending Christmas with you, Kassia Green. Now tell me why you are here instead of with your family?" he questioned, turning the tables on her.

She sighed and took another drink of beer. Heath arched a brow before he got up and headed to the fridge. This time however, he had a bottle of Coke in his hand. Kassia couldn't take her eyes off the way he turned opening a soft drink into something seductive. Her lips twitched as one pec flexed and she looked up to find his amused gaze waiting.

"Stop stalling. I answered your question."

Nodding, she laced her fingers together on the tabletop after pushing her plate to the side. "Why I'm not spending the holiday with my family. Let's see. My parents like to travel and spend their holidays in other countries. This year I believe they're in Rio." She waved a hand in the air. "Or something like that. Hard to keep track of where they go each year. Hell, I'm never even sure they actually go where they tell us, you know, in case we plan on doing something insane, like say, joining them."

"So no big get-togethers for the Green clan?"

She could hear the sadness in her own laughter. "No, not since I was fifteen, when they believed we were all old enough. Although sometimes I'll spend it with The Three Wise Men. Which means they're in Texas and need a place to crash. Or they want to hang out on the beach and come to my house so they don't have to pay for a hotel."

"So you have siblings?"

Did she have siblings? Many people wondered that. Heck, sometimes she did as well. She nodded. "Technically yes I do. One sister and one brother, both are older."

That sexy eyebrow arched again and he paused with the Coke partway to his mouth. "Technically? Please explain to me how you can 'technically' have siblings. I mean, either you do or you don't, right?"

"I mean, I know I have them but we're so busy with our own lives we never seem to have time for one another. Don't really talk to them much either. They're a bit older than I am so they get along better with one another than they do me. I was a surprise, they didn't really want me. My sister, Janae, is a trauma surgeon in Washington DC and my brother, Issac, is an attorney for a research and development company in Miami. Neither married and as far as I know, neither have children."

"Research and development?" He shook his head as if amused. "That's code if I've ever heard it."

Kassia just smiled. She had often wondered herself about what her brother truly did. Never had the guts to ask him however.

Heath leaned forward in the chair and placed his forearms on the smooth wood. "And what about you, Kassia? What is it that you do?"

"I'm a pharmaceutical rep."

His gaze skimmed her as if trying to see her doing that. "Do you like it?"

"Yes. I really enjoy it. All the travelling, the people I get to meet it's a great job." She got up from the table and headed to the counter to grab the chocolate crème pie that sat there. As she moved back past him he reached out, grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto his lap.

Before she could say a word, he dipped a finger in through the whipped cream and decadent chocolate filling and brought it to her lips. "Open for me sweets," he ordered in a low voice.

Kassia opened her mouth and drew his finger into her mouth, swiping off the dessert before sucking hard on his lone digit. His eyes grew stormy and he shifted on the chair. Releasing his finger, Kassia leaned in and placed her lips on his, thrusting her tongue deep into his mouth.

"Tastes better from your lips," he murmured before he ended the kiss.

"I was thinking the same thing," she responded in the same low tone. Kassia could feel her body responding to him and whimpered as she rocked against his hard thigh.

"We should do something about this bit of information." His hand slid up under the shirt she wore and trailed across her tight nipples eliciting a gasp from her. "I think we should see where else this pie tastes good."

Kassia shivered at the implication. "Yes." When he pinched one her breath hitched before she recovered. "Now."

Heath drew her head back to his for another kiss. When they broke apart he smiled at her, a smile that made the clenching in her stomach increase. "I like the way you think."

Heath stood in the doorway of the laundry room, staring at the phone in his hand. After his talk with Kassia last night, he had this urge to call his brother and Seamus' parents. He couldn't quite call Mr and Mrs O'Leary.

Peeking over his shoulder he sighed when he didn't see Kassia. Perhaps she hadn't returned yet, she'd gone down to the corner store to grab a few things she claimed were must haves. Suck it up, Rebel. It's a phone call. Just place the damn thing and get it over with.

So he did. While it rang, he walked back to the bedroom, grateful the pain in his leg was fading. It still hurt like a bitch and he would always limp but it wasn't the kind that made him want to curl up in a ball and drink until he forgot his own name. At least he had learned to be much more mobile.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end startled him, he'd been so lost in thought about his leg. Clearing his throat, Heath said, "Hi Rick."

"Heath?"

"Yeah. Look, sorry to bother you—"

"Oh my god, you're not bothering me, I've been trying to reach you ever since word got out you had been released and were coming home. We thought you'd be coming here but you never showed."

"Why would I come there?"

"Because you should be around family while you're recovering."

That was his brother, idealistic. Biting back his caustic remark, Heath searched for the right words. "I'm not coming back there. It's no longer my home. Look, I didn't call to hash this out, I just wanted...wanted to tell you Merry Christmas."

"It's so good to hear your voice, Heath. Hang on, I know mom would love to talk to you."

"Sorry, man. I have to go. Take care."

"No, wait, Heath."

It didn't matter, he ended the call on his brother's plea. "fuck!" He tossed his phone to the side and scrubbed his hand over his face. Perhaps that hadn't been such a good idea after all. What the hell had he hoped to accomplish anyway? Mend fences. Get welcomed back home with open arms?

"You know your phone is ringing, right?"

Kassia's voice had him looking up into her concerned face. Just being in her presence soothed him.

"Yeah, I know."

"Okay. I'll be in the kitchen putting away groceries." She gave him a small smile and backed out of the room. She wore tight jeans and a sweater which hit her knees, green and white. Her hair she'd piled on top of her head, securing it there with a Christmas bow. Woman looked absolutely adorable.

She popped her head back in. "Answer your phone."

* * *

Heath walked down the street, not really paying attention to anything but the call he'd made to his brother. He still hadn't answered any of the continually incoming calls. As he waited for a light to change in his favour, his cell rang again.

"Hello?" He didn't take his eyes off the light, needing the full time to make it across.

"You didn't pick up again, I thought...well, I thought you didn't want to talk to me anymore."

"What do you want, Rick?"

"I'd like to see you. So would mom and dad," he added in a rush.

The light changed and he began his way across. "Not hardly. Don't bother lying for them, kid. It's not very becoming. I'm well aware they want nothing to do with me."

"It's not true, Heath. They want to see you. They just didn't know how to approach you after, well, everything that happened."

He sidestepped a woman pushing a stroller, frowning when he immediately wondered if it truly was a child in there or something much more sinister. Shaking his head, he focused a bit more on the conversation he was supposed to be having.

"Whatever you say, man." He didn't have it in him to fight this battle anymore. He just didn't.

The wind picked up and swirled around him. "When can I see you?" Rick insisted.

"I don't know. When do you have some time." He thought a moment. "It would have to be after Christmas."

"where are you?"

"In Mass staying with some friends."

"Over Christmas? You're with friends instead of family?" Rick couldn't even begin to hide his surprise.

"They're all I've had since I was eighteen, kid. I didn't get the holidays like you did. But this works for me. Anyway, I can't leave until after the New Year." Not true but he wanted to spend as much time as he could with Kassia. "I could meet you somewhere the second weekend in January."

"Will you come home?"

He shook his head, stomping the snow off his boots before he entered the house. "Nope. I'll meet you in town though." His stomach churned at the mere thought of returning to his hometown. Buck up, solider. Oh, that's right, he wasn't one of those anymore.

"The diner on main, Jack's." A slight pause. "Can you be there around eleven?"

Eleven on a Saturday. Christ, everyone and their mother would be there. "Sure thing."

"Can't wait to see you, brother. And Heath?"

"Yeah, kid?"

"Merry Christmas."

"Yeah, same to you." He ended the call and shook the snow out of his hair uncertain of the emotions running through him.

Kassia squealed and hugged Heath as she stood before the eight-foot Colorado Blue Spruce tree in Balt's open living room. "Thank you," she said kissing him. "It's beautiful."

Heath may not have fully understood her desire for wanting a tree but the way her face lit up made the pain in his side and leg from carrying it totally worth it. With an easy smile he stared down at her as she clasped her hands before her and captured her lower lip in her teeth.

"I'm glad you like it." He placed an arm around her shoulders and nuzzled her hair for a moment. "I didn't know what he had in the way of ornaments here, so some will be delivered later on today with some lights." In truth, he'd gone crazy at the store, buying up anything he thought she may want to put up in the place or on the tree.

"I don't know what to say, this is more than I could have hoped for."

Kassia snuggled up against his side and the gentle scent of her shampoo filled his senses. Who knew he had a thing for a light spicy scent? Then again, and more likely the truth, he had a thing for the woman beside him. She could wear any scent or none at all and it would be perfect for him.

For a moment, Heath allowed himself to picture this scene in a house of their own. Maybe a child or two running around and perhaps even her belly swollen with one. His heart clenched with longing, startling him into nearly gasping aloud. Brushing his lips across her temple, he tried to regain control of his mind's direction. Standing there with Kassia made his past life even less desirable. He wanted to stay with her. He wanted her. No other woman had affected him to even entertain the idea.

She squeezed him one more time before slipping out of his embrace and heading to the kitchen. Heath followed and saw his pills and a glass of water on the counter.

"You forgot to take them today," she said over her shoulder as she slid a silicone sheet filled with cookie dough drops into the oven.

Scooping the pill bottle into his hand, he opened it and took out the three white discs. "Yes honey," he retorted even as a smile filled his features. He didn't want to take them but he knew he still had to. The pain would be debilitating if he didn't. Tossing in the medication, he swallowed it down with the water. He'd done a lot on that leg today, it would make him pay for it later. Not that it mattered to him. Her smile was worth it all.

He went to take a shower, trying to ease up the soreness he knew was on it's way. After he had finished and dressed he went back to find her still in the kitchen, cooking. Succulent scents wafted up from the numerous sheets around the countertops.

"Looking to feed an army?" he asked, teasingly.

Closing the door of the stainless steel range, Kassia looked back at him and stuck her tongue out at him. The doorbell rang stopping anything she may have been about to say. He watched her wipe her hands on the towel over her shoulder and head for the front door. His gaze stayed on the seductive sway of her hips in her pinkish-gray semi-fitted flare pants. When her gasp of surprise reached him, he followed the path she'd just taken.

It was his items from the store. Positioning himself behind Kassia, they stood in silence as bag after bag was walked in through the door. Snaking his arm around her waist he pulled her back against his chest, leaning down to kiss the tip of her ear when she sank into him.

"Thank you," she whispered as the door closed behind the delivery crew, "but, this...this is too much."

"No, you deserve all of this and more." He turned her so they were facing one another. "I want to give you a Christmas you'll never forget. Please let me do this for you." Heath held his breath as she stared at him.

"Why?" There was no coyness in her tone, no suspicion as if thinking it were a payment for sleeping with him. Nothing but honest-to-goodness curiosity.

He trailed a hand up her arm, feeling the floral graphic that ran the length of her long sleeve, until he reached her shoulder. "I want to keep the sparkle I see in your eyes and on your face when you speak about the holiday, even though you try to keep it hidden." With his other hand he cupped her cheek and stroked her lower lip.

The smile that filled her expression reached depths of his heart he hadn't been sure he even had anymore. And he understood in that moment why some men got out of doing the type of work he'd been doing before his injury. Shaking his head at them when they talked about how a certain woman made them feel now made him want to apologize. Not that it mattered now, he was out, but he could at least see it from their point of view now.

"I'm gonna go see what you got me," she said cheerfully, placing a light peck on his lips before heading toward the living room, almost skipping.

Heath remained by the door for a moment, leaning against it and trying desperately to control the goofy grin threatening to spread across his face. The place smelled like cookies, other sweets and pine. He loved it. They spent the remainder of the day decorating and after dinner was done, she disappeared.

Entering the living room, he found Kassia seated cross-legged looking cleaning up the extra boxes of ornaments. "Everything pass muster?"

"Yes," she said as she got up on her knees and looked into a box on her left.

Seeing the tight fabric hugging her curves sent his body into overdrive. He adjusted himself before he managed to drag his eyes up off her ass and into the box she pulled things out of. His breath caught when she turned her head and glanced at him from through the strands of her silky hair. Her gaze dragged up his body and back down to stop on his crotch. Passion flared and she shoved the box out of her way before crawling on her hands and knees to stop before him.

Heath swallowed as she sat back on her heels and reached up to the button on his Wranglers. The blinking holiday lights added a gentle look to the woman before him. The soft Christmas music created a private world where just the two of them existed. A low hiss escaped him as her soft hand circled his cock and removed it from his pants.

Up and down his length she stroked, not rushing, just exploring. Her second hand joined the first and he spread his legs a little further apart. His hands clenched at his sides as her heated breath travelled along his hardness only to be followed by warm moisture as she placed her mouth over the head of his erection.

"Kassia," he groaned, even as his hips flexed forward as if by some unseen force. His eyes rolled back as her mouth easily accepted him. Her tongue swirled around the top before stroking down the underside and back up again. Up and down his shaft she bobbed her head, the pressure increasing steadily but backing off before he could find his release. Her hands only adding to his pleasure.

Holy shit! Tingling began in his lower back and spread throughout his body. When he felt his balls began to tighten, he allowed his hands to entangle in her hair. Thrusting in and out of her mouth, he looked down. Her eyes the shade of silken cinnamon waited for him, they smouldered with emotions as her luscious lips kept the perfect pressure applied to his cock. There were no words to explain how it looked to see his pale length slipping between her dark lips.

"Kassia," he shoved out through clenched teeth.

"Hmmm?" she vibrated her question along his penis rocketing more electricity through him.

"I'm almost there, sweets."

Her mouth curled up at a corner and she increased the heaviness of her touch on him, one hand slipped between his legs and teased his balls. Fingers tightening around him, she fisted him in time with her mouth and Heath couldn't take it anymore.

Gripping her hair, Heath powered into her in an almost animalistic way, but from the gleam in her eyes she didn't seem to mind.

"Fuck!" he shouted when he felt her teeth graze him lightly. Two more thrusts and he unloaded in the back of her mouth. Her lips clamped down around him as her hand stroked the rest of him until there was nothing left in him. She released him slowly placing a kiss on the sensitive head of his cock before carefully putting him back inside his pants and closing them up.

Kassia looked up at him and ran her tongue around her mouth before pushing to her feet. She slid her arms around him and rubbed seductively against him. "Thank you for today," she purred. Then she slipped away before he could say anything.

The feeling that had enveloped him because of her actions left as her words sank in. Was that why she did what she did? As like a payment? He frowned at the thought. No I can't think like that. Perhaps he shouldn't but damn the little devil on his shoulder. He did.

Heath headed for the kitchen and stopped in the doorway, Kassia leaned over the counter and was frosting cooled cookies. She hummed along with the song that played and her body swayed in time with it.

"Hey," she said looking up at him with a wink. "Wanna cookie?"

He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "I'd love one," he murmured as he nibbled along her neck.

"Then take one, I'm not a cookie," she remarked playfully.

"But you taste wonderful." He kissed her again, her sultry laugh making him smile even as he held her closer.

"I talked to my brother," he admitted, reaching for a frosted snowman.

"And?" She looked up at him, true desire to know what happened in her gaze.

"I'm going to meet him in January."

"Good for you, Heath."

"Come with me?"

"Does he live down the street from here?"

"Well, no. They live in South Carolina."

"Sorry, I'm only here until Balt gets back from his vacation of whoring his way through the Caribbean. Then my ass is hoping on a plane and assuming they can actually take off, after using a truck full of de-icer on the wings, I'm getting back to Texas where I can be warm. Walk from my house down to the Gulf. Lay on the sand and thaw out from being up here, wear a bikini without wondering what the hell is going to freeze off."

"Are you saying I'm not keeping you warm enough?" He pressed her against the counter.

"No," she gasped. "You keep me plenty warm, Heath. Plenty. But we don't spend all day in bed."

"Not for lack of trying," he admitted. "You were the one who wanted to get up and bake today."

She laughed. "So I was. You need to go home Heath and visit your family. It'll be good for you."

He doubted it, but didn't really care. What was important to him: Christmas was two days away. Heath didn't want to think about life without her beside him. So all he had to do was figure out a way to keep her in his life.
Chapter Five

Kassia took a drink of her hot cocoa. Christmas Eve's eve. This past week with Heath had been nothing short of magical. Wonderful days of playing house. A time she wouldn't ever forget. Sighing heavily, she tucked her feet under her where she sat in the microfiber chair and placed the hot mug on the coaster. The snow still fell like mad outside and she stared at the flakes allowing them to lull her into a trance of sorts.

Okay, so this cold weather hadn't been such a bad experience for her. Her opinion of course had been swayed by the presence of one Heath Dixon. She'd actually even gone to the park and made snow angels with him, had a snowball fight with him and some other children, and had just learned to enjoy colder weather. Granted, she wouldn't be moving to a state with this type of weather but she could at least say she had some fond memories of being in snow.

Oh yeah, definitely some fond ones. She didn't even fight off the satisfied smile which lifted the corners of her mouth as she recalled the amazing way she'd been woken this morning. His head beneath the covers and between her legs. Not a bad way to start a day, if she were to make an opinion on it.

Her cousin's house phone rang, startling her out of the mesmerized state she had fallen into. Glancing at the phone, she merely waited for whomever to leave their message. Balt could—and usually did—call in and get his messages. Wasn't anything she had to worry about. Staring back out the window, Kassia listened to Balt's soothing voice before the beep.

"Heath!" a feminine screech exploded out of the black box. "Heath Dixon, I know you're there, pick up the damn phone." A short pause before the voice began again, softer this time, almost cajoling in its tone. "I'm supposed to be your wife, Heath..."

The woman continued but Kassia didn't make sense of it. Wife. Her stomach rolled and heaved at the implication that one word held. She never had any desire to be "the other woman" and it made her sick to think she may have just crossed that line.

Putting her cup down on the table, she lowered her head between her legs and struggled to regain control of her breathing and the nausea which coursed through her. Palms were damp and the tingle in her jaw told her she'd not mastered all the control yet. She would hurl at the slightest thing right now. She took several deep breaths until she lost the urge to paint her cousin's floor.

"Kassia?" Heath's deep voice filled the room and despite what she currently felt about the words on the machine, his timbre created an intense longing within her. Damn her weak body. "You here?"

Her lip curled as she unfurled herself from the chair. She walked into the kitchen, rage increasing with each step she took and placed her unfinished mug of cocoa on the granite counter. When she looked up, he was in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb, coming off as sexy as all get-out. His face was flushed from the cold and the blue-gray of his button-down made her mouth water.

Squaring her shoulders she met his gaze. "What do you need?"

His brows furrowed briefly before he moved toward her and leaned down to kiss her. Kassia sidestepped the action at the last second. Confusion was apparent on his face when he pulled away and searched for and held her gaze.

"Kassia? What's wrong?"

The desire to let him hold her nearly took her to her knees. With a deep breath, she pointed toward the living room. "You have a message." She'd no idea it would take so much out of her to not scream and yell at him. Grinding her teeth together, she forced herself to swallow the tirade begging to be released. No, demanding.

His gaze became shuttered as he looked at her harder. Suspicion warred in his eyes. "I have a message? Here?"

"Yes." Kassia picked up the dishrag and replaced it over the divider of the sink.

"Who the fuck would call me here? The only ones who know where I am are you and Balt. No one tried my cell."

As if she would feel sorry for him. Her fingers itched to slap him across the face but she refrained. Barely. She'd never gotten emotional to that extent over a man and she wasn't about to start now. She sniffed and wiped her hands down her pant legs. "Apparently, your wife wanted to get in touch with you." Spinning on her heels, she headed to the other end of the open kitchen, needing to get some distance from him.

"My what?" he hollered behind her. "Damn it, Kassia, wait a second." She didn't stop until his strong hold jerked her back toward him.

"Your wife!" she hissed trying to get her grip free. He refused to grant her that.

"I. Don't. Have. A. Wife." His words were forced from behind clenched teeth.

Kassia tugged again. "According to the message you do. Will you let go of me?" Who knew her voice could be so cold and modulated. She'd never known. Now she did.

Instead he drew her in closer, her struggles futile against his superior strength. She knew if he didn't wish to release her, she wasn't getting away. "No. Kassia, I swear to you, I'm not married. Never have been. Haven't even been engaged."

His fingers cupped her chin demanding she not look away. She hated that she wanted to snuggle into his touch. "Well, someone didn't tell her." Damn it, why does my heart tell me to believe him?

"Come with me," he said as he pulled her behind him into the living room.

Kassia balked. The one thing she didn't want to hear was this woman calling herself his wife. "I've heard it, I don't need to hear it again." She yanked on her arm. "Let me go!"

"No! No Kassia. I won't. I can't." The words sounded dragged from the depths of his soul. His lips landed on hers and demanded her submission. A sob rose up from her throat as she gave it to him. As fast as he kissed her, he backed off as well. "You're not going anywhere until I can get this straightened out."

He pressed play and skipped ahead to the last message. Kassia tried to tune out the voice but it was impossible. She could picture her. Cute, perfect, the All-American girl next door look. The message hadn't even finished when Heath erased it. Obviously he knew the woman. She didn't have a problem with him erasing it, she certainly had no desire to hear it a third time.

"Listen to me, Kassia, this is Jen Caprice. For a long time she's had her eyes on me and wants to be my wife, so much so that's what she calls herself. She believes we're meant for one another. She knows Balt and probably called him when she couldn't get in touch with me. When I got back, I got a new cell and she wasn't one given the number. I didn't want her to have it. I hadn't any reason for her to have it. She was part of a life I'd left behind."

His fingers stroked her cheek but there was still strain on his face. Surely the explanation couldn't be that easy. Could it?

"She still calls herself that. Even after all these years? Why? She must think something is there, or will be once she finds you."

"I don't give a damn what she believes. Never have. Jen wants to be my wife. She did when we were in high school and when I joined the Army she wanted to be the wife of a soldier. If that was what I wanted I would have married her. I never wanted to. Never did marry her. I've never wanted to be married before." Heath brushed their lips together. "There is only one woman in my life that has allowed that notion to be entertained."

Staring up at him, Kassia asked needing to hear the words again, "You're not married?"

His entire visage softened. "Not yet," he said before he kissed her thoroughly.

She backed away ignoring the look of pain in his expression. "I need to be by myself for a while."

Before he could dispute her decision, she ducked under his arm and ran to the door, swiping her coat on her way out it. Bundling up as she hastened down the stairs, she trudged through deep snow, snow which the ploughs had a hard time keeping up with, and made her way up the street and over to the park.

She paused by a tree surrounding the lake, using it's trunk to support her weight. The snow and wind swirled around her, however, right this second, she didn't feel any of the cold. All she could think of was the call and that voice.

Pulling her cell out of her pocket, she dialled up her cousin, Balt. It went to his voicemail and she didn't even leave a message, just hung up and dialled again.

"What, JoJo? Do you have any idea what time it is here?"

"An hour ahead of me. Tell the bimbo you'll fuck her later."

"Wow, what's got your goat? You aren't usually so cranky." She heard the rustle of bed coverings and rolled her eyes. Her cousin had no shame. "How are things with you and Heath?"

"Did you give some woman named Jen your number to call him?"

"Yes? She said they'd been childhood friends, I figured he could use as many as he could get. Wasn't going to give his cell out though. I can block her number. Why?"

"She called claiming to be his wife."

Silence met her statement. "No, that's not right, he's not married."

"Are you sure, Balt? How do you know for sure? It's been a while since you've seen him. How do you know he didn't marry someone?"

"Because I know Heath. He's never wanted to marry, I'm sure some of that has changed since...well, that whole thing. But I am as positive as I am you're my cousin that he's not married."

Words she had been hoping for so why didn't she feel any better? That large knot in her stomach still wouldn't leave her in peace.

"Have you gone and fallen in love with him, JoJo?"

It was like he stood right before her and could see her expression. She worried her lower lip and shifted her weight between her feet, mulling over her answer.

"Damn it, JoJo talk to me!"

"Don't yell at me Balt."

"I'll kill him, I'll fucking kill him. Rip off his goddamn arms and beat him to death with them."

"I thought you told me to give him a chance," she interrupted softly.

"A chance yes, a spot in your bed? Hell no. Hell fucking no!"

"At least you know more about him than the skank you're fuckin' down there," she snapped, displeased that suddenly Heath wasn't good enough.

"This ain't about me, JoJo. Just wait until the others hear about this."

"Really, Balt? You're going to tell Mel and Caspar about this? To what end? I'm not in diapers anymore. If I want to sleep with Heath, then goddamn it, I'll sleep with Heath."

"And do you?"

This time the question didn't come from her cousin. It came from behind and she slowly pivoted to find Heath standing there. She could see strain on his face and she figured he'd not taken his pills yet. And he was still on his feet, normally he had to get off his feet in the afternoon and rest his muscles.

"What are you doing here?"

"Is that bastard there? Put him on the phone this instant." Balt demanded.

She ended the call, lifted her chin and faced the man she had fallen in love with. Completely. Head over heels.

"Do you?" he asked in response to her question.

"Do I what?"

"Want to sleep with Heath?"

Shit, even now she could feel her body gravitating towards him, as if he were her drug of choice, and she, the addict. No, that was wrong. Drugs shouldn't be thought of when comparing what they had. It didn't matter. Good, bad, or otherwise, he was the one she wanted.

"Kassia?" he asked limping to stand before her.

His hands remained in his pockets and she wanted him to reach for her. "Does it matter?"

"Very much so."

How she longed to believe him. "Why are you here? I said I needed to be alone."

"You're mad, you left the house and I don't want you to run away without coming back. If you need to be alone, go. I'll follow from a distance but I'm not leaving you completely alone."

"You can't follow me around. What about your leg?"

He shrugged, never releasing her gaze. "I'll find a way."

Even now she could see the pain his eyes desperately tried to hide. "I'll go back to Balt's but I still want to be alone."

His nod was nigh undetectable but she got it. They walked in silence and she couldn't keep her attention from drifting back to him. Even injured he carried himself with such poise and an undercurrent of danger. Back at the house, he remained by her when she shrugged out of her jacket.

"Just one thing before I leave you alone, Kassia."

"What?"

"This."

He kissed her. Slanted his mouth over hers and told her everything in that one kiss no words could ever say. As he lifted her up into his arms, Kassia sank into him. Should I ask more questions? Should I be more suspicious? Or should I trust him. As he laid her back on the bed, she had her answer. Trust.

He stroked a hand down the side of her face and backed away out of the room, closing the door behind him. Giving her what she wanted. Alone time. Only, now, she wasn't so confident that's what she wanted anymore.

Heath shut his phone off. Balt had been calling him nonstop and Heath finally answered telling Kassia's cousin to mind his own damn business. He had the rest of today—which wasn't much and it was Christmas Eve—then Christmas before they went their own ways.

If that's what would happen. Lord knows he didn't want it to. He wanted that woman more than he wanted anything in his life.

He knew Kassia understood Jen wasn't his wife but she was still hurt and a bit leery. She tried to hide it, but he could see right through her attempts. Right now, she slept after they'd made love.

Sitting on the couch, he absently rubbed his sore thigh and blew out a breath. What was he going to do to keep her? She wasn't going to change her plans of leaving, he knew that much. And he had to be in South Carolina for that weekend in January.

"What the hell am I going to do?" Shaking his head, he sighed. "Wish you were around, Blarney, to give me some advice."

He rested his head against the top of the couch and sighed again. It was as if she were already pulling away from him. It broke his heart to think of spending even one day without knowing she was his to love, for the rest of their lives.

His eyes flew open and he got to his feet. One more thing he could try and the entire time he'd be praying it worked. He slipped on his coat and left the house, flagging down a taxi.

Darkness had fallen by the time he made it back. All the Christmas lights shone through the night. The sounds of the city had been muffled, covered by snow and more falling, it just took on another quality to it. He took his time going slowly up the steps. The tree he'd hauled in there, just to see the smile on her face could be seen from the window. She'd decorated it beautifully and it's lights and other decorations shone as well.

Inside, he got to work on fixing the meal. He was chopping veggies for the salad when she appeared from the room. He bit back a groan as she walked across the linoleum floor to the fridge. Rumpled. Well pleasured. Sexy as all get out. Three things she looked to him.

"Sleep well?" he asked.

"I did, thank you. I would have made dinner."

"Not a problem. You've done most of the cooking, keeping me fed. I don't mind. Why don't you go watch television or something. It'll be ready in about fifteen minutes."

She didn't leave. Instead she sidled up to him and placed a hand on his arm. Flexing his fingers around the knife handle, he glanced at her.

"How's your leg?"

Sore as all get out. "It's okay. I took my pills a bit ago and I'll get off it after supper."

"All right." She pushed up on her toes and kissed his cheek before leaving the room.

Nope, there was no way in hell he was letting her get away. During the meal, she remained more than a bit subdued.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, drinking some coffee.

"How nice it will be to get back to Texas."

Ouch. That hurt to hear. He merely nodded. "Are you leaving soon for work or do you have some time to recover from being up here?"

Her gaze flashed to him when he said 'recover' before she looked away. "I have until after the first of the year. Then I'm off and running again."

"So no plans when you get back?"

"Other than lying on the beach and soaking up some rays? Nope, can't say that I do. Why?"

"Just curious."

She seemed to shrink a bit. "Oh, okay."

Maybe she wasn't as ready to let him go as she had been trying to convince herself. He hid his hopeful smile behind his mug.

"What about you?"

"Me? Oh nothing until I head to South Carolina."

"You're staying up here until then?"

"Not sure yet, I think I'll wait for Balt to get back. He's made it clear he wants to talk to me."

Her eyes widened. "I'm sorry. I've told him what we did here was none of his business."

Protecting him. That had to be a good sign. "I'm not worried about your cousin. Balt's a lot of bluster but he knows if he hits me it's fair game and he won't want to get his face messed up."

She snorted. "That's true. He is really concerned about his looks."

That was putting it mildly. But Balt was still a good man despite his need to look in a mirror so often.

"I just don't want you to have to take the blame for our little..." she shrugged.

He leaned forward, arms resting on the table. "Our little what?"

She waved her hand around. "You know."

"No. What do you call it, Kassia? What would you call it if you were telling your friends? Were you slumming with the southern country boy who used to be a solider? Vacation fling? What?"

Her eyes grew wide. "Slumming? How can you think I'd say that? I don't think that at all."

He pushed back from the table and went to her side. "Then what, sweets. What am i?"

Lord she smelled so good, he wanted to lower his mouth to her neck and just take a bite. He could see the goose bumps all over her skin. He could count them with his tongue if he just leaned a bit closer.

"Crowding me."

"Yes I am. Answer me."

"Just...just a guy I had a thing with."

He tipped up her face. "Just a guy? A thing?"

Before she could say another word, he scooped her from the chair, ignored his screaming leg and carried her into the living room and lay her down on the floor near the tree. Sliding his hand into her hair, he angled her head where he wanted it and kissed her. Desperation nearly overwhelmed him as he struggled to go easy with her. He wanted to take her hard and fast, make sure she never forgot this "guys" name or the "thing" they had."

"Heath?" she said as he tore off her clothing.

"Just a guy and a thing he shared with you."

He kissed her again, cutting off her protest. Nothing else was spoken between them for the rest of the night.

They fucked and made love until well past midnight. It was Christmas when he finally carried her back to the bed and indulged in her once more before they fell asleep. He did all he could to show her he loved her with touches. But he hadn't trusted his voice not to say something stupid again.

Right before he fell asleep, he brushed his lips along her forehead and whispered, "I love you, Kassia Green. I love you."

Christmas Day

"Merry Christmas, sweets," a low tone whispered in her ear.

Kassia stirred and opened her eyes slowly. Heath stared down at her, head propped up on one hand. His gaze was warm and made her feel like the only woman in the world.

"Morning," she responded. "Merry Christmas to you as well."

After the phone call incident and he'd left her alone for a while coming to get her for dinner. The next day had been strained but by afternoon, he made love to her then when she woke later, he was out in the kitchen making her some dinner. Then they'd made love in the living room with the Christmas lights and the gas fire setting the room in a gentle glow. She smiled at the memory of the last night. Even though he'd not spoken once they made it in the living room, she could feel the love he had for her. Or so she'd convinced herself.

Then she sobered as it dawned on her, she was leaving tomorrow. She didn't want to fight with him anymore. He'd been cryptic in a sense at dinner, asking her the questions he did. Part of her wanted to invite him to her place for a few weeks. Extend the vacation, so to speak. She'd voiced her answer wrong when he asked what she'd consider her time with him but he'd thrown her so much with his slumming comment, she couldn't get her thoughts back together.

"What's wrong?" he asked as his fingers trailed along the bridge of her nose.

"Nothing." She stretched and smiled softly at his touch. "Ready for some breakfast? If you give me a few, I'll whip something up for us."

"It's ready," he said, leaning across her and grabbing a tray she hadn't previously noticed.

She slid up to rest against the padded headboard and touched Heath's face gently in thanks. He removed the cover exposing two eggs, toast, and a small bowl of fruit. On the side opposite the rolled up linen napkin sat a five inch plum box wrapped by a silver bow.

"What's that?" she questioned as she reached for it.

"Uh uh, sweets. Eat your breakfast first."

Kassia felt like pouting. "What about you?" she asked as he fed her the first bite of eggs.

"I'm sharing with you."

True to his word, he did eat part of her breakfast. Still, she tried to get him to allow her to have the box first and he continued to say no. But it didn't take long and the only remaining item was the box. Suddenly nervous she reached for it and shook it lightly. No sound. So she shook it again. And again.

"Are you going to shake the thing to death or open it?" He took it from her and held it out of her grasp.

Shooting him a mock glare she stuck her tongue out at him. "Don't rush me. It's my present and I reserve the right to open it at my own speed."

His warm husky chuckle rumbled in her ear and moved throughout her. Heath placed the box in her hands and removed the tray from the bed.

Kassia undid the bow and opened the box. A black velvet shelf sat about halfway down the inside and in the middle of that was a ring. A ring that took her breath away. 18 karat white gold band flowed elegantly into a sleek channel setting on either side of a sparkling diamond.

"Heath?" she queried on a gasp. "This...this...this..."

"Is an engagement ring," he murmured in her ear, his tone seductive and bone-melting.

"But...but...but..." Kassia was having a hard time with the simple act of breathing, much less making legible sentences.

"You're stuttering sweets. I know it's sudden but, Kassia, I can't imagine not having you in my life. I don't want to lose you after you leave here. There will be plenty of time to work out the specific details, just please accept the ring and tell me you'll be my wife."

Still in awe, Kassia didn't respond, instead she picked up the object holding her attention. Rotating it in her hand she stared at it, unbelieving, waiting for the dream to end.

"Kassia?"

"I didn't get you anything," she muttered watching as his thick fingers plucked the ring from her hand only to begin to slide it on her finger. It shone against her dark skin. A loving feeling filled her as the cool metal heated against her skin.

Heath took a finger and turned her gaze from the ring to his face. She noticed the shine his eyes had and smiled. "Yes you did, sweets. You've given me more than anything I could have ever hoped for. I'd forgotten what life was like until I woke up to your delightful scream. You are an amazing woman, Kassia, and I don't want to live without you."

"Yes, Heath." She launched into his arms. "Yes, I'll marry you." As soon as the words were out of her mouth she knew it was the right decision. The only decision.

"I love you, Kassia," he said.

"And I you, Heath." Who knew the best present she could ever have received would have been a man as a holiday surprise, and an unwrapped, naked one at that?

THE END

### Additional Books by Aliyah Burke:

### Megalodon Team

Kincade's Rose

Harrier's Healer

Connelly's Flame

Greeley's Spyce

Vittano's Willow

Dimitri's Moon

O'Shea's Love

Chayton's Tempest

### Haikon

A Love for Lera

### Denim & Spurs

With This Ring (coming Sept 2014)

### Serial

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 1

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 2

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 3

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 4

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 5

### Astral Guardians

Chasing the Storm

Highlands at Dawn

### Interludes

Temporary Home

Alone with You

### In Aeternum

Casanova in Training

Harbour of Refuge

Protected by Shadows

Polar Opposites

### Rakes & Rogues

What the Earl Desires

Her Reluctant Viscount

### Code of Honour

A Marriage of Convenience

The Lieutenant's Ex-Wife

A Man Like No Other

When Stars Collide

### Born to Fly

Landing in Love

You Save Me

Wild as the Wind

### Zulu Spectre

Hearth, Holly, & Honor (3 in 1)

### Standalone

Preconception

If You Dare

May You Always

Dutch & Lobo (in In the Trenches collection)

His Purrfect Mate

Under the Mask

That Fateful Ride

On the High Seas (in What White Boyz Desire collection)

The Detective's Lover

Just a Dream

Love Under the Endless African Sky

Add A Little Mistletoe

Something Tangible

Seducing Damian

Through the Fire

Sin is Not a Four Letter Word

Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped

### Boxset collaborations

Scandalous Heroes

### Co-written with Taige Crenshaw

Talios

Devi

Linc

Saffron

Taber

Ashia

### Co-written with McKenna Jeffries

All the Wright Moves

The Best Thing Yet

Risky Pleasures

Pure Harmony

Irresistible Forces

Seductions Dance

### About the Author:

Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here. She can also be found on Facebook **,** Twitter: @AliyahBurke96, or Pinterest.

She is married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.

I hope you enjoyed reading, _Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped_. If you could help others to find and enjoy this book as well, I would appreciate that act of kindness. You can do this by **recommending it** to your friends and/or reader's groups. Also by **reviewing it** to let others know you liked it—and why—on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ARe, and other places.

Thank you so much for your support!!

If you would care to be kept abreast of Aliyah Burke's news, release information and the occasional contest, please join her newsletter.

