Drake Sisters 02 - The Twilight Before Christmas

any more beautiful? “Hel , yes, I’m nervous. I don’t even know what a woman like you would be doing in the same house with a man like me.”
    “A woman like me?” She looked genuinely puzzled.
    Matt groaned. “Come on, Kate. Are you tel ing me you haven’t known I’ve been wild about you for years? I can’t even have a good time with another woman. I’ve tried dating numerous women. We have one date, and I know it isn’t going to work.”
    “You’re wild about me?” she echoed.
    He tossed the boxes on the couch and pul ed her into his arms. Hard. Possessive. Commanding Ranger style. “I can’t even think straight around you.”
    There was no way to think when his mouth took hers, hot and hungry and devouring her. Her body melted into his, her arms sliding around his neck, her fingers brushing the nape of his neck intimately, creeping into his hair while she met his ravenous hunger with her own.
    He couldn’t kiss her and not touch her soft, tempting skin. Without conscious thought, he slid his hand beneath her blouse to move up the soft expanse of skin. Just that slight contact brought him such deep pleasure it bordered on pain. He trembled, his hand actual y shaking as he brushed the pads of his fingers over her rib cage, and up to cup the soft weight of her breast in his palm. His body went into overdrive, his heart slamming in his chest and his jeans growing uncomfortably tight.
    “Aren’t you going to stop me, Kate? One of us should know what we’re doing.” He wanted to be fair with her. She was exhausted and obviously not thinking straight, arching into his hand, pushing closer, rubbing her body against his. Soft little moans came from her throat, driving him right over the edge. He found himself kissing her again and again, long hot kisses that pushed their temperatures even higher.
    Her lips smiled under the assault of his. “I know exactly what I’m doing, Matthew, you’re the one who’s unclear.” Her hands dropped to the buttons of her blouse.
    There was a strange roaring in his ears. He had waited years for this moment. Kate Drake in his home. In his arms. Kate’s body open to his exploration. It would take a lifetime to satisfy him. More than that. Much more. Her blouse fel open, exposing the creamy swel of her breasts. White lace cupped her skin lovingly.
    Matt stared down at her body, mesmerized by the sight of his large hand holding her, his thumb brushing her nipple through the white lace. For one moment, it occurred to him he was making the entire thing up. Kate Drake. His Christmas present. He bent his head to her breast, his mouth closing around soft flesh and lace. His tongue teased and danced over her nipple while his arms enfolded her closer.
    The pounding on the front door was abrupt, loud, and unexpected. Kate cried out, and he felt her heart beneath her skin jump with fear.

    Matt lifted his head, his gray eyes appearing silver as they smoldered with a mixture of anger and desire. “Don’t worry, Katie.” He pul ed the edges of her blouse together. Why couldn’t the world leave them alone for one damned hour? Was that too much to ask?
    Kate buttoned her blouse and tried to finger comb her hair. He caught her wrist and brought her hand to his mouth. “You look beautiful. Whoever it is can just go away.”
    She waited in the middle of his living room while he yanked the door open. The sheriff stood there, his fist poised for another assault. “Jonas, I’m beginning to think our friendship is going to suffer,” Matt greeted with a scowl.
    Jonas pushed right past him. “Come on out here and take a look at this.” His voice was grim. He stalked through the house to the ocean side, pushing open the double doors leading to the deck overlooking the sea. “What the hel is going on, Kate?”
    The fog whirled around the house as if alive. Dark and gray and gloomy, the mist was thick, almost oily. It crept up the wal s and swirled around the chimney. Jonas glared at the fog. “No one can drive anywhere. Car accidents are happening al over town. Your sister El e cal ed. She’s in the islands and yet she had the exact same dream as Jackson and the children. How could she have the same dream? She said to tel you the symbols meant something. When I asked her what they meant she said you would know.”
    Both men looked at Kate. She hesitated, trying to remember, but there was nothing that seemed to be of great significance. “There were symbols on the seal, but the