Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 18896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 94(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 94(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
He began an arousing exploration, mating his tongue with hers in a prelude she couldn’t misinterpret or mistake. And obviously she didn’t. Her head tipped back and she welcomed the onslaught of his roving tongue and hands. He pulled her forward, her breasts flush with his chest, her hips brushing his.
Such close contact with his elf had him aching for more and he sucked in a startled breath, inhaling deeply. The scent of pine assaulted his senses and reminded him of their surroundings and the possibility that despite the barrier of the Christmas tree, they might have an audience taking note.
With regret, he raised his head and took a safe step back from temptation. Eyes glazed with desire stared back, an engaging smile on her well-kissed lips.
“Mistletoe,” she said in a husky voice, pointing upward.
He glanced at the greenery and grinned. He wondered what other surprises this mystery lady had in store. “Whatever you say.”
She touched her lips with shaking fingertips. “I say you’re not him. You’re nothing like Stephan.”
Kind of her to point out something he’d been told hundreds of times before. But she’d spoken low, more to herself than to him, and not with the well-aimed need to hurt, the way the information had often been used against him in the past.
Her gaze darted from his worn basketball sneakers, up the length of his dark denim jeans, and focused on his face. “In the dim lighting and from a distance you kind of looked like him.” He saw as well as heard her searching for answers. “The same dark hair and piercing blue eyes, though yours are somewhat warmer.” A glimmer of passion infused her voice. “Similar dimple but yours is deeper.” She reached out with the same hesitant determination he’d sensed behind the kiss before she grazed the dimple in his cheek with her finger.
Her touch burned him straight to his soul.
“And when he works weekends, he… dresses… like… you.” She jerked her hand away from the same fire consuming him.
Max was surprised to learn Stephan ever veered away from conservative suits and ties. Maybe he and his twin had come from the same egg after all. Maybe they had more in common than either of them let on. And maybe they could be friends as well as brothers. The thought arose, not for the first time in ages, but it was the first time he considered acting on the impulse.
He had his elf to thank for revealing the surprising similarities and possibilities. His elf. Funny how proprietary he’d become in such a short span of time. But it wouldn’t be funny if she had any kind of relationship with his twin, and based on that hell of a kiss, the odds tipped against Max.
“Since it’s a party, and he’s the new head of this office, I should have realized,” she murmured. Scrutiny complete, she settled her stare on his New York Rangers jersey in an obvious attempt to avoid his gaze. Then she folded her arms across her lush chest, chewing on her bottom lip as the enormity of her mistake obviously set in.
He remembered the feel of those curves pressed intimately against him, recalled the sweetness of her mouth, and he struggled not to groan aloud. “Something against the Rangers?” he asked, seeking the more mundane.
She shook her head, her button nose crinkling in answer. “I don’t have time for basketball.”
“Hockey.”
“Whatever. But baseball’s another story. How ’bout those Yankees?” A twinkle sparkled in her glorious eyes.
Apparently, she’d been giving him a hard time and was probably as big a sports fanatic as he.
“Hard to believe any Corbin would wear a jersey to an office party, though.” Her brows rose in surprise.
On any other woman, the gesture would remind him of his judgmental federal court judge mother. But on her, the otherwise critical display indicated curiosity and interest, not disdain. “You’ve got that right. But I’m not a typical Corbin.” He felt the welcome tug of a smile.
She inclined her head, her silky blonde hair brushing her shoulders much the way he’d like it caressing his skin. “Tell me something I don’t already know.”
Once again, her trembling fingers touched her mouth, this time tracing the outline of her reddened lips before she caught herself and stepped around the tree, reaching for the first gift-wrapped package she could find. He allowed her escape for the moment, watching the sexy sway of her hips in retreat. And in that instant, her words immediately after that mind-blowing kiss came back to him. You’re not him. You’re nothing like Stephan.
She’d kissed him and had known instantly. And she wasn’t all that upset and she definitely wasn’t unaffected. The thought pleased him. Though Max could never compete with his twin as a Corbin son who’d chosen the corporate world, he’d obviously made headway with . . . his brother’s woman? His gut clenched at the thought.