Cougar Christmas Read online

  “Please?” Drew leaned down and placed a soft kiss over the pulse point in her neck, making her gasp. “Please, Gen, say yes.”

  “Yes,” she whispered and then, before she knew what was happening, he was pulling her into the bedroom and standing her at the edge of the bed.

  “I love this blouse,” he murmured as he unbuttoned it and slipped it off her. “I love the way it clings to your curves.”

  “Thank you,” she said, trying not to shiver as he tossed her blouse to one side, baring her breasts in the white lace bra. He was so tall standing right up next to her like this—even in her six inch heels he towered over her.

  “Beautiful,” he murmured staring for a long moment before he reached behind her to unzip her black skirt. He let it slide down her legs before turning his attention to her heels and then her pantyhose. “Your legs look so sexy in these,” he murmured as he knelt at her feet to pull them off. “But I have to admit I’ve wondered what you look like without them.”

  Genevieve tried to laugh. “Too pale and too soft—that’s how I look without them.”

  Drew looked up at her. “Your skin isn’t pale—it’s creamy. And as for too soft…” He traced a pattern on the top of her thigh with one finger. The small, intimate gesture sent helpless shivers through her. “There’s no such thing.”

  “Well I’m sure too soft isn’t going to be a problem with you,” Then she realized how the words sounded and felt her face get hot. “Uh, that didn’t exactly come out the right way. I just meant because you’re Mr. Muscles and all—”

  “I know what you meant,” Drew murmured, smiling. “Don’t worry, I’m not offended.”

  “Oh. Uh…good.” Genevieve took a deep breath, trying to master her nerves.

  Have to get through this, she told herself. Though by this she wasn’t sure if she was thinking of the embarrassing exercise they were about to do or the raging case of sexual tension that had cropped up between herself and Drew. Either way, though, it was time to get hold of herself.

  He was still kneeling at her feet so Genevieve reached down and tugged at his broad shoulders. “I feel funny being half naked while you’re still dressed,” she said, trying to make her voice stronger. “I, uh, I think it’s time to even the score.”

  “Be my guest.” He spread his hands and smiled. “I’m all yours.”

  “Good.” Trying to be businesslike about it, despite the fact that she was down to her underwear, Genevieve quickly unbuttoned his crisp white shirt and pulled it off him, baring his muscular chest. Drew helped her take it off and then dealt with his trousers himself, to her relief. Putting on a good show for Phillips notwithstanding, she didn’t think she was ready to start taking off her assistant’s pants just yet. Although apparently she was ready to straddle him half-naked in bed and touch him all over.

  Oh dear.

  When he was down to a pair of royal blue silk boxers she nodded at the bed.

  “I guess…guess you’d better lie down,” she said through lips that were suddenly too dry.

  “Guess so.”

  From the glint in his eye, Drew was thoroughly enjoying her discomfort.

  Genevieve wished he would crack a joke to break the tensions but for some reason he wasn’t being his usual wiseass self. Instead he just kept watching her through half-lidded eyes as he arranged himself on the bed with his head propped up on one of the overstuffed pillows.

  “I’m ready,” he murmured when Genevieve hesitated, wondering how in the world she could possibly do this.

  It’s a hell of a lot better than most of the other exercises on the list, she reminded herself. And at least you don’t have to touch him sexually.

  Right. She could do this.

  Taking a deep breath, she climbed on the bed and straddled him, being careful to balance on her knees and not let her behind touch his pelvis.

  Drew just watched her.

  “Stop looking at me like that,” she commanded nervously.

  “Like what?” He gave her a slow, lazy smile.

  “Like you’re actually enjoying this.”

  “I am enjoying it. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

  “Well stop it,” Genevieve snapped. “This is hard enough as it is.”

  Drew waggled his eyebrows at her.

  “Oh you have no idea how hard it is. You know, I’ve always wondered what you’d look like with your clothes off.”

  “Drew!” She slapped him lightly on the shoulder but she couldn’t help smiling as she did it. He was teasing her again, which made it a hell of a lot easier to pull off this particular “intimacy exercise.” Drew seemed to realize his humor helped take the edge off the situation because he grinned and continued.

  “Annnd the sexual harassment begins. Here you have me flat on my back and you’re already abusing me.”

  “That’s right and you’d better get used to it. We may be in a compromising situation together but I’m still the boss.” Genevieve lifted her chin challengingly.

  But she seemed to have said the wrong thing.

  “We’ll see about that.” Drew’s eyes flashed. “I don’t mind taking orders at work but I’m more used to giving them in the bedroom.”

  Genevieve’s breath caught in her throat for a moment as the hungry look returned to his eyes.

  “That’s why you’re flat on your back in your underwear, huh?” she asked, deciding to ignore the return of the tension between them. “Because you like being in charge?”

  “I’ll show you exactly how much I like it.” Quick as a snake, he grabbed her around the waist and flipped her over. Suddenly their positions were reversed with Genevieve flat on her back and Drew hovering over her.

  “What…?” She was breathless from the quick change, the sudden shift of power.

  “Just showing you who’s in charge, baby.” Taking both her wrists in one large hand, Drew pinned them over her head easily. “How do you like it?”

  “I don’t,” she said instantly. “Not a bit.”

  “Not even a little bit?” He stroked her cheek, looking down into her eyes with a hungry expression. “Give it a chance, Gen,” he growled softly.

  “I…I…” Genevieve bit her lower lip uncertainly, her heart pounding like a drum.

  God, what was going on here? Drew had never acted this way toward her before—never. His ability to take orders without making a big deal out of it or having his masculine pride hurt was one of his best qualities. But now he was doing the opposite, taking the lead while she was pinned helpless beneath him. It was a completely unexpected development.

  Drew stroked her face gently, tracing her eyebrows and cheekbones with one long finger before moving lower to run his thumb over her lower lip.

  Genevieve felt her breath catch in her throat.

  “What…what are you doing?”

  “What the exercise says—touching you non-sexually,” he murmured. “You’re an incredibly beautiful woman, you know that?”

  Before she could reply his hand was moving lower, stroking down the tender side of her neck, raising chill bumps all over her skin. Genevieve gasped and bit back a moan as he stroked even lower, his large hand gliding up over the sensitive underside of her arm and then down, sliding along the side of her breast.

  It should have pissed her off. Instead, she felt her breath coming short and her pussy getting hot and wet all over again.

  “Drew,” she whispered uncertainly. “You know Phillips said the rooms weren’t wired for sound. You…you don’t really have to say that.”

  “I’m not saying it for Phillips,” he growled softly. “I’m telling you you’re beautiful, Gen—fucking gorgeous, if you want to know the truth. I’ve thought that from the first day I came to work for you.”

  “Oh…” Her breath caught in her throat and Genevieve found she was biting her lip again. How long had it been since anyone had called her beautiful? How long had it been since a man had looked at her with that naked hunger in his eyes? She couldn’t reme