The Magic Of Christmas by Bethany M. Sefchick

she would never see him again.  Then she leaned down and gently kissed along the length of one of the worst scars, one that probably should have received medical treatment.
    When she was finished with that one, she picked another, kissing the length of it as well, and stopping only long enough to lick his flat male nipple and make him shiver beneath her.  "No more hiding, Drake.  Not from me, anyway.  Keep your illusions for the world, but you can trust me.  Just like I trust you.  I always have."
    At her words, his heart broke in his chest and the last of his resistance, the last niggling voice in the back of his mind that suggested that he do the right thing and set Cecilia free quieted down.  She knew him, all of him, and she didn't shy away.
    "Not now and not ever," he promised solemnly.
    Then, without warning, he flipped them over so that she was pinned beneath him, his large body holding her in place.  Lightly, he kissed the soft, sweet column of her neck, feeling her breathing become erratic beneath him.  She was on the verge.  So was he.  But he would give her one more chance to change her mind.
    "I want you, Celli," he breathed as he nibbled on her ear.  "More than you know.  But if you don't want this, if you don't want  me , then tell me now and I'll let you go."  It would kill him, but he would do it.
    Cecilia pushed against Drake's chest, knowing that he needed to see the sincerity in her eyes.  "I do want you, Drake.  All of you.  For me, it's only ever been you."  She threaded her fingers through his hair, loving the silky feel of it, just as she had always imagined it would be.  "Only you."
    Then she arched her body into his in a silent invitation to take what he wanted.  Because if he didn't, she would.  She would not be denied.  Not any longer.
    Her words were all of the encouragement that Drake needed.  His slow, lazy kisses became passionate and fiery.  His hands caressed her body, relishing her curves and the softness of her skin.
    "So beautiful," he breathed as he kissed along the length of her collarbone while she wiggled and whimpered beneath him.  With the tip of his tongue, he traced lazy, seductive circles at the hollow of her throat, gently easing his way down her body one maddening inch at a time.  "So sweet.  So perfect.  So mine."
    Cecilia felt his words against her overheated skin, his hot breath sending flames racing along the length of her body, making her restless and setting up an aching need deep inside of her.
    "Yours," she agreed breathlessly, running her hands down the length of his back, feeling the old scars beneath her fingertips and loving him all the more because of them.  "All yours."  Beneath the ugly scars, his skin was hot and soft, his body muscle and bone, each part of him perfect.  It left her craving more.  More of him and more of his body.  She wanted all of him - body and soul.
    When he tugged her slip out of the way, she rose up slightly on the bed so he could toss the garment aside.  Her bra followed quickly, followed by her panties.  Then she was naked before him, lying in his bed.  Just the place she had wanted to be.
    "So beautiful," he said again, this time with a hitch in his voice before he leaned down to take one of her nipples into his mouth and began to suckle her.
    At the first slide of his mouth over her hot flesh, Cecilia nearly came undone.  Men had lavished attention on her breasts before, but not like this.  This was worship.  Drake was claiming her body with his mouth, marking every part of her as his.  And she would allow it for as long as he wanted.  With his hand, he palmed her other breast, rolling the tight nipple between his fingers, each tug and pinch so gentle that they were maddening.
    With each light, teasing caress of his tongue over the engorged tip, Cecilia felt herself grow wetter, hotter, until she was fairly aching inside.  And all he had done was touch her breasts.  What would happen when he