Chapter 7

Seven

N athan lowered himself in front of Willa. He reached for her hand and rested it in his bigger one. So delicate. How could he ever manage to let such a flower walk away from him? Just the thought sent him over the edge with so much fear he damn near choked.

Parched after the self-imposed drought, he drank in every inch of her bared skin. Just so fucking beautiful with her hair ruffled and her lips swollen from his kisses.

He brushed a finger against the smooth skin of her stomach, eliciting a gasp. The mixture of heritage in her family gifted her with the most exotic of combinations. Emerald eyes, silky brown hair and milk chocolate skin that glowed from their lovemaking.

Made his mouth water for a taste.

A smile erupted across her face when she heard him growl his appreciation. "No peeking."

She raised her hands. With her eyes still closed, she ran her fingers along his face slowly as if memorizing every inch. She moved her hands up to bury her fingers in his hair, tugging just enough to get his attention. She gifted him with the mischievous laugh of hers he loved so much.

"Be careful, baby. You push me too far, too fast, and I'll have you turned around and wrapped around my cock again." His words sent a pretty flush of pink up her body and across her breasts. Plum-colored nipples jutted out, begging for his attention.

His stubbornness had almost cost him this moment, this chance. Before his father died, he had tried to tell him there was only one life to live, but he'd refused to listen.

Like an idiot he was. Look what happened to her brother, his own best friend.

If he could get his head out of his ass long enough, he might stand a chance at a life worth living.

No balls, no glory.

"A lifetime without you truly scares the shit out of me, Willa." His words opened her eyes so her gaze landed on his. "When I saw your resignation, and that new work contract…" His words stuck in his throat. Too damn hard to swallow, so he spit them out. "When I saw you were leaving, I panicked. For too long, I've played the protector while keeping you at a distance. It's all I allowed myself, afraid of moving on from the past." He shrugged, unable to put into words just how fucked up in the head he was.

He placed his hands on her shoulders to help her sit up and recline against the sofa behind her. He waited as she gathered a soft blanket around her before continuing. "You've held my heart in your hands from the moment I met you. Too young for me and way too innocent at barely seventeen when you first walked into my life. I had to wait until you were even of age, but then I'd made my promise to keep my distance. But it didn't matter. Your big green eyes pulled me in and haven't let me go since. It was only a matter of time before our hearts won."

Still holding her hand, he eased back the lid to the ornament-shaped box he clasped. "I meant it when I asked you before. You're the one for me, baby. I can't take another day of you not being mine."

Tears welled in her eyes, causing a whirlwind of emotions within him as well.

"Willa Cruz, will you take me as your husband?"

Fear held a death grip around his heart.

Air refused to fill his lungs.

Her gaze danced between his and then his whole world fell out of slow motion and hit fast-forward all at once.

Like a fucking hurricane.

He was ready.

Willa threw herself into his arms and he took her weight against him, held her close and protected her against what was coming.

Perched only on one knee, he fell back and cushioned her weight as they toppled over. She claimed his in a fiercely possessive crush. The force she used to convey her emotions knocked the air right out of him. Luck or fate, he didn't know, but he sure as hell wouldn't waste another minute.

He wrapped his arms around her and hoisted her to straddle his waist. This was fast becoming his favorite position. "So, I take that as a yes?"

"?Sí, mí amor! Oh, Nathan, yes. Yes. And I meant my answer earlier."

"I had to make sure it wasn't in the heat of passion."

"I understand."

He gathered her hand in his arms once more. Gently, if not reverently, he eased the diamond engagement ring around her finger.

"Do I want to know how you managed an engagement ring on such short notice?" The tease pulled her beautiful lips into a smirk that made him want to kiss her long after the Christmas lights came down. On sultry summer nights and freezing winter nights for years, decades to come.

"It took a few favors, ones I'll probably be paying back for years to come, a couple run red lights and a parking ticket, but I managed just fine, don't you think?"

Her eyes lit up with such joy he didn't ever want to see them filled with pain again. Especially if he could help it.

" Te amo . You know that right? That I love you?" she purred into his ear.

With those two words, he was home. "Love you too, amor ."

His Spanish sounded rough and little off-key even to his ears, but the giggle for his efforts, and the way her breasts swayed temptingly in front of him made it worthwhile. No way could he resist plucking the sweet plums for a taste.

"Don't think for a minute that I'm done with you. Now, about that resignation. I think a spanking for Christmas is in order."

She winked. "Yes, Captain!"

Thank you for reading Red Hot Christmas Virgin! Read on for book two in the Red Hot Steamy Romance series, Red Hot Naughty Vixen—A seamy second chance romance.