he said instead.
'Okay.' She scrunched her nose and she got lost, deep in thought. 'I will continue to be true to myself.'
'In what way?' he asked, intrigued.
'You know how some people undergo psychotherapy? Well, I don't have to. My column's been one huge lesson in self-awareness. And it's taught me a bigger lesson about you.' She wrapped her hands around him, trapping his hands against her bare skin. 'So I'll continue to write my column and only let people and things that are good for me into my life.'
'That's a tall order.'
'I can handle it.' She grinned and brushed a kiss over his lips. 'Your turn.'
He swallowed hard. 'I'll be true to…' He wanted to say
'Come on, Colin. Don't take the easy way and just repeat what I said. Make a New Year's resolution,' she urged.
'I resolve to take care of things in my life the most responsible way I can.' Vague, but he hoped she wouldn't question him.
Because it was a holiday weekend, no one had returned his business calls, but he intended to start by having another talk with the accountants and seeing exactly what shape the paper was in now. His last figures had been from too far back. Then he needed to talk to Joe. Together, maybe they could come up with a plan that wouldn't hurt the people they both cared for, he thought, looking into Rina's wide-eyed gaze. But in the meantime, he couldn't deny that he'd been progressing with his plan, and he silently cursed Corinne for letting things slide so far that Colin had to put the pieces back together.
'See? That wasn't so difficult, was it?' she asked.
He forced a grin. 'Of course not.'
'And now we can pick up where we left off.' Without warning, she reached down and pulled her sweater over her head until she stood before him in a pink lace bra, her pale skin lit by the flickering firelight.
He leaned forward, intending to kiss her, but she stopped him by pushing down on his shoulders, bringing him to his knees. She followed, eyeing him expectantly. The time for kissing had passed and he dipped his head. Starting at her navel, his tongue traced a pattern on her flat stomach and silken skin. He unhooked her bra and tossed it aside so he could encircle first one nipple with his mouth, then the next, tugging on the distended tip until her hips tilted forward and a strangled moan reverberated from her throat.
'Get undressed.' Rina's demand sounded hoarse to her own ears.
She didn't care. She'd never felt such driving, overpowering need to be a part of another human being. To be one with Colin. Her hands shook as she reached for the button on his jeans, impatience overtaking her.
'Relax. We have all night.'
Someone ought to tell that to her overheated body. He covered her hand, moving it away so he could take care of things himself. Quicker, she figured, than if she'd fumbled around.
Instead, she worked on her own clothes, meeting him naked on the floor. He pulled her on top of his warm, strong body, allowing her to feel his erection hot and ready against her stomach. She reached between them, needing to feel him, and a drop of his moisture touched her hand. A wash of desire and sensation swept through her, a heavy dampness filling the space between her legs.
Unable to wait, she straddled him, holding his hard length in one hand and placing the head of his penis between her thighs. His gaze never left hers, hot and intense as she lowered herself, taking him in, inch by inch, feeling him swell and harden inside her. And just when she thought she couldn't take any more, she released the muscles in her legs and he filled her completely.
He reached out, grabbing her hands in his, intertwining their fingers. They couldn't be in a more intimate position. She sat up on his thighs, his penis embedded deep inside her, her entire upper body exposed for his view. When she glanced down, their joining was an erotic vision of two people becoming one. At the sight, her muscles contracted around him and his hips jerked upward, pressing on just the right place to increase the friction and orgasm-inducing sensation.
'Ride me, honey.' Colin spoke through gritted teeth.
He shook from the effort of holding back, and Rina gave him what he asked for. Rising up, she felt every hard ridge ease out of her body before she came back down hard, bringing herself closer to the brink. He picked up on her rhythm. Bucking in and out, up and down, she lost herself in hot, sweaty, carnal lovemaking.
Without warning, the physical sensations swamping her mixed with raw emotion and Rina swallowed over a sob, one that came loud and ripped from inside her. God, she was close. He slipped his fingers between them, clasping on to the one sensitive place she possessed and not letting go, rolling his fingertips while they moved, bringing on an intense, explosive orgasm that seemed to go on and on and on.
AT RINA'S INSISTENCE, she and Colin spent Sunday morning with the rest of the crowds doing last-minute holiday shopping. They separated in the mall long enough for him to buy her a present before meeting up again later. Now, gifts under the tree, they were relaxing at her place, when the doorbell rang.
She dropped the pad and paper. 'They're here.' She sprang from the chair where she'd been taking notes for her column, and ran for the door.
Their solitude had officially ended and Colin groaned. After making love in front of the fire, they'd showered, gone out for a quick burger, picked up a change of clothes for him and returned to her place for the night. And what a night it had been. The woman had energy, stamina and a completely giving nature, going so far as to insist Norton be allowed to join them when it came time for sleep. She didn't want the pooch to face another night alone.
Now the damn dog was his best friend. While Colin lay on the couch watching football, Norton sprawled on top of him, his face on Colin's stomach, his black tongue hanging out.
'What kind of dog doesn't jump when the doorbell rings?' he asked aloud.
'The dumbest kind,' a male voice said from behind him.
Colin tried to rise but Norton wasn't budging.
'That's okay. If he's attached to you, he'll stay the hell away from me. I'm Jake. Rina's brother.' The other man extended his hand and Colin shook it.
'Colin Lyons.'
'Good to meet you. Rina's told me all about you.'
That shocked him. He'd never thought about whether Rina discussed him with her family. If he had, he wouldn't have believed he was important enough for her to mention. It looked as though he'd have been wrong.
Jake studied Colin, as if taking his measure. 'Good game?' he asked, settling in on the couch, comfortable and at home.
Colin glanced at the television. 'Not bad. How was your trip?'
Jake laughed. 'Long, with too many pit stops.'
In person, Colin could see the resemblance between the dark-haired cop and his sister.
A pretty auburn-haired woman came up around Jake, joining them, reminding Colin their private time had come to an end, at least for the weekend. But time with her family meant that he would be learning more about her, as he discovered over the next few hours. Her sister-in-law liked to talk, filling him in on Rina's life back in New York and how proud she and Jake were of her new job and column. She'd even mentioned how the glow in Rina's cheeks was more pronounced now, with her new life under way, prompting an elbow in her arm from Rina.
Overall, Colin was overwhelmed by Rina's brother and sister-in-law. Her family's presence reminded him he hadn't visited Joe in the last day or so, and guilt compounded any fun he might have had. 'Listen, since you have company, I'm going to head on over to the hospital to see Joe.'
'His…father,' Rina said by way of explanation.
'Hospital at Christmas? I'm sorry,' Brianne said.
'Thanks.'
Brianne smiled. 'Do you plan to come back? I was hoping we'd have more time getting to know you this weekend.'
