Shelby couldn't believe she was lounging in an antique bathtub, sipping champagne and casually chatting with the man she'd just had sex with.Noel sat in a wicker chair across from the tub, a glass of champagne in his hand and his predatory gaze fixed firmly on Shelby. It should have made her nervous, but it didn't. She'd never slept with someone she didn't really know before, but with Noel, she already felt comfortable. It was as if they'd known one another, on some level, forever.Right now they were trying to solve the puzzle of how they'd gotten here and how they were supposed to get home, though between the sex, the champagne and the hot, scented bath, she was too relaxed at the moment to really care."So, you said your dad claims to genuinely believe in holiday magic," she said. "I'm surprised you haven't sent him in for psychotherapy."Noel shrugged and Shelby couldn't help but admire the way it nudged the neckline of his robe open just a little farther. The man was built li
"Good morning, sweetheart."Shelby woke to the sensation of Noel's lips on her nipple and his hand toying with the hair between her legs. Oh wow, it wasn't a dream. "Morning," she croaked in response as he slid a finger into her already-wet pussy."I figure today we can try out a few other rooms. Seems like a waste to spend all our time in this one." he whispered, his breath hot against her breast."Sounds...good." He'd replaced one finger with two and it was getting hard to speak, let alone think. She reached over to find his cock and gripped it in her hand, happy to find he'd already put on a condom. With a little shove, she pushed him over on his back and straddled his hips.Noel smiled up at her. "I guess you're a morning person.""Is that a problem?" She wriggled her hips as he used his hand to position himself while she slowly slid down over that magnificent erection. He filled her perfectly and she hummed happily before she started to move."Well, I'm usually not," he said
Shelby and Noel finished their meal, making little more than small talk. When they were finished, he looked at her as if to say, "What now?""How about we check out the library?" Shelby asked. "Maybe we can find out more about what's going on?" And she needed a little time just to be focused on something other than sex or food for a while. It was so hot, so intense, it was getting hard to remember it wasn't real. She needed to step back and take a breath. When this weekend was over, she'd have to go back to her ordinary accountant's life and she'd still have to face Noel at the office every day. Having a wild fling with him was one thing, but she had to be careful not to let herself fall in love - all the way at least. Unfortunately, she was already more than halfway there."Sounds good." He stood, immediately moving to pull her chair back for her. "I suppose we can assume the dishes will be taken care of."She nodded. "Probably as soon as we leave the room."The library was as stu
"It's good though," Shelby assured Noel, reaching up to cup his cheek with her hand. He hadn't shaved, so his cheek was rough and stubbly, but she didn't mind. "The magic isn't harmful, I don't think. Really, it's all kind of cool.""You're right." His tense shoulders relaxed and he turned his face to kiss the palm of her hand. "I really can't complain about this part. Now let's forget the serious stuff and look at those postcards you found.""Okay." She handed him the stack of maybe twenty cards."Ah, the uses of photography," he joked as he flipped through the first few, all women in various stages of undress. "Oh, now this is interesting." He held out the photo of a man and woman in full Victorian dress, except the woman was kneeling between the man's legs and holding his erection in her hand, her head bent as if she was just about to take it into her mouth."That would work," Shelby murmured. She hadn't had a chance yet to taste Noel's cock and the idea made her squirm. "Any ot
Noel couldn't believe she was going for this. He'd never have guessed, but it was looking like Shelby was the perfect woman for him - shy and sweet but totally uninhibited once she let herself go. Was that why the magic had put them together? To show him she might very well be the one? He was beginning to think that was the deal. He'd been so busy with work he hadn't thought he had time for a real relationship, but he was quickly coming to realize that being with Shelby would be worth making time for. In fact, he was pretty damn sure he was falling in love.Noel in love. Wouldn't that make his brothers laugh their asses off? He shrugged off that thought. Too fucking bad. If he got the chance to keep her in his life, it would be worth all the ribbing they could dish out. He'd know damn good and well that he was the lucky one.A few minutes later he returned with the oil, a pile of condoms, a towel and a couple of damp washcloths. Shelby was still lying there, just as he'd left her, id
"You're spoiling me rotten, you know," Shelby said as she sat cross-legged on a plush Persian carpet while Noel carefully combed the tangles from her wet hair."Yeah, but I'm having fun doing it." He paused while she took the last sip of her hot tea. As soon as she set the cup down, he resumed his task.A tea tray had appeared on the table while they'd luxuriated in the tub. It had been a tight fit for two, but being snuggled up against Noel's broad chest and having him wash every inch of her skin had been wonderful. After the bath, they'd wrapped up in their robes and sprawled on the rug in front of the fire with the tea tray and gobbled down scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream - or so Noel had told her - before he'd picked up the comb and told her to turn around."So, are you going to see your mother for Christmas?"She was so relaxed from the bath and the food and so soothed by his hands on her hair that she'd almost dozed off. As it was, it took her a minute to shake h
Shelby was running scared. She had been for the last two days.Noel wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one - he hoped it was good. Not for the first time he wished he had his sister Summer's sense of strategy. Not one of them had ever been able to defeat her at board games or even cards. If ever there was a campaign that needed to be won, it was Noel's battle for Shelby's heart. She was meant to be his, damn it. She just didn't know it yet.Noel had grown up in a household filled with love. His parents were practically stupid with it, even after thirty-five years of marriage. Okay - thirty-five and a half. Noel would be hitting that birthday on Christmas and his parents had been married a whole six months when he was born. Yet never once had either of them hinted that they'd been forced, or that they regretted it - or him - for a second. Nope, they'd just loved each other and all their kids with a warmth that colored every aspect of their lives. His father might put on his
"It doesn't have to be the end, you know." He leaned down until they were nose to nose. "I don't want it to be the end.""I don't either, Noel. But it has to be, don't you see? This has been - well - magic. But it's not reality. In the real world, you're the boss's son and I'm an employee. You're the rich, good-looking artist and I'm the boring number cruncher with no social life. It would never work, Noel. In your heart, you know that. But thank you. It means the world to me that you even thought about it.""But, Shelby..."She laid her mitten-covered hand over his lips. "Stop. Let's just enjoy what little time we have left. Please?"She felt him sigh before he nodded. When she moved her hand, he kissed the tip of her mitten before he spoke. "I'll stop talking now, sweetheart. But as soon as we're back in Charleston, you're fair game. I'm not giving you up. Eventually you'll figure that out."Shelby shook her head. "As soon as you're back in your glitzy world with your models and