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There was no joy inside the car.
Katie, who had fallen silent, began to tremble.
Kaz, seated with his arm around her shoulders, drew her closer.
“Another few hours,” she whispered, “and it will be time.”
There was no point in asking what she meant. She would be flying to a man and a ceremony that would define the rest of her life.
“I’m not going to let it happen,” Kaz said in low voice.
“You can’t stop it. Nobody can.”
“I can. And I will.”
“Kaz. My mother—”
“Surely she wouldn’t want you to marry a man you don’t love.”
“She wants me to have a life she believes will be right for me. If she were well, I’d tell her how wrong she is. I’d never, ever go through with this. But she isn’t well, Kaz, she won’t ever be well and—”
“No more,” Kaz said, and silenced her with a kiss.
When they were alone in his penthouse, he poured brandy into crystal snifters and handed one to Katie. They stood behind the glass doors that led onto the terrace, with the city streets and the park far below them.
He sipped his brandy.
She looked at hers, then set it aside.
“Another hour,” she said softly, “will be the day before Christmas. Christmas Eve Day. And in another few hours…” She put her hand against his heart. “I wish I had a gift for you.”
“You’re all the gift I could ever want. Even that scarlet ribbon at your waist… I don’t think anyone ever created a more beautiful Chistmas wrapping.”
“Then unwrap me,” she said. “And make love to me this one last time.”
“Don’t,” he said sharply. “Don’t say that. Don’t think it. I’ll find a way, sweetheart. I promise, I’ll find—”
She put her hand lightly over his mouth.
“Make love to me,” she whispered.
Kaz put down his glass. He kissed her slowly. Tenderly. Then, his eyes never leaving hers, he untied the bow at her waist, let the satin ribbon slide through his fingers before letting it fall to the floor.
Another gentle kiss.
Then he turned her so that her back was to him, nuzzled aside her hair and kissed the nape of her neck.
Her soft moan of pleasure radiated through him.
Slowly, he undid what seemed like a thousand and one indescribably tiny hooks and eyes, pressing his lips to each bit of bare skin as he unveiled it. The gown fell to her waist. To her feet. He helped her step free of it and then he turned her toward him again.
The sight of her almost stopped his heart.
She was more than beautiful. She was exquisite.
Spike-heeled gold sandals. Stockings that stopped at her slender thighs. A black lace thong with a tiny scarlet bow at each hip.
No bra.
