THE BENNETTS' CHRISTMAS (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family #6) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,118

So I don’t have to choose between loving you and getting my PhD.”

“No, you don’t.”

And then he leaned in and kissed her. His tongue tangled hungrily with hers and she returned the kiss the way he’d shown her. He finally broke off the kiss and closed his eyes, breathing in her scent. Needing to touch her, his hands roamed over her body—shoulders and back, and especially her backside. “Just so you know, I had changed my mind about remaining in Vegas until Monday. I thought I’d fly out tomorrow to North Carolina to be with my family on Christmas. Will you fly out there with me to meet them?”

The smile she gave him at that moment almost broke his heart. “Yes, and I want to introduce you to my relatives at our family reunion, the day after Christmas. They’re going to love you.”

He tenderly caressed her cheek with his fingers. “And I know my family will love you, too.”

Landon paused. “And just so you know, I have dreams too, Monica. Mine revolve around making sure that your dreams come true. I want to be a part of your life forever. I want marriage, babies, a partnership with you that will last a lifetime. But I won’t rush you into anything. I got to know you on vacation. Now I want to give us a chance to get to know each other day to day. And don’t worry about the fact that you live in St. Paul for now, and I live in Atlanta. I have a lot of frequent flyer miles.”

She smiled up at him. “That’s good to know. And whenever you do come to visit me, I will welcome you with open arms.”

He chuckled. “That’s good to know, too.”

And then he swept her into his arms. “I want to make up for the days I missed not being with you,” he said, heading for the bedroom. “What do you think?”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Landon Chestnut. Simply wonderful.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

SEBRINA WOKE THE NEXT morning to find daylight shining on her face and Parker’s arms wrapped around her. She was pressed against his chest and the manly scent of him filled her nostrils. Snuggling closer to him beneath the warm covers, she enjoyed the feeling of having his leg slung over her thigh. She wasn’t ready to open her eyes yet. For now, she was content to just lay there in Parker’s embrace, savoring his heat as well as memories of last night.

They had made love all through the night. Her body was still tingling in certain areas and she loved it. She loved him.

He began to stir, and his leg tightened over hers. She also felt the hardness of his erection bumping against her hip. Life was good. She slowly opened her eyes.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he said in that deep, husky voice of his.

He always had of way of making her feel just that—beautiful. He also made her feel wanted, needed and desired. Yes, she certainly felt desired, especially after last night. “Good morning to you, Mr. Stanhope.”

He chuckled as he leaned in to kiss her lips. “Mr. Stanhope?”

“Umm, yes. After last night, you are definitely the boss.”

“And you are my lady.”

Now it was her time to chuckle. “Would a lady have done all the things I did last night?”

A smile curved his lips. “My lady would.”

She sat up. “Today is Christmas Eve. What would you like to do?”

“Well, this is the first thing,” he said, sliding out the bed.

Sebrina watched him cross the bedroom floor to pick up the duffle bag he’d used as a suitcase. His naked back was to her, so she couldn’t see what he was pulling out of it, but when he turned around, his hands were behind his back. He smiled over at her and she smiled back, wondering what was going on. But she figured he would tell her when he was good and ready.

In the meantime, she was enjoying the eyeful she was getting, since he was totally naked. Her gaze roamed all over him—from his tussled brown hair and stubble-darkened jaw, to the perfect pair of muscled shoulders and manly chest and tight abs. Going lower, her eyes couldn’t help lingering on the juncture of his manly thighs and the erection she saw growing in front of her eyes.

“I love you, Sebrina.”

She snatched her gaze back to his face, and she smiled. “And I love you, too, Parker. All of you.”

“All of me?” he asked walking back toward the bed,