Page 27 of Targeted at Christmas

Lexi laughed. “I agree.”

“All that’s missing are some gifts to place under the tree.”

She grinned. “We’ll have to do something about that,” she said, pondering what to get him for the holiday.

“Sounds good to me,” he told her with a chuckle.

Lexi gazed again at the tree. “It’s beautiful.” She was sure that the Christmas tree rivaled her own and would bet that Cooper saw this, too.

“Sure is.” He pulled her over to him and said in a charming voice, “But not quite as beautiful as you are, Lexi.”

Her face flushed. “Oh, really?”

“Feminine beauty—yours—trumps Christmas tree beauty every time!” Cooper insisted with a straight face. “Not to mention the attractiveness in your character. A perfect ten across the board.”

“Hmm.” Lexi trusted his judgment, feeling a tingle inside at the thought of his attraction to her looks and personality. Honestly, she felt the same way about him. “You’re not so bad yourself—on both fronts, Mr. FBI agent who cooks well on the side—”

Cooper cupped her chin and said daringly, “I’m even better as a kisser than in the kitchen.”

She chuckled. “You think so, do you?”

“Only way one to find out…”

“So, let’s put that into practice,” Lexi challenged him, more than up to the challenge herself.

Cooper stared into her eyes. “It would be my pleasure.”

On that note, he pressed his lips upon hers, and Lexi immediately felt the power of his kiss. Parting her mouth, she tried to match his intensity by kissing him with just as much passion. She could feel the contours of his hard body pressed against hers, leaving no room in between. His heart was beating fast, just as hers was. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.

As she caught her breath when the kiss broke, Lexi uttered desirously, “Do you want to take this to your bedroom?”

Cooper met her eyes intently. “Are you ready for that?”

I’ve been ready, she told herself, even if denying it until now. “Yes, I want you to make love to me, Cooper. It feels right…”

“For me, too,” he said, his voice lowered an octave with sincerity. “I want to make love to you, Lexi—no doubt about it whatsoever.”

This pleased her to no end. “Do you have protection?” Lexi thought to ask responsibly.

Cooper nodded. “Yeah, I have it.”

“All right.” She moistened her lips with anticipation. “Let’s do this.”

“Let’s,” he seconded, and grabbed her hand, heading down the hall.

Stepping inside the primary bedroom, Lexi scanned the room and admired the rustic furniture. Her eyes settled on the farmhouse king-size bed with two fluffy pillows and a patchwork plaid quilt. She pictured herself on it, with Cooper, having sex and enjoying being with each other. Facing him, Lexi said with a slight case of nerves, “I’m a little out of practice…” She had not been sexually active with anyone since her husband’s death.

“Same here,” Cooper confessed, intimating that he, too, had refrained from going down this road of late, by choice. “Let’s practice getting back into the swing of things together.”

“Okay.” She suddenly felt more relaxed as they began to kiss again.

Cooper had his hands on her hips and didn’t seem to want to let go while they enjoyed the long moment. It was Lexi who pried their mouths apart, finding that she couldn’t wait any longer to be with him in bed.

She started to disrobe, feeling strangely comfortable exposing herself to him. Even more shocking to Lexi was the ease—and, indeed, full-blown desire—in seeing Cooper get naked. His muscled body was a sight for sore eyes. She found herself wanting to touch him everywhere, barely able to contain herself.

Who says I have to? Lexi told herself, as she reached out and put her hands on his hard chest and slowly moved them down his body. Cooper tensed as she reached his erection.

He took her hand. “You sure do know how to make a man go wild with the need to have you.”