Drake Sisters 02 - The Twilight Before Christmas

good friend, and I couldn’t bear her being so upset. The pageant is important to the town after al the near accidents. We need to get our confidence back.”
    “And I have to be in the pageant in order for our town to do that?” He raised one eyebrow skeptical y.
    “Al you have to do is walk through the town. No lines, nothing awful. You don’t mind, do you?”
    “Does wanting to be boiled in oil instead sound like I want to do this?”
    She turned her face into his chest. Pressed her lips against his skin.
    He growled, deep in his throat. The growl turned into a groan. “I can see what my life’s going to be like. I’l do it. This one time. Never again.”
    “Thank you.” She kissed him again. “I just want to go home with you and sleep in your arms,” she said, uncaring that her family could hear her.
    “Let’s go home, Matthew.”
    Matt kissed her gently, her lips, her throat, bringing her hand to his mouth as elation swept through him. She had said, “Let’s go home.” He lifted her with ease. “I’l take good care of her,” he promised her family.
    Sarah nodded. “We have every confidence that you wil , Matt.”

Chapter
14
    All deeds are now done, forgiveness is mine,
    As two people share a love for all time.
    “WE’RE GOING TO BE LATE,” KATE SAID, EVADING Matt’s outstretched hand. “We promised the committee you’d be on time. We didn’t make rehearsals, and everyone’s worried you’re going to mess up their play.”
    “I wasn’t the one who agreed to wear that sil y-looking robe Inez made. You agreed I’d wear it! Is it my fault they lost a couple of their stars to a scandalous affair?” He stalked her through the house, one slow step at a time.
    Kate laughed and dodged around the table, putting a chair between them. “You theater people are always involved in scandals.”
    He moved the chair out of the way and proceeded to back her into a corner. “I’d be more than wil ing to cause a scandal. Just let me get my hands on you.”
    “I don’t think so. Inez is probably watching her clock and tapping her foot. I’m not about to get a lecture about the benefits of being on time. Put on your costume!”
    “I am in my costume. What king travels by starlight from one country to another and wears a satin bathrobe with cheesy lightning bolts sewn al over it? And I doubt very much if he sat on that camel naked under the robe.”
    Kate held her stomach, laughing so hard she could barely manage to squeak through a smal opening he’d left beside the counter. “Somehow I think Inez might object to the idea that you were running around naked in her kingly robes. I, however, am rather intrigued by the idea.” She backed down the hal way, holding her hand palm out. “Seriously, Matthew, she’l reprimand you in front of the entire town if you’re late.”
    She was nearing the entrance to the bedroom. His silver eyes gleamed with anticipation. “If you think that’s more humiliating than wearing this damned robe, which, by the way, is two sizes too smal , you’re sadly mistaken. I think Bruce had the affair with Sylvia just to get out of wearing it.”
    She pressed her hand to her mouth to keep an undignified giggle from emerging. “I think it looks dashing on you.” He was right; the robe looked utterly ridiculous on him. His huge muscles strained the material so that it stretched tight over his wide shoulders and back. Instead of reaching the ground, it was halfway up his calves, and the front gaped open to reveal…She laughed. “I think it has interesting possibilities.”
    He spread his arms wide and rushed her, using an old footbal tackle. She screamed and turned to run, but he caught her up and carried her across the floor to the bed, where he unceremoniously dropped her. The kingly robe made its way to the floor. “I’m the king, and I demand my rights.”
    Kate pushed one hand against his chest to fend him off. “You have no rights. Inez has you under contract, and you’re supposed to be on time. Do you want the entire town waiting for you?”
    “I wouldn’t mind in the least.” He caught her legs, pinning her to the bed, stopping her from scooting away from him. “I think everyone should wait on me. I have this tremendous need to see your breasts. Why don’t you unbutton your blouse for me?”
    “It doesn’t have buttons, oh mighty King.”
    “Who the hel cares,” he growled. “Get rid of the shirt.”
    “I think that robe went to your head.”