The first touch of his lips was like lightning over the ocean, electrifying and magnificent all at the same time. His lips were moist and firm. His kiss was just right—not too soft, not too hard. It was a perfect first kiss. A sweet, firm pressure. A gentle toying of her lower lip with both of his. Then, when the time was right, it morphed into something else, something deeper. He teased her lips with his tongue, nibbling with his teeth.

For a moment, Grace felt as if she were about to swoon like some heroine in a regency romance novel.

“Open for me, Grace. Let me taste you.”

Grace did just that, opening her mouth to give him access to the dark warmth within. She wanted his kiss more than her next breath.

He delved deep, claiming, possessing her, igniting a burning flame that consumed them both. He eased away, slowly, giving them both time to adjust. Ending the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers.  “You taste like sugar cookies.”

Grace stood with her arms around his neck, her eyes closed, savoring the lingering touch of his mouth against hers. “Um, we sell them in the shop.”

“And you smell like Christmas.” He moved slowly, trailing a line of kisses from her temple to her jaw.

“It’s the trees.”

“Maybe some of it is,” he murmured, placing another lingering kiss on her lips before drawing away. But not completely. He kept his arms around her and that gave Grace the courage to finally open her eyes. She didn’t know what to expect when she looked at him, but the look on his face wasn’t it. It was somber.

Hadn’t he enjoyed the kiss as much as she had?

Probably not, she reminded herself sternly. She tried to step out of his arms, but they tightened around her. She lowered her eyes and said, “Please let me go.”

He hesitated just a moment before dropping his arms.

Grace quickly took a step back and then another. She tugged at the hem of her shirt, half way wishing that a hole would open up beneath her feet and get her out of this increasingly awkward situation. She turned again to straighten an ornament that didn’t need it. “If you tell me what type of tree you want, I can have one delivered tomorrow.”

“Grace, what’s wrong?”