Dipped In Holly(Nick and Holly #1)(3)

God, the things I want to do to her.

“You think I’m sexy?” She blushes and narrows her eyes on me. “Not normally,” I tell her, moving on and putting her out of her misery. “But I thought I’d make an exception for Mrs. Claus, seeing as it’s Christmas.”

“Spirit of giving.”

“Exactly.” I lean my arms on the bar and watch the way her throat bobs as she swallows the drink I put in front of her.

My eyes trail down her body, loving the way her skin flushes every time she catches me staring. Her breasts are pushed up and together, thanks to the stiff corset top she’s wearing, and with each deep breath, it’s like they’re begging to spill out. I want to reach across the bar and set them free, palming them and tweaking the perfect nipples I know she’s hiding under there.

When was the last time I had a one-night stand? I’m far too old for that shit now, but I let my imagination wander to spending the night with her. An image of her sweet face looking up at me while she kneels at my feet flashes in my mind. My cock throbs painfully against the zipper of my jeans.

“You’re staring,” she says, bringing my eyes back up to her face that is burning red.

“Am I?”

“You are. See something you like?” she asks, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“I see a lot of things I like,” I tell her, enjoying the way her eyes widen in surprise. I lean in closer to her, watching her pupils dilate and her breathing pick up. I hope the kid in the corner is watching. I wonder if he was able to make her feel like this. Is she wet? What I wouldn’t fucking give to taste her.

“How about some water?” I ask her, my eyes gesturing to her drink. There may not be a lot of alcohol in there, but it’s hard to turn off my dominant instincts in a situation like this.

Her hand trembles as she lifts the glass back to her lips and finishes it off before answering me.

“Okay.”

When I hand her the glass of water, I catch movement in the corner of my eye. I look up and spot him walking over toward us. Without even thinking, I’m around the bar and between him and her before he can reach her.

“What…?” I hear her ask as she realizes what’s happening. “Oh, fuck off, Josh,” she says, trying to push me out of the way. Funny that she thinks she can. I’m an ex-Marine, and there’s no way in Hell either of them is getting past me. But the way her hands warm my skin through my flannel is distracting. I give her a look over my shoulder, and she rolls her eyes, going back to nursing her water.

“Who the fuck are you?” Josh asks me, trying to get in my face but falling half a foot too short.

“Not someone you want to fuck with, kid. Leave the young lady alone.” I hear Holly snort behind me.

“I’d listen to him, Joshua!” she sings over my shoulder. “He’s the owner of the bar, and he’ll kick you and your lying, cheating ass out!”

Okay, she’s a lightweight.

“Drink your water,” I say over my shoulder.

“Don’t tell her what to do, man.”

I turn my attention back to Josh and cock my head. This kid seriously has a death wish because my anger is a hard beast to control once it comes out to play. And it wants to play with him. I take a step toward him, close enough for our bodies to touch if either of us breathes too deeply. I feel her small hand wrap itself around my bicep, and his eyes find it.

“Go home, kid,” I tell him, smirking down at him. “We’re closing soon anyway. Leave her alone. I’ll make sure she gets home.” I didn’t think about it before I said it, but it’s true. I will make sure she gets home safely. I may just have some fun with her first.

“I knew you were a fucking mistake,” he spits at her, and I feel her recoil like the words bit her. “Fucking slut,” he murmurs as he walks away.

I crack my neck and shake off her hand.

“Yeah, that’s not gonna fly with me,” I say aloud before grabbing his arm, spinning him around, and tossing him over my shoulder.

People around us start laughing as I push past people to the front door. His friends are on their feet when they see us walk past. My bouncer, Seth, opens the door, shaking his head like this isn’t the first time he’s seen me do this. Which, I guess is true. I have a short fuse, and instead of fighting, I’ve learned to just throw them out of their ass. It tends to leave a more lasting impression.

I let him drop to the cold concrete and ignore his insults. His friends can take care of him from here.

“He doesn’t come back in,” I tell Seth. “Ever.” He nods, and I pat him on the back as I walk past him. Holly is still at the bar, staring at me with wide eyes and her mouth opening and closing like a fish. I notice her water is gone.

Good girl, Holly.

“You deserve better,” I tell her as I pass right by her and go back behind the bar. I give her another glass of water. “Drink.” I turn and start viciously cleaning everything in sight. I need to calm down before I throw her over my knee in front of everyone and redden her ass for dating someone so pathetic.

The thought only sends me spiraling again, thinking about her spread open for me as I land smack after smack on her soft skin, my handprints covering her ass. I bet her whimpers would turn into moans as I kneaded her sore flesh and slipped a finger inside of her…