Tangled in Tinsel (Holidates #1)(21)

Alec smirks. “Then we’ll answer every single one. Her comfort becomes our priority.”

We’re all nodding as Cole says, “Exactly. But if we do this, we’re breaking our one-night rule. Everyone good with that?”

We look around at each other. That’s been a hard line for us. We never do more than one night, but this is an opportunity I can’t pass up, and I know they feel the same.

“I’m good with it,” I say, Jace and Alec on my heels with their agreeance.

What’s the worst that can happen? It’s not like anyone’s falling in love.

Cole raises his brows, staring at me. “Now, are you going to tell them the fucking good part?”

Jace’s head swings to mine. “If you don’t spit it out, I’ll fucking bury you out in the snow. And Alec will help.”

I chuckle, taking a sip of my coffee.

“Okay…you see…that Bonnie”—I motion to Cole—“and this Clyde just sank to a new low and eavesdropped on her conversation in which she told her friend she was going for it.”

Women always think men are broody, serious, and never excited. But if someone were to peep through our window, they’d see four grown men celebrating like they’d scored a touchdown.

Make that three men. Cole’s just leaned back against the counter, face turned in the direction of the hall. And everyone says I’m single-minded.

But I already know what he’s thinking. Cole wants her stripped bare in the middle of the room. Christmas lights spotlight her body, so he can conduct the orgasmic symphony only sexual maestros can hear.

And I can’t wait to be the instrument he uses.

“How will we know when she says yes? You always make them do something to seal the deal,” Alec muses.

I bite my bottom lip before I speak.

“I told her to meet me in the living room, in your fucking shirt, nothing underneath, and kiss me under the mistletoe.”

Jace laughs. “You’re the most dramatic fucking person I’ve ever known.”

“When?” Cole grinds in that patience isn’t my virtue way.

But I frown because, shit, I didn’t give a when. Fuck me. She could be in there all day.

“Reed,” Alec groans, seeing the realization written all over my face.

Cole shakes his head, but I shrug.

“Who cares about the wait? She’s worth it. Trust me, she tastes like divinity. Purrs for every degrading word. She soaked my fingers, and it only tempted me more when I licked her clean off.”

The silence in the kitchen is thick with desire. My fuckup long forgotten. Because now that we know she’s saying yes, we’re animals focused on our piece.

“What did she look like when she came?” Alec says, barely restrained.

My eyes shift to his, knowing he’ll be picturing what I say.

“Like she was missing a hand around her throat. A cock in her mouth. And someone to watch her pussy chokehold my fingers.”

Cole exhales hard before he looks straight at me.

“If that girl doesn’t come out in the next hour, I’m setting this fucking cabin on fire to make her.”





eight





“This is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to jingle your bells.”





I toss Reed’s sweats on my bed as soon as the door clicks before running to the nightstand to grab my phone. I’ve never hit a call button so quickly.

You better fucking wake up, Eleanor. I press the cell to my ear, my fingers tapping against my leg as more ringing sounds with no answer.

“Come on,” I groan, about to hang up when a groggy “Hello” drifts through.

Yes. My voice is more high-pitched than usual.

“Oh my god, where the fuck have you been my whole life?” I dash into the bathroom and close the door before turning on the faucet. “I need you awake for this conversation. Open your eyes and stand up. Yeah…get alert.”

“What is wrong with you? Is that water in the background? I was sleeping, you lunatic. This better be an emergency.”

“It is. And yes, it’s water. I need to make sure nobody hears me.”

Sheets rustle in the background like she’s sitting up. “Are you high? You know you can’t smoke weed, dork. You get paranoid.”

“Eleanor,” I snap. “Focus. It’s seven o’clock in the morning. Why would I be high?”

She yawns.

“I mean, technically, I’m probably still high.”

I don’t have time for this. I’m about to explode. So I blurt out everything in the fastest run-together sentence of my life.

“I-kissed-Cole-last-night-and-then-dry-humped-his-best-friend-in-the-kitchen-before-he-told-me-they-want-to-share-me.”

I suck in a deep breath. But there’s nothing. No answer. Just silence. Then more silence.

“Hello?” I whisper, but she screams, “SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

I have to pull the phone from my ear, but I’m laughing. Maybe it’s hysterical laughter but whatever. I put my phone on speaker as I pace.

“Eleanor, it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours, and I’ve got two down, two to go. I’m a fucking predator. I manifested this. Or you did with all that bullshit you talked.”