Tangled in Tinsel (Holidates #1)(30)

“Shh,” Jace shushes. “Let’s focus on getting you out of those pants.”

I bite my lip again. Reed’s already undoing the buckle, making my waist jut forward as he loosens them.

“You okay?” Jace whispers, and I nod because words feel like too much to even say.

I’m shimmied out of the pants as they’re tugged to my ankles. Jesus, my heart’s racing. I take a slow breath standing in front of them, my body on display, stripped bare and being ravaged by hungry eyes.

Whoa.

I swallow.

There was a time in my life when standing naked in front of my bosses would’ve been a silly nightmare. And then there’s now—Dear body, please don’t have a heart attack when my dreams are about to come true.

My lips part as I start to say something. What, I have no idea, so I close them again.

Cole turns my face to his, cradling it, running his thumb over my lip. He’s staring down at me, unwavering, and all the edges begin to blur. And it all hits me.

My body is about to be the center of their universe. I’m about to have sex with four guys.

Oh my god. Falalala fuck me in the ass.

A smile starts to peek out from my lips but Cole says nothing as he stares down at me.

He’s so intense, as if he’s cataloguing all the ways he’ll defile me. My tongue darts out, licking my dry lips. Jesus, how does he make just a look so fucking hot?

I swear this whole room is feeding off his energy, off the buzz of taunting our sexual restraint. It’s like waiting for a dam to break.

Except I’m already a gusher.

Cole leans down slowly, taking my lips with a soft, chaste kiss, making me melt.

“Soon,” he whispers.

Wait, what? Dams are supposed to be breaking. Soon…uh-uh, now.

My eyes flutter open because Cole’s hand draws away before his mouth goes too.

“Come on, baby,” Jace whispers, drawing my eyes.

The guys step back, Alec and Reed watching me intently. Jace is still holding my hand as he motions with his head for me to follow him. I lift one foot at a time from my pooled pants, keeping my hand in his, before walking next to Jace towards the bathroom.

My mind’s racing, wondering what’s coming. What did “soon” mean? Wait, are they going to bathe me? Is that like, standard practice? I kind of thought that would happen after.

I almost glance over my shoulder to ask as we stop at the doorway. Because there’s so much I still want to say, to ask, but I can’t.

It’s like I’m on a sexy sensory overload.

My mind’s diving into every dirty possibility while still trying to process each touch and every filthy word. And my body’s tingling, aching, bursting with need but my mind is a jumble.

Until a soft touch runs down the slope of my back over my ass, making me suck in a breath.

“Gorgeous,” Alec breathes.

Jace smirks at me. Probably because he sees I’m blushing.

“Come on, Sammy. It’s time to get you nice and clean,” he teases.

My eyes grow wide as I cross the threshold. I was right.

Jace reaches for the door, adding, “Don’t worry. They’ll be waiting.”

But I blink, glancing over my shoulder, confused as the door closes quietly, leaving the others on the wrong side.

“Umm…are they…waiting in line?”

Jace gently tugs my hand, chuckling as he leads me to the bath.

“No, cutie. We’re just gonna talk first. Me and you. Go over the rest of that list.”

Oh. Right. Totally. That makes sense. There are still unanswered questions. I’m equal parts disappointed and relieved.

Just like when I was in high school and thought the song “Pony” by Ginuwine was about riding horses. It’s not, which was sad, because I love horses. Although thank god, because the way I would sweat when that song came on the radio made me think I was going to need therapy. A lot of it.

Only the soft sounds of footsteps and a drip from the faucet echoes off the walls as Jace stops us next to the tub, smiling gently at me.

“I know this is a lot. And I know you still have questions and maybe questions on top of questions. It’s all over your face. So we’re gonna soak.” He lifts my hand, kissing my fingertips, and I feel my shoulders relax. “We’ll let our fingers get all pruney until you’re comfortable and back to rambly Samantha. Take a deep breath because I’ve got you. In every way, cutie.”

The side of my lips tilt. Because Jace has managed to master the art of sweet and spicy.

I mean, I’m standing here in my birthday suit, and yet I’ve never wanted to hug someone more. But after that hug, I’d like to drop to my knees and deep throat his dee-yuck.

Sweet yet spicy.

Instead of doing or saying that, I take that deep breath and peer over into the tub. I saw he was drawing this bath earlier. But never realized he was making it fancy for me.

“The water’s pink.”

He grins. “Whaddaya got against pink?”

I shake my head, still smiling, mouthing nothing as I bat my lashes. He’s helping me get in, and I don’t know why but suddenly I feel shy. Or maybe now I just realize I’ve been feeling that way. But not shy to show my body, more like all of this feels so intimate. More than just kinky sex. They’re kind of romantic and kind of swoony.