Tangled in Tinsel (Holidates #1)(40)

Perfection.

Chocolate snowball kisses, my favorite holiday cookie, are risen to perfection. When the guys taste these, they’ll have to forgive me for nodding off during their best efforts. All I have to do is add the powdered sugar.

Plus, if I’m putting them to work, which I am, I might as well give them a treat after.

I open the oven, pull out the tray, and inhale deeply. I’m almost just like a 1950s housewife. Except my ass is hanging out the back of this apron, and I’m only feeding them after they eat me.

Carefully and quietly, I put the tray on the cooling rack because I know I’m on borrowed time. Even with whatever hangovers they had working in my favor, they’ll be up soon. And it can’t be before I get ready.

Untying the apron, I toss it and the oven mitt on the counter. Before I quickly make my way back to the living room, grabbing everything I’ve gathered for my illicit apology. I laugh to myself because this plan is ridiculous, but I’ve also never smiled this hard.

“Okay, ribbon, check—” I whisper, rubbing my fingers over the material. “Thank goodness Alec’s got the big bucks and this is velvet or my ass might chafe.”

I scoop up a few more Christmas accouterments before heading to the spare bathroom, sneaking past Jace’s room, so I don’t wake him up. I flick the light, close the door, and set the things on the counter. A relaxed breath leaves my body as I run my fingers through my hair, looking up at myself in the mirror. Here goes nothing.

Oh. My thoughts stall as I stare at my nude body in the light.

I have hickeys all over my chest and breasts. I couldn’t see it all when I was first in the bathroom because I kept the lights dimmed so low to stay hidden. But now. My thoughts drift back to Cole’s voice, hearing him say, “Mark her.”

My fingers trace over the bruises before my head drops to my thigh. Jace’s teeth marks stare back at me. Fuck. My hand covers my center, the cheeks on my face reddening.

I’m pretty sure these guys are ruining sex for me. How the hell am I supposed to be like, bite me. No, for real.

Can you even put that on your dating profile?

Samantha, 32. Gemini. Dog lover. Coffee addict. Loves adventure and getting treated like jerky. Bite me, and maybe I’ll let you wife me up.

But probably not because I’ll just want to fuck all your friends at the same time.

This weekend just has to last forever. That’s the only answer.

My head shifts from side to side, looking for who had that thought. Because it wasn’t me. Can’t be. I know exactly what I signed up for, and it has an expiration date.

“Back to business,” I whisper like I’m chastising myself.

I snatch the spool of garnet ribbon off the counter before holding one end at my rib cage, leaving a bit showing as I wrap the other around my tits. Thank god they’re boring-sized, or I wouldn’t have enough ribbon.

I wrap the ribbon around four or five times before I tuck it in the middle and drag it down my body and over my junk. I’m wrapping over my hips and center, again and again, fastening myself into a red ribboned G-string. Until I come to the last bit, which I drag back up my stomach and tie in a little bow with the piece I started with.

“Are you going to hold?” I say aloud, chuckling, too scared to even spread my legs for fear I might lose a lip. “How do girls wear bathing suits like this?”

I mean, good for them. But my coochie is metaphorically sucking it in to pull jeans up. I straighten the ribbon downstairs, spreading it a bit more, laughing at myself. I’m two seconds from just rewrapping my goodies when the bathroom door swings open.

Jace’s sleepy face graces mine.

“Close your eyes!”

Jace turns around quickly, laughing as he does.

I squeal, turning in a full circle before grabbing a towel to hide behind. Embarrassed but also noting that my junk stayed intact. If ever I find myself out of work, I can most definitely get a side gig as a gift wrapper. If I can wrap my pussy, I can wrap grandma’s slippers.

“Are you a present? Or a dream?” he whispers.

I’m grinning, still hiding behind a towel.

“Both. I’m supposed to be a surprise. To make up for—”

“For nothing,” he cuts in, hand gripping the back of his neck. “It was a big day. If our girl wants sleep, she gets it. Cole technically said that first, but I still mean it.”

Why is he the best? Both hes.

I smile, teasing, “Fine, then I’ll just take this off and grab a T-shirt. Better to forget about my whole dirty plan.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let’s not get hasty.” His head starts swirling over his shoulder, so I snap my fingers. That damn dimple shows before he turns away again, talking. “I’d never stand in the way of a dirty plan. But you should let me help. You know, since I’m awake. I could sprinkle tinsel on you…wrap you in lights. I’ll even let you tell me where to put the balls.”

He’s incorrigible.

“No. Go back to your room so I can finish. You’ll know when it’s time to come out.”

“Fine, Grinch.”

Jace doesn’t turn around as he walks back out and closes the door behind him. I’m left grinning. But the moment I relax, lowering the towel, I slap a hand back over my mouth to muffle the shriek ripping from my throat. Because he’s tearing back in and wrapping an arm around my waist as he hauls me up. Flush to him.