Page 8 of Under the Mistletoe

I took another step, anger and disappointment flowing through me, and felt my foot slip from beneath me. I quickly grabbed the light post and stopped myself from going down as I heard Bentley call my name again.

I refused to turn and look his way, and I’d already decided that if asked, I’d refuse to go back to the bar with him—and I was absolutely going to allow him to drive me home. I needed this time to let the chilly wind blow away all the things I’d been feeling these past few years. It was actually perfect, because the icy wind would freeze the tears that I knew would eventually fall for hours, causing my skin to burn. I needed to release all the emotion I held for a man I’d never been with. It was the only way I’d be able to wash the thoughts from my mind and get over him.

I looked both ways before I stepped off the sidewalk. I needed to get away from him as quickly as I could, before he caught up to me. I could barely see, it was snowing so hard. I was just about to take my foot off the sidewalk when I felt a pair of thick arms wrap around my waist pulling me back.

Fear flooded me as I felt my body lift off the ground. I didn’t know what to do, so I screamed. A hand covered my mouth, and I felt breath on my ear.

“Calm down, it’s only me. I’m taking you back to the bar,” his gruff voice whispered in my ear.

I wanted to fight, but he was holding me tight, and the heat of his body from behind was comforting. I was nearly frozen, and I was barely a block from the bar. I’d never make it home. In a few moments, we were back inside the bar, and that was when anger flooded me.

“What the hell, Bentley? Why did you bring me back here?” I demanded, stomping my foot.

“Because you will freeze to death dressed the way you are before you even get halfway home.”

“So what?”

Bentley frowned, and there were questions in his eyes. “What do you mean, so what? I won’t let you die out there because you’re too stubborn to call one of your friends or let me call you a cab.”

“I don’t know why you even care. You’ve made it very clear to me you want nothing to do with me.”

“You think because I offered to call you a cab, I want nothing to do with you?”

“I’ve been sending you hint’s all night…”

Bentley turned away from me and walked over to the bar, where he placed both his hands on the counter. I watched as his back rose and fell with each breath he took in, the knuckles of his hands white because he was gripping the edge of the bar so hard. It was pointless talking to him; he didn’t want me, and if I kept going, I’d make a bigger ass out of myself than I already had. I was about to turn around, to take this moment to leave again, when he cleared his throat.

“Noelle, you don’t know what I want. What I know is that if you were smart, you’d take me up on the offer. Let me call you a cab and just go the hell home.”

I frowned. “Bentley, I don’t want to go home,” I muttered, not sure I should say what I wanted to say next. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and prayed this wouldn’t be a mistake. “I want you. I’ve always wanted you.”

Bentley said nothing. He just stood there, his hands still gripping the edge of the bar.

“If you don’t take me now, I’ll go back out there and find someone who will,” I blurted out, my stomach rolling as the words passed my lips.

I opened my eyes to see Bentley now facing me. I feared the look in his eyes, a primal need, a possessiveness that truly should have sent me running. Only instead of backing away, Istood there. After all, this was what I was asking for. It was what I’d wanted.

He took two steps, grabbed me and pulled me against him, and devoured my mouth with a scorching kiss. Every single nerve in my body was on alert, and I almost jumped when I heard the lock click. Next thing I knew, I was off the ground, his arms wrapped around me as he carried me to the back of the bar and up the stairs.

Six

Bentley

My mind raced as I carried her up the stairs to my apartment. I shouldn’t be doing this. I should be the adult here and put a stop to it before it went any further. Yet, the thought of someone else touching her, taking her, was enough to drive me mad.

Her lips tasted like candy. I couldn’t get enough of them, and when I heard that soft moan that escaped her throat, I knew I was going to go to hell. My tongue washed through her mouth, tasting her even more. If I were going to hell, I might as well enjoy my last night on this earth and make the best of it.

I kicked the door open to my apartment, leaving it open, and made my way over to the couch. I placed her down on the seat and dropped to my knees. I pushed her skirt up, leaving it bunched at the waist, and ran my fingers over her lacey panties, watching her eyes as I hooked my fingers into the lace and ripped them off her. Placing my large hands on either side of her inner thighs, I spread her legs and buried my face between them.

Her fingers gripped my hair as my tongue worked in circles over that small bundle of nerves. I fucking wanted to hear her let go.

“Bentley…” she panted. “The…door…”

There was no one else here, so I ignored her and continued licking and sucking. She gripped my hair even tighter, her breathing now rapid, the muscles in her legs tightening.

My hands cupped her ass, keeping her in place as I continued lapping at her.

“Oh god…Bennnnn…”

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