Page 16 of His to Unwrap
I watch in horror as Roman takes a menacing step towards the other Dom, his fist coming up in a clear threat. “Noelle is not available. She’s already been chosen.”
Matthew throws his hands up. “We’re allowed to steal an already-opened gift on our turn instead of choosing a new one,”he says, exasperated. “Haven’t you ever played Secret Santa before?”
“Then I’m stealing her.”
“But it’s not your?—”
Before Matthew can say another word, Roman is turning back to me. “What are you—” I begin, but he bends down, grabs me by the hips, and pulls me up into his arms, tossing me over his shoulder like I don’t weigh anything at all.
“You’re out of the game,” he growls, already striding away from the group. “Deal with it.”
“Roman,” I gasp, disoriented with my head hanging upside down. He ignores me. There’s a lot of laughter coming from the crowd around the Christmas tree, as well as a few wolf whistles and a smattering of applause. I think I hear Brittney shout, “about time!”
Then he’s striding through the steel door and all the noise behind us fades to nothing.
From my positionover his shoulder, I have no idea where he’s taking me. The only thing I can see is the broad expanse of his back in front of my face. It feels like we’re heading in the same direction as the private booths, and I feel a swell of frustration at the idea he might put a panel of glass between usnow.
So I’m surprised when we enter a door into a much larger room than the booths. Before I can even look around—not that I’d see much from upside down—Roman tosses me onto a plush mattress. I scramble to sit up, to readjust my dress that has climbed all the way up my thighs.
“What the hell was that?”
His face is a mask of cold anger, but something flickers on his mouth as he looks down at me. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear, Angel.”
“I’m not feeling very angel like,” I mutter, tugging on the hem of my dress. “I can’t believe you carried me out of there!”
He shrugged. “That guy is an asshole.”
“Matthew? He’s not an asshole. We’ve scened together before, he’s fine—” I gasp when Roman is suddenly in my face, his hands bracketing me on the mattress, his eyes wild with anger.
“He is notfine. I heard him, Noelle. I heard him talking about you.”
“What are you?—”
“Before the game even started,” he snaps. “He was talking to his friends, telling them how he hoped he had a chance with you tonight. Said he saw you drinking the spiked eggnog so maybe you wouldn’t be such a prude and let him actually touch your pussy.”
I gasp. “He said that?”
“Yes,” Roman growled. “He said that. If you think there’s any way I’m going to let some asshole like that get his hands on you, you’re fucking insane.”
“But I’m not actually drunk,” I tell him. “I would have just told him no and?—”
He swears, loudly, and brings his face even closer to mine. There’s a vein throbbing in his temple, and I’m sure I’ve never seen him so close to losing control.
I think I like it.
“I don’t give a shit. He doesn’t get to touch you.”
It suddenly sinks in what’s just happened. Roman stopped me from being picked by another Dom. He said hechoseme. He claimed me, in front of everyone.
Oh my god, I think to myself, suddenly breathless with excitement. This is actually happening.
Finally.
NOELLE
“Why are you smiling like that?” Roman asks, still glaring, his big body practically vibrating with anger. “This isn’t fucking funny, Noelle. If you think I’m going to let that guy?—”
“I don’t,” I say quickly, moving to my knees to bring myself closer to him. “I knew you wouldn’t want anyone else to touch me. That’s why I was so confused you didn’t want to participate in the game.”
