Page 16 of Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist

Nick’s heart crashed against his chest bone as he stared down into Noel’s dazed gaze. What the hell was that? Not the kiss. Nick knew she’d done that to get his focus off Amber and the man who’d replaced him, but that zing of energy still shooting through his nerve endings? Unexpected and new, especially in conjunction with Noel. His best friend. The sweet taste of her still clung to his lips and without thinking, his tongue licked along the surface. Her eyes narrowed, focused on his face and he had the bizarre urge to kiss her again.

Noel blinked several times and whatever spell that rendered him temporarily insane dissipated.

“Are they still watching?”

They? It took Nick a moment to sift through the fog and realize she was talking about Trip and Amber.

Nick cupped her cheek and leaned over, pressing his face into the side of her neck so it would look like he was nuzzling her. Her hair smelled sweet and he stopped himself from breathing her in. His gaze shifted behind her from Amber to Trip. Amber’s face scrunched up in either annoyance or disgust, he really couldn’t tell. While Trip seemed utterly befuddled. Probably couldn’t believe Noel hadn’t stayed home and cried herself to sleep over him.

Nick glared at the idiot. He couldn’t imagine Noel moping over any man, let alone Trip. Pike hadn’t been wrong when he’d called him a douche, but Nick understood why Noel didn’t like the term. Nick felt the same way about his friends and family bad mouthing Amber. If she was such a horrible person and he’d stayed with her anyway, hadn’t seen any of her character flaws, then that made him an idiot too, right?

His lips grazed her ear as he whispered, “They were watching.”

“Good.” Her warm breath rushed across the skin of his neck and he involuntarily breathed her in. God, she smelled a-fucking-mazing. He wanted to press his lips down and run his tongue over—

“Nick?”

His eyes popped open and he jerked back. The air in the bar hung hot and heavy around them as he stared down into her confused brown eyes. This was wrong. He shouldn’t be reacting this way to Noel.

This was the result of sexual frustration and heartbreak. He hadn’t had sex in fifteen months and considering Amber was the only person he’d ever been with, the times they’d made love were few and far between. Now here he was single for the first time in eight years and pressed against his best friend who curved in all the right places…

Air. He needed air.

Nick took her hand. After the show they just put on, he wasn’t about to leave her on the dance floor. She was coming with.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

“All right.”

He ignored Anthony and Pike’s wide-eyed stares as they passed, lancing through the crowd of drinkers until they exited through the front door. The chilly weather engulfed him, freezing the exposed skin of his neck and face, bringing him back to himself. This is good. Exactly what he needed.

“Damn, it’s colder than a well digger’s ass in January,” Nick said.

Noel dropped his hand and laughed, taking a few steps ahead of him. The halter shirt left her upper back and arms exposed and he noted the expanse of gooseflesh across her skin in the dim outside lights. When she turned back around, Nick almost swallowed his tongue when he saw her nipples hard and pushing against the cotton of her shirt. Either she wasn’t wearing a bra or the thin material of one didn’t hide much.

Stop staring at her chest, you fucking pervert!

“You sound like your dad,” Noel said, closing her eyes. “It feels good though.”

“Yeah, it was hot in there,” he said. “Sorry I dragged you out like that.”

“It’s all right.” I get it. Probably just drank too fast. Alcohol gets you all hot and bothered.”

Nick blinked at her choice of words and cleared his throat. “That’s probably it. I really do appreciate you…well, what you did in there. I probably looked like an ass when they walked in.”

“Don’t mention it. It was mutually beneficial.” She released a shaky laugh. “The last thing I wanted was Trip thinking I cared he’d dropped me without actually doing the deed.”

“I’ll go back in there and punch him, if you want.”

Noel shook her head. “Like Anthony said, we were just fucking. Nothing to be upset about. Even if I was, he’s not worth it.”

“He’s not, but if it would make you feel better…”

“Nah.” Noel cracked her knuckles with a smirk. “Want me to rip out Amber’s bleached blond hair? I’m pretty sure it’s all extensions, but I may get lucky.”

“Thoughtful, but I think her brother is with the police department now.”

Noel scoffed. “Darin? Ha! He likes me better than her. He’d applaud.”

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