Page 16 of Another Christmas from Hell

“I’m fine,” Cayley said, slowly exhaling as her gaze flickered back to the bar to find Kevin watching them.

“He always was an asshole,” Bryce said, sighing heavily.

“He wasn’t that bad,” Cayley mumbled sadly as a thought occurred to her, one that had her biting back a wince as she looked around the dance floor at the other couples that clearly knew what they were doing. “I have a slight problem.”

“What’s that?” Bryce asked as he led her to the middle of the dance floor.

Worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, Cayley admitted, “I can’t dance.”

“I see,” Bryce murmured absently as he glanced back to find Kevin still watching her. “It doesn’t look like we have a choice.”

“That’s what I thought,” Cayley mumbled sadly, earning a chuckle as Bryce pulled her into his arms and began moving them to the music.

“Thank you,” Cayley said as she placed her hand on his shoulder as she glanced back at the bar and-

Wow, did he look pissed, Cayley thought as she forced her attention back on Bryce to find him watching her. He didn’t say anything as he pulled her closer, and for once, she really appreciated his determination to ignore her. When he pulled her even closer a few seconds later, she found herself willingly going, closing her eyes as she laid her head against his chest and-

Realized just how much she liked being in his arms.

That should have been enough to send her running, but instead, Cayley stayed right where she was, deciding that she was going to enjoy this brief moment of insanity while it lasted. For several minutes, they moved, neither one saying a word as Bryce held her close, his fingertips gently caressing her lower back while she found herself wondering why it never felt this good when Kevin held her.

She’d always liked his touch, but it was never something that she couldn’t live without. It never felt likethis. She never felt safe in his arms, wanted, and cherished, and she definitely never felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be and-

She was definitely losing her mind, Cayley thought, wondering why the man that couldn’t stand her made her feel this way. It was probably something that she should worry about, but later, right now, she just wanted to savor this feeling while it lasted. When he pulled her impossibly closer, she willingly went, a shiver tearing through her as his warm breath teased the side of her neck and-

“Looks like he’s gone,” Bryce said as he suddenly let her go.

“Thank you,” Cayley murmured in a daze, swallowing hard as she looked up and found him watching her, a muscle in his jaw clenching as he moved to step closer to her, only to grind his jaw with a firm nod before turning around and walked away.

Cayley watched as Bryce’s hands clenched into fists as he headed for the exit, ignoring the woman that approached him earlier at the bar as she tried to get his attention and kept going, leaving her standing there wondering what the hell just happened.

CHAPTER9

What the hell was wrong with him? Bryce wondered as he continued glaring up at his bedroom ceiling instead of heading to his sister’s house for Thanksgiving dinner and-

God, she’d felt so fucking good in his arms.

There was something seriously wrong with him, but he’d figured that out two nights ago when he found himself struggling not to turn around and pull Cayley back into his arms. He never should have touched her, never should have pulled her into his arms, but once she was there, he never wanted to let her go and-

“I’m losing my fucking mind,” Bryce said, sighing heavily even as he found himself thinking about her again. He thought about how much he liked having her in his arms, the way that it felt when she laid her head against his chest, how good it felt to run his fingertips over her lower back, and just how badly he wanted to run his hands over the rest of her body, tracing those generous curves that he’d thought about more than he should over the years.

It felt so good having her breasts pressed against him, Bryce thought as he reached down and adjusted the growing erection pressing against his boxers, only to end up closing his eyes on a moan as he thought about Cayley’s beautiful, plump, pink lips and just how good they’d feel wrapped around his cock. He ran his palm over his cock, trying to relieve the pressure as he thought about what it would feel like to have her lips brush against the tip, teasing him before she wrapped those incredibly beautiful lips around it.

It would probably take everything he had not to come as soon as he felt her warm, wet tongue touch him, Bryce thought as he slipped his hand inside his boxers and pulled his cock out, stroking it from the base to the tip. He thought about what it would be like as Cayley slowly took the tip in her mouth, gently sucked it as he reached down and palmed her breast, gently kneading it in his hand as he struggled against the urge to move his hips.

Christ, it would take everything in him to stay still as she moved her mouth over him. Bryce thought about how good her mouth would feel, hot and wet, while her tongue would feel like fucking heaven caressing the underside of his cock while he let her nipple slide between his fingers. As much as he would love to lose himself in her mouth, he knew that it wouldn’t be long before he needed more and forced himself to slide his cock out of her mouth so that he could explore her body with his mouth and hands, paying special attention to all those places that he’d been thinking about over the years.

He’d kiss his way down her throat, kissing a path down between her breasts, where he would take his time worshipping them as he slid his hand between her legs and-

Dropped his hand away with a curse when he realized what he was doing. One fucking touch and he was already losing his fucking mind, Bryce thought, sighing heavily as he climbed off the bed and headed for the bathroom, where he planned on taking a cold shower. He should have taken that blonde’s invitation the other night, but he’d never been into one-night stands, but Christ, did he need to get laid if he was lying here thinking about what it would take to make Cayley moan in his ear.

He never should have made that deal, Bryce thought as he stepped into the shower. As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew it was a mistake, which is why he found himself sitting in that bar the other night. He needed a chance to clear his head only to find himself watching Cayley as he thought about everything that she’d said and quickly realized that this was a bad idea, but for a chance to get his hands on the Thomas property, he’d be willing to do almost anything.

Even risk his sanity, Bryce realized, sighing heavily as he stepped into the shower and turned the cold water on. He could do this. He’d spend the next month with the little brat to prove to his sister that the Bradford curse was just a line of bullshit that the men in his family told themselves to explain their weird obsessions with their neighbors.

After that, he’d fix Thomas House, find a buyer, and focus his attention on the Dawson Project. Until then, he would play along with his sister’s rules, spend time with Cayley, and make sure that he kept his fucking hands to himself. He had no idea why he’d reacted to her like this, and he didn’t plan on finding out. He had enough bullshit in his life.

He-

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