Tangled in Tinsel (a holidates series)

Stunned is the wrong word to describe them. Maybe surprised is a better fit. Because stunned is what I feel over just casually throwing out herpes.

I’m my own worst enemy. I seem to have no control whatsoever over my thoughts-to-mouth function. The only plus about what I’ve said is that Reed is speechless. Shaking his head, grinning as he stares at me. Finally.

He wipes a hand down his cheek.

“What’s a regular date with you like?”

I celebrated too soon.

My eyes briefly drop to the floor as I fill my cheeks with air before letting it out with a pop. I can feel myself blinking. That’s how fucking aware I am of my awkwardness. If I could make it stop, I would.

I’d run right for the window and throw myself out.

But I can’t. Because these fucking boots are too heavy. Jesus.

Maybe one day I’ll look back on this and be so detached that I’ll forget I was ever this uncool. Or…and this feels truer…I will cringe over this randomly for the rest of my life.

You know what, why be embarrassed? I’m about to fuck the whole room. Screw it. Lean in.

“Nobody knows,” I say, looking up to add, “how I am on a date. I’ve never been on one. That’s actually part of my next question. Is it a problem that I’m a virgin?”

All the air is sucked out of the room and replaced with panic.

Jace stands halfway before sitting back down, muttering, “Wait a minute… what?”

Reed’s frozen. He hasn’t even blinked. And Cole’s staring at me like I’m a puzzle he hasn’t figured out because he doesn’t have any edge pieces.

Wow.

But Alec gives me a wink and mouths, liar.

I press my lips together, raising my brows at him in challenge, but he shakes his head, not buying it. My eyes narrow. But he holds his ground and my eyes. So I shrug before my voice is sing-songy.

“Just kidding.”

A chorus of relieved sighs, grumbles, and curses accompany Cole’s jaw, aggressively tensing as he spreads his legs, adjusting himself. I have a feeling my ass is going to feel the consequences of that joke.

I’m immediately fanning myself, knowing I’m blushing. But I stab my finger at each of them, making my point.

“Listen up. Especially you,” I snark, stopping at Reed. “I’m nervous, and occasionally when I’m nervous, I suffer from poor delivery. But these are two very fair questions…about STDs. And since I do plan on dating after this—”

“No,” they bark in unison, effectively shutting my mouth.

Jace adds, “Quit that.”

My lips part, eyes traveling over them. You have got to be kidding me. I lift a hand out in front of me, thoroughly amused.

“This arrangement is only for the weekend.”

“Correct,” Alec answers, crossing his arms.

I stare, waiting for them to catch on. But they don’t, so I press with a smirk.

“So we’re pretending there’s no expiration? Or that I’ve magically only ever been interested in a gang bang…with you?”

“Exactly,” Jace agrees.

They’re insane. I start laughing between my words. Why are men like this? My hip pops out as I cross my arms.

“So, just to be clear. You’ve done this before…and will again. But I’ve never had sex with any—”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Reed cuts in. “Do not finish that sentence.”

“Oh my god.” I laugh. “But you almost had a stroke when I said I was a virgin.”

“Yes,” Cole levels. “And?”

“And? And I can just magically suck dick so good that your knees will buckle? And fuck like a porn star, but dirty slut is just my default? And on Monday, when we drive away, my pussy will just stay preserved like a wax statue from Madame Tussauds?”

“Yes,” they answer in chorus, leaning in at the same time like a pack of animals.

I ignore their reaction because I’m too busy laughing. Hard. Like hands coming to my knees hard.

“Guys are stupid. And you guys are the most stupid.”

My hair swishes over my shoulder as I stand back up. I start fanning myself again because this damn suit feels like a boiler the more I move around.

“True,” Cole adds, not trying to hide his smile. “But at least we don’t have herpes.”

I roll my eyes.

“I was saying it as a placeholder for all things requiring ointment and/or penicillin.”

“Valid”—Reed chuckles—“and yet, still funny.”

Jace rests his forearms on his knees, stealing my attention because he’s smiling sweetly, even with humor still behind his eyes.

“We were never laughing at you.”

“Yes, we were,” Reed cuts in, but Jace shakes his head.

“No. We weren’t. It was unexpected. You caught us off guard. But let me answer. We’re all tested and clean. We can show results to you on our phones, and nobody fucks around outside these arrangements without protection. But we’re happy to wrap up if you’d prefer. Or even if you just want to because you’re not on the pill.”

I’m standing, still fanning myself, quietly absorbing what he’s said as my weight minutely shifts back and forth. That’s exactly what I was hoping they’d say. My tongue darts over my bottom lip before I nod.

“Okay. I like it. That sounds perfect.” I grin, looking at Cole. “And since I’m not a virgin, more like a woman with a body count envied by the likes of Mortal Combat, I can also show my clean bill of health. Oh, and I’m on the pill.” A tiny laugh escapes as I add, “So I guess we’re raw dogging it.”

I hear it the moment I say it. Reed groans, narrowing his eyes. “Why are you torturing us? Just say yes already. I know you’re going to. I want. Gimme.”

Oof. This version of Reed’s charm is quite possibly the most dangerous. I pinch the jacket between my fingers, pulling it away from my chest over and over.

“How do you know I’ll say yes? Maybe I won’t.”

Cole interjects, “Because we listened at your door.”

My mouth pops open. Sneaky bastards. Why does that make me like them more? Instantly the memory of how Reed left my room makes me smile.

“Cheats,” I snark.

Cole shrugs. Completely unapologetic. “I prefer Samantha enthusiasts.”

My shoulders shake as I lift my phone, blowing air down toward my chest, trying to refocus. But as I start to read, So when we’re all fucking—

Cole stops me, standing.

“I’m getting a drink for the rest of this conversation. Who else would like one?”

I scarcely get out “The sun’s barely up” before hands shoot up from the others. Cole laughs, and I shiver at the bass even though I’m sweltering in the heat of this suit. He walks past me, stopping to turn his head, eyes meeting mine.

“If you expect us to remain even somewhat gentlemanlike, after you’ve done nothing to filter that filthy mouth, then we’re going to need alcohol. No matter the time. Now, I believe you promised expedience. Get to it, princess.”

“Oh.”

I smile, plucking the jacket away from me, feeling hot air rise.

My eyes blink slowly and not even fully before I turn back to the couch as Cole leaves for the bar.

I’m staring at the questions, feeling flustered. He’s sexy. Just fucking sexy. Damn.

“Where was I?”

“Question number two,” Alec offers, crossing his legs, looking at me as if he’s slowly undressing me.

“Right, question number two.” I open my eyes wider, trying to focus before I read, “When we’re fucking, do you guys…do guys?”

Cole chokes on his newly made scotch. As Reed breathes out, “Now it’s a party.”

Goddammit. It sounded way more discreet when I wrote it. I tuck my hair behind my ears, feeling dampness on my hairline.

Am I sweating?

Jace grins. “Sammy—”

But I cut him off, embarrassed.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m totally fine with it. I was just hoping to be the star of the show. Because that’s my personal fantasy. And since it’s a weekend romp…” Jesus, the more I say this out loud, the dumber it sounds. “Scratch that. Just plow ahead.”

Now they’re all on their feet as Cole walks toward me.

“I mean…I didn’t mean. Plow ahead. That sounds weird. Asses aren’t fields. Fuck. What I mean is you’ll need to give me the rundown. How does this happen? Am I fucking everyone? Will you take turns? Does Jace fuck Reed while Reed fucks me? There’s just a lot of choreography, and I’m not a skilled dancer…so—”

I’m surrounded. Eyes on me as I drown in so much male energy that I gasp. Oh fuck. I reach for my jacket, feeling like I’m boiling.

“How many more questions do you have on that app thing?” Cole growls.

“A few,” I answer, trying to pull the zipper down some more, but it’s stuck.

Cole slips my phone from my hand.

“Whoa. No. Give it back.”

I try to reach around him as he hands it to Reed, but my arm is effortlessly moved.

“Answer these,” Cole directs, still staring at me. “Do it now because I want to hear her say yes.”

Now he’s talking to me.

“Princess, I don’t care what questions, stipulations, or terms you have. You can have whatever the fuck you want. Including the spotlight or my dick down Alec’s throat if that ensures me inside that pussy.”

Reed chuckles. “Sunshine, just say yes. No, guys aren’t even our thing.”

My chest is rising and falling faster and faster. My official answer is on the tip of my tongue as butterflies explode in my stomach. My lips part just as my knees feel like they’re going to buckle.

Holy shit. I blink.

“I’m seeing stars.”

“Not yet, you aren’t,” Reed counters.

Cole grips my chin between his fingers.

“Shit,” he growls.

My eyelids flutter. “Ummm…I’m passing out.”

“Fuck.”

The air hits my body as Cole rips the jacket open and off in seconds, exposing the truth—me in that damn T-shirt from earlier.

I was always a foregone conclusion.

Albeit an unconscious one now.

One minute I’m staring into Cole’s eyes, and the next, I’m lying on the floor hearing:

“Do you see what I mean? Every time she’s nervous, she rambles. It’s fucking adorable. Come to think of it, it probably didn’t help the overheating.”

Jace. 

“Shut up and put the towel on the back of her neck. She won’t fuck us if we kill her.”

Reed.

“I can’t believe I didn’t notice she was wearing those fucking training pants. They’re designed to insulate and make you sweat to death.”

Alec.

My eyes blink open, slowly locking onto Cole’s. He’s all brows drawn together, staring down at me.

“Welcome back, Samantha. How about a bath?”

Oh, they’re dreamy.

I slowly lift two fingers to Cole’s mouth, pressing them against his lips before bringing them back to mine.

“What was that for?” he breathes out, staring intensely into my eyes as if I’ve put him in a trance.

My head shifts to see they’re all looking at me like that. My gaze travels up past Cole to the top of the fireplace hearth. The place where I was supposed to come out and kiss Reed to seal the deal.

“Mistletoe,” I say with a smile.

“Is that a yes?” Reed asks from my side.

I shake my head, looking between them again.

“It’s a yes, yes, yes”—my eyes stop on Cole’s—“and yes.”