Tangled in Tinsel (a holidates series)

type out the millionth text I’ve written to my sister since three a.m. when I woke up. Because who could sleep after that night? I’ve been overthinking and watching the snow fall and gather in swoops across the sky-high windows of my room.

Me: Wake up already. I could be dying. I kind of am, emotionally. I hate you. Not really…call me when you get this.

Me: for context…I got a little drunkie drunk last night, flirted with ALL the guys, then kissed one of them. Wearing only a towel. And I may have invited him to stay in my room. FUCK!!!! WAKE UP!!!!

Me: But like, he kissed me first. And he’s fucking hot. But he also said I was fired. Soooo…

Me: Do you think he was serious? Shit. I have him on the books for a remodel of his Napa house. Elle!!!

Me: Oh god. I can’t breathe. Wake the fuck up!! You have no life…how are you so tired?

I toss my phone back on the bed, pushing off of it to stand and pace. This is why I hate the light of day. Everything takes on a whole different dirty skew.

Last night, I had a sexy encounter with a broody alpha who told me I was a good girl. Fuck, that was so hot.

My thumbnail finds its place between my teeth. Because herein lies the problem. This morning, the narrative feels more like—I got too drunk, flirted with my fucking clients, and almost fucked one of them after he accidentally saw me nude.

I let out an inelegant grunt, tipping my head back before I pace again.

Oh, and let me not forget that I may have been fired so he could date me.

The last part stops me in my tracks as it has all morning, making me bite my lip.

Does Cole want to date me? No, right? But maybe. Do I want to date him? He did say, “Game on,” so that has to be what he meant.

Jesus, what is wrong with me? I may have been fired to pave the way to my pussy, and I’m smiling?

Feminism…who’s she?

I swipe my phone off the bed, holding it to my face. “I shouldn’t be left alone with my thoughts today, Eleanor. You suck.”

Fuck this. I can’t hole up in here all day worried about who I flirted with, and with whom I did…more. And I need coffee. Time to put my big girl panties on. Figuratively, because my literal panties are still wet, drying from the handwashing I gave them this morning.

I pad over to the door, pausing with my fingers on the handle because my stomach starts doing flips.

“Okay, here goes.” My lips purse. Or maybe not. Shit. Game face, Samantha.

“I got this,” I whisper again, scoffing before rolling my shoulders and bouncing on my feet like a boxer as I talk to myself.

“Everything is totally normal. And cool. So cool. Just as long as I don’t act like a horny weirdo and try to fuck anyone else.”

My eyes drop to the shirt I’m wearing as I halt my Rocky pep talk. Alec had left it for me to sleep in last night when he gave me the room tour. It’s fine. I mean, I couldn’t sleep in my clothes. Nobody will care if I’m in this.

“Yeah, cuz, wearing my boss’s shirt with no fucking bra or underwear sends the perfect message.”

I look back at my jeans, debating whether to put them on, catching sight of the clock. It’s six in the morning. Those guys drank so much last night. There’s no way they’re awake. And the T-shirt is long enough to cover my bits.

So I quietly pull the door open, peeking out into the hall, seeing that the coast’s clear before letting out a relieved breath.

Walking out, I’m as silent as possible, tiptoeing past the other bedrooms. From what I gathered, Cole and Alec are across from me. Reed and I share a wall. And Jace is on the other side of the house. Apparently, he talks in his sleep.

My nervous energy begins to fade as I reach the end of the hallway because it’s so quiet. That is until I hear humming…from a person…as I round the corner into the kitchen.

And worse, it’s the godawful song from my shower debacle.

Fuck my life. Back to my room, stat.

But my feet aren’t fast enough because Reed’s voice halts my retreat. At least it’s not Cole.

“You’re up early, sunshine.”

I pivot, smiling tightly, discreetly pulling at my T-shirt as every moment of our flirt-fest flashes through my head.

“Yeah…couldn’t sleep,” I breathe out.

“Me neither,” he says in that sexy deep morning voice guys get.

Good lord, he’s in gray sweats and a white T-shirt. Reed presses a palm to the counter, resting his hip as he takes a sip from his mug.

He looks like a coffee ad. Like one of those ridiculously beautiful men that convince you to pay more than you should on beans from somewhere exotic. When really, they’re just from a plant in Pittsburgh.

For fuck’s sake, I’m rambling in my own head. His hotness has evaporated my brain cells.

Reed places his coffee on the counter before running his hand under his T-shirt, rubbing his chest. It makes his abs peek out.

I can’t help myself. I glance as he keeps speaking.

“I kept having all these really vivid dreams. Want to hear one?”

I immediately think about the day I met him when he woke up saying he’d been dreaming about me. I swallow, realizing that I’m still looking at him.

It’s only a glance when you look away. This is ogling.

Whatever. In my defense, those abs are like a neon sign. Or the temptation that takes hold when someone tells you not to look at an eclipse. Everyone risks blindness at least once.

“You want some?” he croons.

My eyes dart back, boring a hole into the coffee machine. Shit. Caught.

“What?” I utter, blinking too fast and unconvincing of my confusion. “No, I wasn’t…wanting…I mean—”

“Coffee,” he cuts in. “Would you like some coffee, Samantha?”

The red on my cheeks is definitely trickling down my neck. Inside I’m screaming, but outside I point to the machine and explain, “No, I know what you were saying. I thought you meant ‘want some’ of yours…but I got it. You can never be too safe with meningitis. Right?” What am I saying? Stop. Talking. “Never mind. Don’t mind me. I’m all good.”

I’ll take awkward and socially inadequate for two hundred, Alex. RIP, Trebek.

Reed grins harder. “Cool, do your thing. I’ll just stay right here.” My eyes pull to his as he adds, “Since I’m partial to the view.”

His eyes take me in, pulling that damn bottom lip between his teeth, letting it drift out slowly. My face isn’t warm anymore, but other parts are definitely heating up.

Don’t look. Don’t flirt. Just act natural.

What was I even doing? Oh yeah! Coffee.

I reach out to start making it, but my hand stops mid-air. Why are there so many buttons? This is the shower all over again. I half blink, suddenly feeling the warmth of Reed’s body cloud my senses as he leans past me, facing me, hitting the ON button.

Discombobulated defines every reaction because the smell of Reed in the morning is almost as delicious as him last night when he blew me a kiss.

God, he’s so close, engulfing me with his presence.

“Thank you,” I breathe out, held hostage by his gorgeous green eyes.

Last night, Reed was flirtatious and arrogantly charming. Reed this morning is throwing off fuck-me vibes. How many of those vivid dreams was I in?

As Reed chuckles, I peel my eyes away, still trying to get my bearings.

“Cups, Sammy… start with a cup.”

Fuck. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me. And I think he knows I like it too. I sweep my hair over my shoulder, mouthing I know before discreetly sticking my tongue at him. But as I reach up to open the cabinet, I’m instantly reminded that I’m wearing a T-shirt and no underwear. Because it brushes the very top of my thigh as the air hits places it shouldn’t.

My hands shoot back down, and I lock eyes with Reed. He’s smirking.

This is exactly the situation I was trying to avoid and still seemed to manifest because my pussy is a traitor. She’s literally the most unreliable ride-or-die. And she just set me up, making me all woozy with hormones that I forgot I was practically naked.

“Cute shirt.” Reed smirks, plucking at my side. “New?”

The smile on my face is wholly involuntary as I jerk away from his almost tickle and face him. I can’t help it—staring back at his devilish grin, I want to play whatever game he’s playing.

Reed brings out the demon in me.

“Stop harassing me,” I cut.

“You’re harassing me,” he counters just as quickly.

“How am I harassing you? I just came out here for coffee.”

He scoffs, “In only a T-shirt. I can’t be held accountable for my actions.”

I roll my eyes, pushing his chest, moving him back a small step.

“Oh my god. Be a grown-up, Reed. Have some self-control.”

Reed catches my wrist and my eyes before slowly tugging me forward.

“That’s not what you want, though. Is it? Or you wouldn’t be throwing yourself at me—”

I want to say I’m not. But my fucking mouth won’t work.

He steps in front of me, so I’m sandwiched between him and the counter. God help me if I’m not holding my breath as he bends down. He sends shivers up my spine, finishing what he started, delivering his words in that fucking goosebump-giving gravelly way.

“—I think Samantha likes to be a dirty little slut.”

My chest rises and falls too quickly, but it’s because my entire body just lit up like a fucking Christmas tree. How does he know that? And why does it feel like I’m on the edge of coming? As if Reed can read my thoughts, his leg presses between mine.

“You came out here, reaching for cups, showing your ass….Fuck, Samantha, I want to take a bite.”

I just forgot how to breathe. But I know I am because the world is still in focus.

Reed reaches down to play with the hem of my T-shirt, pressing our bodies flush. Teasing my already throbbing clit.

“I can make it hurt so good,” he groans before pulling back to look at me. “Just say please.”

I’m frozen, staring up at him. His head begins nodding. Shit, so is mine. I don’t know if it’s because he’s mirroring me or I’m doing that to him. Either way, it’s my answer.

Oh fuck. I’ve fallen into Reed’s dick sand, sucked into the serious hotness this guy exudes. I’m lost forever, like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Cock. Because I can’t focus past the rhythmic strokes of his finger on my leg. And the coaxing temptation of his thigh for me to grind my clit against it.

“Sammy.” He tilts his head. “Use your manners, or was Cole right? Does someone need to teach them to you?”

My eyes grow wide. Cole told him about last night. His finger moves half an inch higher, drawing circles over my thigh, making me suck in a gasp.

This feels all the right kinds of wrong.

Reed knows I kissed Cole.

Knows I wanted to hear good girl.

He probably knows what I did in the shower.

And still, his finger hasn’t stopped edging toward my bare pussy.

“Look at you. Suddenly shy. I didn’t believe him when he told me.” Reed bends down, bringing his lips to my ear. “Fuck manners. You make me want to bend you over this counter and eat that pretty little ass until you’re begging me to tongue your pussy.”

I’m literally about to pass out. I’m soaked. Body arching toward him, already pleading. But all I manage is, “Cole told you? About last night?”

Reed grins, saying, “Who?” before his mouth seals over mine.

Holy shit. It’s as if someone shot a race gun. We’re two thoroughbreds out of the gate. His hand immediately grips the nape of my neck, gripping my hair as our tongues fight like lovers.

My fingers dig into his shoulders, kissing him like I’m starved as he presses me backward onto the counter. He’s assaulting my mouth and driving my shirt up farther and farther. And I’m not stopping him. Because damn, I’m a hostage to this feeling and to the taste of him. Like someone taking the first sip of absinthe. It comes on strong, and you’re instantly drunk.

He growls into my mouth, scrambling to grip the back of my thigh before pulling my leg over his hip. I gasp, but it’s eaten by his hungry kiss as he grinds into me.

“Fuck. Your mouth tastes just as sweet as he said.”

I don’t know my name or what day it is. I’m all lust and need to be wielded in expert hands. Reed tugs my head back by my hair as he licks and kisses over my throat, smiling against my skin as soft mewls vibrate in my throat. But they’re cut off as he drags his rock-hard cock slowly up my wet clit.

“Yes,” I rasp, but it’s short-lived.

Reed steps back, leaving me panting, breathless, legs splayed, sitting on the counter as he reaches behind himself and slowly drags that white T-shirt over his head.

“Someone could wake up?” I whisper, knowing full well I’m not stopping this.

“Then they can watch me fuck you.”

The idea rocks my body, making me shudder. A low primal breath accompanies Reed’s smack of the inside of my knee. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s enough to make me jump and spread them farther apart.

“You like that.” It wasn’t a question. “Your pussy’s glistening.” His eyes jump to mine. “Let’s play and see just how dirty you like it, sunshine.”

His palm settles against my chest, pushing me, forcing me to lean back. As his other dives under a scrap of shirt covering my pussy.

“Oh my god,” I say, sucking in a breath because his fingers thrust inside.

“Tell me you’re my dirty slut. Tell me how you want it.”

My mouth is hanging open, whimpers caught on harsh breaths tugging from my chest.

“I’m…” I can’t say it.

This is happening. I’m drowning in lust so deep I can’t speak. This is almost every fantasy I’ve had, come to life. My hips squirm, but he doesn’t finger me.

He just stands there like a fucking god. Staring down at me as he slowly drags his fingers from my cunt and up to his mouth. My eyes drift closed, overwhelmed, listening to the sound of Reed cleaning me off his fingers because it’s the hottest fucking moment I’ve ever experienced.

“Look at me,” he growls, gripping my ass, angling my hips so I can feel every sensation.

He’s dry fucking me. On the counter of the kitchen. For everyone to see.

“Reed,” I breathe out, circling my hips as I clutch on to him.

“Don’t say my name until you’re screaming it.”

Oh fuck. I’m panting. Toes curled. Legs wrapped around him, rocking, dragging up and down, over and over. Everything inside me tightens. The world blurs.

“Reed. I’m going to—hand…mouth.”

Without hesitation, his palm slaps over my mouth. My eyes close, lost to the rhythm of our bodies grinding against that sweet friction. I can’t breathe except through my nose, but I could be dying, and I wouldn’t care because of what Reed’s saying.

“That’s it, come for me like the slut you are. You let me use you on this fucking counter, wishing Cole was watching.”

I moan.

“Beg me to fuck you while Jace’s cock is in your mouth? Say it, pretty whore.”

I’m almost screaming against his palm, nodding my head because my body is exploding. Oh god.

“I’m going to fuck that tight pussy while Alec fucks your sweet little hole. We’re going to stretch you so fucking good you won’t be able to walk. And what will you say, sunshine?”

“Thank you,” I rush out the second his hand leaves my mouth, panting as I ride out the wave. “I’ll say thank you.”