We go into my room and sit on the bed. “What’s going on?” she asks, leaning forward to listen.
“It was supposed to be innocent fun, no strings attached, but I’m catching feelings, and I can’t help it.”
She gives me a look of sympathy. “I get it. I caught feelings early on with Jett. The MC men seem to have that effect on us.”
I groan. “It’s the heated looks, the secret touches, the teasing. When I’m with him, all thoughts of the consequences disappear, leaving only longing. Later I’m left with the weight of the guilt. But I can’t seem to end whatever is going on between us, and he can’t either. We’re stuck, and I don’t know what to do. There’s no way this can work out well for us.” Even though I was jealous that Mercedez was on his lap, I can’t help but still want him, and I hate it. I should have more respect for myself, but I can’t stop the way I feel about him.
She gives me a hug. “I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for you. If only I had something positive to say.”
“I’m not a one-night-stand type of girl, and this is why. I catch feelings,” I chastise myself. “I should have anticipated this when we had sex.” My stomach drops low. “I’m worried about what we have ending, but I’m also worried we’ll get caught. My brother is my family. He’s been everything to me, and he’s the club president. Loyalty and rules are important to him. We either lose what we have, or we lose our relationships with my brother.” Tears fall, and I feel stupid. “Don’t mind my drunk talk.”
She rubs my back soothingly. “Your feelings are valid. I’m sorry I have no helpful words of wisdom for you. I just want you to be happy, and I hate that you’re in this position.”
I wipe my tears. “Thank you. Well... I might get some sleep.” I’m embarrassed about my outburst.
She nods, says good night, and closes the door behind her. I get changed, feeling rude for not saying good night to everyone outside, but I assume they’re all drunk and won’t notice I left. I snuggle into bed and let a few more tears fall, dampening my pillow, before I roll over and fall asleep.
The sound of the door opening wakes me. The light from the fire filters through the curtains, showing Twitch moving toward my bed. “What are you doing?” I ask sleepily.
“You’ve been gone for a while. I was just checking on you,” he replies.
It makes me smile. “I’ve been working long shifts. I think I needed an early night.” A half-truth.
The bed dips as he sits beside me.
“No one saw you come in, did they?” I ask.
“No, everyone’s still outside drinking.”
“I’m okay, so you can go out and celebrate with everyone, especially Mercedez.” I didn’t mean for my voice to sound so bitter, so I add, “Thanks for checking on me.”
He leans down, looking at my lips. My heart races.
“I don’t want her. I want you.”
I hear everyone outside counting down. “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...” My breath gets heavy. “Five, four...” The anticipation is cruel. “Three, two...” Instinctively, I raise my chin to meet his lips. “One.” His mouth finds mine, soft at first, as if asking for permission. Then the kiss deepens and fire burns through me.
I reach up and tangle my fingers in his hair, eliciting a moan from him. The tip of his tongue flicks out to touch mine, and I angle my mouth. He sweeps his tongue against mine, and he tastes like mint. He inches back. My chest rises and falls as I try to catch my breath, my lips tingling from the intensity of the kiss. His forehead rests against mine, and I can feel the heat radiating off his skin. The arousal I feel for him is consuming, and I want him all over again.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he murmurs, his voice low and gravelly.
I let out a shaky laugh. “Funny, I was about to say the same thing.”
His lips curve into a wicked grin and he leans in, brushing his mouth against mine in a teasing, featherlight touch. “You have no idea what you do to me,” he whispers, his breath warm against my lips.
I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “I think I have a pretty good idea.”
“I had to come see you. I needed my New Year’s kiss,” he says huskily.
I’m overheating. I lick my lips, tasting the last remnant of him. “You got your kiss.” The yearning in me demands that isn’t enough. It can’t be.
He chuckles, “Yeah, I did. But I want to kiss somewhere else.”
Before I can say anything, he’s pulled the blanket off and is tugging down my pajama pants, making me chuckle. I glance at the door, torn between wanting his mouth on me and worrying about someone hearing us. He rips off my underwear and I shiver with excitement. Any thoughts of stopping him vanish.
“Open your legs for me,” he murmurs in a deep, sexy voice.
I do as I’m told, and he moves between my legs, his hot breath tickling my skin. His sudden touch on my clit makes me hiss and buck. His thumb rubs circles over the nub, and my back arches and pleasure shoots through me.
