Chapter Seven
Nate
Icheck my watch forthe tenth time since I hung up with Addilyn. Which wouldn’t be bad, but it’s only been ten minutes. Her being drunk with no filter about her feelings is exactly what I need right now.
Never in my life have I wanted someone like I want her. It has nothing to do with this whole perfectly played out charade we have going. No, it has to do with the way she makes me feel when no one else is around. My pulse picks up, I can’t keep my eyes off her, and the need to touch her is becoming impossible to ignore. The way her sweet scent lingers around me. The way I get lost in her emerald eyes. But that smile, fuck. That smile makes her even more beautiful and I didn’t think that was possible.
When I saw her tonight the wind got knocked out of me. She looked ridiculously hot and I felt my chest start to burn with jealousy. I pulled her into the foyer to tell her no fucking way was she going out looking like that, not without me. But when we got there I realized she’s not mine. Any guy that wanted her tonight stood a chance because in all actuality she’s single. It bothered me, it bothered me a hell of a lot more than it should have. Unfortunately, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut and tell her to have fun.
I’ve had a good time tonight with Charles, Jake and Andrew. Although Andrew was on his phone a lot I think he was checking on his wife. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on there, but tonight was the first time I didn’t want to punch him in his face since I’ve met him. We ordered some pizza, watched the game and had a few beers. I only had one, but the rest of them are drunk.
We had plenty of laughs and I got to know them all a little better, but I’ll be honest my mind was constantly on Addilyn and what she was doing. The more I thought about the possibilities, the more I felt the burning jealousy in my chest. Thinking of another man with his hands on her, kissing her, listening to her sexy voice. Wondering if she was telling him the things I want to hear. It started pissing me off because this is not who I am. I don’t get jealous, ever. Especially over a woman who’s not mine.
“Nate, we need to go get our wives presents tomorrow, you in?” Andrew asks.
Shit, what an asshole I am. I completely forgot to get her something. “Yeah, I’m definitely in.”
“Cool. So this thing with my sister, it’s serious huh?”
“Yeah this is serious,” I partly lie. It is serious, just serious business.
“I guess it’s just weird that she never mentioned you and you guys have been together for six months,” he continues.
“Well I won’t speak for her and why she decided to do that, but it could be the fact she’s overly concerned with how you all judge her.” I stand up and check my watch again. “But again that’s just an observation, you’d have to talk to her.”
The front door flies open and the loud laugher enters before they do. The three of them come in and I can’t help but smile when I see Addilyn, stumble her way inside. They come into the living room and the chatter is loud and everyone is laughing. She may not see it, but they are a close family and I’m honored to experience it.
“Nate,” Addilyn says, walking toward me.
“Hey you. Did you have fun?” I ask, when she right in front of me.
“So much fun,” she giggles.
“Hey, look you two are under the mistletoe. You know what that means,” Abigail cheers, her voice filled with happiness as everyone takes a seat on the couch.
“No, it’s okay. We don’t want to kiss in front of everyone,” Addilyn says, as her cheeks tint pink.
“No, you have to. It’s a mistletoe.” Abigail smiles, clapping her hands together.
Who invented the whole mistletoe thing, and why did people have to kiss under it? I never understood the holiday tradition. My heart erupts in my chest as I search Addilyn’s bright green eyes. We can’t kiss. Or can we?
I wink as I take a step closer to her. She shakes her head the tiniest amount back and forth, with wide eyes.
“One kiss, I mean, it is the mistletoe after all.”
She glances nervously to everyone watching. “Okay,” she mutters.
I step even closer, reaching out and wrapping my arms around her waist. Her breath hitches, and all I can see are her big, green eyes. My eyes haze over and travel to her lips as she licks them.
This feeling in my chest is a hell of a lot better than jealousy.
My hand moves up her side and lands on her cheek as she sucks in a sharp breath. A heat travels up my body as I inch even closer.
Closing her eyes, she puckers her lips as I move in slow motion toward her mouth. My hand skates across her cheek, shaking down to her jaw. I guide my lips to hers and press firmly.
My eyes shoot open as our lips first meet, and then I close them tight as her face tilts causing our lips to rub closer together.
Her knees tremble and she clutches onto my shirt to keep from sinking to her knees.
