“Come here.” Collins stands, pulling me up with him and guiding me toward the entryway of the living room.
“Can’t kiss me with everyone else around?” I ask as he puts my back against the wall just outside of the living room, giving an illusion of privacy that doesn’t exist.
“Not the way I want to.” He inches closer to me, letting one hand find my waist and the other inch up my arm until it’s behind my neck. Gently rubbing circles on my pulse point with his thumb.
Chapter 15
Happy New Year
Collins
“Oh.” That’s all Harley manages to say, her cheeks flushed in anticipation of what’s to come.
“Oh, is right.” From the living room, we hear the clock begin to tick down to midnight.
“Ten.” I smile down at her, I can feel the hunger I have for her roaring within me.
“Nine.” A sexy little smile pulls her lips as she looks up at me. Her hands find their way up my chest, then she pulls me the slightest bit closer by my collar.
“Eight.” A tight squeeze of her hip, almost bruising.
“Seven.” A teasing touch of our lips, barely a ghost.
“Six.” A groan escapes me when she doesn’t let me deepen that kiss.
“Five.” My hand moving from her waist to her ass, pulling her against me. My cock hardens behind my slacks when I feel her dress ride up the slightest bit, only to discover bare skin.
“Four.” A small moan leaves her mouth when I squeeze her bare ass.
“Three.” The smallest cant of her hips toward my thigh.
“Two.” I bring my face impossibly closer to hers, our foreheads touching as I stare into her lust-filled eyes.
“One.” Another moment of taking each other in.
“Happy New Year!” The voices echo from around the house, but all I see is Harley Wheeler. She goes to speak, but I don’t let her. I use the hand behind her neck to pull her lips to mine. This one isn’t gentle like the others. This is a silent claim; it’s rough and long. It’s me capturing tiny whimpers as my tongue slips into her mouth and explores it. It’s her gripping my collar as if I’m her lifeline and she can’t breathe without me. It’s me sending up a silent prayer that everyone leaves soon because I need her alone. Now.
When I finally bring myself to pull away, her chest is heaving, cheeks somehow even more flushed, and the cutest smile gracing her lips.
“Happy New Year, Collins.”
“Happy New Year, Baby.”
“The best kiss I’ve ever had,” Harley whispers.
“That’s how I really would’ve kissed you on our first date, Peppermint.” She doesn’t get to respond because Nik is calling us back into the living space for photos. I quickly check to make sure her makeup is okay and we smooth out our clothes before rounding the corner where everyone else remains.
“Good kiss?” Dom waggles his eyebrows at me as he gestures to wipe the corner of my lips. I send him a wink and a silent thank you before wiping away her lipstick.
We cycle through each couple, girls and guys shots, and group shots before spending another hour chatting, and everyone heads out front to pile into cars and Ubers.
“Check in when you get home, please!” Harley hollers in the general direction of our friends. Her instructions are returned with a chorus of ‘yes mom’, ‘you got it’, and ‘you’ve got my location’.
“They’ll be fine,” I tell her from my place behind her.
“I know, but it makes me feel better if they tell me they’re fine.” She responds as we watch taillights recede before stepping back into my home.
As soon as the lock clicks, the air changes from light and easy to heavy and tense. Harley stands against my front door, hands twiddling in front of her, pushing her cleavage out further. She sways slightly on her feet, I’m hoping it’s to relieve some of the ache between her legs.
