I do none of those things, though. I take a deep, steadying breath in and follow her into the study where the rest of our families are crowding around Beau and Val. Mom and Aunt Rachel are dabbing at their eyes, fawning over the glittering diamond now perched on Val’s left hand and giving Beau celebratory hugs. My dad claps Beau on the back, beaming over at him. Willow and Noelle are hugging Val as she holds her hand out to show off the ring Beau picked out.
I step over to my brother and clap him on the back, too. “Congrats, man. Happy for you.”
“Thanks, Theo,” Beau says, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’ll be my best man, right?”
My eyebrows shift up in surprise. “Uhh, yeah. I’d be honored, man.”
I’m not going to lie; I’m shocked as hell. I mean, don’t get me wrong, my brother and I are close, but I’ve always just assumed he thought I was his annoying dumbass younger brother.
He nods his head, lips pulling into a smile, then turns back to his new fiancé. Noelle skips over to me, fairly bouncing. “Okay, totally worth all the trouble and almost dying.”
I chuckle, draping one arm around her shoulders and pulling her into my side. The move is natural, something I’ve never thought twice about before. Now, my fingers tingle as I trail them over her bicep, over the softness of her sweater. Her other arm slides around my waist, her fingers spanning in the space between my ribcage and hipbone. Physical contact has never been awkward for us… but Christ I’m struggling now. Having my hand on her ass her earlier, standing almost exactly where we are now, my face buried in her tits, with my cock pressed up against the cleft of her thighs… All of those things are making this so much fucking harder now.
Among other things.
Releasing my hold on her shoulder, I drift my hand down and twine my fingers through hers. She glances up at me, her lips parting just slightly. The only light in the study is that of the Christmas lights strung up around the room, and it makes her eyes shine like stars.
I’m barely aware of our families leaving the room, heading back to the living room or kitchen. All I can do is stare down at her, my heart a jackhammer in my chest. Backing up several steps, I pull her with me, until we’re back beneath the mistletoe again.
It’s now or never.
Chapter Fourteen
Noelle
“What are you doing?” I whisper, my breath coming out in quick, shallow pants. The look in his eyes… it’s intense, heated. Gone is the lighthearted, goofy guy Theo, and in his place... I swallow hard. “Theo…”
His blue eyes search mine for what feels like an eternity as we stand together, his fingers clasped tightly around mine. His gaze is so intense and alive with a fire that smolders in the blue depths, the twinkle of the Christmas lights that are strung throughout the room reflected in his eyes. That ridiculous Santa hat still on his head, and it looks unfairly sexy on him. His voice is low, gruff as he whispers, “I told you I’d meet you under the mistletoe.”
“Theo, I thought that was a joke, making fun of that post Willow made—”
“I may joke about a lot of things, be the loveable goofball that no one takes seriously… but I would never joke about kissing you, Angel.”
Eyes blazing, he stares down at me, and I can feel the heat radiating off of him as he presses closer. His hand leaves mine,traveling up my arm and up, up until his hand is bracketing the front of my throat. His touch is gentle but sure, his strong fingers tilting my chin up. I glance up at the mistletoe hanging above us.
My heart is fairly galloping in my chest at his huskily spoken words and I lick my lips. Bringing my gaze back to his, he breathes, “Not when I’ve wanted to for as long as I can remember…”
He ducks his head just slightly, his lips brushing along my jaw and electricity zings through every nerve in my body at the contact. My mouth falls open with a gasp, and his lips move across my cheek. I’m panting, my entire body trembling. His lips hover over the corner of my mouth and I shift slightly, tilting my head just a touch, as much as his hand bracketing my jaw will allow. His breath grazes my mouth, his lips fluttering lightly over mine.
“…Theo,” I breathe, my lips parting. Oh holy night, I want this. So bad.
“I’m going to kiss you, Noelle. I’ve thought about kissing you under these damn mistletoes every single Christmas Eve since we were twelve. So, I’m going to kiss you, right here, right now. Like I’ve always wanted to,” he rasps, his voice thick and growly, his lips moving against mine. Not quite touching but enough to make my body feel like it’s on fire. He smells like cinnamon and pine, the scent dancing around me, enveloping me until it’s all I can smell, his breath fanning across my cheeks and lips again. That hand at my throat tightens just marginally and I sigh out a breathy moan. His other hand is at my hip now, fingers digging into the softness there. “So, if you don’t want me to kiss you, now would be the optimal time to knee me in the balls. Because once I start, I’m not stopping, Noe.”
His blue eyes are heavy lidded as he stares down at me, waiting. Giving me the chance to say no.
Sliding my hands up his sides, I spread my fingers wide against his ribs beneath his arms. “Kiss me, Theo—”
His fingers tightening at my throat, he groans, crushing his mouth to mine. He wastes no time, parting his lips and sliding his tongue out to find my lips already open and waiting for him.
At the first touch of his tongue to mine, I gasp, arching my body against his. His hand at my waist slides around to sit low on my back, just above the curve of my ass, but then his hand is sliding down to cup me fully, hauling me close against him. I feel him, hard and heavy and full, against my belly.
He kisses me like a man given his last meal, his lips and tongue fierce and greedy but generous. Fucking hell, the man knows how to kiss. He nips my lower lip with his teeth and raging desire flashes through me. Miss Kitty is ecstatic.
Rocking against his front, I moan around his kiss, heat scorching me. I’m wet and aching.
“Christ, Noelle,” he breathes, releasing my mouth and pressing his forehead to mine. “I don’t want to stop.”
“Don’t stop,” I plead, tilting my head and pressing my mouth to his again. “Don’t you dare stop.”
