Best Man Under the Mistletoe

Maybe not, but she was on the verge of angry tears if that quivering chin was any indicator.

Gabe moved into the room, closing the door at his back and flicking on the light since he’d shut out the glow from the hall. Something at the party had bothered her because just moments ago he’d seen her laughing with guests and playing darts with some other ladies.

“What is it?”

Shaking her head, she attempted a smile. Did she truly think he’d just let her lie to his face and suffer alone? He wanted to know who the hell had hurt her so much that her cheeks were tinged pink and her eyes were practically shooting fire.

“It’s nothing. I just needed to get away from the chaos out there for a second.” Chelsea slid her palms over his chest and cocked her head. “I’ve missed you.”

Gripping her wrists before she could distract him, he leaned forward. “Don’t change the subject. Tell me what happened.”

“Just some jerk thinking he can make crude comments about the photos.” She slid her hands up around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair. “I didn’t want to make a scene so I just walked out.”

Rage pumped through him. “Tell me who.”

Chelsea shook her head. “He’s not ruining this night. That’s why I didn’t say anything. Daniel would go all big brother on me if he knew and Shane and Brandee would feel guilty for inviting someone here who was so ill-mannered.”

To hell with Daniel or what anyone else would do. Gabe wanted his hands around the bastard’s throat right this second. Nobody would ever make Chelsea feel inferior or knock her self-esteem down...not as long as he was around. Hell, even after they were through, he’d still consider her a friend and he’d never stand for anyone being cruel to her.

Gabe gritted his teeth and attempted to rein in his anger. He would find the bastard and make sure he understood never to mention Chelsea’s name again or even to glance her way. If Shane knew about this, he’d haul the guy out of the party, but Gabe wouldn’t let this dark cloud hang over the night and he sure as hell wasn’t going to let it hang over Chelsea.

Daniel and Shane didn’t need to know anything had happened. Gabe knew and he would damn well take care of things.

Forcing himself to remain calm, he nipped at her lips. “You look so damn sexy,” he murmured against her mouth. “Did you wear this to drive me crazy? Because I’m ready to make our excuses and find someplace where we can be alone so I can see what you’re wearing under this.”

With that bright smile that never failed to pack a punch of lust, Chelsea tickled the nape of his neck with her fingertips. “Maybe I had someone in mind when I put this on.”

“Is that right?” he growled.

She nodded and met his gaze beneath her heavy lids. “I may have also had that same person in mind when I made a special purchase yesterday. Maybe something lacy.”

His entire body tightened as he plunged his hands into her hair and covered her mouth with his. Damn this party. He wanted her right now. It had been too long—days—since he’d had her and each second that ticked by brought them closer to the end. The need had grown stronger and stronger and, right at this moment, he was hanging on by a thread.

Chelsea pulled away. “We can’t do this here.”

“We can,” he argued, reaching down to haul her hips flush with his. “I can clear off that desk and have you bent over in a second.”

Her moan vibrated through her chest. “If we got caught here, Shane and Brandee would kill us. Besides, just think of all this as foreplay.”

He’d been in foreplay mode all night. Seeing her hips in motion beneath that flimsy material had been like watching a slow-motion strip tease and he was damn tired of waiting for his prize.

“I want to know what’s under this dress.”

She gripped his jaw, wiping her thumb over his bottom lip. “I assure you, it will be worth the wait once we get back to my place.”

“My place is closer. We’ll go there.”

Before Chelsea, he’d never taken a woman back to his place, but he’d never had a need like this. Chelsea was different in every respect. She’d already been to his loft and, he had to admit, having her there hadn’t freaked him out. He’d actually enjoyed it.

He’d also exposed a part of himself, of his past, that he never would’ve divulged had Chelsea not gotten to him deeper on some level. Those were thoughts he wasn’t ready to dive into right now.

The second this party was over, he wanted that dress off and he suddenly had the all-consuming desire to see her spread across his sheets. Any meaningful thoughts or questioning why he’d opened up to her had no place here.

“So impatient,” she mocked. Dropping a quick kiss on his lips, she pulled away from his arms and adjusted her dress. “We better get back out there or people will wonder where we went.”

Nobody knew about their current situation and Gabe wanted to keep things that way. Whatever was going on between Chelsea and him didn’t concern anyone else. She was his and he wasn’t too keen on sharing. And he was determined to track down the jerk who’d upset her. The party was large, but Gabe knew most everyone in attendance. It wouldn’t be too difficult to figure it out.

“You go,” he told her. “I’ll be out in a minute.”