Katie catches my eye and winks, reminding me of her comment about the back room. Curiosity gets the best of me and I slip through the tables to the little room in the back. It’s a sunroom—part of the original house—with paned windows and comfy cushioned chairs. Gauzy curtains cover the windows, giving the room some privacy. In the summer, when things are busy, it’s used for tourists popping in for tea or a late lunch. Tonight, it’s cast in a soft glow from the string of lights hanging from the ceiling and the dangling star dropped from the middle of the room. Candles flicker on the small tables and I get the feeling this is the “gift” Katie referred to. I feel a hand slip around my waist and look over up at Jake, who’s taking in the room.

“Look.” He nods at the star. Hanging from the bottom is a sprig of leaves.

Mistletoe.

It’s cheesy and romantic and honestly, exactly what I need right now. The four of us need something easy—sweet. A way to just relax and celebrate making it through the past month.

“Did you set this up?” George asks, closing the door behind him. The sounds from the outer room vanish and it’s like we’re finally, peacefully, alone.

“No,” I admit, although it would have been the perfect gift. “I think we have a fairy godmother.”

I’ll have to send Katie a gift basket or something.

Fingers link with mine and Dexter pulls me away from the others, pulling me to the middle of the room. He places his hands on my hips and looks over my shoulder. “Sorry boys, I made a promise to Starlee a few days ago and I mean to fulfill it.”

My heart pounds in my chest, not just from Dexter’s closeness but from the knowledge the other boys are watching. We’ve always kept our intimate moments private—stealing little pieces of time alone. But here we are in this little room, our only chance to be together, and I can tell from the determined look on Dexter’s face that he’s not going to waste it.

And I don’t want him to.

He pushes his fingers behind my ear and up into my hair, pulling me close. It’s been too long I’ve kissed him, and every nerve in my body wants it—wants him. His lips are pink and he wets them, taking his damn time. I think he’s doing it on purpose to rile either me up or the boys. Whatever he’s doing, it works, because when he finally brushes his lips against mine I’m thoroughly consumed. Dex doesn’t hold back just because the boys are in the room. He leans in, taking his time, sweeping his tongue against mine. I can’t help but think about how much I miss this. How much we’re missing one another. I reach for his shirt, fisting it in my hand, wanting to feel his body next to mine. He hums in reply, lifting his other hand to the back of my head. He steals my breath away. My heart too, and just when I think I could do this forever a throat clears across the room, reminding us we’re not alone.

We ease apart, reluctantly, but I know that’s not the only kiss I’m going to get tonight. Just the first and wow, did Dexter make good on his promise.

I exhale, feeling settled for the first time in a while, and glance back at the other boys standing in the doorway. They watched patiently as Dexter got his kiss and there’s only one thing I want to do.

Wish each and every one of them a Merry Christmas under the mistletoe.

26

Jake

There’s something about watching Dexter kiss Starlee that brings it all home for me. We’d floundered for years, never quite fitting in, our family’s a mess or gone, our behavior reckless and out of control. But this girl, she brings us all together in a way no one else could do it. Not Sierra. Not even each other. She’s the glue that binds.

I know it should bother me to see her kissing the other guys, but it doesn’t. It definitely makes me horny. I’m getting ridiculously hard watching her little body writhe and react. I notice Dexter shift in his seat more than once after their kiss. His jaw clenches and his cheeks are flushed. I know the feeling; this girl has my balls twisted in knots. It’s why I coughed when the kiss between them had gone on so long. The last thing we needed here was for things to go porno. Not that Starlee had that kind of intention, but four teenage boys? Shit. Our minds are like one giant, continuous cycle of wet dreams and fantasies.

It takes serious willpower for things not to get depraved.

That’s why, when she approaches Charlie next, I just take a seat, biding m

y time and trying to steady the blood flow coursing from my heart to my dick. She looks fantastic in the red shiny dress, cut high enough on her legs to send my imagination into overdrive. Her skin is pale and smooth, stretching from her feet clad in sexy heels to the ruffles of her skirt. Charlie looks nervous—of course—Starlee is new for him—any live girl would be. But to find the one on your first shot? Not having made the mistakes I had with someone like Christina? He’s really the lucky one.

There’s part of me that knows I shouldn’t watch but I do, taking in how she walks him over, tugging on his hand until they’re centered under the mistletoe as though that’s mandatory. Our girl’s adorable, innocent yet wise. Sweet but sexy and I’ve seen her down on her knees—so she’s not that innocent—but I meant what I told her that night. When we finally go all the way, it’s on our terms, taking our time. There’s no way I’m rushing through that once in a lifetime moment.

To my surprise when they’re in the right spot, Charlie takes the lead, running his hands up and down her arms. He’s taller than Dexter so he bends down to whisper something in her ear, something that I can’t hear but makes her flush, and her arms link around his neck and she lifts on her toes, eager to reach him. There’s no way for me to describe their kiss other than after a moment I shut my eyes and count to ten. It’s too much seeing her lean her body into his—seeing the round edge of her ass when his hands reach down and push the fabric up.

Dex slinks in his chair across from me, hand rested on his forehead. He’s struggling. I’m struggling, but it’s George that lets out a low groan as the kiss continues.

“You’re doing that shit on purpose,” he says to his brother, once he and Starlee part. “Making me crazy over here.”

Charlie shrugs but doesn’t deny it, the smirk on his lips giving him away. George pushes past him and without the restraint or patience of his brother or Dex, he reaches down and picks her up, kissing her hard on the mouth.

Starlee laughs at his brashness, wrapping her legs around him and squirming against his hips as his hands cup her butt under her dress. He’s not apologetic and she loves it. Loves him, and it’s so good to see a smile on his face.

His actions cut the tension in the room, giving me a chance to breathe. Watching George isn’t sexy or coy. It’s silly and goofy and he stumbles once, banging into the table and knocking over a votive. Luckily there’s nothing to catch on fire, but wax spills all over the glass table top and we’re all scurrying not to make a mess of the room.

“Jesus,” Dexter says, containing the wax. “Just what we need ten days before my hearing—an arson charge.”

“That wasn’t my fault,” he replies, kissing Starlee once more before lowering her feet to the ground.

Tags: Angel Lawson The Wayward Sons Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net