Page 30 of My Rival for Christmas

“Hey there, Princess.” He gives me a wolfish grin I want to knock off his face. “How are you feeling after this morning? I didn’t leave you too sore, did I?”

It’s official.

He wants to die.

Someone drop my passport, I found my international incident.

“Feeling hungry, Nathan?” I level him with a hard stare, hoping he can see the volcanoes erupting behind my eyes. “Because I think you’re going to want to eat those words.”

Nate scoots even closer to me. His elbow, tattooed with a realistically styled human eye, brushes against my abundantly freckled one. I try to move away, but have nowhere to go. He gives me a quick perusal, his deep blue eyes flashing. “Never.”

One word shouldn’t have so much power, full of hidden meanings and unspoken promises. I stare at him for a beat longer than I should, at his lips. Ignoring the way my chest starts to feel warm and tight. “We’ll see about that.”

“I guess we will.” His lips start to curl up, leaning in closer. “But hypothetically, how would you do it? Tie me up, straddle my lap? Paint the image for me. I want to really know the kind of punishment I’m in for.”

“You’re insufferable.” Images flash through my mind, but instead of Nate being the one tied up, it’s me.

UGH!

Adding bleach to my shower routine when we get back to the hotel. I need to forget I ever thought that.

“You say the sweetest things to me.” Still smirking, Nate reaches up and pulls at the little pompom at the end of my Santa hat.

I smack his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

“Nice hat.” The smirk grows into a grin. “Although, I’m kind of surprised it didn’t burst into flames as soon as it touched your head.”

Is he calling me evil?

“I’m not the Antichrist to Christmas!” I growl, adjusting the dang thing. “I just don’t have an affinity for the day.”

“Sounds very anti-Christmas to me.”

Before I can retort, a throat clears. Tearing my gaze away from Nate, I see the bartender watching us with thinly veiled amusement, and maybe even a little jealousy.

I forgot he was here.

“Fuck you, Ford. Between you and Brooks, there aren’t going to be any redheads for the rest of us.”

My face screws up. What the fuck?

“We’re not Pokemon you can collect, perv.” I snap my fingers at him, leveling him a hard stare. “Not to mention, there is no Ford in this equation because there is no equation to begin with. I’m nothis.” I lock eyes with Nate. “I’m not yours. Tell him.”

“There you go, protesting again.” Nate clicks his tongue with a shake of his head, before turning back to the bartender.

Leaving me to simmer.Oh, I’ll give him protesting.I cock back my elbow, ready to jam it between his ribs.

But before I can, Nate catches it with his hand, holding me in his firm grip. Not even sparing me a glance as he tells the bartender, “Ignore her. She gets a little feisty.” He gestures to his head. “You know, with the hair and all. She really loves me.”

“We really need to get you a dictionary so you can start using words properly,” I grumble, trying to free my arm from his grip.

He lets me go easily, and I teeter backwards.

Nate grabs my wrist, pulling me upright before I crash into my best friend, who is still engaged with the person on the other side of her.

I don’t say thank you as I push off his hand.

Nate remains unfazed. “Anyway, the ladies will have the most expensive-cheap vodka you got back there for their sodas, and I’ll be having one of those beers.”

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