Page 52 of Catching the Mistletoe

That feeling only increased, and I couldn’t even enjoy the pumpkin soup. I fucking loved pumpkin soup, dammit.

“Not hungry, Lit—Bella?”

Oooooh, don’t you dare do that! Pull out that cute as fuck nickname when I’m all muddled and confused. And don’t look at me with that gentle concern, like all you want to do is hug me. Because I need a hug, but not from you, because I know exactly how good that would feel and how it would only make me want you even more!I hated feeling like this. All frustrated and horny and annoyed with myself for wanting Mack so much. That was it. I was done. “I need some air.”

Throwing my napkin down, I shoved the chair back, wincing as it scraped along the floor, and without looking at anyone else, walked away. With no destination in mind, I walked blindly between the tables until I caught sight of a green lit exit sign. I couldn’t give two fucks where it led, as long as it was away from here.

The door opened on a long, narrow service corridor. I could hear the sound of the party behind me and the din of the kitchen ahead. For now, the hallway was empty, so taking a deep breath, I started walking. Just pacing up and down, tapping my hand against my leg. Those deep breaths had done absolutely nothing, so I tried a few more, needing to clear my head, needing to escape Mack’s scent and the way he watched me. The way my body responded to him.

The sound of the door opening echoed down the hallway and I turned back, briefly hoping it was Evelyn, so I could have the vent I so desperately needed right now.

“Arabella.”

Fuck, no. “Leave me alone, Mack.”

“What the fuck is going on?”

“Nothing. Just leave me alone.”

Grabbing my arm, he forced me to a stop, his expression unreadable. Masking himself, like always.

I yanked away, desperate to get a hold of all the feelings bubbling up inside me. “Don’t touch me!”

“Little dove.”

It took all my strength not to respond to that, not to melt into a puddle of goo on the floor. “You know what I’ve just realized?” He’d come after me, so he could hear what I had to say. He straightened, and I could already feel him pulling away. “Any one of those guys talking to me tonight would take me home with them, if I offered. Right?”

He just stared at me.

“Right?” It was a command.

Clearing his throat, he nodded.

“That might be nice, actually. Sneak away from here with Jack, or Chris, or Connor and finally pop my cherry. Put that IUD to good use, you know? Whoever the lucky guy is, he can just drop me back at the RV park tomorrow morning and we, you and me, can go on just like before.” Something flared in his eyes, a warning that I was about to overstep, but I was in full flight now. There was no chance of pulling back. “You wanna know what stops me?”

A curt nod was all I got in reply.

“Those guys...They don’t smell like you do. Or feel like you do. And I’d bet my fucking kidney they wouldn’t kiss me like you do.” I stepped closer, my breath catching at the way his eyes were locked on mine. “I can’t even begin to imagine wanting one of them to touch me, or kiss me, or put his dick in me.” God, that made me so mad, because it was so unfair. Wanting someone that didn’t want you back was the pits. All the feelings of frustration and hurt boiled over and I stepped closer again until we were almost touching. “So now, here I am, twenty-six years old, destined to be a virgin for the rest of my fucking life because you don’t want me and I don’t want anyone else!”

My chest was heaving as I stared up at him and he stared back, his expression closed, his eyes like chips of ice. “You done?”

“Fuck you, Mack. Just fuck you.”

Turning, I started to stalk back down the hallway, tears burning the back of my throat. But before I’d got more than a few steps, he was grabbing me, spinning me around and pushing me up against the wall. “Ineversaid I didn’t want you.” Then he crushed his lips to mine. It was hard and possessive and everything I’d been longing for. I sank into it, losing myself in the sensation of his body pressing against mine, of his arms wrapping around me, holding me close. This felt like scorching hot need as our tongues tangled and it set me on fire. I’d thought his kiss was amazing before, but that was nothing compared to this.

When he finally pulled back, I was breathing heavily, my body aching with a need so deep it felt like a physical wound. Loosening his hold, he dropped his forehead to mine and murmured something I didn’t quite catch.

“What?”

He lifted his head, his hazel eyes dark and hungry. “I do want you, Arabella, but I think you’re making a mistake.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Oh, I think I do.”

“Okay then.”

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