Page 64 of Unwrapped

I my hands start untying.

I’m pushed back and the door slams shut.

“Nice try. But a little beauty session isn’t enough to scare me off. I do appreciate you getting all sexy for me. Did you wax, too?”

“I’m flipping you the bird right now.”

“I’d expect nothing less,” I chuckle, then leave for my own room at the opposite end of the hall. I guess Sally didn’t want to be too obvious by placing me right next door.

The wind howls, throwing snow against the panes of the window next to my far corner room. It’s going to be one hell of a storm tonight. And I don’t mean the one brewing outside.

18

Shiloh

THE MAN THROWS ME OFF MY AXIS.

Sure, I was still half-drunk, but I knew exactly what I was agreeing to. But the slow buzz made me feel bold. In the stark light of morning, waking with gritty eyes, yesterday’s clothes and the smell of him still clinging to my sheets—I kind of freaked out.

I’ve never had casual sex.

Or enjoyed a hot one-night stand. I was always the girl who waited to for a steady boyfriend. But where has that left me? Maybe, a good, hot hookup is just what I need. I mean, it’s not like I’ll fall for him. Every time he opens his smirking mouth, I want to slap it—kiss it…bite it.

When Federico showed up to drop off Sally’s present under the tree, he admitted over a cup of coffee that his ex just got engaged. It was all over her Instagram. He was feeling venerable and blue…something I feel every Christmas. When he asked me to be his date, I knew it was just as friends. He wanted to keep his mind off his past. But when Dare went all alpha, caveman… it pissed me off, but it turned me on even more when he said and did those things to me. I enjoyed watching him make Federico horny. I felt powerful feeling two pairs of lust-filled eyes on my body.

I needed to be alone to process. I never thought a jealous jerk would be so hot. But damn it was. I decided the best defense is a good offense. I showed up to my full day of spa treatments and damn him…I did wax. A Brazilian. It hurt like a bitch and the technician informed me no sex for two days. I’d be to swollen and sore. I brush my hair and apply a coat of clear gloss, smirking to myself in the mirror. It looks like Dare’s about to get a pair of blue balls just in time for Christmas.

“…and that’s a triple word score.” He sits back smugly, deftly placing the wooden letters on the board.

“Son of a bitch,” I mutter under my breath. “Qat?No. No way is that a word.”

“Look it up, sweetheart and be prepared to weep.”

I give him some serious side eye as I swipe the Scrabble Dictionary off the table by the board.

Mother F. He’s right. It is a word. I never knew I had such a competitive streak until we started playing. I can’t lose to him. I just can’t. He’s throwing me off tonight. When the sun went down, I half expected him to barge in and order me to undress. Instead, I found him barefoot in the kitchen wearing a worn pair of jeans and a soft knit shirt stirring a pout of homemade marinara sauce.

He did order me to eat and grunted as I swirled the perfectly cooked pasta on my fork and savored every bite.

“Where did you learn to cook?”

His brows draw together as his fingers inch the velvet bag reaching for new letters. “Rog. He kinda raised me.”

“Oh?”

“I’m a member of Creed. In case you haven’t guessed yet.”

“No. No way,” I snort. “You wear thousand-dollar threads and groom yourself too perfectly to even allow any ink to stain your skin.”

He grins. “They do give good facials here. But you don’t have a damn clue, sugar about the kind of man I am.”

“I know. That’s a problem for me. I-I know what I agreed to last night…but I’m not a slut. I usually know my partner’s story before…,” I pause feeling flustered under his intense stare.

“If you want out, just say it baby. I’d never hold you to it. But I’d be lying if I said I don’t want you. It’s been a long time since I wanted someone as much as I want you.”

“Really? You can’t stand me.”

“What can I say? You’re growing on me.”

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