Page 90 of Perfect Pairing
The second we were out of sight of her family, she reached back for my hand, threading our fingers together.
“We’re doing this now?” I asked, glancing pointedly at where we connected as she pulled me through the house.
Brie shrugged. “This feels…safe.”
I snorted, and Brie shot me a glare. There was nothing safe about this woman. Not about her body, her mind, her tinkling laugh and soft moans that grew in volume the closer she got to her climax. Everything about her screameddanger, the kind of warning that urged you to turn back before you fell under her spell.
Unfortunately for me, that ship had already sailed. I was fully entranced by Brie Delatou, had been since the moment I met her.
We didn’t speak further as we descended a staircase into the wine cellar, and goosebumps erupted on Brie’s skin as the cool,dry air washed over us. She let go of my hand to wrap her arms around herself.
“Hurry before I freeze.”
“You don’t want to help?” I asked as I approached the wall of wines.
“N-no,” she said, teeth chattering. “Just w-wanted to be a-alone with you.”
“All you had to do was ask,” I said, not facing her as I perused the selection, ultimately deciding on Pinot Noir. In deference to Brie, I knew to stay far away from Cabernet, but the sweeter Pinot Noir grape was safe territory. I shot her a wink as I turned back to her. “I’ll happily be alone with you anytime you want.”
Brie rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her red lips. “We’re not there yet, Ez.”
“I know, I know,” I said. “Hand holding only for now.”
She nodded, and I chuckled. Gripping the bottle necks between the fingers of one hand, I reached for Brie’s with the other and tugged us back upstairs. She breathed a deep sigh when the warm air greeted us, her pebbled flesh once again smoothing out.
I wasn’t sure where she stood on wanting her family to know something was happening between us, so I dropped her hand before we crossed the threshold into the dining room.
“Wait!” someone shouted as we were about to enter the room.
Brie and I skidded to a halt, glancing confusedly at each other.
“What’s wrong?” Brie asked.
Lena jerked her chin, and the rest of the family snickered behind their hands as they all looked at something over our heads.
Oh, no…
Slowly, I raised my gaze to the arched entrance, somehowalready knowing what I’d find. The Delatou women were the queens of meddling, and I should’ve known we wouldn’t be safe from their handiwork.
My heart dropped then kicked up speed until it was pumping almost uncomfortably against my sternum when I took in what hung above our heads.
A sprig of mistletoe.
Stricken by panic atthe sight of the mistletoe, knowing what it meant to find myself beneath it with Ezra at my side, I looked at my mom, who wore a massive, self-satisfied grin.
“Mom!” I shouted. “What are you doing?”
“Forcing you two to figure your shit out.”
“Lena…” my father warned in a low voice.
“What?” she asked him, feigning innocence.
“You’re meddling.”
Mom waved a hand, dismissing him. “She’s my baby, and I want her to be happy.”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not right here!”
