Abell turned away from her, weaving through the crowd—right at me.
Shivering, I snatched a full glass off of a passing tray. He hadn't spotted me yet. However, before I could dart away and get my bearings, his sapphire stare locked on me.
That wicked grin was as good as a bear trap.
“Nix,” he said, stopping inches away. “I thought we'd agreed you'd be wearing mistletoe.”
I waved down at my dress. “Amazingly, I couldn't find any, so I had to use this as a substitute.”
Clicking his tongue, he tapped his breast pocket, pointing out the sprig of mistletoe he'd stuck there. “It's your lucky night, I have some right here. Let's get you into the back, see how it looks.”
Smiling helplessly, I swirled my glass. “One sprig isn't enough to make me decent.”
“Exactly,” he whispered, bending closer. His breath tickled my throat. “That's the whole point.”
The flutters in my belly turned into hot waves of pressure. Abell had taken away any comeback I could have tried. Looking away, I sipped the champagne. “What were you and my mother talking about?”
“She offered me a handjob for fifty dollars. I turned her down.”
Spitting my drink out, I caused people to turn and stare at me. Cupping my mouth, I coughed hoarsely.
Laughing, Abell grabbed a napkin from his pocket, offering it to me. “Guess you liked that one.”
Wiping my face, I blushed wildly. “She'll kill you if she learns you said that.”
Inside, I was still giggling.
“You'll have to protect me from her, then.” He winked, then grabbed my drink from me, finishing it off. “Want a tour of this place?”
Pulling my lower lip in, I ignored how he'd stolen my champagne—my liquid courage. “Sure. That'd be better than trying to make conversation with strangers. Who are they all? Friends of your dad?”
“Friends?” Abell made a wide gesture with one arm. “People with money, connections, power. The kind of mercenary scum my dad loves associating with.” His eyes flared, but he was quick to smile at me. “Come on. I haven't been back here in eight years, I'll try not to get us lost.”
“Eight years?” The heels of my ankle boots scuffed over the polished floor as I followed after him. “Why so long?”
“Have you met my father?” Chuckling, he held open a door for me. I stepped through into a quiet, carpeted hallway. “I stopped living under his rule when I was sixteen.”
“That's so young! Where did you go? How could you even make it on your own?”
Closing the door, he strolled down the dimly let hall, his voice softening. “The truth isn't that impressive. My dad never denied me access to his money. I've had a credit card in my name this whole time.”
I offered him a slanted grin. “That's not exactly the bold, 'going your own way' plan I'd expect from you.”
“You think I'm bold?”
Heat spread over my cheeks. “It's a word that suits you.”
Abell turned the corner, a circular room stuffed with books opened before us.
“Wow!” I gasped. “There's so many!” In the center of the ceiling, a glass window let in the midnight haze of the sky. Gazing up at it, I noticed a graceful staircase that led to a polished door. “What's in there?”
“Nothing,” he said, rounding on me. “It's an old closet.”
Weird place for a closet. Spinning slowly on my toes, I went back to studying the shelves. “It's beautiful in here.”
“Beautiful is a word that should be reserved for... better things.” His eyes sucked up the low lights, blue centers shifting with shadows.
I hadn't realized there was a bookcase behind me, not until he stepped forward, causing me to retreat into it. When my spine tapped the thick novels, I went stiff. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He whispered, “You know why.”
Licking my lower lip, I glanced away. “Abell, you agreed. No sleeping with me.”
“Now who's bold? You think I'm trying to fuck you right now? Is that where your mind is, Nix?”
I sucked in air, lifting my chin high to try and stare him down. “I know what you want, Abell Birch. You can't fool me, and you aren't getting it.”
“Tell me what I want.” Lingering there, he casually slid his thumb over my shoulder-strap. “Say it out loud, baby girl. You might as well. You're already thinking about it.”
The memory of his warm lips haunted me. “I'm not,” I lied. “You're just... it's obvious. It's what you want from every girl.”
He went quiet, watching me without blinking. Abell stood perfectly still, only the occasional puff of air through his nose told me he was alive. There was a severity in his pupils, something burning up from deep inside.
What was he thinking about?
Lowering closer, his eyelashes twitched. “Maybe,” he hissed softly, “Maybe what I want from you is different. Did you ever consider that?”
I was so close to asking him what he meant. It was right there on my tongue. My pulse stampeded until my heart became a blur of sensation, I imagined it was a hummingbird trapped in my chest. “Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. I don't... want you. Not like this.”
Abell chuckled, pressing his forehead against mine. “Then why are you breathing so heavily?” His scent flooded me, my vision starting to sway.
He leaned into me, his erection digging into my thigh. Grinding against the front of my dress, he took a mere second to find where my pussy was. Was that his damn super power?
“Ah!” I cried, turning away so my cheek touched the books. “W—wait, we can't... you know we can't...”
Ignoring me, he slid himself up and down with deliberate movements. His cock rubbed at me through the fabric, insistent on driving me wild. “I can get you off like this.” He pressed harder, faster. “I can make you cum without fucking you.”
“Nix?” Gram shouted, echoing in the hall outside. “Are you down here?”
His voice snapped me back to the present. I didn't want anyone to catch me with Abell in such a revealing position, but my brother?
Grabbing Abell's wrists, I pushed him away from me. He gave me an inch of space, staring at me with lust glazing his eyes. “Remember our agreement,” I said. I darted a look at the hall. “I'm not doing this, we have to stop!”
There was a heavy beat, a long second, that passed between us. Was he going to listen to me? Or keep pushing, sensing I was about to break... that I had broken?
“Fuck!” he growled, wrenching away. His fists knotted at his sides, tendons flexing. Running a hand through his hair, he forced out a tight laugh. “Guess he saved you after all, huh?”
My juices were running down my inner thigh. I prayed nothing would show through my dress. “I saved me,” I panted, struggling to calm down. “I'm not sleeping with you again, get it?”
He eyed me hungrily. “I can feel you wearing down, babe. You won't be able to hold back much longer.”
A full body shudder, crafted from pure pleasure, shook me. What if he's right? The concept was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. No, I can't... that can't happen. I was smart enough to know that getting closer to Abell was a bad idea. But every second we spent together, I wanted... more.
So much more.
His father's words crept into my head, itching like spiders. Could you ever see yourself loving a man who chooses his obscene, selfish desires over your own happiness?
My answer had come quick:
Never.
I wasn't so sure any longer.
“Nix!” Gram shouted.
With one more shaky breath, I shoved past Abell. “We need to hide, before he finds us together like this.”
“What?” Abell laughed. “I thought you said he wouldn't beat me up.”
“He won't!” But he thinks Abell is scum, because I told him he was. I can't handle the way he'll look at me when he finds us alone! It was obvious what we were doing!