Page 60 of The Naughty List

I hold my hand over Hollis’s head as if I’m pinching something between my fingers, then lean in and kiss her softly on the lips.

She stares at me, stunned, when I pull back.

The once voracious room is completely silent.

Our eyes remain locked and Addison’s words come back to me.One day someone is going to fall madly in love with her.

Pretty sure someone already has. Someone named me.

“Mistletoe,” Hollis’s dad calls out, breaking our trance.

I touch my nose and point at him without looking away from Hollis.

Her brothers opt to celebrate the victory and the end of their losing streak instead of pummeling me, which I appreciate.

Hollis breaks our eye contact and excuses herself to serve dessert. I watch as Addison follows her into the kitchen. The rest of the family jokes about charade tournaments past, but I catch her mom’s eye and she gives me a warm smile. I don’t know if it’s approval or what, but it feels like someone is rooting for me. Welcoming me.

After too much dessert and coffee, I bid everyone goodnight and Hollis walks me outside.

Snow is coming down on the sidewalk but doesn’t look like it’s going to stick.

She holds her tongue out and catches a few flakes. They melt instantly. My dick twitches at the sight of her tongue.

“Get back inside before you freeze,” I say while loading Achilles into the backseat.

She’s wearing an oversized gray sweater but it’s not enough to keep her warm out here.

She wraps her arms around herself. “I’m glad you came tonight.”

I use my hands to rub her upper arms rapidly, creating friction to keep her warm and as an excuse to touch her.

“It was fun.”

She tilts her head to one side. “Do you really mean that?”

I shrug. “Yeah, I think so. I crashed your Christmas Eve and all, but I had a good time. Did you make that cheesecake?”

She nods. “I did.”

“It was amazing. I’m guessing it wasn’t vegan, but it was worth cheating this once.”

“Sorry.” She breathes white steam into the icy air. “The cherry pie was the closest thing to vegan actually. But there was regular butter in the crust. If I had known you were coming I would’ve—”

“It’s fine, Hollis,” I say, touching her lips to quiet her concern. “I was only teasing.”

She stills, like when I kissed her earlier. I’m tempted as hell to do it again. One more taste.

She knows what I’m thinking. I can see the knowledge heating her gaze.

The memory of being inside her, of having her warm naked body beside me in my bed slams into me.

Swallowing takes actual effort.

“I need to tell you something,” I blurt out.

She blinks. “Okay. What is it?”

“It was the salesgirl at the toy store who leaked my Santa gig to the press.”