AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I gasp. “Ridiculous? Me? Never.”
With a wink at Katie, I walk with Adam over to the bar. I order several rounds of Jolly Rancher shots, and Adam orders a whiskey for himself. It’s all going on Matthew’s tab, thank God, because while I make decent money, I do not make enough to pay for multiple hours’ worth of drinks at a fancy hotel bar.
The bright red shots are placed on a tray for me to carry across the room. Adam looks at me with a raised eyebrow, but he doesn’t say anything. At this point, I think he’s pretty used to my dumb ideas. He also knows there’s no talking me out of doing stuff like this. Sometimes, you just need someone to push you a little to get you out of your shell. I happen to be very good at pushing just enough.
“Line ‘em up, everyone. It’s time for shots.”
“Shots, shots, shots,” Ellie sings.
“Oh, nooo,” Sam groans. “I know what those are.”
Carter barks out a laugh.
I grin at him. “Are you well acquainted with the Jolly Rancher shot?”
“Much to my embarrassment, yes. I made an ass of myself in front of Carter after drinking a few too many of those.”
“But look at how well it worked out for you.” My heart melts a little at the look Carter and Sam share. They’re so fucking cute together.
At my insistence, everyone grabs a shot glass. I hold mine up. “To having the best family around and an even better New Year’s with my favorite people.”
“Cheers!” my siblings and their partners shout. We clink our glasses together and down our shots.
Then the second round is handed out, and without a word, we lift them in cheers, immediately drinking them down.
“Woo!” I shimmy my shoulders at the fantastic buzz that always comes with doing shots. From there, we dance and drink and party it up until midnight finally rolls around with all the fanfare I always crave to ring in the new year.
As the countdown begins, I gently pull Katie into my arms and raise my eyebrow in question. Will she let me kiss her when we hit midnight?
We’ve been dancing together since we finished our shots. Her body has been grinding against mine in a hazy buzz of sexual tension. I’m sure without the alcohol running through our systems, we never would’ve ended up here, but I sure as hell am not going to complain.
“5…4…3…2…1…Happy New Year!”
Katie finally nods her head at me, and I don’t hesitate a moment longer. I palm her cheeks and press my mouth against her pillowy soft lips. Goddamn, she’s delicious. My fingers slide toward her hair, where I grip her ponytail in my fist. I use my other hand to grasp her neck, my fingers cupping her jaw to move her the way I need to deepen this all-consuming kiss.
Katie’s whimpers vibrate under my palm. I growl into her mouth, needing her to know just how much she’s affecting me. With every swipe of her tongue against mine, I fall deeper and deeper into her.
She’s the glass of water I’ve been dying for in the middle of the desert. Her kiss brings my body to life in ways I didn’t know was possible. It’s everything, and this won’t be the last time I have her. I’ll make sure of that.
I finally pull away from her, needing to know if she’s as overwhelmed as I am.
Katie’s dark eyelashes flicker open, revealing heated brown eyes that look like melted chocolate.
“Fuck me,” she whispers against my mouth.
“Was that a request or an exclamation?” My voice has dropped an octave with desire.
“Both.”
A grin stretches across my face. “As you wish.” I kiss her, unable to wait a second longer to feel her lips move against mine again.
When I pull away, I ask if she has a bag or anything to grab.
Katie shakes her head. “Should we say goodbye to everyone?”
I take a quick look around the room. Every one of my siblings is lip-locked with their significant other. “I don’t think they’ll even notice our disappearance.”
Katie glances at Ellie and then at Tilly before turning back to me with a laugh. “Okay, then, let’s go.”
