Chapter 14
The ski resort lodge has been transformed for the party. There are lights strung from the ceiling, and trees decorated in every corner, as the band plays holiday tunes.
People are dancing and standing at the bar. It’s an interesting mix of families and couples. I see Tricia and send her a mean glare. The guy that she’s with keeps checking out other girls when she’s not looking. It’s hard to feel sorry for her.
Teddy stays by my side, occasionally brushing his fingers against mine or touching my lower back. I’m never going to survive the night without kissing him. I’m keeping an eye out for a dark corner to shove him into.
Stella is on her phone, texting Beau, I’m sure.
“Put that away,” I tell her. “You’re missing this and it’s incredible.”
“Okay, okay.” She tucks it into her purse and adjusts the strap of her little Prada crossbody bag. “You’re right. I’ve wanted to go to this party for years.”
Lucas spins and holds out his hand to her. “Dance, Stella?”
“Impressive. You can finally tell us apart.”
He holds up his hand. Something is scribbled in ink. He stares at his palm as he reads, “Holly is in green, and Stella is in red.”
“Oh my gosh.” She laughs. “That is truly pathetic.” But she slips her hand into his.
“I’m going to the bar,” Garrison says. He and James both came back for the party tonight, and so did a few more of their teammates that were close enough to drive up.
“I’ll come with you.” James looks to Felix. “Walters?”
“Yep.” He pops the p and nudges Teddy. “A couple of hot chicks just walked in alone. Let’s go talk to them.”
Felix takes a step and pauses, waiting for Teddy.
An awkward beat passes between them. Oh no.
We didn’t plan for this. Felix still doesn’t know, and of course, he wants his best wingman to troll for girls with him.
The thought of Teddy talking to other girls, of them flirting with him and thinking they have a shot of going home with him tonight, makes jealousy course through me.
“No thanks, man.” Teddy laces our fingers together and takes a step toward the dance floor.
My pulse races as I watch my brother stare at our joined hands. Felix’s dark brows rise, and I can see understanding slowly dawn on his face. “My sister, really?”
Heat trickles up my neck.
Teddy seems completely unfazed. He smiles. “The only hot chick I want to talk to is right here.”
Felix makes a gagging sound. “Can everyone stop referring to my baby sisters as hot?”
“Sorry, buddy. Your sister is hot, and I like her.” His gray eyes pool with warmth. “A lot.”
My stomach is doing somersaults. I step closer to Teddy and squeeze his hand, then wait for Felix’s reaction.
“I need a drink. We’ll talk about this later, Theodore,” he says, but my brother’s lips pull into a smile before he heads off to the bar.
“That’s one way to tell him,” I say as Teddy wraps his arms around my waist.
“Felix is cool,” he says.
“He already knew?”
Teddy bobs his head side to side. “Not exactly. I guess last night I must have said something about the girl I was talking to. This morning, the guys were giving me shit and asking me who it was. I actually think Lucas figured it out, because he asked me on the way here if I could put a good word in with Stella.”
I glance over where the two of them are dancing. Stella is looking at the doorway.
“He can’t even tell us apart.” I laugh. “Besides, I think she is off the market.” I inch closer and rest my hands around the back of his neck. We sway to the music.
He drops a kiss to my lips. “Too bad for Lucas.”
I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder.
He runs a hand down the back of my head, threading his fingers in my hair. “I can’t believe I’m dancing with the hottest girl at the party.”
Laughing, I smile up at him. “Are you eating your heart out?”
He cocks his head to the side. “What?”
“Nothing.” I snuggle into his big chest again. “Nothing at all.”
We stay for two more songs before Teddy pulls me off the dance floor. Everyone else is occupied, so we sneak outside and walk around the building to a secluded spot on the property. He wraps his arms around me to keep me warm and we get lost in long, hungry kisses.
He makes a rough, frustrated sound deep in his throat when I reach down and trail my fingers over the bulge in his pants.
I already knew Teddy was built, from the dry-humping session the other night, but I feel a jolt of pleasure at just how fantastic he is. Long and hard, and yes, thick.
He mutters under his breath and groans as I explore. I stroke him over his clothes, getting more of those sexy noises out of him, but I need more.
His entire body shudders when I press my body into his. “You’re killing me, sweetheart.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’ll die a happy man. Turn around.”
I comply, facing the other direction. His hand drops to my thigh and then slowly grazes up and underneath the skirt of my dress.
If anyone were to walk out here, we’d look like a happy couple cuddling in the night, but under my dress, Teddy’s fingers push my panties to the side and rub small circles over my clit.
“Not fair. I can’t reach you.” My words are breathy, and goosebumps race up my arms.
Teddy sweeps my hair away from my neck to kiss me. “Just enjoy, sweetheart.”
He nudges my legs farther apart. I let my head fall back on his shoulder as his fingers pump in and out of me at a slow, torturous pace.
The Christmas Waltz plays inside, and occasionally happy voices and laughter filter out with the music. I’ve often felt like I’m on the outside, looking in, but when I’m with Teddy, it’s like everyone else is missing out, instead of the other way around.
“Teddy.” I gasp as pleasure builds and spikes.
“Sweetheart,” he murmurs and sucks hard on the side of my neck.
Spots dance before my vision as I come. Teddy holds me as I sink into him and gulp in air. His dick twitches between us.
I swivel around and peer up at him. “Your turn.”
He shakes his head. “We should get back to the party.”
“Don’t cockblock me, Teddy.”
His deep laughter rings out into the night, then he places a quick kiss on my lips and says, “When I come, I want to be inside you, sweetheart.”
He lifts our raised hands and places a kiss on my wrist as we walk back.
“How much longer do you think we have to stay?” I ask, anticipation for him being inside me already has my body tingling again.
One side of his mouth lifts. Before he can speak, raised voices grab our attention, and our steps slow as we come around the corner.
Stella and all the guys are standing on the front steps, and Beau’s there too. Oh my gosh, Beau is here! Except, something is obviously wrong. His lip is bleeding and Felix and Garrison look murderous.
“Stella?” Felix’s gaze is hard as he stares between Beau and Stella. “What the hell is going on?”
“Beau is the guy I’ve been talking to. We met at the airport. Neither of us knew the connection at first.”
I look to Teddy.
His expression is hard, but he still speaks softly when he says, “That’s Beau Ricci. He plays football for Colorado.”
Garrison circles Stella and Beau, looking like a wild animal about to attack. “I have been dying to run into you off the field, Ricci.” His voice carries in the quiet night. “Let’s do this. Me and you.”
“I didn’t come here for a fight,” Beau says.
“Too bad.”
Garrison moves to punch him. Beau steps away from Stella, shielding her as much as possible.
Teddy’s steps get quicker, and the two of us hurry over to the action.
Beau doesn’t try to fight back, but he holds Garrison at arm’s length, so he can’t continue to hit him.
“Fight me, you piece of shit.” Garrison lowers his head and lunges for him.
“No!” Stella yells. She steps forward like she’s going to get between them.
Felix gets there first and places a hand on Garrison’s chest. “Take a walk before someone else gets hurt.”
“He broke my fucking foot.” Garrison’s voice rises. “My football career might be over because of this prick.”
“You almost hit Stella. Take a fucking walk,” Felix says again. “I need to talk to my sister.”
Garrison looks annoyed at being ordered around by my brother, but finally relents. His shoulders fall and his fingers unfurl. “What the fuck ever, Walters.” Garrison knocks into his shoulder as he blows past him.
I move to stand next to my sister. Tears stream down her face and she looks so defeated, it hurts my insides. She wraps her arms around my shoulders, clinging to me. Felix looks like he might murder someone. I glance around at everyone. My head spins. “I don’t understand. What’s going on?”
Felix’s voice is hard and strained, like he’s fighting to keep control. “We’re just trying to figure out the same thing. Stella, please help me understand. Did you invite him here? Are you dating this asshole? Beau fucking Ricci, really?”
“She didn’t invite me. I drove up to surprise her. She had nothing to do with this.” Beau gives my sister a look that under normal circumstances would make my stomach flip, but right now, it’s twisted in knots.
“I was going to tell you,” Stella says, stepping back to Beau’s side. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out, but yeah, we like each other.”
Beau wraps an arm around her. Felix fumes at the action, and his jaw flexes.
“No.” My brother slices a hand through the air, then runs it over his head. “This isn’t happening. Stella, you can’t date this guy. You know what he did to Garrison. His dirty hit cost him the season.”
“That was an accident.” Stella is steadfast in her loyalty. Always has been and for some reason, she’s decided that Beau is worth it. I don’t know what to think.
“I’d never take a guy out on purpose,” Beau says. He has dark hair, full lips, and a square jaw—Stella is a sucker for a square jaw.
“Yeah-fucking-right.” Garrison has circled back. He looks only slightly less pissed off. He steps toward Beau. When Felix tries to intervene again, he holds up a hand. “I’m cool.”
He doesn’t seem cool. His shirt is untucked and the balled fist at his side is red and swollen, but Felix lets him by. “You expect me to believe that shit, Ricci? You fucking coward.”
“You don’t even know me,” Beau says with a small shrug. He wipes blood from his lip. Garrison gets in his face, but Beau doesn’t back down. “I don’t want to fight you, but I’m not walking away from Stella unless she tells me to.”
Beau is different than I expected. All of Felix’s teammates are ready to pounce, and he’s so chill about it. Maybe because he’s way outnumbered. Maybe he really does care for my sister enough that he’s willing to get his face pounded.
“Okay, that’s enough.” Teddy’s voice is low and controlled, and everyone listens. He glances at the entrance, where security guards are surveying the situation. “We need to take this somewhere else before they call the cops.”
Felix nods. “Agreed. We’re done here. It’s time for you to leave, Ricci. Keep your dirty games to the field and leave my sister out of it.”
Felix turns for his car. The rest of the guys are already piling in. We brought two vehicles tonight, but Stella and I rode with Felix. My brother tosses Teddy the keys to his Corvette. “Come on, Stell.”
She doesn’t budge from Beau’s side.
“Stella,” Felix says again.
“No,” she says. “This is dumb. You can’t tell me who to date. Beau is a great guy. If you’d just take a breath and get to know him, you—”
“It’s okay,” Beau interrupts her when it’s clear that Felix isn’t listening. His voice lowers where only she and I can hear him. “Go with your brother. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry. This wasn’t supposed to go this way.” A tear slides down her face.
He wipes it away with the pad of his thumb. “It’s okay. Go, baby.”