Tangled in Tinsel (The More the Merrier, #1)

by Trilina Pucci

Cole draws back, dragging his thumb over my bottom lip as he watches. “Too chicken? Then let’s start with something easier. How about you answer my question.” Oh. Shit. He’s talking about when he said, “Boyfriend?”

Except I’m still feisty.

“I did answer.” He doesn’t miss a beat, dragging me flush against him. Making me gasp. “That’s one, Samantha. If I get to the three, this fucking towel comes with me. Now, answer my question.” My eyes narrow with boldness. “I did answer. You just don’t like what I said.” “Two,” he levels, jaw tensing. He wouldn’t really take it. Would he? Who am I kidding? He absolutely would. “Oh, come on,” I snark, throwing my arms up, daring him. “Sometimes, you just have to take the L, Cole.” “Three.” Oh shit. My hands shoot to the towel to hold it in place. “Okay, okay. The answer’s no. No boyfriend. Happy?” The look he’s giving me says it all.

But suddenly, everything feels so real. I can feel it…his attack. And butterflies aren’t an adequate description of what’s happening inside. So in one whole continuous thought ramble, I add, “But you’re still a client, and I think we’ve had a lot to drink. And these are weird circumstances. Maybe we should just go to bed and forget this ever happened—” “You’re fired,” he growls, cutting me off before his mouth slams over mine. Oh my god.

“What do you say, baby?” Without a moment’s breath, I whisper, “Please.” Cole freezes. Silent, staring down at me. He delicately brushes my hair behind my ears, looking down with approval before his hand travels to my throat, keeping my face on his as he pins me in place. I swallow, feeling his hand tighten over the motion. I’m at his mercy. He leans down, brushing a feather of a kiss over my already swollen lips. “I knew the day we met that you’d be a—Good. Fucking. Girl.”

“Tonight, you only moan my name. You understand me?”

“Wait,” I rush out. “You’re not staying?” Cole looks over his shoulder and smirks. “Not tonight, but Samantha…this means game fucking on.” He walks right back out the way he came. Except I’m the only one who actually came. And after that encounter, I’m going to do it again.

Back to when Alec told us he’d seen her at a sex club and thought she’d be interested in our…kink. A kink that’s all about worshipping, fucking, and making women turn to putty…together. Before this weekend, we’d planned to invite her to our annual New Year’s Eve party and feel her out. Easy, natural, organic. If she was on board, then we’d take her back to our room and give her the night of her life. Everyone wins. But now…between Mother Nature, all the fucking flirting, then hearing her moan my goddamn name, I’m done waiting. I want her naked in this fucking living room, spread wide for me to lick and fuck as I please. Her words bounce around my thoughts as I turn the corner from the hall back into the living room. Tell me I’m a good girl.

Jace chuckles before throwing back his whiskey. But Reed lolls his head back on the couch, grabbing his dick. “Asshole. You got there first. You crossed the line.” He looks at Alec, shaking his head. “There’s no denying it. I can almost smell her on him.” He looks back at me. “Admit it, you dirty fuck. You couldn’t keep your dick in check.” Rule number one: Never cross a line with a girl until you know she’s on board. It muddies the waters. “Fine.” A horde of grumbles is launched my way. “Yes, you fucking baby. I crossed a line. I kissed her. So what?” “Oh, come on. We’re fucked now,” Reed groans dramatically, Jace crossing his arms next to him. I hold up a hand. “We don’t even know if she’s into it, Reed. Plus, I was coerced.”

Jace grips the back of his neck. “Oh fuck. This girl is ideal. I’ve never wanted someone to say yes more.” “Agreed,” Reed offers, still giving me the stink eye. Alec leans in, nodding. “I hate to state the obvious, fellas. But if she’s not into this, then we’re stuck in the same cabin with a girl we asked to fuck, who’s on our payroll. That was the whole point of waiting until the end of the year—when her contract’s up.” “I fired her,” I breathe out over the rim of my glass before taking another swig. All eyes shoot to me, so I add, “Right before I kissed her. It was worth it.” “Jesus Christ,”

“No. No fucking way. That’s a terrible idea. You’re going to fuck her and then say, how about we invite everyone else? I’ve literally heard you do that. I still can’t fathom why they say yes.” Reed’s smile is too big.

Jesus, what is wrong with me? I may have been fired to pave the way to my pussy, and I’m smiling? Feminism…who’s she?

My eyes drop to the shirt I’m wearing as I halt my Rocky pep talk. Alec had left it for me to sleep in last night when he gave me the room tour. It’s fine. I mean, I couldn’t sleep in my clothes. Nobody will care if I’m in this. “Yeah, cuz, wearing my boss’s shirt with no fucking bra or underwear sends the perfect message.” I look back at my jeans, debating whether to put them on, catching sight of the clock. It’s six in the morning. Those guys drank so much last night. There’s no way they’re awake. And the T-shirt is long enough to cover my bits. So I quietly pull the door open, peeking out into the hall, seeing that the coast’s clear before letting out a relieved breath.

My nervous energy begins to fade as I reach the end of the hallway because it’s so quiet. That is until I hear humming…from a person…as I round the corner into the kitchen. And worse, it’s the godawful song from my shower debacle. Fuck my life. Back to my room, stat. But my feet aren’t fast enough because Reed’s voice halts my retreat. At least it’s not Cole. “You’re up early, sunshine.” I pivot, smiling tightly, discreetly pulling at my T-shirt as every moment of our flirt-fest flashes through my head. “Yeah…couldn’t sleep,” I breathe out. “Me neither,” he says in that sexy deep morning voice guys get.

What am I saying? Stop. Talking. “Never mind. Don’t mind me. I’m all good.” I’ll take awkward and socially inadequate for two hundred, Alex. RIP, Trebek.

Don’t look. Don’t flirt. Just act natural. What was I even doing? Oh yeah! Coffee.

My hands shoot back down, and I lock eyes with Reed. He’s smirking. This is exactly the situation I was trying to avoid and still seemed to manifest because my pussy is a traitor. She’s literally the most unreliable ride-or-die. And she just set me up, making me all woozy with hormones that I forgot I was practically naked.

“Oh my god. Be a grown-up, Reed. Have some self-control.” Reed catches my wrist and my eyes before slowly tugging me forward. “That’s not what you want, though. Is it? Or you wouldn’t be throwing yourself at me—” I want to say I’m not. But my fucking mouth won’t work.

“—I think Samantha likes to be a dirty little slut.” My chest rises and falls too quickly, but it’s because my entire body just lit up like a fucking Christmas tree. How does he know that? And why does it feel like I’m on the edge of coming? As if Reed can read my thoughts, his leg presses between mine. “You came out here, reaching for cups, showing your ass….Fuck, Samantha, I want to take a bite.” I just forgot how to breathe. But I know I am because the world is still in focus.

“I can make it hurt so good,” he groans before pulling back to look at me. “Just say please.”

Oh fuck. I’ve fallen into Reed’s dick sand, sucked into the serious hotness this guy exudes. I’m lost forever, like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Cock.

“Look at you. Suddenly shy. I didn’t believe him when he told me.” Reed bends down, bringing his lips to my ear. “Fuck manners. You make me want to bend you over this counter and eat that pretty little ass until you’re begging me to tongue your pussy.”

don’t know my name or what day it is. I’m all lust and need to be wielded in expert hands.

“Someone could wake up?” I whisper, knowing full well I’m not stopping this. “Then they can watch me fuck you.” The idea rocks my body, making me shudder. A low primal breath accompanies Reed’s smack of the inside of my knee. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s enough to make me jump and spread them farther apart. “You like that.” It wasn’t a question. “Your pussy’s glistening.” His eyes jump to mine. “Let’s play and see just how dirty you like it, sunshine.”

And what will you say, sunshine?” “Thank you,” I rush out the second his hand leaves my mouth, panting as I ride out the wave. “I’ll say thank you.”

I fucked my OTHER BOSS. I open my eyes blinking too fast, my hands clumsily pushing Reed’s face away. “What the hell?” he mumbles as I smush his mouth. “We shouldn’t have done that,” I say over labored breaths. “Jesus. I can’t believe I let that happen.” He frowns, dipping back to kiss me, but I dodge him. “Reed,” I hiss, my palms pressed against his shoulders, keeping him away. “Gimme,” he presses quietly, pushing back against my hold. Jesus, the fucking gravel in his voice woven around the softness of that plea is too sexy.

But before his lips meet mine again, a loud growl attached to a yawn blasts from the living room. Oh shit. My eyes bulge out of my head, and of course, Reed keeps smiling, even wider than before. “Looks like we have company,” he whispers. “Oh my god,” I shoot out, but he wags his brows, reaching under my shirt, tugging the soft tuft of hair I leave in the shape of an airstrip. Immediately I become a mess of feet flailing and hands batting in his face, urging him off of me. “Are you crazy? Get off. Get off. Get off.” “You already did, sunshine. Or was it anticlimactic? Because we can try again, right now—”

I need to snap out of it. I need a distraction. So I pinch Reed…hard. Enough to make him stop talking and say, “Ow,” just as Jace comes into the kitchen. Reed’s still facing me, amused as he mouths, you’re going to pay for that, blocking my view as Jace starts talking. “Jesus, mornings are evil. And especially apocalyptic when my head is pounding. Fuck, I slept like shit. Where’s the Tylenol?” The cabinet across from Reed opens and closes as Jace gets what he needs. He still hasn’t noticed I’m here yet, tucked between the counter and Reed’s massive frame. I thought my heart was beating fast before. Now, it’s pounding out of my chest. I can’t have any of the other guys seeing me like this. This is so bad. They’re going to think I’m that girl…a homie hopper—that’s what my sister calls it.

No, no, no, no, no. Forget about the fact that Reed’s still hard. The real story here is that I’ve left a big wet stain on the front of his sweats. He looks like a human slip n’ slide. Jesus, how much did I come? I mean, it’s been a while, but that feels aggressive.

I hate you, I mouth. He pushes his bottom lip out, and it’s cute. Goddammit. “What’s happening over here?” Jace teases, finally noticing I’m behind his villainous friend. I swear Reed knows what I’m thinking because he’s staring into my eyes, a challenge in them, before he winks and starts to spin around.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, he’s shirtless too. All those beautiful tattoos on display, along with the shiny silver bars calling to my tongue from his nipples. For fuck’s sake, I’ve got one behind me with his dick hard and one in front of me, eyes raking down my body. Is this some kind of sexual, social experiment? Maybe a pornographic prank show? Where producers got together and thought, lock her up, and we’ll watch her either fuck everyone or implode.

I should get workman’s comp for this—Your Honor, my dignity’s been injured, and I’ll need eight to twelve months to recover.

Reed leans in, whispering in my ear, “Stop talking, sunshine.” “Yep,” I say aloud, nodding my head.

“Stop making fun of me,” I say, pushing Reed’s arm off, only to have him put it back. Grinning, Jace closes the distance between the three of us, getting too close for good manners as he plucks the shirt right below Reed’s arm. Instinctually, I lean back into Reed, staring up at Jace as he speaks. “You look cute in Alec’s shirt. You should wake him up so he can see.”

“Get Cole up too. Three’s a crowd, four’s a party.”

Panic meets spiral. I can’t believe he just said that. I turn my head away quickly to stare at Reed, but the motion makes me choke on my spit. The cough that leaves my throat doubles, then triples, before Reed smacks my back while Jace says, “Are you okay?” I’m nodding, still coughing as I grab the coffee mug from Reed’s hand and down it, wincing because it’s black. “Not even milk?” I muster, handing it back to him, clearing my throat as I push his arm off me. “Sociopath.” I shift back to Jace with a plan hatched for escape. “Sheesh, my throat’s so dry. Must be allergies. From like dust or pollen—” Reed chuckles. “Damn, that high pollen count in the winter. Its only rival—summertime in space.”

“Seeing what? Your juices?” “Oh my god,” I bark. But he comes back quicker. “How about cream?” “I’ll kill you.” “Then what, sunshine? The evidence you like to be my pretty whore?”

“You don’t want anyone thinking that you’re into what? Let me finish that sentence for you.” He traces the dip at the bottom of my throat as he speaks. “You’re into filthy shit you don’t tell anyone about? Am I close? Don’t lie.” He drags his finger up my throat, lifting my chin as he skates over it, grabbing my bottom lip. “Newsflash, I like the things you like.”

Just say it. Ask… shit. No, I shouldn’t. This is Pandora’s box, and nothing good comes. Except for me, if I’m on the same page this time.

“You like to fantasize about sharing?” He nods slowly, my face still in his hands. The way he’s looking at me, as if to say, ask more. It has everything inside me flipping over and over. Do it. Do it. Do it. His lips meet mine again, softly speaking into them. “Say what’s written all over your gorgeous face.” “Have you ever?” I breathe out, sharing his air before he sucks on my bottom lip, letting it go with a pop. “Ever what? Use your words, sunshine.” My hands grip his forearms, needing support because I’m overwhelmed. Everything inside of me is quivering. “Have you ever shared someone? In real life?” “Yes, Samantha. We have.”

“Do you want me to tell you how we do it?” “Yes,” I say immediately. Oof, Samantha, the brazen hussy, has been unleashed. But I’m cut off with words that still my whole body. “Or would you prefer us to show you?”

“Don’t look so surprised. We’ve been testing the waters and flirting with you for some time. Leaving breadcrumbs for you to follow. Then Mother Nature provided a window of opportunity. We’re all here. Snowed in. With nothing to do but each other. So here I am, asking the question.” I feel so dumb. I wasn’t misreading yesterday. I had it right. But it was just so unbelievable. I didn’t trust it. I’m staring back at Reed, completely dumbfounded, nervous…and secretly giddy.

“So when Cole said, game on last night…he meant fucking me was the game.” “Only if you want to play.” I open my mouth because I have a thousand questions, but he grins, putting two fingers over my lips. “No more talking.” “Okay,” I mumble, tasting a hint of myself on them.

“Consider this your formal offer, Samantha. If you don’t want to accept, we’ll never touch you. And if you never want to see us again, we’ll replace ourselves in your book with equally enthusiastic clients. But if you want this—one weekend, no strings attached—it’ll always be our secret. Make no mistake, you are our biggest wish, so no you will make for a very blue Christmas.”

“And if I do…want to be your present?” “Then come out unwrapped”—his hand drops, fingers ducking under my shirt running through the hairs of my pussy—“just like this. In this T-shirt. And kiss me under the mistletoe. Then be ready because, sunshine, we really want a toy we can play with.”

What the fuck just happened? And am I about to get railed like some kind of dirty porn starring Mrs. Claus and her elves? Maybe. Definitely. Ho, ho, ho.

“Don’t get your panties in a ruffle, princess. Especially since she wasn’t wearing any.” His jaw tenses before he says, “Don’t push me.” But I chuckle. “Settle down. She’ll hear us.” My voice lowers, “Since you’re being so patient, I’ll tell you. I’m naked because our girl wanted to keep my sweats. Probably as a memento. She came all over the front of them. Now, if you’ll excuse me. It’s cold. Wouldn’t want her walking out here and getting the wrong impression.” I glance down at my hand, barely covering my dick, and wink, adding, “Seeing as she’s contemplating our offer.”

“It’s not a done deal yet, so don’t celebrate. You’ll jinx the pussy. But it’s ninety-eight percent wrapped up. Nice and neat, with a little bow.” He’s frowning. Then again, he’s always frowning, so I roll my eyes. “Can I go to my room now, Dad? Considering my cock is out, in my fucking hand.”

Our eyes connect for seconds before we scramble, shamelessly pressing our ears to the wood. While I’m still holding my wood. I scoot in closer, angling my body, straining to hear, but Cole smacks my shoulder, mouthing, Don’t touch me with your dick. So I return the sentiment, mouthing, I’ll make you suck it before we get serious, trying to hear what she’s saying.

Letting out a breath, I head back out, adjusting myself as I join the guys in the kitchen. Attentive doesn’t quite define the way Alec and Jace are looking at me. But not Cole because he heard what I did. God, I love this part—the anticipation. The fucking adrenaline rush of the chase. This is why I do this. That and I get to do dirty shit to willing women. “Speak,” Cole barks. “Or they might kill you.” I grab a coffee mug, making a new coffee for myself as I smirk.