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I glanced down at my clothes and chuckled. “I need to get changed and take off this stage makeup.”
The corner of his lips quirked up into a crooked smile. “You’re worth the wait.”
I laughed. “Okay. I’ll try to be fast.”
As I turned, he caught my elbow and pointed up. I followed his direction to find a ball of mistletoe with a red velvet ribbon tied to the chandelier hanging directly over my head. My pulse thrummed as my gaze fell to his face.
His voice was deep and husky. “Tradition, right?”
That was all it was. I nodded slowly. “Who knows what would happen if we ignored it?”
“That’s what I was thinking.” He brought his hand up to caress my cheek as he searched my eyes. Goosebumps prickled up my arms, and desire pooled low in my belly. He leaned in closer, and time slowed as his lips tenderly brushed mine.
But the chaste beginning faded as his other arm slid around my waist. He held me tighter, and I tilted my head, returning the kiss with a hunger I didn’t recognize. He growled into my mouth, his tongue parting my lips.
The flowers were getting crushed between us, but I barely noticed. Every touch made me ache for more.
I’d dated a few times as an adult, but no one had ever kissed me like this.
The rest of the world faded away and time ceased to exist. It was just us. A faint whisper from the shadows of my mind reminded me that I’d be cast aside. I wasn’t his mate, and once he found her, I’d be forgotten. I’d be fun for now, but eventually discarded, rejected like I had been all my life.
But I didn’t push him away. The holidays were always lonely and empty for me. Maybe this year didn’t have to be that way. The future didn’t matter.
I could enjoy him for now. Merry Christmas didn’t have to be forever. I hummed against his lips as he gradually lightened the kiss. When I blinked my eyes open, he rested his forehead to mine.
“Wow.” His voice cracked as his thumb caressed my cheek. “You should probably get changed, so we can get out of here.”
“Good plan.” But I didn’t move. Maybe I couldn’t. I didn’t try. “If high school me had known you kissed like that, she would’ve made it a point to meet you.”
“I don’t remember any kisses like that in high school.” He chuckled as he lifted his head. “Get changed. I’ll go invest in more mistletoe.”
I grinned. “See you in a minute.”
Forcing myself to move, I snaked through the rest of the crowd, smiling and shaking hands with the audience members who offered congratulations until I reached the backstage door again. I opened it and hurried into the hallway. Now that I was out of the noise and bright lights, it started to sink in.
I just kissed Jackson Walker.
My fingertips brushed my lips as I sat in front of the lighted mirror in the dressing room. What was I doing? Anyone in that lobby out there could shake his hand right now, and he could find his mate.
Even after that kiss, there was no recognition in him that I could see.
“Don’t ruin this, Winter,” I whispered as I took my hair down. There was nothing wrong with enjoying a sexy werewolf in my bed for Christmas. It didn’t have to be forever.
Monica came in our shared dressing room and her eyes widened as she stared at me in the mirror. “Okay, spill. Who was the hot guy you were sucking face with out there?”
Laughter bubbled from my lips as I rolled my eyes. “There was mistletoe.”
“Oh please.” She shook her head as she placed her hat on the wig head on the other side of the room. “Mistletoe did not make him put his tongue down your throat.”
Monica had turned twenty-one years old a few nights ago, and even though I was only in my thirties, her lust for life made me feel like I was ninety. That girl was fearless and driven.
“His name is Jackson Walker, and we went to high school together.” I hung the dress up and started unlacing the corset. “He’s just a…friend.”
Her brows shot up. “With benefits, I hope.”
I shrugged, biting back a smile. “Not sure yet.”
Her smile widened. “He looked very into you. I want to hear everything tomorrow.”
