Midnight Mistletoe

Katherine Bennett

A week has passed, and Derek hasn’t called me yet.

Why do I even care?

“Because you love him,” a little voice reminds me.

That may be true, but is it enough?

I can’t believe I agreed to go to Nick’s New Year’s Eve party. I meant to decline his invitation, and the next thing I knew, I said yes. Nick can be charming, especially when he wants something from you.

The thing is that I know Derek will be there, and even if Nick promised me he would keep him away from me, something tells me Derek will find his way to see me.

Or maybe I hope he will.

“Are you Okay?” Whitney asks me.

I smile, hiding my true feelings.

“Thank you for inviting me, by the way.”

“Sure, no problem.”

Witney is someone I work with.

Nothing romantic is going on between us.

That’s why I’m bringing Witney with me to have him as a human shield so that Derek will keep his distance.

As if you don’t want a reaction out of Derek.

I take a breath in while those words play inside my head.

“Are you ready for this?” Whitney wonders while I’m ready to ring the bell at Nick’s house.

“Yes.”

No!

While we wait, we can hear the music playing on the other side of the door. The party has already started.

“Kate!” Nick greets me with a smile, but it disappears when he sees Whitney standing beside me.

“Oh!” He lets out. Nick clears his throat. “I mean, welcome. Nice to meet you. The name is Nick.”

Withney shakes his hand, saying his name.

After retrieving our winter coats, we walk further inside the house, and there I see him. Derek looks at me, but his expression shifts to a frown when he sees Whitney beside me.

Whitney quickly plays his part by wrapping an arm around my shoulders. He leans his head so his lips are beside my ear. “If you want a reaction out of him, stop staring.”

Here I am in the company of a man so Derek will stay clear of me, and all I am thinking about is that if Derek kisses or flirts with another woman, I won’t be able to stomach this.

“If anything happens between you two. Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” Whitney looks somewhere else.

I look where he’s staring and see two women speaking to each other.

I snort. “Okay, but I don’t think anything will happen with Derek.”

“If you say so, K. If you say so.” Whitney takes my hand and guides me to where the others are dancing.

With great difficulty, I don’t scan my surroundings to try and find Derek. In a way, it bothers me that he hasn’t tried to talk to me.

Maybe it is truly over between us.

Whitney touches my shoulder to have my full attention. “I’m going to seek out the bathroom. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

I dance alone to blend in as I wait for Whitney’s return when suddenly I feel a presence behind me.

“Who the fuck is he?” A growl comes out of his throat as he speaks.

Derek!

I close my eyes and take a deep breath before I turn around to face him. “What is it to you? You ended things with me, remember?”

I walk away, turning my back on him. Derek didn’t let me go far as he caught my attention with a gentle touch on my arm.

Our eyes meet, and he takes a deep breath, ready to express himself. “Freckles.” He begins, his voice carrying over the music. “I need to apologize to you. I know I hurt your feelings, and I deeply regret it.” His words are genuine, resonating with a blend of remorse and love.

My expression softens as I search his eyes for sincerity. “I regret ending things with you.” Derek continues, his voice laces with remorse. “In the heat of the moment, my emotions got the best of me and said things I didn’t truly mean. I was completely wrong, and I’m truly sorry.”

“I see you decided to get your shit together and decided to act as a real man who knows what he wants. But how can I be certain that next time you find yourself in the same position, you won’t make the same decision.”

He dares to smirk as he unbuttons his shirt.

With panic, I look around. “What are you doing?”

He opens his shirt, showing me his chest. My eyes widen at the sight of my name on his right side. On the same side, I have his name on my butt.

I lift my hand to reach for his chest. Before I make contact with his bare skin, Derek says. “It’s real, freckles.”

“You’re crazy.” I chuckle.

“I want to explain why I ended…” I cover his mouth with the palm of my hand to stop him from going further.

“Don’t.” I shake my head. “Or you’re going to ruin the moment.”

Maybe I’m crazy to forgive him so easily. He has my name on him. For some unknown reason, perhaps that’s what I was waiting for from him.

I take his hand as the vibrant music fills the air and search for a room to have some privacy. Derek doesn’t say anything and lets me guide him.

As we step inside the first room, I find. I back him up against the wall. I undo his belt and unzip his pants. Derek widens his eyes. “Is this really happening right now?”

I don’t answer and free him from his black boxers and lick the tip of his shaft.

“Fuck, freckles. You’re full of surprises.”

I want to show him what his apologies meant to me.

“You don’t have to do this.”

I know I don’t, but I want to do this. To have him on my mercy turns me on.

My lips spread wide around him as his member fills my mouth. I suck hard and lick as I pull away.

“Look at me!” He demands, and when my green eyes land on him, he swears. “Fuck! I imagined you doing this to me. You’re so beautiful.”

He grips my hair so that they aren’t in the way as I continue giving him pleasure.

The sounds that come out of his mouth are so damn sexy. It encourages me to go deeper and faster.

“Shit!” Derek grunts. “If you keep this up, I’ll come straight in your mouth.”

I suck him harder.

I pull back and focus on the head again.

He pushes his pelvis toward me. I know he’s close to finishing on the grip he has on my hair. His seeds spill inside my mouth, and I surprise him once again as I swallow every drop.

“I love you, Kate,” Derek tells me.