to lock them behind his neck, tugging gently as I tip my chin up.
His other hand curves around my nape as he dips down and his warm, minty breath mingles with mine. “Happy New Year, Blaire.”
“Happy New Year, Ronan.”
A shock of energy lights me up like a neon sign, zinging through my veins as our lips meet for the first time. It’s a full-body tingle, starting at my scalp, working its way down my body. Heat funnels straight between my thighs and my toes curl.
We tip our heads in opposite directions, lips parting, tongues sliding against each other. He groans and I moan as we open wider, tongues stroking deeper. I grip the back of his neck and the hand on my waist drifts lower. Cupping my left butt cheek, Ronan pulls me tighter against him. I feel him hard against my stomach, and I press my hips closer.
I’m pretty sure the kiss would have lasted forever—or until we got naked—except the sudden hoots, hollers, and shrill whistles remind us that we’re not even remotely alone.
We break apart and I worry for a second that maybe this wasn’t the best idea. Realistically it’s not a good plan to get involved with my competition/neighbor, but that was one hell of a kiss.
Ronan blinks a couple of times and blows out a breath. “I don’t think we’re in Wonderland anymore, Alice.”
I laugh, glad he’s broken the tension.
“You’re coming back to my place after we close tonight, right?”
I cock a brow.
“Or we can go to yours if that’s better. Or closer,” he adds.
“Are you saying you want more of this?” I motion to my lips.
The music has started again and there are patrons clamoring for drinks, but Ronan holds a finger up in their direction and leans in close so his lips are at my ear again. “I want all of this. Repeatedly. And while my office has a door that locks, I’m not sure I’ll give my best performance in there.”
“Mmm. Good point. Your place it is.”
chapter sixteen
Ringing in the New Year
Ronan
It’s after three in the morning by the time we get an Uber back to my place. I usher Blaire inside, lock the door, and turn around.
She’s standing in the middle of my front hallway, still wearing the steel-toed boots I forced on her because there was no way I was risking her twisting an ankle behind the bar, which was where I wanted her. Right beside me all night long. Not on the floor where she’d get hit on relentlessly by drunk assholes.
It might sound chivalrous. It’s not—my motives were purely self-serving.
She clasps her hands in front of her, looking demure and sexy in her fireworks dress with black and plaid accents. We matched, of course. Her teeth sink into her bottom lip. I kissed her lipstick off hours ago and she didn’t bother to reapply, mostly because there was no time.
“Do you want something to drink?” My voice is rough like sandpaper.
Her brow furrows for a moment, as if she finds the question confusing. “Do you?”
I take a few steps in her direction. “Not particularly, no, but I figured I should be hospitable and offer rather than just attack you with my mouth and hands.” And parts below the waist.
“Hmm.” She taps her lip, a playful smile on those luscious lips of hers. “Water for hydration purposes might be a good idea, but that can probably wait until after you attack me with your mouth and hands.” Her eyes move down my chest in a slow, hot sweep. “And other parts, hopefully.”
We are so on the same page. And then we’re on each other.
Blaire loops her arms over my shoulders and links her hands behind my neck, pulling my mouth to hers. I grip her waist and walk her backward through the short entryway, careful not to bump into the side table on the right. The bedroom seems too far away, so I swipe a hand blindly across the kitchen counter, knocking a few things out of the way before I lift her up and deposit her on top.
The kiss slows for all of two beats, and then we’re right back at it, full force, teeth clashing, tongues battling, moaning into each other’s mouths. Blaire tugs my shirt free from my pants, then starts on the buttons while I search the back of her dress for a zipper. All I find is smooth fabric.
She breaks the kiss long enough to say, “Hidden zipper.”
I pull back, because that makes no