Mayhem Under The Mistletoe

by Nina Auril

  Opening my laptop, I read the last few lines I wrote last night, but I’m interrupted by a furball on my lap.

  “Austin?” I ask, surprised and I can swear I see him roll his eyes.

  He rubs his face on my chest and lies on his back on my lap. That’s when I see the little note attached to his collar.

  Sighing, I grab the piece of paper.

  Talk to me. Please.

  With a shake of my head, I drop the paper in the trash can and rub Austin’s head. “Sorry, buddy. But I’m not talking to him,” I say.

  He looks at me for a moment before jumping out of my lap and heads out of the apartment without a second glance to my way.

  He just left me?

  “Okay, choose him over me,” I yell at him and take a big sip of my coffee.

  I force myself to focus on my book and forget about Hendrix and Austin.

  I have only been able to manage 200 words when Austin comes back.

  I laugh when I see him. There’s a mistletoe chaplet around his head. I can’t even see his face clearly. If I didn’t know better, I would say Austin is glaring at me as he comes closer to me. I suppress my laugh and free him from the circle around his head.

  I’m still thinking about our kiss.

  Austin looks at me expectantly, or at least that’s how I think he looks at me.

  “No, I’m not talking to him,” I say and throw the mistletoe into the trash.

  He rubs his head on my legs like he does whenever he wants something.

  “No, Austin. I’m not talking to him and stop taking sides,” I say, and he runs out of the apartment.

  Shaking my head, I close my laptop and grab my kindle. With his being the messenger between us, it doesn’t seem like I will be doing any writing.

  I start reading the book I’ve been hoping to read for so long and before I can finish even the first chapter Austin jumps on the couch next to me. There’s a note on his collar.

  We should talk. At least for Beau’s sake. He’s affected by the tension between us. We can divorce, but we can’t divorce our cat, right? Be reasonable.

  I snort. Now he’s using the parent card to manipulate me.

  “No, buddy. It’s not going to work,” I say with a smile.

  Austin growls. I wink at him, and he leaves. Today’s routine. He comes and goes.

  I ignore Austin when he comes back again. He jumps onto the couch next to me, rubbing his face on my leg.

  “No,” I say, but it doesn’t stop him.

  He puts his paws on my kindle screen, and I have to put it down.

  “You’re on his side, right? Manpower or whatever shit you’re on. Both of you are on my shit list,” I say to him, glaring.

  Finally, I sigh and grab the box on his collar, having a hard time trying to untie the box. Opening it unceremoniously I frown at the glasses in there. I find the note under the box.

  Glasses for your beautiful eyes… so you can see me better now.

  I snort. “Fucking arrogant bastard! Who says I want to see you?” I shout, and Austin jumps off the couch, leaving my apartment after my outburst.

  Good.

  A few minutes later Austin comes back again. I turn to look at him. He’s walking almost hesitantly toward me. Is he scared of me?

  I laugh. “Come here. I’m not angry at you. I’m mad at your other owner, the bad one.”

  As if he understands me, he walks faster. Are cats really that smart?

  He’s breathing fast. The small box he carries must be a little heavy. Crouching next to him, I take the box. It’s a snow globe. I shake it, and it snows on the couple kissing in the middle. Under it, there’s a note as usual.

  A snow globe for my Snowflake.

  I always liked snow globes, but the mention of my dress in the ball makes me angry, reminds me that he knew who I was. Did he know it then?

  “I’m not YOUR Snowflake!” I growl and put the globe on my desk before sitting back on the couch with my kindle. Austin is looking at me with expectant eyes, and I glare at him.

  “Go away!” I snap, and he looks at me with big eyes before leaving the apartment.

  I’ll apologize to him when he comes back, I think to myself and busy myself with the book I am trying to read, but I can’t focus enough.

  I roll my eyes when Austin strolls back again. This time he drags something big after him.

  I kneel next to him and untie the lace on his collar, lifting the box to my lap.

  I’m Hendrix. I’m your neighbor. I’m the stranger you fucked on that balcony. And all of them are smitten with you. May I…

  I frown and open the box. There’s a green, sexy little babydoll in there, May I Slytherin is written on the front. Slytherin snake is moving toward the hem of the silk nightie.

  I smile, shaking my head.

  “No,” I say to myself and push the box away.

  I swear Austin huffs at me.

  “His gifts may be good, but I’m still angry at him,” I say to Austin, and he seems like he’s considering my words. Of course not, but it seems like it.

  “I can’t help but feel like I’ve been played. He knew it all along for fuck’s sake!” I keep talking to my cat.

  “No, buddy. You may not Slytherin!” I shout to the closed curtains, causing Austin to leave my apartment with hurry again.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Hendrix

  I pace my apartment and wait for Beau to get back.

  She ignored my last gift, a sexy teddy but I had one more thing up my sleeve. A small and intricate necklace with a snowflake pendant. Tiny diamonds adorning each spoke of the flake with a bigger, heart-shaped diamond in the middle.

  Stop being cold. Please talk to me.

  My note reads.

  I walk to the window to try and see into her apartment, but her blinds have been closed all day. I sigh and turn back to my apartment. I continue my pacing until I hear Beau’s light footsteps on the wooden floors in the hallway. I stalk to the door and rip it open. Beau saunters in and then sits at my feet, licking his front paw. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear he looked self-satisfied.

  My heart skips a beat in excitement when I see a little pink note attached to his collar. She wrote me back! I knew the necklace would do it. Bending down I rip the note off him, a giant smile takes over my entire face. Until I read the note. Then it’s replaced by a giant frown.

  Stop being a stalker. Stop talking to me.

  Stalker? Stalker?! I’m the stalker?! I scowl at Beau like it’s his fault. Growling, I tear the note up into a thousand little pieces and chuck it up into the air. Little pink pieces of paper rain down on Beau and I turn to stalk back to the window. I chew on my bottom lip while I try and see through those damn blinds. I can’t believe she called me a stalker. ME! I huff and then turn back around. With my hands on my hips, I breathe out an angry sigh and watch as Beau plays with the pieces of paper.

  Right, enough of this bullshit. I pick Beau up and carry him out of the apartment. Once outside I set him down and follow him across the street to Ophelia’s building. The doorman opens the door for Beau but then luckily gets distracted by helping another tenant get their shopping out of a car, so I can slip right in without having to think of some excuse to get inside. I keep following him as he goes up the stairs and finally disappears into the cat flap of a door. Wasting no time at all, I stalk over and bang on the door until it flies open, revealing a scowling Ophelia.

  “What the f…”

  “Stalker? Stalker?!” I start shouting. “I’m the stalker?! You’ve been stalking me!”

  “Oh, how dare you!” Her hands fly to her hips, the jiggling of her tits distracting me momentarily.

  “Don’t think I haven’t seen you staring at me through your window.” She’s not wearing a bra.

  “Don’t flatter yourself. That was just passing curiosity about my neighbor.” I take a few steps forward, causing her to take a few steps back.

  “For two years? I don’t think so, O
phelia.” I wonder if she’s wearing any panties under those sweats.

  “Oh, please,” she throws her arms in the air, and her face flushes in anger. God, does she have to be this beautiful? “It’s not like I tricked you with notes and then pretended to be someone else entirely to get me to fuck you.” There’s that jiggling again, goddammit.

  I sputter, trying to get my brain to work. “Excuse me, but you wrote the first note. So how do I know you aren’t one who orchestrated this whole thing.”

  “I did not!” She makes two adorable little fists at her sides and stomps her foot in anger. Jiggle jiggle.

  “Did too,” I point an accusing finger at her. “Psycho and sicko, I think is what you called me.”

  “Well, clearly I was right! I should have known to stay away from you back then.”

  “Didn’t seem to want to stay away from me at the ball when you came all over my cock, Snowflake.” I sneer at her and take a step closer, invading her personal space. God, she smells great. She opens and closes her mouth. I’ve got her. And the more I think about it, the angrier I get. “Nice move, by the way. First, you’re all up in my business through the window, and then you’re all about riding Hendrix’ wand and then you can’t get on a stranger’s dick fast enough.” For real, does she have to smell this good?

  By the color her face just turned, I think I went too far. That thought is supported when I feel the sharp pain of her palm hitting me across the cheek. Ok, so I deserved that, but it doesn’t stop my teeth from gritting or my nostrils from flaring in anger.

  “Truth hurts?” I sneer at her.

  “Let’s not forget that you did the exact same thing,” she sticks her finger in my face. Jiggle jiggle. “And… and you’re the same person!” She shouts, our bodies are only an inch apart, close enough for me to feel the heat radiating off her.

  “You didn’t know that!” I start shouting too. “And at least I wanted to have coffee with you the next day. Something you refused to do. Probably to get your rocks off with the next guy and at least I didn’t run off as soon as the condom was off,” I fist my hair in frustration. “And why the fuck do you smell so goddamn good?”

  “What?” She frowns at me, the anger from earlier replaced by confusion.

  “Fuck, this is crazy. You drive me crazy!” The words have hardly left my mouth when I have her in my arms. My mouth crashes onto hers, and her thighs are around my waist as I push her against the nearest wall. Her hands are pulling at my hair, my shirt, tugging at my pants. Mine are gripping her thighs, her ass, her t-shirt covered breasts. I ignore her little moan of complaint as I pull my mouth from hers to rip the shirt off over her head. Throwing the offending piece of fabric to the floor, I stare down at her delicious tits. These tits that kept me up at night. My chest heaving, I slide a hand up her side, slowly, achingly, enjoying every inch of soft skin under my palm. “So fucking beautiful,” she wriggles, making her impatience obvious. My fingertips brush softly over her breasts, a single finger running a circle around her hard nipple. “You tortured me for four long days, Ophelia,” I smirk at the little annoyed sound she lets out. “Made me nearly lose my mind,” I whisper into her neck, giving a small lick at her pulse. “I should turn around and leave right now, give you some of your own damn medicine.”

  “Hendrix,” She moans my name, and I nearly give in. My name on her lips is the most erotic thing I’ve ever heard. “Please.” Nope. I was wrong. Her begging is the most erotic thing I’ve ever heard.

  “Please? Please what, Snowflake? Please don’t leave? Please fuck me?” I pinch her nipple and tug, mesmerized by that damn jiggling when I let go.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, just…”

  “Just what, stalker?” I fist a hand in her hair and tug her head back, slowly I lick from her collarbone all the way up to her ear. “Tell me what you want, Ophelia,” I whisper in her ear before biting her lobe, eliciting another one of those delicious moans from her.

  “Fuck me, Hendrix, please.” More begging. My cock is in revolt in my pants. It’s hard as steel and so painful it feels like it’s about to explode if I don’t get inside her right now.

  “And then what?” I close my mouth around one of her nipples, and I nearly lose my grip on her as her back arches wildly off the wall. “Are you going to run away again?” I say as I look down into her beautiful face. Her eyes are wild with hunger, and I watch as they lose focus when I slip a hand inside her pants, my fingers slipping in her wetness.

  “No, no I promise. I won’t. Just fuck me.” I can hardly make out the words; she’s nearly delirious with want. I smile in satisfaction. I slip my hand out of her and press a thumb into her mouth. My cock seeps precum as I watch her suck her taste from my thumb.

  “I don’t know baby; I want to believe you but…” My words are stopped when she pulls my hair. She holds my face steady as she stares into my eyes, nearly melting me with the fire in hers.

  “I said fuck me, Psycho.” Then she lays a kiss on me that I feel in the darkest corners of my soul. Her body writhes and her groin grinds into mine.

  “Bedroom,” I grunt into her mouth and carry her off into the direction I know her bedroom is in. I stumble a couple of times on the way and push her against the walls we pass to keep kissing her but we finally, at long last reach the bedroom. I throw her onto the bed and tug her pants off. She isn’t wearing panties. Minx.

  I stand in front of the bed and take her in for a second. Committing her body to memory. Reveling in her beauty, her legs open and ready for me. I reach behind me to pull my shirt off and then move my body on top of hers. Her hands push my pants off as I glide over her and press my hips into hers.

  My pants aren't completely off but neither of us has time for that right now, and I press into her with a grunt. Her nails dig into my back as she moans my name. Her moans start to mix with mine as I thrust into her again and again. There are words being said, but I can’t make sense of them, I don’t even know who is doing the talking, her or me, the only thing I’m aware of is the feel of her under me, around me.

  I don’t stop my thrusting when I feel her clench around me, her body tense at the precipice of release and when she lets go I’m unable to hold off my own orgasm.

  We collapse into a sweaty mess on top of her sheets. Just breathing. Just enjoying the sweet aftermath.

  “Jesus,” I whisper into her neck.

  “God,” she whispers into mine. “That was…”

  “Fucking everything.” I finish for her.

  We look at each other and then dissolve into a fit of laughter before I kiss her again. Slowly this time.

  “Hey,” I break our kiss and look down at her. “Just one thing,” she blinks up at me. “Where’s Beau?”

  EPILOGUE

  Beauregard

  Sigh.

  I see you’re here again.

  Thought we got rid of you when Hendrix and Ophelia got rid of their clothes.

  I suppose you want to know what happened next. Fine, I guess I can tell you. I don’t have anything else to do today but take a nap in the sunny spot in my new backyard.

  Yes, Hendrix and Ophelia decided to move in together. They found us a nice house in the suburbs with a great big garden I can stretch out in.

  Ophelia obviously didn’t run away again, and they’re both disgustingly in love with each other. I’m happy for them I suppose. It’s just the constant sucking face that pisses me off, especially when it makes them forget to feed me.

  Hendrix is still drawing pictures of me, and Ophelia’s Christmas novel has been a massive success. Much to her chagrin. Her publisher is demanding more sweetly romantic books.

  “You’re so fucking annoying. Just get away from me, I can do this myself.”

  “Fine, suit yourself. I’d be more than happy to leave you and the giant stick up your ass alone.”

  Oh yes. Remember Carter and Angela? They’re here to help us move in. That’s the two of them yelling at each other. They don’t get along so well,
but that’s not my problem.

  “Can you guys knock it off, please? I don’t know, Hendrix, maybe this trip isn’t such a good idea. How can we leave the two of them alone together to look after our baby for an entire month?”

  Wait, what?

  They’re leaving me with these two idiots?

  They’ll kill each other on the first day. And then who will feed me?

  Hendrix planned a romantic trip for him and Ophelia to Bali in February. He’s going to ask Ophelia to marry him on Valentine’s Day. What a sap.

  “I don’t see why both of us need to do that; I can look after him perfectly well on my own,” Carter says for the hundredth time today.

  I see Hendrix roll his eyes. “He hates you, Carter.”

  “I don’t blame the cat. So, do I, and if the cat hates him and I hate him then why does he need to be here?” Angela butts in.

  “You hate the cat too, Angela. So maybe for moral support?” Ophelia says, always the voice of reason.

  “And I don’t want your control freak self to organize my office within an inch of its life. You’ll mess up my entire artistic vibe. You can’t help yourself. So, I need Carter here to keep your hands off my shit.”

  Well isn’t this just great. I was planning on a nice, relaxing vacation all by myself and then these two go and stick me with The Odd Couple, only they’re not as funny.

  I guess there’s only one thing to do.

  No vacation for me. I have to start planning again.

  Project Spread a little Valentine’s Day love.

  Don’t distract me. I’m still not going to roll over and play dead for you.

  THE END!

  Liked MAYHEM UNDER THE MISTLETOE?

   Want to be notified of the next release by Abby Gale? Click Here: https://goo.gl/forms/rQK395lU1EsKDKj52