Family Matters

Xavier

I’m watching the girls toast to Bella’s birthday when I see my brother and Ethan quickly jump up and head towards them.

I don’t have time to stop them, not that I really want to, so I get up and follow them over. I see the look of shock on Bella’s face when she sees us walking towards them.

Once we get to their table, Austin and Ethan of course start shamelessly flirting with them. Surprisingly though, or maybe not, Bella’s friends are flirting back.

They start to tell us that it’s Bella’s birthday and I can see Bella trying hard to get them to stop.

“And you all need to give her a kiss as the rules of the button dictate!” Her friend says, or rather commands.

Oh, hell no! I bet these two horn dogs next to me are going to jump at that offer. I turn in their direction and I see my brother and Ethan start to take a step towards her.

I whip my head and glare at them not to move. They stop in their tracks instantly. Smart move.

I turn back towards Bella and she looks a bit uncomfortable. She excuses herself and gets up to go to the bathroom.

Just as she’s passing by Austin, I see him reach out for her and give her a kiss on the cheek. What did I just glare at him?! This boy better sleep with one eye open tonight!

As soon as she walks away, I swat Austin hard on his arm and glare at him hard. Maybe this time he’ll understand that’s the ‘stay away from her’ glare.

I leave the booth and follow Bella down to the bathroom and wait for her.

I really don’t know what I’m going to say to her. I don’t even know why I followed her. I lean up against the wall near the bathroom door thinking of what I’m going to say when she comes out.

The first thing I know I need to tell her is to take that button off and throw it away.

After a few minutes, she finally comes out of the bathroom. She doesn’t see me at all, so I call out to her before she can get too far.

“Bella!” I call out as I grab her by her elbow. She jumps and lets out the most adorable squeal. She reaches out and punches me in the arm…hard.

“Ow!” I yell as I rub the spot where her fist connected to my arm. Damn she’s strong!

“You scared the crap out of me!” She yells as she swats me again on the arm.

“Sorry! Sorry! I really didn’t mean to. I was just trying to get your attention.”

“Well, you have my attention now. Is there something I can help you with or did you just follow me to the bathroom to scare me out of my wits?”

This angry tone in her voice combined with her sarcasm is totally turning me on right now. I love that she’s being so direct. And her eyes are just mesmerizing.

I’m so transfixed by them I don’t even notice she’s talking to me. She snaps her fingers in front of my face and pulls me out of my trance.

“Hellooo! I asked you a question!”

“Uh…right…um…” Holy shit! Am I stuttering? I never stutter. I clear my throat and point to her button. “What’s the deal with your button?” She looks at me confused.

“It’s a birthday button and it’s my birthday. No big mystery.” Great. She thinks I’m an idiot now.

“I just meant you don’t seem the type to wear a button that attracts attention like that.” She’s still looking at me confused and I can’t say I blame her. I’m confused too. I don’t even know where I’m going with this question.

“Why do you care?” Good question. The answer to that is because I don’t want anyone else’s lips on hers, but I can’t tell her that. So instead, I lie.

“I don’t.” I can tell by the way she’s looking at me she’s trying to figure me out. She takes a step back and crosses her arms in front of her and I won’t lie, her look is turning me on. To be honest, every look she gives me is turning me on.

Jesus! I need to stop!

“First of all, you’re right. I don’t normally go looking for this type of attention. But it’s something my friends gave me for my birthday so I’m wearing it.”

I didn’t think she was that type of person, but why couldn’t her friends just give her a stuffed animal or a coffee mug? It would have been less stressful for me.

“And, if I didn’t wear this they would have killed me.”

So, instead I’m gonna have to kill some of these little fuckers tonight for kissing her because of that damn button.

“And secondly, it’s really none of your business.”

That’s where she’s wrong. It is my business now; she just doesn’t know it.

“You’re right. It’s none of my business.”

I’m such a damn liar!

“Are we done here or are you going to question me about my shoes next?”

Excuse me? Who does she think she’s talking to with that patronizing tone?

“Yeah, we’re done here.”

Apparently, she’s talking to me... and I’m going to let her. She turns to walk away but I grab her by her elbow to stop her.

“Bella, wait!” When she turns back to me I lean down and kiss her. Her lips are so soft, and I can taste the strawberry flavored lip gloss she’s wearing.

Strawberries are officially my favorite fruit. I lick her bottom lip asking permission for more. She opens her mouth for me and I deepen the kiss. She lets out a soft moan.

“Mmmm….”

Shit! I could feel that sexy moan of hers down to my toes. I should have worn looser fitting jeans. Her hands slide up my chest and into my hair. God, her touch is electric.

I pull her closer to me and let my tongue have its way with hers.

It takes all of my willpower not to take her back to my office and give her a real birthday present. I reluctantly pull away and place my forehead on hers.

I cup her face with one hand and look deep into her beautiful eyes.

“Happy Birthday, Bella.” I whisper against her mouth. When she looks up at me and smiles, I knew at that moment this woman is going to be my undoing.

As we make our way back to our table, I tell myself I shouldn’t have kissed her because now I want more. I’m not looking for a relationship and I’m sure she’s not into casual hookups.

But do I really want just a casual hookup with her?

We get back to our table and I see her friends on Austin’s and Ethan’s laps. I see they didn’t waste any time getting with these girls.

Then again, I just kissed Bella and was ready to take her up to my office so I’m not any better than them.

Her friends introduce themselves to me and I can tell they’ve had quite a few drinks in the time Bella and I were gone.

I look over at our table and sure enough, there’s at least ten empty shot glasses sitting there.

After the introductions are done, Bella’s friends take her away to go dance. Shit! I forgot to make her take off that button! What the hell is wrong with me?

I’m usually not this forgetful but when I’m around Bella it’s like my brain turns to mush.

I watch them as they walk towards the dance floor and I see the guys drooling as they walk past them. I know they had to have seen her button and are thinking of ways to get to her.

Now I’m annoyed, and I want to just rip that stupid button off her.

I see Bella turn and look up at me. I know she can tell I’m not happy.

***

Cassie

I’m standing in the hallway near the bathroom in the arms of one of the sexiest men I’ve ever met. And he just kissed me! I mean like panty-wetting kissed me! Maybe this button wasn’t such a bad idea.

No. No. No. Get a grip Cassie! He’s probably just looking for a quick fling. This isn’t going to work. I can’t let myself get involved with this guy no matter how great a kisser he is.

I bet he’s great at other things too.

Oh my god! Stop it Cassie! This is how you ended up with that asshole Kyle. But this time it feels different. Or maybe that’s the one glass of alcohol talking?

“Happy Birthday Bella.” He says against my lips. I smile back at him and look deep into his eyes. I could look at them all day. This is such a tender moment we’re sharing right now. I’m thinking I should probably tell him my name isn’t Bella.

“Thank you.” I say as I graze his lips. He gives me another sweet kiss on my mouth that ends way too soon. He puts his hand on my lower back and leads me back to our booth.

As we approach the area where our tables are, I see Chelsea and Abbie have moved over to where the guys were originally sitting.

Not only that, but they were sitting on their laps flirting like there’s no tomorrow. Damn they work fast!

Well I’m one to talk, I guess. I just shared an amazing kiss with someone I’ve maybe said three sentences to before tonight. They see us walk up and all I can do is roll my eyes at them and giggle.

“You’re finally back! We thought maybe he kidnapped you!” Chelsea yells from Flirt 1’s lap.

“Sorry! There was a long line! You know how it is.” I reply. She giggles at something Flirt 1 whispers in her ear before she and Abbie both jump up and give me a hug. How many drinks have they had already? I look over at the table at the piles of empty shot glasses. They’ve had a lot, apparently.

“This is Austin and Ethan.” Abbie tells me as she points to the two guys. Houston, we have actual names! I reach out my hand and shake theirs. Abbie turns to Mr. Moody. “And you are?”

“Xavier.” He answers as he reaches out to shake her hand. I guess I’m not calling him Mr. Moody anymore either. Chelsea and Abbie introduce themselves to him and then saunter back to Austin and Ethan and straddle them in their seats. My friends have no shame.

“Well, it’s been fun getting to know you, but now that our girl’s back, we’re gonna get going.” Chelsea gives Austin a hug while Abbie gives Ethan one. Then Chelsea turns back to me. “Ok, birthday girl! It’s time to get out there and have some fun!”

“We can’t let that button go to waste, now can we?!” Abbie chimes in. Like I said, no shame. They each grab my hand and lead me out to the main floor of the club. They didn’t even give me a chance to say anything to Xavier.

As we make our way towards the dance floor, I look up and glance at him. He’s watching us make our way through the crowd and man, he does not look happy.