Still a Slut for Bennett - Part 13

Everyone in this story is 18+

The collective had never looked so festive. Strings of twinkling lights were draped across the walls, casting a warm, golden glow over the apartment. A mismatched but charming tree stood in the corner, its branches weighed down by an odd mix of ornaments—some store-bought, some handmade. Cooper and Jose had insisted on decorating it themselves, and the result was equal parts chaotic and endearing.

I sat cross-legged on the couch, as the scent of roasted chicken filled the air. My Pikachu Christmas sweater—a ridiculous but strangely cozy gift from Bennett—hung loosely on me, its oversized fit making me feel comfortable. I glanced over at Bennett, who was crouched on the floor, struggling to untangle a mess of Christmas lights while mumbling curses under his breath.

“Need a hand?” I asked, barely holding back a grin as he shot me a mock glare.

“No,” he replied stubbornly, holding up a stubborn knot of wires. “I’ve got this. I’m a man of many talents, remember?”

I snorted. “Yeah, well, untangling Christmas lights clearly isn’t one of them.”

Cooper and Jose stood in kitchen, cooking with Jose a beer in his hand. “You two lovebirds bickering already? It’s Christmas! Save the drama for New Year’s.”

Jose, rolled his eyes. “Ignore him. He’s three beers in and thinks he’s the embodiment of Christmas spirit.”

I laughed, leaning back against the cushions as Bennett finally groaned in defeat, tossing the tangled lights onto the floor between us. “Fine. You win. Help me out.”

I slid off the couch and joined him on the floor, our knees brushing as we worked to unravel the mess. The closeness made my chest flutter, and I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at him—the way his face scrunched in concentration, how his tongue poked out slightly as he worked.

When our fingers brushed over the lights, he smirked, leaning in to whisper, “You’re staring, Eli.”

My face heated instantly. “Am not,” I shot back, swatting at him with the lights.

“Are too,” he teased, leaning even closer until his face was inches from mine. “But it’s okay. I don’t mind.”

Before I could come up with a comeback, Cooper groaned loudly. “For the love of Santa, can you two stop eye-fucking and finish the lights? Some of us want to eat dinner before midnight and Leah is coming soon.”

“Don’t be jealous, Cooper,” Bennett shot back, his grin smug as he slid an arm around my waist and pulled me closer. “Not everyone can have this.”

I laughed, shaking my head as I rested against his shoulder. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you love it,” he said, pressing a quick kiss to my temple.

Jose clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “All right, enough flirting. Let’s get this tree finished, dinner served, and maybe—just maybe—Cooper won’t pass out under the mistletoe.”

The table was packed with food—Jose and Cooper had really outdone themselves. Roasted chicken (because none of us could afford a turkey), mashed potatoes, green beans, and a mountain of rolls filled every inch of space. Leah had joined us just in time, balancing a tray of her homemade Christmas cookies.

“This is… actually impressive,” Leah said as she sat down, her eyes scanning the spread. She gave Jose and Cooper a raised eyebrow. “You two really pulled this off?”

Cooper grinned, lifting his glass like a toast. “What can I say? We’re multi-talented.”

“Talented?” Leah smirked. “Lucky, more like. I can’t believe you didn’t burn the place down.”

“I helped,” I chimed in, trying to defend them.

“Sure you did,” Leah teased, giving me a wink as she sat down. Her eyes flicked to Bennett, who was pulling out the chair next to me. He caught her glance and smiled politely, though he looked like he wasn’t sure what to expect.

I laughed, but my eyes drifted to Bennett, who was settling into the chair beside me. He nudged my leg under the table, and I caught his subtle grin before looking back at Leah. She’d noticed, of course, because she noticed everything.

“So, Bennett,” Leah started casually, popping a fork with chicken into her mouth. “How’s it feel dating my baby brother?”

Bennett raised his eyebrows, caught mid-bite of mashed potatoes. He swallowed quickly, putting his fork down, his gaze darting to me before he answered. “It feels great,” he said, shooting me a quick glance. “He’s pretty amazing.”

“Good answer,” Leah said with a grin. She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table. “But just so we’re clear—if you ever hurt him, I’ll find you.”

Bennett blinked, his lips parting like he wasn’t sure if she was serious or not. “Noted,” he said finally, his tone light but sincere.

“Oh, you better listen to her,” Cooper chimed in, into his wine glass.

Leah grinned, clearly enjoying the attention. “Exactly. So, Bennett, consider yourself warned. But for the record, I like you. You’ve got good vibes. Just… don’t mess it up.”

Bennett relaxed slightly, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. “Got it. And don’t worry—I’m not planning on messing this up.”

Something in his tone made my chest tighten, and I reached under the table to squeeze his hand. He glanced at me briefly, his grin softening, and I felt the familiar warmth of his presence settle over me.

Leah watched the interaction, her teasing grin softening just a touch. “You’re lucky he likes you,” she quipped. “Because Eli’s too good for all of us.”

“Agreed,” Bennett said without hesitation, giving my hand a squeeze in return.

The conversation shifted as Cooper raised a glass to toast the collective’s holiday survival, and the room was soon filled with laughter and ridiculous debates. Leah and Cooper argued over the best Christmas movie (Home Alone versus Die Hard), Jose made a passionate case for Elf, and Bennett stayed mostly quiet, his arm draped over the back of my chair, fingers occasionally brushing my shoulder.

As the night wore on, I leaned back, watching the people I cared about bicker and laugh like the chaotic, mismatched family we’d somehow become. Bennett leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips as the wine flowed and the cookies slowly vanished.

This was Christmas—messy, loud, and perfect. But all I could think about was getting Bennett alone in the bedroom.