His palm was warm against the small of my back, his body heat bleeding into mine as he leaned in and pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to my cheek.The scent of him—clean soap, faint leather, and something warm—threatened every sensibility I held.
“Sorry I’m late, babe,” he said easily, voice low and smooth enough to sound dangerous.
“Traffic was a nightmare.”
Babe.I could’ve strangled him for it.
“You're late,dear.”I forced a tight smile, aware of the eyes still watching us.“I was beginning to think you got lost.”
“I may have underestimated downtown traffic.Don't worry, I'll make it up to you later.”There was no missing the suggestive tone in that.He leaned in slightly, voice low enough for only me to hear.“A hundred nicknames in the world, and you call medear?”
“Would you prefer to be called an ass?”
His lips brushed against the nape of my neck, making me shudder.“If you wanted to see my ass, Savvy baby, all you had to do was ask.”
I was about to snap back when a throat cleared, reminding me that we were not alone.
Pulling back, I saw Lori watching us with hawk eyes.
I pulled myself together, stepping slightly forward.“Lori, this is Jaxon.My…boyfriend.Jaxon, this is Lori, cousin and bride-to-be.”
“Ah, so you're the infamous Lori.”
Lori’s smile tightened and she extended her hand.“Verynice to meet you, Jaxon.Savannah’s never mentioned you before.”
“Guess she likes keeping the best things to herself,” Jaxon replied smoothly, ignoring her hand completely and looking down at me with a grin.
“Oh, she always manages to,” she said with a laugh, a hint of bitterness burned into her words.
“Yes, well.”I cleared my throat, shifting my gaze from Jaxon to Lori.“Everything worked out for everyone in the end.”
“Of course it did.”She smiled sweetly.“Did Savannah show you pictures of my ring?It's stunning!”
My teeth grinded as she flashed the diamond ring for Jaxon to see.He glanced down at it, then looked back at Lori.
“It's a bit too tacky for my girl's taste, but it suits you just fine.What do you think, babe?Is this your type?”
“I think it's too early for us to be talking about rings,sweetie,”I replied, my nails biting lightly into Jaxon’s side where she couldn’t see.
He chuckled.“Never too early to plan these things.”
Lori’s eyes flicked between us, trying to read whatever energy hung in the air, but Jaxon made it impossible for her to find her footing.He looked utterly at ease—like this was his stage and we were all just extras in his scene.
“Well,” Lori said finally, recovering her composure, “you two seem… happy.”
“Ecstatic,” I said, voice tight.
My breathing caught when Jaxon's finger tugged my chin up to look at him.
“Completely,” Jaxon echoed, grinning like the devil.He held my gaze as he said, “If you’ll excuse us, Lori, I need to steal my woman for a second.”
He didn’t wait for her response—just tightened his arm around my waist and guided me across the room, toward the champagne fountain glittering under fairy lights.
The moment we were out of her view, I exhaled slowly, stepping out of Jaxon’s hold.
“You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Only a little.”He stopped beside the fountain, turning to face me, that infuriating smirk still in place.“You’re welcome, by the way.”
