Page 105 of XO Karma

“You okay?”

“Yeah. How’d it go?” She fiddles with my bow tie. “Learn anything?”

“You mean besides the fact that Isla wants to bone me?” And she’s apparently well-versed in the weapons industry and the inner happenings of the Blake family.

Lily snorts a laugh. “No way.”

“Is that so unbelievable? I recall you being very open to the opportunity.”

“The opportunity, huh?” she asks, brow cocked.

“Mm-hmm.” I graze my knuckles along her ribs.

“I thought we agreed to wait for the real part of our date until after?”

“I’m sorry?” I brush my fingertips across her bare skin, tracing the ink on her arms. “I didn’t hear anything you just said.”

“Aster!” She shoves me away.

“When purchasing this dress, I didn’t consider it would affect my concentration at such a potent level.”

“Okay, Casanova, calm down.”

I groan. “Fun killer.”

She pokes my chest. “Serial killer.”

“Whoa.” I place my hand over hers. “Too. Far.” She crunches her nose with a teasing shrug. “Did you find anything?”

“Let’s just say you’re not the only one who almost got boned by a Westerford.”

“Uh.” My mouth falls open. “I never said she almost boned me, I said she wanted to.” My jaw tightens as I try to calm the little green monster inside me. “I’m going to need you to be much more specific.”

“Pretty sure Jude wanted to fuck me on his desk.” And… here comes the Hulk.

“I’m sorry, what the hell did you just say?” I ask in disbelief, fist clenching at my side. “Did he⁠—”

“No,” she cuts me off. “Nothing happened. We were interrupted.”

“Interrupted?” I scoff, unable to fight the rumbling jealousy. “So that’s the only reason nothing happened.”

She rolls her eyes. “We do not have time for your little fit right now.”

“Hey.” I grip her chin, bringing her lips inches from mine. “I think it’s perfectly understandable for a man to be unhappy that some married douche was putting the moves on his girl.”

“Your girl?” She cocks a brow, and I shrug with an unabashed grin, gliding a hand along her side.

“If the dress fits.”

“Okay.” Lily presses a finger to my chest and pushes me away. “Back to business.”

“Lame.”

“Should we try the service corridor again?”

“I thought you said you wanted to wait until later?” I ask with a smirk, and she slaps me across the shoulder. “Hey!”

“I meant to see if there’s access to the cellar.”