Page 86 of XO Karma

Shaking away the thought, I stomp over to him.

He holds my gaze, patting his thigh, and I scoff. “You’re delusional.”

He hooks a finger over the belt of my costume and tugs, eliciting a squeal as I fall, landing securely in his lap. The warmth from his chest is irritatingly comforting, and I can’t find the willpower to pull away as his large hand slides around my waist. He removes my hat setting it on a side table, then angles the mouth of his mask towards my ear. “You look divine.”

I scowl, smacking him across the head, and a laugh reverberates beneath me. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Why not?”

“I’m still angry with you.”

“What else is new?” he asks, and I attempt to stand, but he holds me in place, tugging down the hem of my skirt with his free hand so I don’t give the party a show. It’s possessive, and damn, is it hot. “Stop fighting me.”

“Or what? You’ll kill me?”

The corners of his eyes crinkle. Does he find this amusing? “Or I’ll find a private room in this house to fuck that pretty mouth of yours.” My jaw drops. “See, it’s ready for me.” My face flushes, and words are impossible. My mouth opens and closes like a damn fish, and he tilts his head. “Only with your permission, obviously.”

Why does he have to always say the right things?

Do I want to give him my permission? My mouth waters at the thought. Shit.

His laugh rumbles beneath me.

“I saw Jude,” I blurt, attempting to change the subject from the very appealing idea of him fucking me in a closet.

“And?”

“He knew we left the art gala early.”

His brows furrow. “Really?”

“Yeah, but don’t worry.” A smile widens on my face. “I told him it’s because you were going to shit yourself.”

A rumbling laugh escapes him. “Excuse me?!”

“Unfortunately, the crab cakes didn’t agree with you, and we had to leave in a rush.”

He pinches my side, and I yelp. “You’re evil.”

“Learned from the best.” I wink, and a beat passes between us as he grazes his fingertips along my knee, practically lighting me on fire. For a moment, I almost forgot I’m sitting on his lap. That is until I readjust myself and he lets out a hushed groan.

“I got some intel myself the other night at the bar,” he says.

“I was wondering why you were there.” Thought he might have tracked me with that new burner, to be honest, but I wasn’t sad he made an appearance.

“Well, it is my bar.”

I scoff. “You don’t own the bar.”

He chuckles. “It can be our bar if you’d like.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about the intel before?” I ask.

“Sorry, guess I was a little distracted by you almost getting offed by a British gangster.”

“I did not.” I fold my arms across my chest, and he cocks a brow. “If anything, I almost got offed by his bodyguards.”

“Yeah, well, lucky for you, I don’t take directions very well.”