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"You passed with flying colors according to Angela." She poked my chest. "That's her opinion, though. I'm capable of making up my own mind."
I caught her finger and brought it to my mouth, catching it between my teeth, then soothing it with a kiss. I felt a shiver run through her as her eyes widened. I liked that she wasn't immune to the attraction the zipped between us so strongly it ceased my rational thoughts that I shouldn't be touching her like this.
"Don't worry," I whispered, "my bite isn't poisonous."
"Doesn't mean it's not dangerous," she whispered back. She didn't step away, however.
She couldn't have been more right or more wrong at the same time. The gesture that had only been meant to tease quickly morphed into something more stimulating. Something more animalistic. I wanted to mark her as mine, cage her within my arms until she surrendered to me, whatever it took. And that's why the only truly dangerous thing here was her; because "whatever it took" meant being willing to yield to terms I'd never allowed before, ones I wasn't sure I was capable of.
I didn't let go of her finger. Instead, I used it to pull her hand to my mouth, where I pressed another kiss on the pulse on the inside of her wrist before placing it on my waist and holding it there. The fast beat I felt beneath my lips assured me I wasn’t the only one caught up on the moment.
My eyes never left hers as my other hand drifted to the side of her head and tangled in the silken strands of her hair. Her fingers tightened on my waist as she stepped closer, as if in a trance. Her ribcage rose and fell a little faster, each inhale causing her breasts to rub against my chest. Everything in me tightened as I resisted the urge to drop us to the couch behind her.
"You're so beautiful, Grace," I rasped. She smiled shyly in return.
My fingers dragged along her cheek. She blinked slowly, and when she reopened her eyes, the blue was nearly hidden by her dilated pupils. Her tongue darted out to lick her lower lip. My heart pounded as my head lowered to take over the taste with my own. She tasted sweet, addicting.
Her breath hitched. Our lips met. Desire exploded.
Her arm left my hip to wrap around my waist and clench the material of my shirt just above my belt. The other slid up my chest and around my neck, holding my head to hers. I nipped her lower lip, and when she instinctively licked it, I seized the moment.
Whatever resolve I'd had earlier to resist this girl went flying out the window. If the way she melted into me was any indication, her resistance was flung right alongside mine. Her foot had risen on my leg, hooking around the back of my calf. Something that sounded like a whimper hung in the air as my hand slid along her ass and thigh until it reached the back of her knee, holding her as she ground against my upper thigh.
Fuck, but I wanted this girl! Beneath her sweet and funny surface, she was full of fire and passion—for life. For me.
It was exhilarating. It was terrifying.
Deep down I knew this was wrong, but I wanted her too fucking badly to stop.
Somewhere in the distance, a door slammed. The noise jolted us apart. As awareness crept in, Grace stumbled several steps backward until the couch stopped her. My arms felt empty, bereft of her warmth and touch. She swallowed hard as her hands flew to her cheeks as if she could contain the flood of color that infused them.
I wanted to say something, anything, to remove the look of regret I thought I saw in her expression. "It's like they have some kind of radar," I mumbled as I ran a hand on top of my hair to smooth out where her fingers had rumpled it. Her lips crept a fraction upward, but it was far from the bright smile I was aiming for.
"Jaxson, dear, you made it!"
Offering Grace one last apologetic look, I turned to greet Anne. I had to bend low to accommodate her warm hug.
"I'm glad you came," she announced. "Aren't you, dear?" She beamed at her daughter as she settled between us. Resting her hands on my and Grace's backs, she nudged us forward. "Come. Everyone is out back. I'd have been in sooner, but I was on the phone with a client who has a problem with peeing in the house."
My brow wrinkled as I glanced down at her. Huh?
Grace rescued me. "Mom trains dogs, usually service dogs, but people call her all the time for advice on training." She glanced at her mother. "Context, Mom. Seriously, it helps."
Anne shrugged and laughed and led the way through the room to a sliding door that opened to a deck with a large backyard. I realized I never stood a chance at declining dinner. This woman was a mini force of nature, directing people how and where she wanted them while simultaneously charming the shit out of them.
Outside, I recognized Faith who was sitting on a chair next to Angela, both of whom had a glass of wine in their hand. The matching bottle that Angela had wheedled away from me sat uncorked on a table beside them. I'd remember that label for next time.
Wait! Next time?
Another man stood on the other side of the deck, fingers flying on his phone. I recognized him as the same man who only took an interest in me once he discovered who I am. And out in the spacious yard was Grace's dad throwing a baseball with the same young boy attached to Faith last Sunday. His smile fell to a flat line as he glanced up and saw us.
"Jax, dear, you remember Faith, and I believe you met Angela." They both looked up and smiled. Angela winked then resumed talking with her sister. Faith suddenly sat up, choking and laughing as she wiped at the wine the dribbled out of her mouth. She looked at me with eyes that were much like her younger sister's. They were dancing with mirth, and I suspected my introduction to Angela was being retold.
Anne pointed toward the man who I started to believe had a stick up his ass. "You probably recall Adam, Faith's husband,” she said dryly.
Wow. Poor Faith. Seems like she could do so much better. Yet Adam had been accepted into the family, while I was greeted with suspicion by everyone but Anne.
Anne's eyes rolled. "Adam, dear," she called, disdain tainting her voice, "can't you give that a rest? There's plenty of time to work, but now isn't one of them." She shook her head when he darted a glance at her and frowned. The memory of a similar statement made by my mother at the wedding hit me. I hated I had something in common with someone who seemed like such a prick.
