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Nine
DAKOTA
Zach and Annie were initially as pleasant as the first time I met them, maybe even more so. But as the minutes ticked by, and I got to really know them?
Well, that’s when it was more obvious what they were trying to do.
“You’re crazy for running over here in the storm,” said Jace. “You know that, right?”
“Yes,” Annie said breathlessly. Her dark eyes — which were shiftier than a normal pair — flitted momentarily to me. “But like I told you before, we weren’t letting you go until we had that drink.”
This time it was Merrick behind the bar, trying his best to get a quick drink order out of them. After stalling and ignoring him for several minutes, the couple finally gave in and ordered whatever it waswewere drinking.
“Right,” said Merrick.
Aurelius on the other hand wasn’t exactly so subtle about his own thoughts and feelings. He muttered several colorful phrases under his breath, and refused to take our guests’ coats because they ‘wouldn’t be staying long.’
“So…” Zach said, turning toward me. “You finally managed to land this fish, huh?”
He was referring to Jace, who already looked miserable.
“It was a long fight,” I said sweetly, “but yes, I eventually got him in the boat.”
“You’re wearing your rings now,” Annie nodded toward my hand.
I held out my arm proudly. “Sure am.”
She tried on her best expression of mock disinterest. “You weren’t before, though.”
“Oh, I always take them off on the plane,” I said smoothly. “My fingers swell at altitude.”
“Your fingersswell…” she repeated flatly. “At altitude.”
“Yup.”
Whether she believed me or not, I really didn’t care. I couldn’t see how Jace cared either, but apparently he did and that was good enough for me.
“So you guys met as kids?” asked Zach. “In Minnesota?”
“North Star forever,” I smiled.
Annie squinted harder, this time not even trying to hide her skepticism. “And you’ve been dating since…”
“Well as kids we were alwaysaroundeach other,” Jace said truthfully. “But it probably wasn’t until—”
“—he finally came to his senses and asked me out,” I finished happily. I pulled Jace even closer now, feeling the warmth and heat of his body against mine. “One day we realized the attraction was just too overwhelming. From there, the rest was history.”
I leaned up to show him some affection, and Jace bent down to kiss me back. Our lips touched for the first time, and an electric jolt rocketed its way through my body.
Holy SHIT.
Not willing to shatter the illusion with a quick kiss or platonic peck, I remained on my tiptoes. Together we continued evolving the kiss into something bigger and deeper, rolling our mouths hungrily against one another while the others looked on.
Oh wow.
The sudden ball of heat in my belly hit me unexpectedly, although I couldn’t see how. For a split second our tongues touched, and I felt myself go almost totally weightless. With Jace kissing me back every bit as much I was kissing him, it seemed like an eternity passed between us.
Then, just as quickly as the whole thing began, our lips parted and we broke away.
