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The crowd watches. I feel their eyes. The way Corinne shifts nervously beside me tells me she does, too.
Noah leans in. “You braced? Shit is going to hit the fan.”
“One-hundred-percent.”
“What about Corinne?” He nods her way as the server sets down our drinks.
“She doesn’t like it, but she knows it’s necessary.”
“Then put a smile on her face fast and make the first move while you have people’s attention.”
“That’s my plan.” I lean toward Corinne again and drop a kiss on her bare shoulder. “Drink up, princess. We’re going to dance.”
She turns, eyes wide. “I’m not much of a dancer.”
“Hence the drinks.” I toss back my shot and watch as she consumes half of her French 75.
As she licks her lips, my libido kicks in. I pull her closer. “Kiss me.”
Normally, I’d just take her mouth. It’s right there. But refuting Parker’s claim that she’s marrying Riley is easier if Corinne initiates.
Her gaze darts around the room. “Everyone is staring.”
“That’s the theme of the night. Kiss me.”
My explanation makes her more nervous, not less. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Because she’s too modest? Because our engagement isn’t real? Because she wants Riley after all? “What’s the problem?”
“When we start kissing…I lose my head.”
That makes me grin. “Perfect.”
She rolls her eyes, downs the other half of her drink, then takes a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about what you said. You’re right. I came to you for help in fighting my brother for what’s mine. You’re doing what I asked. It’s not your fault this is uglier than I imagined. I need to put on my big-girl panties, stop worrying about Parker’s feelings, and do what needs to be done. I just can’t fathom why my brother would make an announcement that’s so untrue. Riley and I only had lunch—”
“Parker is using your ex and the situation because he’s desperate to get you away from me.” And I have a sneaking suspicion that Riley has ulterior motives that dovetail with her brother’s, but I’ll keep that to myself until I can prove it.
She shakes her head. “Even from a distance, he’s trying to control my life. Is he ever going to accept that I’m an adult who knows her own mind?”
“Unless you make him see it? No. If you want out from under his thumb, you have to draw clear boundaries and stick to them.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to suggest she give us a try for real, move to Maui—and in with me. We can figure us out while I protect her from Parker’s attempts to tear her down. I’ll help support her business and give her all the time she needs to fall in love.
This isn’t the place for that conversation, and she’s too agitated to consider it now.
“My brother’s guidance when I was younger and our grandparents were getting too old for the responsibility of raising a teenager made sense. But now it’s crazy. And insulting to my intelligence.”
“It is.” And I’m proud of her for realizing it.
As the server walks by, I gesture for two more drinks. Harlow and Noah, wrapped up in his fans again, decline a second.
“Okay. We’ve got this. Let’s do this,” she says to herself as much as me.
Her self-pep-talk is adorable.
“I’m right beside you, princess. You look incredible. Now kiss me. I’ll take it from there.” Doing tonight’s dirty work will be my pleasure.
She bites her lip. Our eyes meet, hers searching. Then she leans in and brushes a kiss across my lips.
It’s light, sweet, and exploratory. Still, she sets me on fire. I need to keep my fucking head on straight…but every time she touches me, she does something to me I’ve never felt and can’t explain.
Hauling her closer, I slant my mouth over hers and take the kiss deep. Her arms creep around my neck. I hear a little moan. I sink into her.
An elbow in my ribs jolts me from my sensual haze. I look up to find Noah staring, brow raised. “Shouldn’t you take that someplace more public?”
He’s right. As much as I’d love to have Corinne to myself so I can strip her down and get lost inside her, I paste on a smile and take her hand. Together, we make our way to the dance floor. People cluster around us. Fortuitously, the song changes from something thumping and soulless to “Head Under Water” by Bless You and Lost Boy. I wrap her in my arms, bring her closer, and rock against her suggestively.
Under the music and the lights, she comes alive. Her body sways. She licks her lips, tosses her hair, and gives me a come-hither glance, her eyes burning as she stares into mine. I don’t know if she’s pretending.
I’m not.
I seize her delicate neck by the nape and take her mouth like a man possessed. Without hesitation, she opens to me, her grip on my shoulders tightening. The music fades away. So do the people. The only thing that matters is the connection between us. The way she rubs herself against me. The way the world reduces down to only her when she’s in my arms.
