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My nod of confirmation is needless considering how Jackson dips to kiss my cheek, how his hands sneak around my waist to rest low on my stomach. A round of happy, squealing noises echo around our little group, even the boys contributing to the celebration. Amelia shoots me a wink before her face settles in an exaggerated frown, her elbow jutting back towards the giant Brazilian man looming behind her, as he usually is. “You didn't tell me.”
Nick catches her elbow, using it to tug her back into his chest. “I didn't know,querida.”
Because she's incapable of even faking anger towards the love of her life, Amelia directs her frown at Ben and Cass instead. “You didn't tell me either!”
Ben holds up in his hands innocently. “Hey, I was tryna respect their privacy.”
We all snort; it's a well-known fact that Ben and privacy are mutually exclusive.
Rolling his eyes, Cass pats his sister on the top of her head. “Sucks to be the last to know something, huh?”
He gets a gut punch for that one, something that half winds him because the tiny redhead is freaky strong and, God, does she know how to throw a punch. Nick stifles his laughter—and his pride—in Amelia's hair, wrapping his arms tighter around her before she tries to launch herself at Cass.
Kate dismisses their antics with an eye roll. “I'm really happy for you, Lu.”
Amelia ceases her attempted assault to agree. “Me too.”
An ache in my chest urges me forward, has me wrapping my friends in a tight hug, all three of us whispering a synchronous 'I missed you' in each other's ears. Over their shoulders, I catch sight of Pen watching us with a smile. Pulling back, I wave her over, and blue-green eyes narrow at whatever expression she must see on my face.
“Girls,” I tug her into my side, interlocking our fingers and squeezing. “This is Pen.” When they start to chirp excitedly about finally meeting the infamous Pen, I cut them off, “My sister.”
It's kind of funny how we're surrounded by people in the middle of a loud ass party yet I swear I could hear a pin drop. Five forehead creases, five mouths drop, five voices simultaneously screech, “Yourwhat?”
God, I shouldn't laugh but I kind of want to. “It's a long story.” Pen snorts at that. “One I don't really wanna explain tonight but I will, I promise.”
I'll explain everything.
Just not tonight.
* * *
I forgot how damn suffocating house parties are. So many drunk, sweaty people and grinding bodies and handsy assholes. Jackson got swept away by the guys for a round of beer pong and I lasted all of twenty minutes without him at my side before sneaking upstairs to his room.
Our room, I guess.
A sigh escapes me as I close the door behind me, a shield against all the noise. I collapse on the bed, unstrapping my heels and wiggling my sore toes, getting comfortable for my wait.
It takes longer than I thought it would for him to find me.
A whole fifteen minutes pass before the door creaks open again. “Party boring you?”
I prop myself up on my elbows, unable to help smiling at the man leaning against the doorway. “You've lost your touch.”
His low chuckle hits me right in the stomach, as does the soft click of him shutting and locking the door behind him. I sit up as he advances, legs folded beneath me as I rest back on my heels. My neck cranes back as he stops at the foot of the bed, my hands folded in my lap to stop them from fidgeting in anticipation.
Nothing can stop me from squirming when he brushes his knuckles across my cheek and trails his hand down the curve of my neck, caging my throat to tilt my head back more. The rasp in his voice has an almost embarrassing effect between my thighs. “You are so fucking beautiful.”
“You know you don't have to charm your way into my pants, Jackson.”
In fact, he doesn't have to say anything at all. He just looks at me and hey, look at that, pants around my ankles.
His own brand of magic.
“I know.” His cocky tone has me rolling my eyes, earning myself a tsk-ing sound from those smiling lips. “I like saying it.” He dips so his lips ghost my cheek, goosebumps radiating out from the spot he barely touched. “I like how you blush when I say it.”
I would roll my eyes again, maybe let out a snort, but I'm way too focused on the hand coaxing me to rise, slipping under my short skirt to palm my ass greedily. A deep grumbling sound vibrates in his chest as his fingers skate upwards and find nothing but smooth skin. “No panties tonight?”
I purse my lips to hide my smile, gripping the arm attached to the fingers wrapped tightly around my neck. “Figured you'd rip them off anyway.”
