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“I’m not afraid for me!” I shot back hotly. “I’m afraid for you!”
The sounds of the video game were still playing in the living room, but the room had gone silent. Stone noticed too.
He leaned in close to me, his breath warm against my throat and I bit my lower lip, trying not to respond. “My siblings are eavesdropping.”
I nodded.
Before I could say anything else, Stone leaned in and kissed me.
My heartbeat quickened as his lips pressed against mine, his fingers tangling in my hair. Maybe I should have pushed him away, but my instincts were quicker than my intellect. My body leaned into his as his hand cupped the back of my neck, pulling me closer. The kiss was full of passion and longing. Stone kissed me as if he needed me.
I let out a moan as his tongue found its way into my mouth, with a hunger that sent shivers down my spine. The anxiety that had been gripping me moments before melted away under his touch.
I pulled away first. Stone straightened, his normally icy blue eyes fixed on mine. A faint smug smile came over his lips, as if he couldfeelhow pissed Shaw was at the moment.
"No one likes what they hear when they eavesdrop," he said, more to the other room than to me.
"I liked what I heard!" Karissa called back. "But don't forgive him too easily, Amelia. He needs to learn!"
Stone sighed under his breath and rolled his eyes. He picked up the dishes and carried them to his end of the table, where he picked up his own pile. The dishes were heavy, but Stone carried them as if they weighed nothing.
I followed him into the kitchen. I felt hot and bothered and pissed off all at the same time. "Did you just kiss me to antagonize Shaw?"
"No," he said bluntly. He set the dishes down by the sink and began to put them in the dishwasher. "I kissed you because I've been afraid I'd never kiss you again for the past week. Antagonizing Shaw was a bonus."
For a few long seconds, I couldn't even breathe.
He said the words so casually.I've been afraid I'd never kiss you again.
"I'm still angry, Stone," I told him.
"I know," he said. "You made it clear I have to make it up to you. It may take a while, Amelia."
I felt my brow furrow. Stone actually... listened? He was going to attempt to make things right?
"And the next time I kiss you," he said, just as casually, "you'll want me as much as I want you."
"Arrogant," I told him, even though my heart was hammering with the truth of those words.
I wanted him already. But I wasn't going to pretend that he hadn't hurt me or that he hadn't turned old trauma fresh.
"Mm." He waved me off as I started to wipe down the counter. I knew how pristine Karissa kept her kitchen. "Go. Find Liam like you want to."
Stone could read me so easily. It didn’t seem fair.
I didn't feel like I understood Stone at all.
And my lips still tingled from his lips, and my body still ached for his touch.
* * *
I walkedinto the cool evening air to look for Liam.
Cole strolled casually onto the back porch, his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Where are we going, Amelia?”
“Are you always stuck being my bodyguard?”
“For the rest of my life,” he said, and I didn’t think he was joking.
