Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“Nope. I’ve got you to warm me up.”
His hands slip beneath the hem of the sweatshirt before drifting along my ribcage and settling under the gentle swell of my breasts. All he has to do is inch his thumb upward a bit and he would be touching me. The sweatshirt is so oversized that no one would be the wiser. Our gazes cling as he strokes my bare flesh. I lose all sense of time as people come and go, no one daring to intrude on the moment we’re having.
When the hair at the base of my neck prickles, I’m struck with the feeling of eyes crawling over me. It’s different than the curious stares that have been aimed in our direction for most of the evening.
Unable to shake the disturbing sensation of being watched, I lift my head and scan the area. It doesn’t take long for my gaze to collide with Jasper’s. Instead of looking away, his attention stays locked on mine as he lifts the Solo cup to his lips and downs the contents. He doesn’t pay attention to Sloane and one of her minions as they hang on him. His broody stare stays locked on me.
A jolt of unease slides through my body before settling at the bottom of my belly like a heavy stone. No matter what I do, it’s impossible to dislodge. I’m knocked from the strange paralysis when Austin nips at my lower lip.
My gaze slices to him.
He searches my eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I force a smile, unwilling to bring up my ex. “Nothing.”
Steeliness grows in his eyes as his jaw locks. “Don’t lie to me.”
Heat suffuses my cheeks as his gaze shifts, settling on someone over my shoulder. “Looks like we have an audience.”
The sinking sensation in my gut grows. I wish Jasper would move on and leave us alone. It’s over. He did his damnedest to keep us apart and it didn’t work. I’m sure he’s furious. The guy is used to getting his way and has no idea how to handle rejection or walk away from a fight.
“Unfortunately.”
The corners of his lips tilt as his hand slips from beneath the sweatshirt and slides around the back of my skull before propelling me forward.
“Let him watch. You belong to me now.”
“Austin…”
The last thing I want to do is provoke Jasper’s temper. It’s like poking at a wild animal. You never know how he’ll react, and I’m not looking to get mauled. Barely have I managed to escape from him unscathed. I’d like to keep it that way.
Before I can deter him, the firm pressure of Austin’s lips settles over mine. Even when his tongue slips inside my mouth, there’s no losing myself in the caress. I’m much too aware of the narrowed gaze drilling into the back of my skull.
Uncomfortable with the PDA, my palms settle against his chest before pushing him away. As we break apart, he sends me a curious look.
Before he can ask any questions, I blurt, “I need to use the bathroom.”
His eyes narrow as the intensity of his stare grows. “Are you sure that’s all it is?”
Thrown off by the question, I stare. “Of course. What else would it be?”
He shifts, muscles tensing as his gaze flickers over my shoulder. When they resettle on mine again, suspicion mars his expression. After the other night and everything we shared, it feels like a slap in my face.
“I’m not sure…maybe you don’t want Jasper to see us together.”
Air stalls in my lungs before I admit in a calm voice, “You’re right, I don’t. But not for the reasons you assume.”
The mistrust that brews in his eyes slices through my heart with the precision of a scalpel. I’d really hoped we could put this mess with Jasper behind us. Maybe it was delusional on my part to think we could move on so easily.
I clear my throat and untangle myself from him before rising to my feet. “I’ll be back in a sec.”
His gaze probes mine as if searching for answers to questions he has yet to ask. After a long moment that only intensifies the tension vibrating in the air, he murmurs, “I’ll be here waiting.”
I force a smile. “Okay.”
With that, I weave through the thick crowd, making my way to the set of French doors that lead to the kitchen. A little time to clear my head is exactly what we both need. I refuse to be a pawn in a game of revenge. If Austin wants to be with me, he needs to stop thinking about my ex.
As I open the door and slip inside the house, I wince. The decibel level of the music is like an assault and the vibrations of it echo in my bones. One glance tells me that people are even drunker and rowdier than thirty short minutes ago. As I consider turning around and retreating outside, I get shoved from behind. The force sends me stumbling farther into the space.