Page 29 of Igniting Sparks
“Looks like you never missed a day. Spectacular.”
Maybe it’s the awe in his eyes that makes me brave.
Or maybe I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines, waiting for someone else to lead me into my life.
Dashing across the room, I throw myself into Braden’s arms and bury my head against his neck. “You’re the spectacular one. I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I’m so grateful to you.”
“You deserve it because you’re one of a kind.” Braden gently nudges my face from the crook of his neck, tipping mychin up to meet his gaze. “There’s no one quite like you, Mina.”
Time slows as he slides his hands along my jaw, his eyes crinkling at the corners when he smiles. I inch closer, a soft moan escaping my throat when he presses his mouth to mine.
He has the softest lips, which so contradicts his steely exterior, and as they move gently over mine, I fall into the kiss.
And into him.
Our first kiss was awkward and stilted. But this…thisis the kind of kiss that brands itself on your soul.
I twine my fingers around his neck, feeling the desperate desire claw at my insides, and when he groans low in his chest, I realize he feels it, too.
It’s one ofthosemoments. The kind you want to stretch out and live inside forever.
Everything else falls away—every worry, every fear, every regret.
It’s just the two of us, our breath mingling, skin tingling as we explore one another.
“Braden, man, where the hell are you—shit. Sorry.” Zane bursts into the room, shattering the magic.
“Perfect timing, as always,” Braden mutters, irritation lining his features.
Let me tell you, I’m thrilled he’s pissed off about it, too.
Zane holds his hand up in apology. “Totally unintentional.” He steps into my new dance area, his eyes widening. “Damn, when did this happen?”
“He built it over the last few nights.”
Zane releases a low whistle of appreciation. “Nice job. I didn’t realize you werethiskind of dancer, Mina.”
My brow furrows at his statement. “What kind of dancer did you think I was?”
Zane shrugs and snorts back a laugh. “I don’t know. Exotic?”
I plant my hands on my hips, floored by his assumption. “You thought I was a stripper?”
“Jesus, Zane,” Braden hisses. “He didn’t mean it like that.”
But I’m too busy laughing at the ridiculousness of it. Not because there’s anything wrong with exotic dancers, but because I lack even the most minuscule amount of feminine wiles.
Zane takes a sip of his beer, grinning. “See? She’s taking it well.”
I shake my head and bite back another laugh. “Trust me, men. I amnotwell-schooled in that area.”
I realize one second too late, what I’ve said. Judging by the strange expressions decorating both their faces, they caught it, too.
Time to switch the subject, and fast.
“I didn’t know you were coming over, Zane.”
Zane jerks his chin toward the door. “After the week we had, no way in hell was I missing this party. See you two out there.”
