Page 33 of Cruel Love
“But-”
“It’s fine,”James said, snapping out of his daze.“Squirt won’t win, I’mtoo good.”
Watching in horror as Billie dealt the cards, and the gamecommenced, nerves swirled around inside me. I didn’t want James to win, of course I didn’t. But I had to accept there was the tiniest part of me thatdidwant him to lose.
I’d never been kissed before, and it was unlikely I’d ever be kissed.This could be my one and only opportunity to know what it felt like, even if it did mean kissing a monster.
I didn’t know how to play poker, so I had no idea who was winning,but I watched the game, conflict raging inside me as to who I wanted to win.
“Three of a kind,”James said, laying his cards down on the table,and showing three sevens, ten of clubs, and a jack of spades.
The biggest grin I’d ever seen spread over Billie’s face, and mystomach plummeted to the ground, my seafood paella threatening to come back up.
“Four of a kind, Uncle J!”Billie squealed.“I beat you!”She laid hercards down, revealing four nines in each of the suits.
James blinked down at the cards, confusion written on his face. Fora beat, no one spoke, until James cleared his throat.“You did good, squirt. I’ll have to watch you from now on, you’ll probably try and bankrupt me.”
Billie laughed.“You gotta kiss Aunt Willow now.”
“A deal’s a deal,” James sighed.
Heat instantly rushed to my cheeks. Was he serious?
He turned to face me, and without hesitation, he leaned forward andpressed his lips against mine. He pulled away less than a second later. I couldn’t stop myself from sucking in my bottom lip, wanting to know what he tasted like.
“That wasn’t a kiss!”Billie cried, her brows tugging into a frown.
“Of course it was.”
“No it wasn’t, Uncle James. That’s how mom kisses Alec when shepretends she isn’t mad at him, not how you kiss your wife on your wedding day! You’re going back on your word.”Hurt laced Billie’s voice, and a pang of sympathy shot through me.
He sighed in resignation.“Fine.”Once again, he turned to me, hiseyes dropping to my lips. The butterflies that had fallen dormant in my stomach started fluttering again when he placed a hand behind my head, lacing his fingers in my hair to hold me still.
I braced myself, expecting his kiss to be as rough as when he hadsex with me, but when his lips pressed softly against mine, and his scent wrapped around me, I couldn’t stop my eyes from closing, and my body relaxing.
I thought he’d pull away after a few seconds, but instead, his lipsagainst mine grew firmer. His mouth slowly opened, and his tongue swiped against my lips.Despite hating him, curiosity to know what it was like to experience aproper kiss won over. I opened my mouth, granting him access, and our tongues began swirling sensually together.
Deep in my belly, the butterflies fluttered wildly, and betweenmy legs, a throbbing began. James’ grip on my hair tightened as his soft kiss turned more demanding.
A guttural growl rumbled in his throat before he eventually pulledaway as if he had remembered who he was kissing, and that we had an audience. The flush on my cheeks spread to my neck at finding three sets of eyes watching us, Billie and Kiera wearing warm smiles, while Alec sneered.
But the butterflies in my belly died an instant death from the wayJames was glaring venomously at me, and although I wasn’t sure what I’d done wrong, or that I’d behaved all night, I knew I was undoubtedly going to be punished.
Chapter 12
Willow
“Would anyone like to see the dessert menu?”a waiter said,interrupting the awkward tension that had settled between James and me as my heart continued to pound against my rib cage.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from James, and although contemptwas oozing from him, his gaze kept dropping to my lips. I wasn’t sure if it was because he was trying to work out how he’d ended up kissing me having vowed never to, or if he was trying to decide if he wanted to kiss me again.
And why on earth did Iwanthim to kiss me again?
“Can I have strawberry ice cream?”Billie said, oblivious to the chaosher bet with James had caused.
“We can’t stay for dessert,”James replied sternly and abruptlystanding.“Willow and I have plans.”
He grabbed my arm, forcing me to my feet as worry creasedKiera’s brow, and a salacious smirk played on Alec’s lips.
