Page 55 of Indulge
“Too much?” she asks, her voice softer this time.
I stand without meaning to, the words caught in my throat. “Too much for anyone else. Not for me.”
Her lips part, a flicker of something raw in her eyes.
Lily shifts awkwardly, sensing the change. “I, uh—I’ll give you two a minute,” she mutters before slipping out, the bell over the shop door tinkling shut behind her.
Now it’s just us.
Bella takes a step closer, skirts swishing against the floor. I can smell her perfume, sweet and dizzying. Hypnotizing me.
“You look…” I trail off, shaking my head, searching for something that isn’t obscene. “Dangerous. And drop dead gorgeous.”
She grins wickedly. “Funny. That’s exactly how you look at me.”
I laugh under my breath, but the sound dies as the space between us shrinks. She tilts her head, green eyes locked on mine, daring me the way she always does.
I brush a strand of hair from her cheek, fingertips grazing her skin. She doesn’t move. Doesn’t flinch.
Everything about this feels right. Like she’s meant to be in my arms.
“You’re fuckin’ precious,” I whisper against her lips.
For one suspended second, we’re close enough to forget who she’s supposed to marry. Close enough for me to forget everything but the taste of her name in my mouth.
I almost kiss her.
She almost lets me.
My mouth hovering over hers, my heart racing in my chest like it might explode out.
Sharing is one thing. This? This is something I’ve never experienced before. It’s beyond a want.
It’s a deep-rooted need. A craving. My brothers words ringing in my ears… don’t fall in love with her.
And that’s when the bell over the door rings again, shattering the spell.
We jerk back, both of us breathing harder than we should, pretending like nothing happened at all.
But we both know.
We almost crossed a line that, once broken, we’ll never come back from.
25
REGGIE
“You okay?” Drago asks.
I stare blankly at the monitor. I had this weird feeling after my and Bella’s interaction this morning that she’s changing tactics.
And for some reason, I immediately regretted asking for Rowan’s help today.
She’s trying to get under my skin. Push my buttons. And I think I gave my jealousy button away the other day with the cookie fiasco.
My brother just almost kissed my fucking fiancée. Not just that, but in her wedding dress fit for a funeral, another jab right at me.
I’m always the fucking bad guy.
