Page 51 of With This Kiss
Whether she knew it or not, she was getting used to my touch.
“Just a little bit of drool there,” I said.
It took one long second for my words to register. She pulled away and glared at me, her cheeks flushing red. I didn’t think there would ever be a time when I wasn’t fascinated by the color of her skin.
“What?” I asked innocently. “It’s cute.”
She rolled her eyes at me and, without a word, got out of the car.
I stayed where I was for a beat, thoroughly enjoying teasing her before following her out.
I walked over to the trunk and grabbed our bags. I liked that she didn’t even offer to help. She expected the princess treatment from me, and she knew she would get nothing less than that. Instead, she was waiting for me by the hood of the car.
“Is this going to be a common occurrence?” she asked me as we walked up the narrow front steps leading to the front porch.
“What?”
“You teasing me all weekend.”
“But you’re so much fun to tease.”
Her expression darkened. She did not like that.
I winked at her just as the door opened, and Baran filled the doorframe. He looked from me to Jamie, his smile widening. I knew what his ass wanted to do before he could, so I blocked his path to her.
“Don’t,” I said, the warning clear in my voice.
“What? I just wanted to give her a hug.”
“She doesn’t want your hugs.”
“Not want my hugs?” he asked, sounding offended. I knew better. The fucker had thicker skin than a fucking crocodile. He looked past me to her. “Jamie, tell him it’s not true.”
Jamie looked at a loss for words. I didn’t blame her. Baran was a lot to handle on a good day.
“Get back inside and stop bothering my girl,” I said, shoving him forward.
“I’m not bothering her,” he whined. “She likes me. Don’t you know? Me and Jamie, we’re like this.” He held out his hand with his index and middle fingers crossed.
I rolled my eyes and looked back to see Jamie still standing there.
“Coming?” I asked her. She looked like she was thinking too deeply about something. She shook her head slightly and moved forward until she was close enough to me without touching.
We came inside, where everyone was.
Makar was sitting on the couch, looking at something on his phone. He looked up when he heard us, while Fabian was by the small makeshift bar, pouring himself another drink. I frowned at the sight. I doubted this was his first, nor would it be his last.
There were three other girls around that I had known in passing. But it was the blonde standing next to Fabian who had me internally groaning.
Alani looked at me, then at Jamie, her expression darkening. I shot Fabian a pointed look, but the bastard was too busy with his drink to notice me.
Alani was here, which meant…
A car pulling into the driveway had everyone turning their attention out the window. I was close enough to see the person pulling up.
I tensed, and Jamie must have sensed that because she moved in closer to me and whispered, “What’s wrong?”
Before I could answer her, the front door opened once more, and Rose walked in with her own overnight bag, a wide smile on her face.
