Page 75 of Muse (Fighting Fate)

lk Mom out and see if I can grab us a spot that’s not too crowded.”

Kaeli stepped forward. “I’ll come with you. I just want to get my jacket out of the car.”

I watched Lillian give Mia a pointed look. “Be careful.”

She smiled angelically and pulled Lillian into a hug. “I will. I promise.”

The second they were gone I pulled Mia harder against me and kissed the top of her head. It felt like forever since I’d had her alone. Her body was almost rigid there was so much tension inside her. She was usually so soft and relaxed. I wondered if it was from the noise of the crowd or something else. My arms tightened around her reflexively, the need to protect her too strong to ignore.

She tilted her head back, her gaze questioning, so I lowered mine to give her a soft, reassuring kiss. Her hands instantly tensed against my back, her fingers digging in to hold me close, and she sighed against my mouth, her lips parting as she quickly deepened the kiss.

I responded to her need without question, suddenly realizing I needed this as much as she did. What happened in the halls that afternoon had really shaken me up. It had crushed me to see her that way. It made my heart ache in a way I’d never experienced before.

I thought all the playing I’d done that afternoon and night would’ve ridded me of the tension, but as she kissed me, I knew it hadn’t. I could feel it there – feel her drawing it out, mending the hurt. I knew it was the same for her too, because slowly, her body began to relax against mine.

I moved a hand up to caress her face, my fingers tangling in the soft waves of her hair as her tongue glided over mine, igniting every part of my body. She sighed into my mouth, causing me to groan with the desire it brought, but then I heard a loud clearing of a throat.

We both looked up to see Aiden standing there, beside a slightly amused Carly. “Are you done?” he asked acidly.

Mia cocked her head to the side. “No, can you give us a minute?”

Her response was the last thing I’d expected, and I burst out laughing as I pulled her closer. Aiden was trying to repress a grin, but I could tell he was amused just the same. “Yeah, yeah, she’s fucking hilarious.”

I looked down at Mia, still smiling, but when I thought of taking her out into the crowd, I quickly sobered.

“Aiden’s right, you know. It’s okay if this is as far as you get. It won’t bother me if you want to go home.” I smiled again, trying to lighten my words. “I wouldn’t mind checking out this dress of yours in private.”

Aiden growled. “Knock it off, Jace. Just because Mia’s decided she wants to go out with you, doesn’t mean I still won’t beat the shit out of you.”

Mia giggled and snuggled into my chest. “I’m okay.”

Aiden huffed. “I found some seats near the back that are kind of away from the thick of it. Kaeli’s waiting there with Dean and Matt. You’ll have to walk through the crowd to get there though.”

Mia nodded, her face set with determination.

“If you can manage to make it there, I think you’ll be fine. And it’s not as hot either.”

Carly giggled. “I don’t think that’ll matter. It looks as though Jace will keep her overheated anyway.”

I smirked at that. Hell, yeah I would.

Aiden groaned. “Just stop. I don’t need those kinds of thoughts about my sister.”

Mia grinned cheekily at her brother and squeezed me tight. The look on Aiden’s face was priceless. I was going to enjoy stirring the fuck out of him. Bending down to kiss the top of Mia’s head, I breathed her in. “Let me just change my shirt.”

Getting through the crowd wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be. With Aiden, me, and Carly flanking Mia the whole way, we made it pretty much unscathed, although she did look a little pale from the experience.

I would never say anything to Mia, but I actually thought it might’ve been the few girls that tried to come on to me along the way that had distracted her. I thought I might love that possessive side of my little wild cat.

Finding a seat near the corner, I sank down and pulled Mia onto my lap. I had many excuses for doing it. Limited seats. Making a statement so every other girl would stay away. Making a statement so every other guy would stay away. But the one that mattered most was the fact that I just wanted to hold her. I needed to feel her, to know she was relaxed, to know she was okay.

We sat there and listened in to the conversation going on around us, happy to just be with each other.

“How’s Seth going, Amy?” Matt asked her over the music. Seth was Amy’s older brother. He and Matt’s brother, Paul, had gone to school together. Last I heard about him, he’d gone off somewhere to study medicine.

Amy’s eyes widened with excitement. “He loves it. Next year he gets to go work at the hospital and try all the different areas of specialty.”

Amber shook her head. “I can’t believe your brother’s almost a doctor. That’s just surreal.”

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