Page 36 of Marry Lies
Estelle looks up at me with wide eyes, and this time, it’s my turn to surprise her. Snaking an arm around her waist, I pull her close to my body.
“Put your other arm around my neck,” I murmur.
Licking her lips, she does as I say—and as soon as I feel her hand on my hot skin, I place my other hand on her upper back and dip her. Her hair is flowing down to the floor, and she looks not only surprised, but intrigued. Smirking, I lower my lips to hers as the crowd goes crazy.
And like last time, everything inside of me pulls taut. My hands burn where they’re touching her cool skin. Her lips areso fucking soft, and I have to steel myself to keep from thinking about how they’d feel wrapped around my heavy cock.
I press my tongue between her lips and squeeze her waist with my fingers. She emits a moan—just like before—and for a second, I want to lower her to the ground and fuck her senseless. Estelle’s fingers curl into my hair, and she pulls it ever so gently. Still, the feel of her fingers in my hair, the feel of her soft body against mine…
If I wasn’t worried about the year ahead before this kiss, I sure am now.
Pulling away, I lift her back up so she’s standing, taking in a ragged breath. She seems just as dazed, stumbling slightly as people clap and holler. I wipe my mouth and give the room a tight smile as I walk her over to where Chase and Juliet are standing with Liam by the wet bar.
“Congratulations,” Chase says, pulling me into a quick hug. His eyes roam to Estelle, and much to my amusement, her neck and chest are flushed pink. “Stella,” he says, pulling her into a hug. “Nice to officially meet you,” he says, giving me a look that screamswhat the fuck, man?
I hug Liam and Juliet before standing next to Estelle. She stiffens, and when I look over at her, I can see that she’s crossing her arms and looking away. Before I can ask her what’s wrong, Juliet pulls her away.
“So,” Liam says, holding a glass of whiskey and passing another glass full of the amber liquid to Chase and me next. “Stella Deveraux?”
I shrug. “Technically it’s Estelle Ravage now.”
They both stare at me with wide eyes, so I keep talking.
“It makes sense,” I tell them with a low voice. “For all intents and purposes, and to the public, we are truly, madly in love.”
“Of course,” Chase quips, taking a sip of his drink. “That kiss certainly highlighted your amorous feelings.”
“Fuck off,” I bite back. Liam and Chase share a look. “What?”
“I wasn’t being facetious. Look at her. She can barely pay attention to Juliet right now,” Chase murmurs.
All three of us look over, and I realize with a start that he’s right. Estelle is smiling, but her eyes have that foggy, faraway look. One hand is on her neck, and she’s rubbing her skin softly. Her other hand is touching her swollen lips. A second later, she looks over at me, and I can see the flush visibly creep up to her cheeks.
“Whatare you saying?” I ask.
Liam snorts and places a hand on my shoulder, leaning down. “We’re trying to say that we think she liked the kiss, little brother.”
I scowl at Chase, who is smirking triumphantly, before my eyes flit back to Estelle. Except…she’s gone.
“Juliet is probably off showing her the library,” Chase explains.
“I like her,” Liam offers, pouring us all some more whiskey. “If that matters. We spent some time together earlier this week. She feels like a kindred spirit.”
Something hot and jealous works through me suddenly, and I take a deep breath before pushing those unwanted feelings back down to where they belong—in the recesses of my mind, never to be seen again.
I have no right to be jealous, especially of my own brother.
However, I can’t help but wishI’dbeen able to spend more unguarded time with Estelle.
I’m just about to respond when Chase claps me on the back. “I give it a few weeks before the two of you are in love. Five, to be exact,” he adds, winking at Liam.
Liam chuckles, and the blood drains from my face.
Looking back over at where Stella was standing earlier, I think about how she was looking at me. How maybe she got the wrong idea with that kiss.
And worst of all, how she seems to be infiltrating every cell of my body. How I can’t stop thinking about her. How I’m beginning to feelobsessed.
Likeshe’sthe shiny, new toy.
