Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
To my surprise, her bare back comes into view right in front of me, that fucking ribbon in her hair taunting me. She’s followed by a tall, very familiar form and a couple of his friends. When he turns his head to smile down at her, my suspicions are confirmed. Well, well, well, if it isn’t fucking Liam himself. The space fills in with more bodies as my uncle takes the floor, microphone in one hand, my aunt’s hand in the other. An older couple moves in next to Valen, and the woman stops to fix a stray piece of her hair as she passes by, but Valen bats it away. I raise a brow. Her mother? She’s taller, paler, her features more angular than Valen’s round, but I suppose she bears a passing resemblance if I squint hard enough. The woman purses her lips, tugging the hand of the man behind her to move a little farther into the crowd and away from Valen.
I take another hit as the lights dim and the countdown starts. My eyes narrow as I watch Liam’s arm go around Valen’s shoulders, but she jerks away, sending him a scathing look. He’s not even looking at her, laughing at something his friends must’ve said, undeterred by her rejection. I move slightly to the right so I can see more of her profile. Her eyes scan the room, as if she’s looking for something.
Or someone.
Before hope can bloom that she’s looking for me, she waves at Shayne from where she stands with Thayer’s arms wrapped around her from behind. Valen smiles at her, but then it slips, her slender throat moving with a swallow as she pushes up onto her toes and continues to look around the room.
Six, five, four…
Everyone chants in unison, and I see Liam’s intent before she does. He licks his lips, turning his back to his friends as he focuses on Valen.
Three, two…
Balloons start to fall from the ceiling as everyone cheers, couples turning toward each other, preparing for their first kiss of the new year. Valen’s unconcerned with the festive display, though. She stares ahead, and if I’m not mistaken, she almost looks disappointed.
One.
Fuck it. I toss the joint behind me and twist the doorknob. I stick my arm through, my hand finding Valen’s while Liam’s attention is still on the balloons, and I pull her out to the patio, closing the door before he’s even realized she’s gone.
“What the hell!” Valen squeals as I press her up against the wall, caging her in. She clamps her mouth shut when she realizes it’s me. Her chest heaves against mine and I duck down, bringing my face close to hers until our noses are almost touching. The muffled shouts of Happy New Year filter through the door and “Auld Lang Syne” starts to play as she stares up at me, her big brown eyes shining bright and alive.
She moves first, her lips crashing against mine. I groan when her tongue slides into my mouth. She tastes so fucking good and the fact that she’s initiating only makes it sweeter. I kiss her back, my hands still planted on the wall on either side of her head, happily allowing her to take the lead. Her fingers curl into my chest as she fists my shirt to pull me closer. Bending my knees, I deepen the kiss, wedging my thigh between her legs. And not ten seconds after she pulled me closer, she pushes me away, ripping her mouth from mine.
“Are you crazy?” she hisses. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You’re the one who kissed me,” I point out.
“You’re the one who dragged me out here!”
“You wanted me to!”
“I did not,” she denies, indignant.
“Really?” I challenge. “So, you wanted Liam’s tongue down your throat? Thought you’d ring in the new year with the guy who cheated on you?”
“Of course not,” she says, folding her arms over her chest, which only emphasizes her tits.
“Or maybe you were looking for me, hoping I’d swoop in and take his place?” I take a step closer. “And maybe you wore this little fucking dress just for me, too.”
“You’re wrong about that one,” she says, but I don’t miss the fact that she doesn’t bother to deny anything else. I’ll take it as a win. “I wore this to piss my mom off.”
I bite back my amusement. Okay. I’ll buy that, but… “The ribbon.”
“What about it?”
“I find the timing suspicious, is all. I tell you about my fantasy of tying you up with said ribbon, and then you show up wearing one, here in my uncle’s house, where you know I’ll be. But my fantasy has changed.”
She cocks her head to the side, giving me a bored look that betrays whatever emotion she’s actually feeling. “You got exactly what you wanted, then changed your mind? Color me surprised.”