Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
I search her wide blue eyes for clues as to why her demeanor changed. It’s like a light switch flipped. One moment, she’s all warm and pliant in my arms and the next, she’s stiff as a board.
“What’s wrong?”
She forces a smile. “Nothing.”
That’s all it takes for my contentment to dim. “Don’t lie to me.”
With the moonlight slanting over us, I notice the color seep into her cheeks. I glance over her shoulder, knowing exactly who I’ll find.
I’m not wrong.
“Looks like we have an audience,” I mutter, gazed locked on Jasper.
Unease flickers across her face. “Unfortunately.”
The corners of my lips lift as one hand slips from beneath the sweatshirt before sliding into her thick hair and dragging her forward.
“Let him watch,” I growl. “You belong to me.”
My lips crash onto hers as my tongue delves into the warmth of her mouth.
Fuck that guy.
He’ll never have her again.
He’ll never touch what’s mine.
Just as I sink into the kiss, Delilah’s palms settle against my chest to push me away.
The moment I give her an inch of space, she gasps, “I need to use the bathroom.” Her expression turns strained as thick tension weaves its way through her voice.
My eyes narrow as I scour her face for the truth.
Is there a reason she doesn’t want him watching us?
He’s the past.
I’m her future.
Even though I hate myself for asking, the words escape from my lips before I can stop them. “Are you sure that’s all it is?” And now I sound like a needy bitch.
I don’t want to believe that her ex has anything to do with the abrupt change in her behavior.
She blinks, looking thrown off by the question. “Of course. What else would it be?”
The way her gaze darts away makes me suspect otherwise. I shift as my attention is reluctantly drawn over her shoulder for a second time. The smug smile that tugs at the corners of Jasper’s lips has a potent concoction of anger and uncertainty igniting within me.
When my attention resettles on Delilah, I can’t help but scrutinize her expression with more care. It’s impossible to believe that she could be playing games. Especially after she gave me her virginity.
I had assumed we’d moved past all that.
Was I wrong?
As much as I try to banish my suspicions, I can’t shake the strange feeling of foreboding that settles in the pit of my gut like a heavy stone.
“I’m not sure,” I say carefully. “Maybe you don’t want Jasper to see us together.”
“You’re right, I don’t,” she admits quietly. “But not for the reasons you assume.”
Hurt flickers in her eyes before she clears her throat and rises to her feet. “I’ll be back in a sec.”
In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere between us turns oppressive. I have no idea how to smooth over the thick tension that has sprung to life, creating a wedge between us. How is it possible that a few minutes ago, we were kissing and my hand was shoved up her shirt and now…
Now I’m unsure where we stand.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to apologize. To clear the air before she walks away.
Instead, I sink further into the cushions and attempt to keep my anger under wraps. “I’ll be here waiting.”
Her tight smile tells me she’s acutely aware of the friction that has sprung up between us.
“Okay.”
The edges of my lips sink as my gaze stays fastened on her as she weaves her way through the thick crowd. Once she vanishes from sight, I plow a hand through my hair in frustration and flick a glance at Jasper just in time to see him slink inside the house.
Fuck.
More than anything, I want to believe Delilah is telling the truth.
“Hey.”
Knocked from my thoughts, I glance up and find my sister. Kingsley is steadfast at her side as if they’re conjoined twins. He’s never far. Almost as if he can’t bear for her to be out of his sight. I’m used to it just being the two of us. It’s weird to have another person constantly dogging her heels and in her business. It’s going to take time for me to get used to this situation.
I force my muscles to loosen and shove the thoughts that have been circling to the back of my brain. The last thing I want is to ruin Summer’s night with this bullshit. She’s just as protective of me as I am of her.
Maybe even more so.
Ever since I was diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school, she’s stood at my side, smacking kids upside the head when they made fun of me. Summer has always breezed through her classes. Academics have never been an issue for her, and she’s spent hours tutoring me when I needed help. It would be all too easy to hate her if she wasn’t such an amazing sister. There are times when I suspect she’s fought wars on my behalf that I’m not even aware of.