Chapter 26 #3
I drag my thumb along the side of her neck, feeling her pulse hammer under my touch. Then, before she can react, I pull back completely, leaving her standing there in the cool night air, still burning for me.
Her brows furrow, like she’s trying to catch up.
I bite back a smile, dragging a hand through my hair. “Aye,” I say, keeping my voice steady despite how hard my dick is right now. “We should head back inside.”
I don’t look back as I step away, grabbing her hand to head back to the estate.
Her hand's in mine, but something feels off. Her hands are more than just warm, they’re hot.
I look over, about to ask if she’s alright, but she jerks her hand away, eyes going wide with something I can’t quite place.
CRASH.
Instinct kicks in and I move, pulling her against me, shielding her as glass from the nearest light fixture shatters above us. Shards scatter across the stone path, plunging everything around us into darkness.
She covers her head, even though we’re clear of the worst of it. Adrenaline surges, and my grip on her is tight as I press my earpiece twice, a silent call for backup. I scan every shadow, but I don’t let her go.
“What was that?”
“Not sure,” I say, nodding toward the darkness. “But I could go ask that ghost over there.”
She sucks in a breath and goes still, looking around at the trees as if something is hiding in the shadows.
The subtle glow of her necklace catches my attention. It looks like it's pulsing faintly, but it could just be from the moon.
She recovers fast, rolling her eyes like she wasn’t just looking at something that wasn’t there. “Of course something weird happens, and all you can do is crack jokes and stare at my tits. Real helpful, Kane.”
Challenge accepted, Princess.
“Actually,” I murmur, stepping closer, “I was admiring your necklace. Again.” My fingers brush along the delicate chain at her throat, trailing down just enough to let my knuckles graze against her collarbone.
I can feel her pulse thrum beneath my touch.
“But since I've been accused twice now, I suppose I might as well take a moment to appreciate the view.”
I let my gaze drag deliberately down her body, mapping every curve, every inch of her that’s wrapped in that sinfully perfect dress.
I let her feel it.
Her chest rises, and the fabric of her dress hugs her and when my eyes find hers again, her lips are parted.
I take my time, knowing she won’t move.
“You’re right.” I smirk, “your necklace is stunning.” I let the silence stretch, watching the anticipation in her eyes. “But your body is a much better view to occupy my thoughts.”
Her eyes darken and she sways slightly. I bet she doesn’t even realize it. Fuck. It would be so easy to pull her in. To drag my hands over every inch of her and see just how well she fits against me.
She catches herself and the shift is instant. Her mask slides right back into place.
“Flattery and ogling?” She muses, crossing her arms. “I’m surprised you didn’t trip over your ego on the way here. Should I be concerned or flattered?”
There she is.
“Flattered,” I reply, holding her gaze. “Definitely flattered.”
Before she can fire back, I grab her hand and pull her along, looking at the shattered light fixtures. They should be here any second to check things out, and I don't want to be here when that happens.
“This place is ancient,” I keep my tone easy. “Something probably just got too hot and blew out. They’ve got minds of their own.”
She makes a sound that’s half disbelief, half annoyance, but I don’t let her linger.
I feel her eyes on me, though.
Stealing a glance, I catch the annoyed little look she’s trying to hide. The kind of irritation that’s masking something else entirely. Feisty little thing.
She’s still thinking about what I said and what we did. And she’s still feeling every damn second of it.
Satisfaction rolls through me as I guide her back through the greenhouse, our steps quiet against the stone path, and for the second time since we stepped away from the ballroom, I feel her start to settle.
Cam and Rachel appear in the doorway. Just like that, we’re yanked back into the present.
“There you are!” Rachel exclaims, putting a hand on her hips. “I thought Kane tried to kidnap you.”
Cam shakes his head, laughing under his breath. Always fucking amused.
Rachel’s gaze sharpens as she looks between Cam and me. “Okay, before anything else happens, can someone please tell me what you two are doing here? And how did you even find us?”
Cam flashes his usually charming, smug-ass grin. “Well, considering this is one of the biggest events in the area and a fundraiser, we always attend.” He throws me a look that makes my jaw tighten. “Call it… a write-off.”
Raven’s eyes lock onto mine, demanding answers.
“Okay, but how did you know it was us?” Her tone cuts straight to the point.
I don’t hesitate. “A blind man would know it was you.”
Her lips part and her expression falters, caught somewhere between surprise and disbelief. Her mouth opens like she wants to respond, but nothing comes out.
Rachel groans, rolling her eyes. “Still? Kane seriously? Do you have any game?”
Cam loses it, his whole damn body shakes with laughter as he leans against the door.
“Come on, ladies.” He grins. “Let’s get back to the dance floor before we get caught sneaking around.” He offers his arm to Rachel, who takes it without hesitation.
I extend mine to Raven, and she hesitates. A heartbeat, maybe two, then she slips her hand into mine.
And fuck, if it doesn’t go straight to my dick.
Her fingers are warm, but it’s the way her breath catches, that does it for me. I lean in, keeping my voice low enough that she has to lean to hear me.
“Don’t worry, I don’t bite.” I pause, letting the tension coil between us. “... hard.”
Her entire body goes rigid.
A thrill shoots through me, sharp and satisfying. I let a low chuckle escape, letting her know I see every single reaction she’s trying so hard to hide.
“You all right over there?” I ask, keeping my tone deceptively light, like I’m not fully aware of how I’m affecting her.
Truthfully, I don’t give a shit about her answer.
I care about the way her pulse flutters under my thumb. The way she sways closer to me, and the way I know, without a doubt, she’s fighting herself right now.
Knowing I can do this to her is intoxicating.
Before my cock gets any more bright ideas, I pull her through the doorway, guiding her back toward the ballroom.
The first notes of another song curl through the air and I don’t hesitate, I don’t even ask.
I drag her onto the dance floor, locking my hands on her waist. The music fades into something else and I guide her exactly where I want her. I want to keep her close enough that I can feel the stutter in her breath every time I move.
“I’m glad you guys are here.”
The words hit me somewhere unexpected.
I don’t answer immediately because, for once, I don’t know how to.
“I meant to ask if you’d want to come,” I admit. “But, I kept forgetting.” My gaze drops to where her hand fits perfectly in mine. And then, before I can stop myself, I add, “I'm glad you're here, too.”
Her eyes snap to mine, like she wasn’t expecting that.
For a second, one dangerous second, everything else fades. The music slows, the crowd blurs into nothing, and it’s just her.
Fuck, she’s beautiful.
I lean in, letting my mouth brush across her ear, dropping my voice into something that’s not quite a whisper.
“You really do look devastating tonight, Princess.”
She tenses, then that tongue flicks across her lips—and fuck, if she does that again, I'll forget where we are.
There goes every single good intention I had left.
She coughs, trying to cut the tension, but her fingers twitch against my shoulder, betraying her. The small smile that follows drags me deeper into her.
Her attention slides to the crowd, and mine tracks it without hesitation. She's watching another couple sway together, but I know better. She's not looking at the dance, she's looking at the thing no one's ever given her.
She'll never admit it, but I catch the shift. That unguarded flicker before she buries it all under that sharpness.
The woman presses into him, laughing softly. He watches her like she hung the stars. They tilt closer, lost to everyone else. Pathetic, really. Except Raven's gaze lingers—and that, I don't miss.
She notices things no one else catches. The details most people are too wrapped up in themselves to see. And she doesn't even realize how rare that is. How rare she is.
I trace slow, lazy circles over her hip, testing the line she keeps drawing and redrawing between us.
Her body tenses when our eyes meet and there’s something raw there, something pleading.
Then, in the next breath, it’s gone.
That fire catches in her eyes, twisting her defenses into something hungrier. All tease and all bite. And I want every fucking piece of it.
“Careful there, sir. Don’t want to start something you can’t finish.”
Wrong fucking move.
The edge of my mouth curves, because she has no idea how close I am to forgetting every last rule of control.
My grip tightens at her waist, pulling her in until there’s no space left between us, until she has no choice but to feel exactly what she’s doing to me.
I dip my head until I'm close enough that my lips hover at the curve of her ear. “I never start something I don’t plan on finishing.”
She stills and inhales slowly. I see something reckless in her gaze, then she shivers.
She opens her mouth, like she’s ready to throw out some smartass remark but hesitates. I wait, watching every flicker of uncertainty, every battle waging behind those dark, defiant eyes. But she doesn’t speak.
When my fingers brush her bare skin, I hear a small, unsteady gasp escape her lips.
I let the silence stretch, dragging this out just long enough for her to feel it. To feel every inch of space between us that no longer exists. Every breath she’s struggling to take, I let her drown in it.
What the fuck am I doing?
Then the song ends, and my earpiece crackles.
I pick up just enough to know I’m needed. Cam’s already looking my way, and the expression on his face tells me everything. There’s a fight. And my sister’s involved.
Perfect.
I exhale through my nose, forcing my instincts under control.
I guide her over to where Rachel is chatting at the water table. “We’ve got to handle something real quick. I’ll find you when we’re done.”
Cam flashes Rachel a grin, adding with a wink, “Civil duties, pay our respects and all that. Be right back, love. Try not to break too many hearts while we’re gone.”