Page 27 of Mine to Worship

“Really? Thank you.” Her Bambi eyes sparkle with joy, and I snap my head to him.

What is he doing? Even though him being nice is sweet and all. If my jealousy simmers one degree more, I’m boiling over. I don’t even have a reason to be jealous. I’m losing my mind. At this point, there is no other logical explanation.

They win another round and high five each other. He arranges the cards in her hand, and points at one and she nods. By the end of the night, I’ll be cross-eyed watching them.

“If I knew he was that good, I wouldn’t have bothered,” Jake mumbles under his breath, and Kian smirks.

With not an ounce of shame, I stand up and Kian is already half out of his seat.

“I am not feeling well,” I say.

He rushes to me, scattering his cards over the table. He places his palms on my cheeks, and I lean into his touch. His thumb caresses my cheek and emotions pull at my shaky facade.

“What’s wrong?” he asks me, his eyes narrowing on me with undiluted worry.

You. And me.

I was wrong.

I am sick with love for you, I am burning with desire for you, I am an emotional mess because of you.

I am jealous, hurt, insecure, conflicted.

“I am tired,” I say instead.

“We’re leaving.”

“You can stay. I don’t want to ruin your fun night.”

Say yes and say goodbye to your life, I dare him with a raised brow.

His eyes widen and he chokes on a laugh, his face relaxing.

“We have to go,” he says, not taking his eyes away from me.

“Same time next week?” Jake asks.

“We’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere,” Kian vows and grabs my hand. “Kiss me,” he demands as soon as the door closes behind us.

I don’t think—I react, pressing my lips to his. Something monumental shifts between us when our lips connect.

“You brought me back to life, angel,” he whispers, my lips tingling from the kiss. As if under a spell, my brain swims in a daze.

Chapter 12

Kian

I lift Ellia onto the hood of my car, and her lips slam onto mine. Ecstasy runs through my blood. My tongue parts her mouth and she moans. I delve deeper, tasting her sweetness mixed with my desperation. I missed her like this, mine, wanting, taking. I am only hers.

She locks her hands around my neck and I lean her back, stepping between her thighs. Urgency scrapes at my spine. To take, to own, to worship.

“I want you.” I bite into her lip.

“You can take me,” she answers through kisses.

“Let’s go home.” I palm her round ass and move to lift her, but her nails dig into my chest.

“No, now.”

---