Page 87 of Vengeful Guard

“You should make him jealous on purpose.” Sophie smirks. “That can result in some fire sex.”

“Absolutely. I do it to Matteo all the time.” Matteo is Catalina’s on again off again boyfriend.

“And how exactly would that help me? I can’t exactly leave the house without him. Besides, we’re not school kids anymore.”

Though, I do love the way Kael’s jaw tightens, how his voice goes all low and serious.

Catalina shrugs. “Oh, it helps. All you have to do is talk about other guys in front of him. You don’t even have to do anything.”

“But I don’t know any other guys.”

“Just mention anyone he knows. It’ll work. Use Ronan. He’s had a crush on you forever, anyway.”

I blink. “He has?”

Sophie nods. “Oh, absolutely.”

Ronan O’Malley’s handsome, with his full-body tattoos and his piercing black eyes. I imagine riding on the back of his motorcycle, imagine his hands on my body. It doesn’t do anything for me. Not a single spark.

But the idea of riding Kael’s bike, that makes me instantly wet. Maybe I can try and tease him, make him a bit angry.

“I don’t know. Maybe,” I mumble, and Catalina grins.

“You’re learning the ways of love so quickly. Our little Paige.”

“I’m not little.”

We spend the rest of the morning talking, and I don’t even have a slight buzz from the full glass of wine, but I have a good time.

When I usher them out of the house, Kael is coming out of his room, scratching his stomach. There's a trail of hair from below his belly button leading into his waistband that makes my breath catch in my throat.

Catalina is halfway out the door but when Kael walks in, she sticks her head back in the door. “Ooh.”

I push her outside, my cheeks burning.

Kael grins. “Don’t want me to meet your friends?”

“You already met Sophie. Catalina, this is Kael. Kael, this is Catalina. There, now go.” I push Catalina back out the door.

I shut the front door behind me, and the girls stare at me, wide eyed when I walk them to Sophie’s car.

“He’s beyond hot, Paige,” Catalina says. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“And he just walks around shirtless?” Sophie marvels. “I’m surprised you kept your virginity this long.”

I snort and get them into the car, saying my goodbyes.

When I walk back into the house, Kael is facing the window closest to the door, where I’m sure he kept watch over me. He walks to the living room when I close the door and sprawls on the couch, turning the television on.

I hum as I sit next to him, on the far end of the couch.

“Have fun?”

“Lots.” I smile at him. I pause, wondering how it would play out if I tried to make him jealous. “Found out someone has a crush on me.”

Kael stiffens. “Aye?”

He doesn’t say much, but his body language says a lot, his jaw clenched tight.

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