Page 17 of Crown of Envy

One of his hands tangled in my hair, tugging slightly to angle my head, deepening the kiss. His other hand pressed into the small of my back, eliminating any space between us. I felt every line of his body against mine, the coolness of his skin a stark contrast to the heat building within me.

His tongue swept across my lower lip, demanding entry, which I willingly granted. The taste of him—a mixture of copper and something uniquely Justice—flooded my senses, making my head spin. A soft moan escaped me, swallowed by his relentless kiss.

There was a possessiveness in the way he held me, in the way his lips claimed mine. It felt like he was marking me, branding me as his own. The dominance in his actions sent a shiver down my spine as excitement and surrender washed over me.

I clutched his shoulders, my fingers digging into the hard muscle, desperate to anchor myself in the storm of sensations. My lungs burned for air, but I couldn’t bring myself to break away. At this moment, Justice’s kiss felt more essential than oxygen.

When he finally pulled back, it was only by a fraction. His forehead rested against mine, our ragged breaths mingling in the scant space between us. My lips tingled, swollen from the intensity of the kiss. The rapid rise and fall of his chest matched my labored breathing.

With the taste of him still on my lips and the solid warmth of his body against mine, I understood. This wasn’t merely a kiss. It was a promise, a declaration, and a desperate plea rolled into one.

Someone cleared their throat from out in the hall. I didn’t need to turn around. I knew it was my overprotective brother.

Justice released me, grabbed the coffee cup off the table, and handed it to me. My lips were still swollen where he had kissed me. The tender moment had ended too soon.

I heard a familiar voice.

“Oh, come on!”

I turned to see Damon standing in the doorway, coffee mug in hand, his face a picture of exasperation. My cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment, but I didn’t step away from Justice.

“It’s too early for this crap,” Damon grumbled, his green eyes flashing with anger and resignation. He gestured wildly at us with his free hand. “Seriously? Some of us are trying to keep our breakfast down, you know.”

Damon inhaled deeply, running a hand down his face in a gesture I’d seen a thousand times when he was trying to keep his cool.

“Look, I get it. You’re together.” The words emerged like they physically pained him. My heart clenched at the conflict in his eyes. “But do you have to be so…vampirey about it?” He pointed an accusatory finger at Justice. “And you, Twilight. You think you could dial it back a notch? She needs to breathe, you know. Oxygen. It’s kind of important for us humans.”

Justice stiffened beside me, but he remained silent. I opened my mouth to defend us, but Damon cut me off.

“Just…get a room, will you?” he grumbled, shaking his head as he moved to push past us. “And if I see any fang, so help me…”

He left the threat unfinished, shooting one last warning glance at Justice before continuing down the hallway. I heard him muttering about the impossibility of normal family dynamics.

As Damon’s footsteps faded, I released a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I looked at Justice, seeing amusement and concern in his eyes.

“Well,” I remarked, trying to lighten the mood. “I guess that’s Damon’s way of giving us his blessing?”

Justice braced his shoulders as if preparing to do battle. “Like he could keep us apart.”

I cocked my eyebrow. “Protective, are we?”

“When it comes to you, yes.” He chuckled, but I noticed the tension in his shoulders. This wouldn’t be the last time we’d have to deal with Damon’s protective streak. But for now, at least, we had bigger things to worry about.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Justice and I headed into the living room. My lips still tingled from our recent kiss, and warmth lingered in my cheeks. I nervously ran my tongue over my lower lip, tasting the faint metallic hint Justice always left behind.

As we entered the room, our team’s quiet chatter ceased. The sudden silence was palpable, making the air feel thick and heavy. I fought the urge to fidget under their collective gaze, my heart rate picking up slightly.

I scanned their faces, wondering if they could tell we’d been kissing. Did my swollen lips and flushed skin give us away? The weight of their scrutiny made my skin prickle with self-consciousness.

Brody’s expression remained impassive, his gaze flicking between Justice and me with an unreadable intensity. Damon studiously avoided eye contact, his jaw clenched tight enough that a muscle twitched in his cheek.

The others maintained a careful neutrality, but I noticed a few raised eyebrows, especially from Lisa and Zara. The tension in the room was almost tangible, like a taut rubber band ready to snap.

As the silence threatened to become unbearable, Garrick broke it. He leaned forward in his chair with a sly smile. The mischievous glint in his eyes made my stomach do a little flip.

“Well, well,” he drawled. “Looks like someone got an early start on their goodbyes.”

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