Page 12 of The Very Naughty List

But then Sebastian’s tongue slides out, tracing the seam of my lips. I gasp softly as a spark of heat shoots through me, and he takes the opportunity to deepen the kiss, angling his head to take it a bit deeper.

He pulls me up against him, and my hands instinctively reach up to press my palms against his chest as I melt into him. I can feel every tensed muscle of his pecs beneath my fingers, and it takes actual restraint to keep my hands from wandering any more than they already have.

I don’t know how long the kiss lasts—it can’t be more than several seconds at most—but in that short time, the kiss grows rapidly hotter and increasingly morerealfeeling. His tongue slides against mine, one large hand palming the back of myhead, and I feel like there’s nothing else in the world besides Sebastian’s strong arm wrapped around me and his fingers threading through my hair.

In all the times I ever allowed myself to imagine what it would be like to kiss him, it was never as intenselyprimalas this.

I’m not sure which one of us pulls away first, but I have to physically restrain myself from chasing Sebastian’s lips to get one more taste of him.

As soon as we break apart, all the sounds of the bar come rushing back in. It’s like I was underwater that whole time, hearing nothing at all while submerged in Sebastian’s embrace. But now that it’s over, the reality around us comes crashing over me like a tidal wave. It’s almost too overwhelming to take in all at once, especially since most of my brain is still locked in that kiss, trying to recall the exact sensation of his mouth on mine.

But the heightened noise level, along with the slightly chilly air that seems amplified now that my body isn’t pressed against his, force me out of my head. All of the people at the bar are watching us, including Reid and Nick, who both seem to be glowering a little.

It takes me a minute to remember that this is all part of the show the three of them are putting on. It’s just an act, and they’re doing a good job of pretending to be jealous for the benefit of the onlooking crowd.

I feel flushed and a little unsteady, and my stomach is revisiting that same fluttering sensation it had when I pulled out of the parking lot after first seeing Reid. It only accelerates the fluttery feeling when I look at Sebastian and he winks at me.

He has the uncanny ability to make me feel things on the spot, as if my body responds to his commands on cue.

I open my mouth to say something to him, but before any words can come out, a large hand wraps around my arm and gently pulls me away.

“Dance with me.” Reid smiles as he threads his fingers through mine and walks hand-in-hand with me to the center of the bar.

This isn’t really a dancing kind of bar, but there’s enough space without tables in the center of it that most of the regulars get up and dance from time to time whenever their favorite song plays over the bar’s speakers. Reid makes a big show of pulling me toward that empty spot, practically lifting me up off my feet and twirling me around as he looks over my shoulder back at Sebastian.

Oh. I get it now.

This is the pretend fighting-over-me thing that they talked about, to convince everyone here that there’s jealousy between them. It’s almost convincing enough formeto fall for it.

Placing a hand at the small of my back, Reid pulls me close against him and starts to move. The beat of the music pounds in my chest as every inch of my skin reacts to his proximity. I try to act like I don’t notice the lack of any space between our bodies, but it’s impossible not to be overwhelmed by it.

“You don’t have to do this, you know,” I whisper, my heart still thudding so hard that I can hear blood rushing in my ears.

But Reid just shakes his head, brushing off my attempt to let him off the hook.

“I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t want to,” he replies, leaning down to speak quietly in my ear. His lips don’t quite touch my skin, but I still have to work hard to suppress a shiver as my knees wobble a little.

As if he can feel it, he tightens his hold on me, steadying me by holding me even tighter against his body—which doesn’t do much to help with the shakiness of my legs, if I’m being honest.

“Besides,” he adds. “I meant what I told you today. Your problems are my problems, trouble. They’reourproblems. So my brothers and I are doing this. Fuck everyone in this town who made you feel small just because your ex was a dick who didn’t appreciate what he had. Dylan didn’t deserve you. Fuck him.”

Reid’s words make my heart race, and it has nothing to do with the tempo of the music. There’s a fierce protectiveness in his voice that hits me right in the chest, and I wrap my arms around his neck, drawing back a little so that I can meet his gaze. He looks right back at me, steady and unwavering, and we’re still staring at each other in heavy silence as the song ends.

Even though the music has stopped, Reid makes no move to let go of me.

“My turn, shortcake.”

The deep voice behind me is all the warning I get before I’m tugged out of Reid’s hold. Sebastian somehow manages to twirl me in such a way that even my uncoordinated ass looks halfway graceful, and even though I wasn’t quite ready to be done with Reid yet, it’s hard to be disappointed as Sebastian grins down at me.

His outgoing and flirtatious personality is a nice balance after the intensity of that moment with Reid, but it’s no less intoxicating.

I can feel every inch of his body as he moves against me too—every inch—and I’d be shocked if my face isn’t bright red by this point, but he doesn’t seem to mind at all.

“Reid and Nick are both glaring at us, you know,” he points out, inclining his head in their direction without taking his gaze off me.

“People are probably wondering if the three of you are going to get into a bar fight,” I joke breathlessly.

He grins. “Actually, Nick and I were just talking about opening up an underground fight ring in Chestnut Hill earlier tonight. I think it’s a great idea.”

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