Page 39 of Wicked Dreams

Brent smirked at him, his own body tensing.

“You know, you’re not the first one who’s tapped that. I was between her legs first. Remember that the next time she spreads them for you.”

I expected Donovan to jump to his feet. To fight. To cause a commotion. Instead, he remained still beneath me.

His voice came out in soft whisper that sent chills down my spine, “I’d be scared to go to sleep tonight if I were you, Brent. Dreams can be a real bitch.”

Donovan

The way her eyes stayed locked on mine left me breathless. We were on the same plane at the same time. I could reach out and touch her, kiss her —finallyafter two-hundred years of yearning. I couldn’t get enough, so I used every excuse I could to touch her—always holding her hand, rubbing her thigh under the table, or brushing my lips against the soft skin of her ear when I leaned in to whisper how beautiful she was or how much I missed her.

Every time I murmured in her ear or kissed her cheek, her face became a new shade of pink — and pink was my new favorite color. I found myself not even paying attention to whatever her friends were saying. I couldn’t do anything but watch her, burning every little thing into my memory, like the way she looked at me from the corner of her eye to find me watching her, causing her to turn away like she was embarrassed she’d been caught. I loved that she couldn’t keep her eyes or hands off me either.

From the moment I walked into the party, her mom had been watching me. Finally, she got busy with packing things away. As she was busy lugging things to the car, I leaned over to breathe in Olivia’s ear. “Dance with me?”

Her green eyes quickly found mine as a sweet smile tugged up her lips while she nodded.

Keeping her hand in mine, I pulled her to the center of the dance floor and brought her against my chest where our eyes locked.

“How?How’d you do it?” she whispered.

“I made you a promise, Livvy. I always keep my word.”

“But, I don’t understand. You said so yourself, you were a part of my subconscious.”

I placed my finger against her lips, silencing her. “Don’t overthink it, Livvy. Just behere, in this moment with me.” Slowly, and with our gazes fastened on each other, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers. It was like a shock that paralyzed me. Her lips were so soft, and her tongue was sweet from cake icing. The scent of jasmine surrounded me, creating a thick blanket of something I never thought I’d have again — her love, her comfort, her body against mine.

As our tongues moved together, everything else fell away. I didn’t notice the other people dancing around us or that her mom was probably about to march over and pull us apart or that there was averyjealous onlooker. I’d done warned him once and hoped I didn’t have to do it again. But based on the looks he was giving me, I knew I’d probably have to. But inthatmoment, the moment where I was swaying with Olivia with her lips on mine, none of it mattered. Only her.

My left arm snaked around her back, pulling her even closer, while the right traveled up her back, landing firmly between her shoulder blades. With the grasp I had on her,nobodycould pull her away from me.

Her hands fisted in my shirt, weakly dragging me deeper into her embrace while I devoured her mouth. I could’ve sworn my heart tried to beat again.

Reluctantly, I separated our mouths when I was completely breathless. My gaze froze on her swollen, glistening lips. “You taste just like I remember,” I whispered.

She opened her mouth to say something, but the bright lights suddenly flickered on and the music was cut.

“Thank you everyone for coming to Olivia’s eighteenth birthday!” the DJ said over the mic. “You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here,” he laughed loudly with his corny joke.

Everyone around us started moving off the dance floor, but we didn’t break apart. When I peered into her wide emerald eyes, I detected a hint of fear and sadness.

“What’s the matter, Livvy?”

“I don’t want this to end. I’m not ready to let you go.”

I placed my hands on either side of her face. “I’m not going anywhere, baby.”

“You mean, this wasn’t like some kind of Cinderella wish where everything goes back to the way it was at midnight?”

I laughed. “No. I’m noteverleaving you, Olivia.” Quickly, I pulled her in for one last, slow kiss.

Someone cleared their throat, causing us to break apart.

“Oh, hi, Mom,” she said nervously.

“It’s time to go, honey. The party’s over.” She smiled sweetly, but I could tell from the look in her eyes that she wasn’t too happy. “It was nice to meet you, Donovan.”

I nodded. “You too, ma’am.”

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