Page 63 of Shadow Dance

I peek at him, intrigued by his answer. “What do you mean?”

“I have an older half-brother, but we haven’t seen each other in years,” he explains.

“Is he back on the East Coast?”

“I have no idea,” he says. “He’s my dad’s kid. I don’t talk to any of them.”

“What about?—”

“Let me see.” Suddenly Jaime’s right behind me, his heat and solidity a delicious contrast to the nippy air.

Jaime can be a really private person, and I respect that, so I let it go. I start to scoot over so he can get a good look at the sky, but he holds my hips still, resting his chin on my shoulder as he peers through the telescope. My whole body gets warm, my heartbeat erratic. He smells so good, like cologne and detergent and cinnamon gum. And a little like cake, which makes me smile. I move my face slightly, rubbing my cheek against the soft bristles of his beard, my heart soaring when that makeshimsmile.

“That’s incredible,” says Jaime. He’s close enough that his voice vibrates against my skin. “The stars look so close.”

“And yet they’re so far away,” I add, my voice barely a whisper. I turn to face him before he can take a step back. “Do you think we’ll always be out of reach, too?”

“Listen to you, being corny,” he teases, his eyes meeting mine in the semi-darkness. He catches my hand before I can give him a good pinch and sets it on his waist. “Can you really see us existing beyond this?”

As much as I wish it wasn’t the case, I know he’s right. I’ll be cutting ties with everything and everyone related to Callum once I get away. “I guess not.”

He leans in, brushing his lips over mine in a gentle kiss full of promise.Yes.I’ve wanted this all day. Relieved, I wrap my arms around his neck and deepen it. We might not have forever, but we have right now,and what I want more than anything is to be closer to him. I just wantmore.

The world outside fades. I run my hands up under his shirt, and he laughs into our kiss, grabbing my hands. “Your hands are fucking icicles.” He hisses, but he lets me touch him, shuddering asI gently rake my nails lightly over his skin. With a small growl, he pushes me against the wall and kisses me again.

This one is bolder, almost desperate, and we sink into it like we’re trying to forget our cruel reality. His hands roam down my back slowly before cupping my ass and pulling me tightly against him. His hardness presses against my belly, making me ache for more than just a kiss, and I push back.

“Maeve,” he warns, but his lips move down my jaw and then my neck, sucking and nipping at my skin. A warm wave of desire washes over me, and I arch into him, nearly frantic with need. “Touch me,” I beg. “For my birthday.”

I’m half-expecting him to deny my request, but he slides his fingers into my leggings and down the front of my panties like he’s been just waiting for me to ask. “Like this?” he breathes, nibbling my ear.

“Yes,” I breathe.

“Look how wet you are,” he murmurs.

I try to swallow my moan as I grip the wall behind me. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

His voice goes gritty as he trails kisses down my neck, his fingers rubbing slippery paths up and down my pussy. “What’s got you so wet?”

“You,” I whisper.

“You play dirty,” he says, his breath coming in warm puffs over my ear. “You know I can’t have you, but you tell me shit like that anyway.”

I’m tingling all over now, unable to speak. He knows exactly how to touch me.

“But you’re so beautiful,” he says, finding his way back to my mouth. “I can’t say no. You know that don’t you?”

He slips two fingers inside me, thrusting them slowly as his thumb circles my clit. “I—” I gasp, my hips jerking against his touch. I’m already so worked up, so close. “I?—”

“Shh.” His other hand slides up my stomach and cups my breast,roughly teasing the nipple until it hardens. “You wanted it, so take it like a good girl.”

“Oh, God,” I cry, shaking as I come all over his fingers. Pleasure cascades through my body with an intensity that makes my knees buckle slightly.

“The prima ballerina gets off on a little dirty talk. Who knew?” Chuckling, Jaime presses a hot, slow kiss to my ear. “Happy birthday, Maeve.”

Chapter 17

Jaime

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