Page 69 of Both Sides Now

I’m a woman scorned, and all logic has flown from my brain in lieu of a billion tangled emotions.

He bristles at my biting remark. “I have no intention nor desire toscrewNadia.”

“Then why are you telling your family anything?”

“Because, Calli, it wasn’t fair of me to drag you into this situation. It was a stupid idea on my part. One I plan to rectify.”

“It was a great idea and I came willingly.” Grabbing his hands, I skate my thumbs along his skin, trying to figure out what to say without looking like a possessive maniac. “I don’t like her touching you. I’m not kidding, Keegan.”

His expression, so guarded since our fight, softens into a smile. “Are you jealous?”

My gaze shifts to the ground as a flush spreads over my cheeks. The truth is, I’m far beyond jealous, but I’ll be damned if I let him in on that secret. I pride myself on being cool and collected, not in danger of exploding like Mt. Vesuvius.

Keegan’s fingers grasp my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Hmm. Jealousy looks good on you.”

I jerk my chin away, offering up my best glare. “I’m not jealous.”

“No? So you won’t mind if I take Nadia up on her offer of adrink after the reception?” His eyes dance in the sunlight as he bites back a smile.

The bastard. He’s caught me, and he knows it.

“I don’t recommend it if you’d like to keep all your equipment in working order.”

Keegan backs me against the stone wall, his arms caging me in place. “Admit you’re jealous.”

My anger gets the better of me, and I’m certain there’s one hell of a storm brewing in the gray depths of my eyes. “Fuck you, Keegan.”

His hand wraps around my throat, his thumb forcing my chin up, his lips centimeters from mine. “Gladly, Calli.”

He slants his mouth over mine, silencing any argument. Just like all our other moments, we pulsate with barely restrained passion. But this time around, I stake my claim, and I hope everyone at the reception sees us. Our tongues tangle as I lock my fingers in his belt loops, pulling his body flush against me.

Screw blondie. This man is mine.

But then, as the kiss intensifies, the world beyond falls away. Any vindictive or jealous thoughts dissipate as our hunger takes over.

I skate my hands along Keegan’s ribs and up over his shoulders, rising on tiptoe in a desperate bid to be closer.

Never close enough.

Even when he pulls back slightly, I curl my hand around his lapels and drag him right back into the moment, nibbling his lower lip until he obeys my demand.

“Keegan, do you plan on coming up for air anytime in the near future?”

His cousin’s high-pitched laughter across the patio cuts into our intimate rendezvous. Still, we break apart slowly, as if our mouths can’t bear the idea of being apart.

Keegan presses a kiss to my forehead, and I take the opportunity to breathe him in, loving how safe I feel in his arms.

“I’ll be finished soon. Do you want to stay out here and watch the debacle?”

“You mean chaperone? No, after that kiss, I need another drink. Either that or I drag you to a darkened corner, and you forgo the rest of the photos.”

He ducks his head to nibble my neck, earning my coo of approval. “That’s the most tempting offer I’ve ever heard.”

“Too bad you can’t take me up on it.”

“Who says I can’t?”

I giggle, motioning over his shoulder. “Your mother, who is headed in this direction.”

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