Page 80 of Forever To Me

Maggie hums into her wine glass. “Sure. Protectively jealous.”

My glare does nothing to dim her amusement.

Across the room, Mason says something else that makes Violet laugh. Then she rests her hand on his arm.

That’s it. I’m done.

I slam the glass down and march around the bar. Maggie cackles behind me, calling out in encouragement, “Go get your girl, Walker!”

I don’t stop. I’m too busy stomping across the floor toward Red, who’s now twirling a lock of hair around her finger while Mason leans even closer.

I come up behind her and rest my hand on her back. She startles and looks up at me, wide-eyed.

“Hey, Red,” I say, my voice low. “Can I steal you for a sec?”

Mason opens his mouth to protest, but I don’t give him the chance. I slide my hand into Red’s and tug her toward the back hall.

She stumbles after me. “Walker, what the hell?—”

We reach the hallway near the storage room, and I stop, turning to face her.

She’s breathless, eyes flashing. “Why did you just drag me away from Mason?”

My voice comes out rough. “I needed to talk to you.”

“Why?”

I rub the back of my neck, searching for words that won’t make me sound like a possessive idiot.

“You looked like you were having fun,” I say eventually. "With him."

She blinks, confused. “I was. Until you turned into Captain Caveman.”

I blow out a breath. “Yeah, well...I didn’t like it.”

Her jaw drops. “You didn’t like it?Whatdidn’t you like? Me laughing? Talking to someone who doesn’t shut me out on the important details of their life?”

“I didn’t like seeing you with him.” The truth slips out before I can stop it. "And you're one to talk. You keep things from me, too."

The hallway goes dead silent. Red’s mouth opens, but no sound comes out. She's got me. I just admitted to keeping things from her and here we are. A fork in the road.

Finally, she asks, “Are you...jealous?”

I lean a hand against the wall beside her head. “What if I am?”

Her breath catches. Her eyes drop to my mouth, then snap back up. “Then maybe...you should do something about it.”

Heat licks through me. My pulse pounds in my ears.

I don’t give myself time to overthink it. I close the gap and kiss her. Not like last time. This time I take my time. I savor her.

She lets out a soft moan, but she doesn’t hold back, either. Her hands fist in my shirt, and she grips me like she’s afraid I’ll pull away and she needs me right now.

And I need her.

I take her deeper, tilting my head, pressing in, tasting her. She’s sweet like honey and vanilla, warm, and when she sighs a contented sigh against my mouth, I groan, dragging my hands up her body, framing her face like she’s my prize I’ve just won.

She meets me right there in the moment, pressing up onto her toes, her lips parting even more for me as I take my time exploring, my tongue sweeping slowly against hers, teasing her, and tasting her.

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