Page 193 of Gathered Sparkle

Even if butterflies take flight in my chest, I can’t take my focus from the gold Rolex he’s wearing. The one I stole for him.

Now.

My hand drifts lower, reaching for it, but before I can even brush my fingers against it, Ace’s hand shoots out and grabs my wrist.

I let out a surprised gasp as he lifts my hand between us, his grip firm but not tight, his expression unreadable except for the amused sparkle in his eyes. “Really?” He inspects the watches resting in my palm like he’s seeing through every plan I’ve ever had before his gaze flicks to mine again. “You think that works a second time around, Trouble?”

“She stole my fucking watch?” Comes from Sylus, tinged in disbelief, and a laugh bursts out of me.

Ace watches me with a satisfied grin for a second, then pulls me closer with a low growl and says, “That’s my girl.”

Then his mouth is on mine—hot, rough, and consuming. The kiss is nothing compared to the peck from a little bit ago. It’s deep and possessive, one hand still holding my wrist while the other tangles in my hair.

I melt into him, a soft whimper escaping my throat as his tongue parts my lips, tasting me, taking exactly what he wants. His teeth catch my bottom lip, tugging, making me gasp as he deepens the kiss again.

The watches clink together in my hand, forgotten, as heat races through me. My free hand curls against his chest, fisting his shirt as I lose myself in the feel of him.

When he finally pulls back, we’re both breathless, and his smirk is slow and devastatingly handsome.

“You’re fucking trouble,” he murmurs, brushing his thumb over my cheek.

“So…” Koen drawls. “Did you enjoy your last night as a stripper?”

“Very. Thank you, Koen.” I reach out to brush my fingers along his jaw. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

Koen’s smirk softens as his hand slides over mine. “Oh, it was our pleasure.”

The curtains to the private room open, and Levi and Ezra walk out. Disheveled, hair messy, clothes rumpled. Levi’s shirt is untucked, and there’s a red mark below his jaw that he’s not even trying to hide. Ezra looks cool as ever, except for a flush at the tips of his ears.

Levi runs a hand through his hair, glancing around at the group. “We’re heading home.”

Koen flicks a quick glance at me, then toward the bartender and bouncer still lingering by the bar, trying their best not to watch but failing miserably. He stands and steps up to me, pulling me off Ace’s lap and to my feet into his arms.

“How about we go too?” he murmurs, his lips brushing my ear. “I think we’d all welcome the privacy.”

Sylus springs up from the couch with a loud whoop, making all of us jump. He throws his hands in the air. “Gangbang.”

Ace pinches the bridge of his nose, half exasperated, half amused. “Jesus, Sy.”

Nicholas shakes his head, but I catch the twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Koen chuckles low, his arm sliding around my waist as he pulls me closer. “Well, there you have it.” He glances toward the others. “Let’s head home.”

My heart pounds, but it’s not with fear. It’s freedom.

This ismine.

This moment, this life,them.

All mine.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Novalee

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going to enjoy my last night,” Levi announces as we all walk into the mansion from the garage. He grabs Ezra’s hand, who doesn’t resist when Levi tugs him forward. “Who knows what happens tomorrow? I’m gonna make the most of today.” Then, with a devilish smirk, he calls over his shoulder as he pulls Ezra toward the stairs, “I’d say you guys do that too.”

Koen stops at the base of the stairs. “Dove?”

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