Page 33 of Glitz & Goals

I slip through the patio door and into the kitchen, weaving through the familiar house with ease. I grew up here—I know every creaky floorboard, every hiding spot, every room that offers a moment of solitude. But before I can decide where to escape to, a firm hand wraps around my wrist and tugs me to a stop.

Grady.

I spin, but before I can protest, he steps into my space, crowding me back until my spine hits the doorframe of Dad’s infamous library. His scent—clean and masculine, with the faintest hint of the aftershave I was breathing in all night—is suffocating in the best way.

“You were going to leave me hanging?” His voice is low, husky. It sends a shiver down my spine.

“I was just taking a little breather,” I say, but even I can hear how weak it sounds.

Grady makes a sound that’s almost a chuckle, but there’s no humor in it. Just heat. Just frustration. “You’re all I can think about. The way your pussy tastes on my tongue. The way your pretty eyes water when I fuck your throat. Did you know that, Vivian?”

“No, I didn’t.”

His lips twitch like he’s about to argue, but then his eyes drop to my mouth, and I know—I know—he’s about to ruin me.

And I want to be ruined.

He reaches behind him and locks the door. Then his fingers brush along my jaw before he tilts my chin up. “Vivian,” he murmurs.

That’s all he says. Just my name.

Then his mouth is on mine.

It’s not tentative. It’s not polite. It’s hunger and frustration and pure, undiluted want. It’s him staking a claim, even though I haven’t decided if I want to be claimed. His hands are strong, splayed across my lower back, pulling me into him, while mine clutch at his shoulders, desperate to hold on.

His erection juts against the soft skin of my thigh, and I grind against it.

I normally don’t do this. I don’t let myself feel this much. But Grady is all-consuming, and I don’t stand a chance.

He kisses me deeper, tilting my head so he can taste me, stealing every last rational thought from my mind. I can feel the tension in his body, the way he’s holding back, even though I know he wants more.

And God help me—I want more, too.

I break away first, chest heaving, lips tingling. “We should get back before someone notices we’re gone.”

Grady presses his forehead to mine, eyes still closed. He takes a steadying breath, then chuckles softly. “You’re gonna be the death of me.”

I swallow hard and force myself to smile, like I’m unaffected, like my whole world hasn’t just tilted on its axis. “Yeah?”

His laugh is warm, but as I pull away, his fingers skim over my wrist, just enough to make me shiver.

And I hate myself for it, but I already miss his touch.

I straighten my clothes, press a hand to my warm face, and head back into the party. My head says this was nothing. Just a kiss. Just a moment.

But my heart?

My heart is starting to realize I might be in trouble.

* * *

“Bitch, you’re glowing!” Mia squeals, even before I reach our usual table. She leaps up from the booth and throws her arms around me for a hug. “Viv,I missed you!”

“You saw me earlier today,” I remind her.

Jaime, still seated in the booth, snickers. “Yeah, but we didn’t get a chance to talk at work. You were too busy trying to fix that puppet.”

“Ugh, that fucking puppet.” I guide Mia back to the booth and slide in beside her. She snuggles up to me and rests her head on my shoulder. She’s such a lightweight, and she always gets cuddly when she drinks. I pat her head. “How many have you had?”

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