Page 157 of Gloves Off

Jordan arches a dark eyebrow. “He held your hand tonight. He licked the rock for you.”

“Okay—”

“So are you hooking up yet, or what?” Hazel prompts. “Give us the details we actually want.”

“This is private!”

Darcy gives me a surprised look. “Since when are you such a prude?”

My jaw drops, but I start laughing. “I’ve turned you into a monster. Okay, fine. We’ve messed around.”

They exchange knowing looks.

“Stop that.” I cover Darcy’s eyes. “Stop exchanging looks.”

She laughs, swatting me away.

“Is it good?” Hazel asks.

“Yes,” I blurt out.

“How good?” Darcy prompts.

“Like, brain-melting.” Shit. Why did I say that? Now, when this is all over and I’m bummed, they’re going to know why.

“The best you’ve ever had?” Jordan wears a knowing smile.

“Yes.” I guess I’m saying everything in my head now. “The best I’ve ever had.”

A low throat-clearing sound makes us freeze.

CHAPTER 72

GEORGIA

Alexei standsat the side of the front room, watching with an unreadable expression, holding a bottle of wine. We all sober. How much did he hear?

“Hi.” I clear my throat. My face is so hot my freckles are probably sizzling off. “Can we help you?”

Slowly, holding my eyes with a funny, knowing spark, he walks over, sets the wine on the coffee table, before he leans down and, in front of everyone, kisses me. I hear someone’s sharp intake of breath but Alexei steals my focus with his gentle but firm mouth, clean scent, and hand on the back of my head.

“Having fun?” he murmurs against my lips, like all of my friends aren’t watching and listening to every word.

I nod, holding his eyes, smiling.

“Good.” He drops another quick kiss on my lips and my heart flips over.

The room is very silent, very tense, and very still until he leaves, when everyone’s heads whip toward me.

“What?” My voice goes too high as I fiddle with Damon’s ear, smoothing it down, not meeting their gazes.

“Someone say it.” Jordan lifts her eyebrows.

Darcy raises her hand. “I volunteer as tribute. He loves you.”

My heart drops through the floor. I keep my eyes on Damon. “No, he doesn’t.”

“Yes, he does.” Hazel nods. “He so does.”

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