Page 34 of Glass Jawed

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Christ. My cock twitches, and I try to think of anything else before I embarrass myself like a goddamn teenager.

“I’m going to...” I clear my throat, fumbling like an idiot. “I’ll take my leave.”

She looks up, blinking slowly—and smiles. It’s soft, not mocking. I don’t think she even realizes how much she fucking affects me.

“Okay,” she says. “I hope I didn’t deter you from wanting to hang out again. With my... drunkenness.”

I chuckle. “Absolutely not, sweetheart.”

Then the words slip out before I can stop them. “I’m just afraid I’ll kiss those gorgeous lips of yours if I stay any longer.”

Her eyes widen.

She tilts her head slightly, as if considering. “Okay... kiss me then.”

My heart slams in my throat. I blink.

Jesus.

“You’re drunk,” I say, voice low.

“I washed my face,” she shrugs, stepping a little closer. “I don’t feel drunk anymore.”

God help me.

I search her face, looking for any hesitation. She’s flushed, eyes clear, not swaying. But there’s still that whisper of uncertainty in her gaze—like she doesn’t trust this moment will last.

She looks like temptation incarnate, barefoot in her kitchen, waiting for me to break the invisible line I’ve been toeing since the day we reconnected.

And I do.

“I’m warning you,” I murmur, closing the distance. “If I kiss you... I won’t stop at just one.”

Her breath hitches. She looks at me through her lashes. “Okay.”

That’s it. That’s the fucking end of my restraint.

I cup her face, fingers brushing the curve of her jaw, and crash my lips onto hers.

She tastes like toothpaste and danger.

She sighs against my mouth, gripping my shirt like she’s been waiting for this. My other hand slips around her waist, dragging her closer. Her body molds into mine, soft in all the right places,and I deepen the kiss without thinking—tongue sliding over hers, pulling a quiet whimper from her throat.

Fuck.

I can’t pretend this is just a revenge plan anymore. I can’t pretend she’s a symbol of my pain.

Because this woman?

She’sreal.

And I’m fucking screwed.

ELEVEN

Aarohi

Three weeks.

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