Page 21 of Devious Kingpin
“At least your brothers are hot,” Wynter chimed teasingly. “I’d have fun living with them.”
Her husband showed up out of thin air and promptly growled. “Jesus, how did you get here so fast?” I muttered.
Wynter immediately blushed and added sweetly, “But not as good looking as my husband. Nobody compares to him.”
Basilio watched Wynter with a volatile yet vulnerable look in his eyes. I couldn’t understand their relationship. That intense longing.
“We’ll come and visit,” Davina told Ivy. “Liam’s dad invited us over again.”
“You mean he invited my son,” Dad corrected her. “He’s okay with us not coming.”
Davina shrugged. “He’s crazy. Good man, but crazy. So to Ireland we’ll all go.”
I wouldn’t be going. I loved Grandpa Brennan, but there was no mistake that he’d only considered his grandchild part of his bloodline. Being adopted, Killian and I didn’t count. I couldn’t blame him, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt a little bit.
“What time do you want to leave?” Davina asked my dad. “I’m tired already.” Then she yawned as if to emphasize her fatigue. I really hoped she wasn’t knocked up again. It’d make hanging out with her and Wynter unbearable. It seemed sixty percent of our conversation revolved around babies and diapers already.
“Are you pregnant?” Ivy blurted out, obviously having a similar line of thought.
“Well, I am,” Wynter answered, grinning while rubbing her belly at the same time. It didn’t escape me how she diverted the attention from Davina. I narrowed my eyes on my stepmom and noted she wasn’t drinking alcohol.
“Motherfuck—”
“Juliette!”
“You are knocked up!” I hissed. “Again? I mean, don’t they say to wait at least two years or some shit like that. We are too young for brats.”
“Youare a brat,” a voice came from behind me and I whirled around, coming face-to-face with the man who made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck rise.
“This is an A and B conversation. See yourself out of it,” I muttered. When he didn’t move, I continued, “Why are you always where you’re not wanted?”
He didn’t seem fazed. His hands slid into his pockets and he leaned against the wall, his posture casual and self-confident.
“This ismycousin’s birthday party,” he pointed out, his tone self-righteous. I gritted my teeth at his insolence, but I kept my cool and feigned indifference as I returned my attention to my friends whose eyes were darting back and forth between Dante and me.
Dante leaned forward, his scent invading my lungs and tingles exploded over my skin. The man hadn’t even touched me and my body reacted.
Breathe, Juliette.
I inhaled deeply and that cologne of rain and forest overwhelmed all my senses. His aftershave wrapped around me. Confidence rolled off of him in waves, his magnetism intoxicating. It was what pissed me off the most. My body reacted, fooling me into thinking I could overcome my phobia of having sex. It was a lie. I’d attempted it enough. The moment the man's body pressed on top of mine, cold panic settled in and suffocated me. Every time. Just thinking about it, an invisible hand wrapped around my throat and almost cut off my oxygen supply.
I released a shuddering breath. Choosing not to tempt my body further, I took a step back to put some distance between us.
“Let’s dance,” I said to my friends.
Basilio was already all over Wynter, his hand rubbing her growing belly, and it took all my self-control not to roll my eyes. Those two had to stop or they’d end up with a whole soccer team before they were both forty.
Ivy tugged on my hand and we headed onto the dance floor, leaving all my troubles behind. Mainly the DiLustros. But it didn’t take a long time for them to catch up to us. Music blared through the speakers. Disco lights cast a glow against our skin as our bodies moved together, limbs jiving and hips rolling.
I moved my hips sensually to the beat of the music. Sexy. Slow. And all along, I was aware of Dante’s gaze on me, burning on my skin.
It took only five songs for Wynter to finally give up on us. She and Basilio made their way out and Davina followed not long after.
“Gosh, everybody is heading out,” I yelled into Ivy’s ear.
She shrugged. “I might too.”
“What?” I squealed. “The night has barely started.”
