Page 83 of Wild Thing

“Archer! They are—“

“Shhh, I know.” I know I don’t need to worry or be jealous. “Three, thank you for the party. It means a lot. It’s a slow comeback to normalcy.”

I kiss her softly on the cheek, feeling her body lean into mine.

“Four”—she wraps her arms around my neck, and the feeling is back—like there’s no one in this world but her and me. “You will absolutely see me naked tonight. I didn’t want to smother you with my attention in front of everyone. But…” Her eyes drop to my lips. “I can, if that’s okay with you.”

I want her lips on me. I don’t even mind her deep-red lipstick on my face, despite the fact that I might look like the Joker.

“Since when do you need permission to smother your boyfriend?” Our faces inch closer until our noses touch, her scent and the smell of her Cool Water perfume erasing any other scent around.

“Are you worried about the lipstick?” I swear, this woman can read my thoughts. “It’s a stain.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning the lipstick stains my lips, and then I wipe it off.” She kisses me, gently sucking on my bottom lip. “I know you don’t like lipstick. So there, that’s the trick. Now, can I kiss you in front of everyone?”

“If you don’t, I’ll start groping you right here so that no one has any doubt—”

She shuts me up with a deep kiss that makes my arm wrap around her waist and pull her closer as I lean into her, bending her backward.

A wolf whistle spears through the music and an “Aww!”

We don’t pay attention, kissing in front of everyone. Someone walks by, leaning over to us and shouting through the music, “Yeah, Katura! Show him!”

And she laughs into my mouth, then buries her face in my neck. I expect her to pull away, instead, she starts swinging her hips to the music, nudging me to follow.

We dance. That’s the second time this year. Both with her. I have so many firsts with this girl that I feel like I’ve been cooped up my entire life. We all partied like animals back at Deene, but Kat brings with her a different kind of party.

“And now we’re dancing,” she says and brings her smile to my lips again, teasing me with soft kisses.

“You keep grinding against me like this, and we’ll have to step out for more than just dancing.”

“I’m up for anything as long as it’s with you.”

“Well, you are getting me hard in public.”

“Oooh, now you know how I feel when you slip those filthy messages to me in the office. At least you don’t have to walk around in wet underwear.” She presses harder against me, and, yeah, now she totally feels my mood down there.

I slide one hand down to her butt and squeeze it. Her hands rake into my hair as she closes her eyes and nuzzles my cheek. I try to smile but my heart thuds at the thought of everyone seeing me like this—lost in my feelings, in her.

I catch sight of Droga splayed on the couch, legs wide open, Callie perched on his lap as she chats with Dani. He winks at me as he takes a sip of his drink.

There’s a commotion by the pool, and everyone turns their head to see Axavier on the floor.

Kat makes an attempt to move in that direction, but I stop her and hold her in my arms. “They’ll deal with it.”

Someone tries to get Axavier up, except he’s too drunk to stand, and he laughs, jerking on the floor like an epileptic.

Cece’s stylist gets on his knees next to him, and then there are gaping stares and O-faces, because Axavier holds Milan by his hand, not letting him get away, then starts stroking his face with his other hand and pulls him down for a kiss.

Everyone looks shocked, but the music keeps blasting and the party keeps going.

I bury my face in Kat’s neck, licking it and making her giggle.

“Why does it feel like everyone is spiraling out of control tonight?” she asks, her hands getting more insistent as they roam my body.

I laugh. “You mean, for once, it’s not you and I?”

---