ARIYO
You don't know that
What am I supposed to do now?
JESSE
Try reading a book
I've heard that's all the hype these days
A pause.
And then—
»JESSE DAUCETT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CHAT.«
I barked out a quiet laugh, scrubbing a hand down my jaw.My thumbs hovered over the keyboard, ready to fire off something that would piss Ari off even more, but then I heard the soft sound of heels on wood.
I looked up.
And forgot how tobreathe.
Savannah got to the bottom of the stairs looking like something out of a dream.Her dress was burnt orange, almost golden, giving her an ethereal, elegant glow.It clung to her like it had been made for her body and hers alone, ending a few inches below her knees.Her straight hair flowed effortlessly behind her back, and her lips—
Jesus Christ.
“I'm so sorry,” she started, facing the round mirror as she fiddled with some gold jewelry.“Nerissa was helping me and we just couldn't decide on the dress, but I think this works.I just need to put these on and I'm ready.Oh, and my—”
She paused when she noticed me staring.
“What?”she asked cautiously.
I didn’t answer.
Couldn’t.
My eyes wandered down her figure slowly—from her heels, up her legs, over the curve of her hips, the elegant line of her waist, the rise of her chest, until I reached her eyes again.
“Nothing,” I said finally, voice rougher than I intended.
Clearing my throat, I stood and slipped my phone into my pocket without looking away from her.
“Is it too much?I—”
“No, you look… breathtaking.”
She inhaled sharply, no doubt seeing the intensity in my eyes.Good.I stepped closer, drawn in by something stronger than logic.
“Let me do that,” I murmured, nodding down to the necklaces in her hand.
She hesitated for half a second, then nodded and handed them over.Electricity zapped through me the second her fingers brushed mine, but I ignored it and stepped behind her.We locked eyes before I looked down to unravel the chains.
She shifted her hair, giving me better access to her neck and her perfect skin.One by one, I looped both necklaces around her neck before clasping them shut.Then I dipped my head to brush my lips across the exposed skin, loving the way she shivered under my touch.My fingers found her waist, gently pulling her back flush against my chest.
“Jaxon,” she said softly.“We have to… we're late.”
“Yeah,” I admitted.“We are.”
