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"Actually—-"

Smoke-gray eyes glare at me, and I say right away, "I really am so, so cold. How wonderful of you to notice!"

Keiran then turns to Grant, and I open my mouth, thinking I should re-introduce them, but Keiran beats me to speaking.

"Leave."

Grant stiffens.

"Now."

He opens his mouth to argue, but when Keiran takes a step towards him, Grant ends up backing off. He leaves without meeting my gaze, and I don't know what I should feel first. Pity? Shock? Dismay? I turn to Keiran, and the moment I see the jealous rage in his gaze—-

Oh.

It all becomes clear now, and I know exactly what I should feel.

And it's hope.

"That wasn't nice of you," I say chidingly.

"Are you taking Poorly's side?" he grits out.

I choke back a laugh. "It's Porely, and you know it."

"Who the fuck cares?"

"I care—-"

"Oh, do you?"

"He's a very good friend—-"

Keiran looks as if he seriously wants to kill me. "Is he?"

"He is," I say softly. "Because in the three years you've been gone, he was the only one willing to listen to me talk about how much I love and miss you...even during the years I believed you cheated on me."

Keiran's eyes squeeze shut.

"And when I did find out you didn't cheat on me—-"

"Don't say another word," he grits out.

He's looking at me again, but this time I find it impossible to read his eyes, and it's scaring me. Was I wrong, after all? Is there truly no hope—-

"Because if you do, I don't think I can control myself."

Oh.

My lip starts to wobble even as my body starts tingling all over. I didn't realize it was possible to feel sad and happy, relieved and aroused, all at the same time. I just feel so, so much, and when I look up at him, I simply can't hold it back any longer.

"I love you—-"

Keiran grabs my hand, and it's all I can do to match his pace as he swiftly leads us out of the ballroom. We don't say goodbye to anyone, we don't make any excuses. We're simply walking out like we're in our own world, and the moment the elevator doors close behind us—-

Aaaah.

I'm up against the wall, Keiran's mouth is claiming mine in a punishingly sweet kiss, and his hands are everywhere.