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Damn, I wanted to kiss her.
Amelia shook her head, a glum expression on her face. “Yes. It is.”
One of Dad’s friends stopped next to us, and I seized the moment. “Amelia, I’ll let your other guests greet you. Jess and I need another drink.”
Amelia glared daggers at me, but I bolted anyway, Jessica’s hand in mine. I loved my little sister, but right now, I needed a couple minutes with my girlfriend. I ordered a scotch at the bar and waited while Jessica asked for water.
“Nothing else?”
She gave me a cool look. “No.”
“It’s not a cash bar,” I said, trying to prod a smile out of her even as my stomach knotted at the ice in her voice.
“Really. I hadn’t noticed.”
The snarky comment made me more determined to pin her against a wall somewhere and kiss her, but I had a feeling that wouldn’t be welcome. I needed to figure out what was going on before the whole night was ruined.
The door to our small, informal library ahead caught my eye and an idea popped into my head. Probably a bad idea, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity. I tugged her inside, shut the door, and locked it. I turned and pulled her close, my legs spread so I could bring her in and tuck her hips against mine.
“God, you’re beautiful, Jessica,” I said, brushing her hair back from her face.
I wanted to see her eyes light up for me as they had earlier when she’d laughed with Drew. I wasn’t just saying it to get a reaction though. She truly was the loveliest thing here. The shimmery, sleeveless peach blouse and pants made her skin glow. It was the first time I’d seen her without her wrists covered since last weekend and I felt a slight twist of displeasure that the marks I’d left were gone. I didn’t want her hurt, but a part of me had enjoyed seeing the thick bracelets she’d worn to work all week to cover the healing bruises. We’d been keeping things low-key at work, but I’d liked knowing that she was never without a reminder that she was mine.
Taking one of her wrists, I went to lift it.
She pulled away, subtly turning and bringing her drink to her lips with her other hand.
I let her go, narrowing my eyes as she edged away and moved to the wall of books nearest us. I sipped my scotch as I watched her, but she said nothing, barely even glancing at the books before turning her back on me.
My temper cracked and I reined it in even as I shoved away from the door and put my scotch on the nearest table. Coming up behind her, I cupped her hips in my hands and nuzzled the back of her neck. She stiffened but let me turn her around, take her water, and set it aside.
Still, her eyes were cool as I slid my hand into her hair, and that wasn’t what I wanted. I’d take fiery Jessica even if she was yelling at me over this icy persona.
With thawing her in mind, I went to kiss her. To my shock, she turned her face away, and my mouth brushed over her cheek.
“Let me go,” she said. Her voice was colder than I’d ever heard it.
“What’s wrong?” Tightening my hand in her hair, I breathed in her scent, lust making my balls tight and dick hard. “No one will catch us here, I promise.”
She shoved against my chest, ignoring my grip on her hair. Reflexively, I let go, and my heart lurched in my chest as she gave me a hard, angry look.
“I’m not yourtoy, Derrick,” she said as she stepped away from me. “I’m allowed to have a conversation with another man without you getting pissy over it.”
“Pissy?” I repeated, insult rising in me. She didn’t know what she was talking about.
“Yes, Mr. Thomas. Pissy,” she snapped. “If the shoe fits.”
Before I could register what she was doing, she’d slipped back out into the hallway, closing the door behind her. Fuck! Temper grabbed hold, and I spun around. I picked up my scotch and tossed it back.
“This is why relationships are too much fucking trouble,” I muttered as I thought back over the past half hour, trying to figure out what exactlyIhad done wrong.
It wasn’t hard once I took an objective look though, and that sucked. Drew hadn’t been flirting with her. I’d seen him when he was charming his way into some woman’s pants. I’d just been an ass, wanting Jessica’s attention centered on me. I was used to commanding attention, period, although there had always been some women who’d preferred Drew’s easier approach, his smoother charm to my blunt, sometimes too intense manner, but Jessica wasn’t supposed to be one of them.
Except Jessica hadn’t flirted with him either, and I couldn’t argue my way around it.
She’d just smiled at him. Laughed. They’d been getting along and instead of being happy that my best friend and the woman I intended to be married to for a year were getting along, I’d behaved like an asshat.
Jealous, a voice inside me whispered.You were jealous.