Page 58 of A Forbidden Arrangement

He turns me to face him, slides one hand to the back of my neck. The other wraps around my waist as he dips me back and kisses me. His mouth is firm, sure, and my lips part before I can stop them. A sound escapes me, soft and helpless.

He pulls back just enough to speak, his lips brushing mine. “Now what are they saying?”

Heat floods my face. I know I’m bright red, but he doesn’t move away. He stays right there, eyes locked on mine, as if daring me to look anywhere else.

“Dahlia.” His voice grows impossibly deeper, pulling every thought I have toward him.

“Yes.” My answer barely comes out a breath.

“Oh my god! Freaking finally!”

I jerk away from Xander and find a woman grinning from ear to ear, completely unfazed by his behavior.

Her hair fades from bright fuchsia to soft blonde where it brushes her shoulders. Everything about her glows. She’s like sunshine in human form, warmth radiating off her.

She talks so fast I can hardly keep up, her words tumbling over each other. But her excitement sweeps away any awkwardness. Before I can catch half of what she’s saying, a man steps up behind her, his hand curling around her waist.

Dark hair. Dark eyes. Sharp jaw. Every instinct in me screams danger.

Then he looks down at her. His whole expression softens. A smile curves his mouth as he asks, “I thought you were going to wait a bit?”

She snorts. “You really believed that?”

“Not for a second.”

The resemblance hits me. Broad shoulders, the same piercing eyes, the same quiet command. He looks like Xander. The man reaches out a hand.

“Damon Everette. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Dahlia.”

Before I can move, Xander’s fingers lace with mine and tug my hand back. The possessiveness is so blatant I can’t help the giggle that bubbles up.

The woman claps her hands, a little hop in place. “You have no idea how excited I am about this.”

Then she seems to remember herself. “Misty Everette. Your new sister.”

Sister.A wound I’d accepted long ago, heals with a single word.

Misty’s practically glowing. Compared to her husband, she’s a beam of light, and for the first time, I think maybe marrying into this family won’t be so bad.

“We agreed you wouldn’t be here,” Xander says, his voice low and rough above me.

“You two agreed. I didn’t agree to anything.” Misty’s smile fades. She looks at me, all brightness gone, eyes sharp. “He isn’t mistreating you, is he?”

I twist the ring on my finger, feeling the tattoo beneath it. It’s not perfect, but it could be worse. My breath catches as I think about how bad things might have been if I’d been caught alone again.

For a moment, I feel that spark inside me again. The little flame that’s been growing since I met him. The one that means I’m safe.

Misty notices the ring, and her face lights back up. She leans in. “I know they’re a little over-the-top.” She glances toward her husband, then winks at me. “It’s worth it.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Damon asks, his voice half amusement, half warning.

“Nothing,” we say together.

Xander groans quietly beside me. Damon just smiles, pressing a kiss to the top of Misty’s head before taking her hand and spinning her. Her dress fans out in a shimmer of fabric.

He catches her wrist, lips brushing against it. “May I have the next dance?”

Her grin turns mischievous. “Are you implying someone else could have it?”