Thorned Embrace, page 13
“That morning in your bedroom?” He stares into my eyes. I will never get used to the way his blue eyes can melt me with a single look.
Realization settles over me. My cheeks flush, transitioning from a delicate shade of pink to a deep crimson.
Images flash through my mind of his hand on my hip, holding me in place when I tried to sneak out of bed without waking him. Demanding that I say his name.
Warmth pools deep within me, and I cross my legs, trying to relieve the pressure building there.
I cross my arms over my chest, still unwilling to accept the defeat. I was the one who taunted him, pushing his buttons until his icy demeanor finally thawed.
“That doesn’t count!” I cry out, looking to Raven for backup.
Raven shrugs, shaking her head at me. “Don’t look at me.”
“I kissed you first.” Spencer raises his eyebrows, staring into my eyes. He knows he’s won.
My glare softens, the memory of our first kiss washing over me.
The cold snow beneath us as snowballs flew precariously over our heads. His possessive hold on my neck. The feeling of everything falling into place.
A sigh escapes my lips as I admit defeat.
Spencer reaches out with one hand, grazing his fingers against my cheekbone. “I’d make the first move a million times if it means that I get to spend every day for the rest of forever with you.”
His words heat me to my core, lighting every inch of my body on fire.
One of my brothers calls out, “Get a room!”
I should be embarrassed, but I’m not. The way Spencer makes me feel, or how his words can break past every defense I have, could never embarrass me.
Happy grins form on both of our faces, we resume our positions. Raven glances around the room, realizing she’s losing the group to side conversations.
“Pass on the clip board!” Raven points to Riley, and he jumps as if he’s forgotten he’s still holding it.
He passes it on to Lilly. Everyone’s eyes turn to her, and her cheeks heat under all the extra attention. With a quick glance at the list, her eyes scan until she finds one that hasn’t been asked yet. “Who is more romantic?”
Once again, our answers differ, but this time Spencer leans over, kissing my cheek. Just as he moves to pull away, his lips find my ear and he whispers, “And I won’t stop trying until I win.”
“Then I’m the one who really wins.” I whisper back to him through a smile. This time, I can’t resist pulling him into a kiss. He can’t talk to me like this and expect me to just sit here and take it.
Electricity crackles between us and my tongue brushes against his lips. He moans, responding just how I want him to. His hand threads through my hair at the base of my neck and his mouth opens for me.
A shiver runs through me as his tongue moves with mine. The sounds of the crowd around us fade away, and all I can feel is Spencer. I revel in the moment before Raven interrupts the moment.
“Alright, you two,” Raven calls out, taking the board from Lilly and passes it to the only person who hasn’t asked a question. Aiden.
Skimming the paper for half a second, he finds his question and lowers the list. His eyes move to Lilly as he asks his question. “Who said I love you first?”
My eyes move to Lilly and a trace of pink tints her cheeks.
I raise a heel into the air, but my eyes shift between them. They are no longer looking at us, completely unaware that the game is still going on.
The corner of my mouth tilts in a smile. There’s something going on between them. How did I not notice?
Raven’s laughter draws the game to a close, and I force myself to look back at her. “It would seem you two know each other after all.”
She motions to a table at the far end of the room. “Please help yourself to snacks and drinks. Let’s get this party started!”
Spencer stands behind me, and without thinking, my body moves to join his. He wraps one arm around my waist and pulls me close. His intense gaze follows mine, and he gives me a questioning glance.
“Did you know about that?”
He shrugs his shoulders, his eyes glancing past me. “Doesn’t everybody?”
I stare up at him. I should be surprised, but I’m not. He’s always so quiet, watching when no one’s attention is on him.
I shake my head. “I didn’t know.”
He kisses my forehead, his words brushing against my skin as he speaks. “He looks at her like she’s the only thing he sees. I can relate.”
Gravity no longer holds me in place, icy blue eyes do. “I hope that never changes.”
“It never will.” Without another word, his lips find mine.
His grip on me tightens. “You’ll always be the only thing I see.”
Raine Winters, Thorned Embrace
