The funny part is that if Gerrit would have only taken some time to get to know Kennedy, he would have realized that my sister had been crushing on him already. There would have been no need for an arranged marriage. All of that is in the past now, though. The rest of the wedding went off without a hitch. They are both about to begin their journey as husband and wife.
“You look stunning, you know.” Luke places a kiss on my bare shoulder, breaking me from my thoughts. I’m in a strapless dress that hugs me in all the right places. My sister loves the hell out of me, and there was no way she’d put me in some ugly dress. Not only that, there was no way my mother would allow it. I’ve avoided her as much as possible today.
Everything always has to be perfect for her. Trying to be perfect all the time is tiresome. It’s one of the reasons I decided to head overseas. With Kennedy being gone, I know my mother will direct all of her attention to me. That’s not a good thing. The only time she actually pays attention to either of us is usually to criticize something.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” I glance over at him. His bow tie is undone, and his suit jacket is long gone. He’s even unbuttoned a few buttons at the top of his shirt. When I glance down, I can see that he’s rolled his sleeves up. That’s not what catches me off guard, though; it’s the tattoo that runs the length of his arm.
“Do you hate tattoos?” he asks me. I find myself reaching out to touch it. I didn’t use the hotel key he gave me last night. But I still have it in my bag, and I’m pretty sure he’s staying tonight again.
“No, I guess I was a little surprised. I hate that I went and made an assumption when I shouldn’t have.” I run my finger along the colorful piece. I have so many questions, but I hold back, not wanting to seem pushy.
“We can spend the night getting to know each other.” He gives me that charming smile of his. I bite my bottom lip while I consider it.
“With the way your brother looks at my sister I think we’re going to have a lifetime to get to know each other.” We both look out at the dance floor watching as Gerrit spins my sister around. My throat grows tight. “If you could excuse me for a moment.” I stand from my chair, suddenly needing air.
Before I can try and make an escape, my sister breaks from Gerrit’s hold on the dance floor to come talk to me. I feel Luke’s eyes on me the whole time. Kennedy wraps me in a tight hug, telling me that she loves me.
“I’ll be back before you know it. It’s only a few months,” I remind her. “Enjoy your honeymoon and that man that is hopelessly in love with you.”
“I know we don’t need anyone to make us happy, but loving my husband is something I could never explain. I hope one day you find what I have with Gerrit. No, I take that back. I don’t hope you find it. I know you will.”
“Maybe I’ll find me a hot Italian while I’m there?” I tease. I have to joke or I’ll cry. I know Kennedy and my relationship is codependent, but without partners it worked for us. Now everything is changing. She gives me one last kiss and then she’s gone.
That tightness in my throat gets worse as I watch her go. I turn, needing to get out of here fast in order to get my shit together. It’s not until I'm out of the ballroom and almost to the end of one of the hallways that I release the emotions I was holding in. I know Luke is following me. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me. He gently grabs me by the elbow, turning me toward him before I can find a bathroom to hide in.
“You’re crying.”
“I guess you're not the smart one out of the Kane brothers.”
Luke throws his head back in laughter. He laughs so hard it makes me smile because damn. The man was hot before, but when he laughs he makes my body throb in places it shouldn’t.
He wipes one of the tears, but another falls. “Why are you crying?”
I glance both ways down the hallway. “There is no way that you missed me walking my only sister down the aisle today.”
“Trust me, pretty eyes, I notice everything when it comes to you.” I dip my head, trying to hide my blush, but he only puts his finger under my chin to make me look back up at him.
“Kennedy is my family.”
“You’re not losing her. Not really.”
“Did you know that I still sneak into her bed at night? We’re not little kids anymore, and I still do it. Well I guess I used to do it. Now, she won’t be there for me to do it.”
Luke's whole face goes soft like I’ve said the sweetest thing in the world. “You’ll find someone too. Then you’ll be wanting to slip into bed with him instead.” His tone is playful, but my mind flashes to me slipping into bed with him. He rubs his thumb down my cheek, his eyes never leaving mine.
“I know. She even asked me to move with her, but I’ll cross that bridge later.”
Luke’s lips twitch. “My brother said you could move in with them. He really will do anything for his wife.” I can tell Luke thinks the offer from his brother for me to move in with them was nice, but overall he doesn't much care for the idea.
“From what I’ve seen he’s the kind of man that women read about in romance books.” Luke's jaw hardens for a moment. “But I’m leaving for Europe for a few months, so I’m in no rush to find a place.”
“I hear you saying the words but based on the look on your face, I don’t think you believe what you're saying.” He steps more into me. His body presses into mine.
I lick my bottom lip. Maybe it’s the dress and being all done up that has me being bold. The two glasses of champagne are probably helping too. I am far from drunk, but it took the edge off my normal shyness when it comes to men. At least men I find attractive.
“Maybe it’s because I want to be doing other things with my mouth.” I place my hands on his chest. The man is hard all over.
“You’re asking for it, pretty eyes.”
“I know. So what are you going to do about it?”
3
Luke
What was a man like me to do when this angel with the long silky blond hair, and eyes you could get lost in challenged me? She has the aura of an angel that was dropped right down among us mortals.
Maybe this is all part of a grander plan? Could she be a plant of some kind? In my line of work there’s a high possibility that she is an undercover operative. One that’s here to distract me. It’s not as if I don’t do the same thing to others most days of my life.
Either way, I plan on taking whatever it is she’s offering. The temptation is too great. If I’m being outed, I want my last memory to be of me inside of her. I could die a happy man knowing that she came on my cock. My lips crush down onto hers as I dominate her mouth. There is no turning back now.
Her kiss is more innocent than I thought it would be. I know I should go slower, but how long has it been since I had a woman? Now here I am kissing Kinley like I want the world to know she is all mine and no one else’s. I don’t care if she is a plant that was sent to get close to me. And mark my words, we are going to be getting very close.
The more I watch her, the less I think she is here to scope me out. The way she blushes and often rambles on about her sister is too natural to be acted out. This is all her, and I want her for myself.