Page 28 of The Only Heart that Matters
“Uh, his goal in life is to make my life miserable. He is nothing but a thorn in my side.”
Charlie, Karissa, and I share a knowing look, and then burst out into a fit of giggles.
“What? What is so damn funny?” Daisy screeches.
“Thou doust protest too much,” Charlie says through her giggles.
“Oh, whatever!”
“What do you mean, whatever?” Karissa howls with laughter. “He’s hot. You’re hot. You would make pretty babies with pretty dimples!”
I’m a bit taken aback when sorrow flashes in Daisy’s eyes. “He’s my brother's best friend. It could never happen.”
And just like that, I know there’s something between them I’ve somehow missed. But most of all, she confirms what I’ve always known.
What I feel for Angus doesn’t matter, because even if he felt the same, which there isn’t a snowball's chance in hell that he does, he’s off-limits.
Chapter Thirteen
Angus
Hall and Oates sing about dreams coming true while Charlotte and Callen dance their first dance as a married couple. It may not be your typical cheesy slow dance, but it’s them and it’s perfect.
The whole day has been a perfect, masochistic whirlwind.
Knowing my excuses will be gone after the clock strikes twelve, I’ve been using the wedding as an excuse to touch Mia in ways that aren’t usually acceptable. We walked down the aisle together, stood side by side during the wedding photos, and sat next to each other at dinner.
Her red velvet wrap dress fits her like a glove flaring slightly at her hips to hang loose all the way to the ground. But that split up her left leg goes nearly to her hip and every time I glimpse her bare skin, I fight off images of my hands gliding up her thighs to part her legs so I can taste her.
And let’s just say, today of all days, surrounded by family, is not the most opportune time for those kinds of R-rated thoughts.
My fantasies may be just that. Fantasies. But that didn’t stop me from relishing every time the photographer asked me to move closer. Close enough to smell her shampoo. Or Charlotte insisting my hand rest on Mia’s hip or low back when we posed for pictures. Once again, the bride asked for several shots of the two of us together, posing like prom dates. All I could think was,finally.And what is up with Charlie? Why isn’t she asking the rest of the wedding party to take the same kind of photos.
Thankfully, Owen was the best man, and I had nothing to do but stare at her while my brother and his now-wife exchanged vows. The crazy thing is, Mia watched me right back.
Maybe it’s our proximity to one another or all the casual touching, because I’ve let my guard down, not giving a shit if I’m acting out of character or who might notice. The electricity I feel every time I touch her is worth whatever fallout may come from my boldness.
She doesn’t seem to give a shit, either, because she hasn’t pulled away once. In fact, she’s leaned into me on more than one occasion.
Like she is right now. We’re standing on the edge of the dance floor watching the first dance. My arm is draped over her shoulders and hers is around my waist, her head resting on my shoulder like it's something we do every day.
There’s something here.
There always has been, but the fight to resist it is no longer as strong. It’s the opposite. My need to give into this palpable. We have an inescapable chemistry that is all-consuming.
The song ends and Usher and Little Jon start singing about their night in the club. In two seconds flat we’re all on the dance floor shouting, “Yeah!”
Even I’m shaking my ass. It’s impossible not to whenthissong comes on withthisgroup of people. This is our party song and my eyes, as always, are on Mia. Her hands are up in the air, her ass sways, and she sings along, holding nothing back and it’s fucking gorgeous.
We all know to stand back when Ludacris comes on because it’s time for Knox to shine. In preparation for his big moment, we form a small circle. Using my big brother as a distraction I gently grab Mia by the hips, so her back is pressed against me.
She doesn't miss a beat, keeping pace with the song and my hips. I love every purposeful sway of her ass against my cock. She doesn’t falter when Knox takes his long flowing locks out of his man bun and lip syncs, bending to touch his toes, just like the lyrics say the girl in the club does. We scream for him, like we always do, and then the circle disperses. Mia continues to dance in front of me, and I don’t give her an inch of space.
We’re both being reckless and honestly, I’ve never been happier or more turned on.
Mia’s parents along with Sawyer join us when the next song begins, and I take a few cautious steps away from them. Mia picks Sawyer up and holds one of his pudgy little hands out as she dances with him in a small circle. Her eyes lock on mine for the first time since our dirty dancing began while she kisses Sawyer on the cheek.
The organ pumping life through my body thunders in my ears, the sight of them filling my lungs with life and my heart full of something foreign.
