Heartbreaker (Unbreakable #1)(55)

Her face fell, like her sister had spoiled her fun. “I have to go.”

“Me too.” I hiked a thumb back toward the sound booth.

We parted ways, Kiki to her event duties, me to mine. During the next hour, I stole glances at her while she danced around and mingled with guests.

I’d been watching her solidly for the last few minutes. She stood with her sisters and Hannah as her body bounced to Kool & the Gang’s “Ladies’ Night.”

The moment I changed songs, Kiki broke away from the girls and jumped up onto a low table. Her hands flew into the air as the first electro-funk bars of The S.O.S. Band’s “Take your Time (Do It Right)” blared out. Yeah, it hit the charts the summer of 1980, however I wasn’t a 70’s purist and it was close enough.

But had I known what the song would do to Kiki? Would’ve been the only one I played all night.

Another huge smile broke out on her face.

She stared at me the entire time she mouthed the words to the song.

And in that moment, it struck me. She struck me. A bolt of realization shot from the essence of who she was through my chest, straight into my heart. It thudded hard. For her.

I didn’t remember leaving the sound booth.

The crowd on the dance floor parted as I worked my way through dozens of gyrating bodies.

She tracked my every move as I stalked her.

Her gaze at me intensified as I came within touching distance. “One life is all we have to liiive,” she belted out.

On a deep breath, fully committed, I reached up and wrapped my arms around her thighs, lifting her from the table.

Her eyes widened a fraction as I let her slowly slide down my body.

As she lowered, when the inside of her elbows reached my ears, she wrapped her arms around my head. Her fingers combed through my hair before clasping behind my neck. Her lips parted as the song continued on without her.

Then on a whisper, she repeated the last verse, “Our love is all we have to giiive…”

She swallowed hard and stared into my eyes. Those words hung between us, heavy with importance.

I blew out a slow exhale. “I want you.”

The corners of her luscious mouth twitched. “It’s the getup. I’m rockin’ a deadly ’fro.”

“No.” I sucked in a deep breath, gaze hardening, never more certain of anything in my life. “I want you.”

Her expression sobered. “You do?”

She trembled in my arms.

I tightened my hold around her. “Not for one night. All the way, Kiki. Starting tonight…more than friends.”

When her mouth opened, I sensed a protest coming. So I kissed her.

A tiny squeak escaped from her throat before her lips softened.

The kiss was brief, but effective.

I left her there, staring at me with a stunned expression, her lips slightly parted. She looked amazing. Good enough to devour. But the party pulsed on all around us. Our time together would have to wait a little longer.

The night dragged on. Each time I felt like another hour had passed, I’d check my phone to see it had only been another thirty minutes.

Song after song, I watched her dance. Occasionally, she’d mingle through the crowd with a pink drink in her hand. A wide smile brightened her face every time she glanced my way—which was often. Every now and then, her sisters would pull her away to talk to a partygoer or handle the cake cutting.

When midnight loomed close, Cade dropped by the sound booth. “You look anxious.”

“Do I?”

“Yep.” He tipped his beer bottle back, took a long pull.

I shrugged and forced myself not to glance Kiki’s way.

“Don’t suppose it has to do with your eyes glued to Kiki every chance you get.”

“That obvious?” No way was I going to deny it.

“Lil’ bit.”

“I’ll do right by her.”

“Don’t doubt it.” Cade gave a short nod.

“Good.” His blessing meant something to me.

“Party’s wrapping up. No point in you hanging around. I’ll man the booth and lock it all up after.”

“You kicking me out?” Best news in hours.

“Somebody better. We only do PG parties. Go.”

I hesitated, staring at him. “So, you’re okay. With me…and Kiki?”

He shot me a deadpan expression. “You two have been fooling no one but yourselves. Kendall and Kristen all but ordered me to come over here and talk some sense into you. We know you and Kiki were meant to be more than just friends. Go. Do something about it.”

A relieved breath whooshed out of me. Hadn’t realized I’d held it. “Thanks, man.”

By the time I turned around, Kiki faced me from the other side of a thinning crowd. Her sisters formed a wall behind her. Then she stumbled forward, like they’d given her a gentle shove. Her eyes narrowed and she glanced back toward them, but she was laughing by the time she faced me again.

Body vibrating with anticipation, I crossed the floor with determined strides.

Her smile widened as she reached out, then grasped my hand. “We’re being kicked out.” She pulled off her wig, then handed it to Kendall as her hair tumbled down over her shoulders in loose waves.

I tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “Guess we’ve been bad.”