When Our Worlds Stand Still (Our Worlds #3)(64)

My eyes blur, and my heart pumps faster at the sight of his hands on someone else. “Graham?”

He hears my whisper and looks up, shame and embarrassment on his face. He should feel all those things. Tears form in the corners of my eyes as my whole world slips out from under me again. Bea’s hand lays limply on my arm. Her touch is the only force keeping my feet planted. I take a deep breath.

Graham races over to me and takes my hands in his. I’m unmoving. My eyes lock on everything and nothing at all.

“Listen to me, Kennedy, this is not what it looks like.”

Really? Because it looks like a mirror image of you and Amanda Junior year of high school.

I rip my hands from his and fold my arms across my chest. The girl I assume is Ashlee, smirks at me over Graham’s shoulder. A smug expression I’d be more than happy to wipe away with my fist. Lucky for her, violence isn’t my MO. Beside me, Amanda hums. If I ask her, she’ll do anything I need. Ashlee’s expression grows smug, making me realize this is what she wants. She’s the type of girl who finds happiness by bringing others down, and is never fully satisfied until she gets what she wants.

I shake the fog from my head. “You didn’t send me those texts, did you?” I whisper.

Graham’s brow furrows. “What texts?” He glances at Ashlee, a laugh quick on her tongue. When he turns back to me, the truth is in his eyes. “Kennedy, I swear, I didn’t send you any texts.”

“You didn’t send these then?” I ask. I show him the proof.

Sandy and Griffin push through the crowd we’ve conjured.

“She must have deleted them off my phone once she sent them to you. She had one part right.” Graham smiles, glancing up from the screen of my phone. “I do miss you, and I sure as hell didn’t want to come here without you. But that kiss, Kennedy …” He gestures behind him.

A hypnotizing melody plays from the speakers. Graham’s hand in mine, I lead him out of the kitchen to the makeshift dance floor. The space is crowded, but we squeeze into an open spot.

“Dance with me?” I whisper, ignoring his attempt to explain.

“Have I ever said no to a dance with you?” His hands wrap around my waist, and he tugs me close. His fingers graze the back pockets of my shorts and dip to the hem, tracing the cheeks of my ass. “I really hate you wearing these.”

“You love them, admit it.” I smirk, resting my head on his chest.

“I hate everyone looking at you,” he whispers in my ear.

“Welcome to my world, Graham Black. You can’t walk in a room without making a few wombs ache.” I smile up at him. “I know mine does when I see you.”

We sway together as if we’re between the sheets in his bedroom. The rhythm of the music makes me wish we were alone. His hand weaves through my hair above my ear, and we gaze at each other. Our desire thickens as my hands skim up and down his chest, burning my touch into every inch.

He dips his head to my ear. “Would it be wrong to say I’d gladly fuck you right here?”

I nibble on my lip, my chest rising and falling. When my eyes shut, his lips skim mine. As if the whole room disappears, he devours me. Between us, I reach down, and scrape my fingernails over the zipper on his jeans. From my light touch, he grows harder.

“You aren’t playing fair.” He hisses between his front teeth, grinding his hips against me.

My hand is trapped between us. My lips run the length of his jaw. His eyes shudder close, and I twirl in his arms, fitting my back to his front. My hands cup around his neck. Graham kisses a trail along my shoulder. My eyes spring open when his tongue runs behind my ear. The couples who were dancing around us have disappeared, leaving Graham and me alone on the dance floor. The song comes to an end. The heat of embarrassment creeps up my cheeks.

Graham leads me off the floor. I dig my heels in when we get to Ashlee. With Graham’s hand in mine, I square my shoulders, and jerk my head to the dance floor.

“That’s what you’re up against, sweetheart. Don’t think for a second, I don’t know what you are up to. If it was anyone else, I’m sure your tactics would work, but it’s not anyone else. It’s him and me, and I’m not above fighting for what’s mine.”

“I–” she mutters.

I stop her. “Be a lady. Walk away, and never, and. I. Mean. Never, try to come between us again. Girls like you don’t win against girls like me.”

Graham walks through the crowd so fast, he half-carries me so I can keep up. In the kitchen, his arms wrap around my middle, holding tight to my waist.

“You, defending us …” He slides my hand over his straining zipper

“You liked that, huh?” I smirk, my lust-fueled eyes on him.

“I thought you were going to punch her, Kennedy.” Rico dips his head between us and kisses my cheek.

“I should’ve.” Graham hands me a cup of cheap beer.

“The night’s still young,” Griffin says as he walks over to me with his arms open. “I’ve never liked her, but she’s Sandy’s best friend.”

“If Graham didn’t get along with Violet, I don’t know what I would do,” I offer my understanding.

“Where’s the little firecracker at tonight, anyway?” Rico asks. “Aren’t you two like a package deal or something?”