KASMINE.
“Oh, heavenly goddess! Kasmine!” June’s voice rang with relief as she threw her arms around me, squeezing the air from my lungs. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.”
I let her warmth settle over me, trying not to think too much about where she had been last night. But I felt better to see her looking lively today. She was happy, and I found myself wondering what they had done the previous night. She hadn’t slept in her own designated room,
Yeah, I know how that sounds. Like I’d spent the night stalling her, right?
Well… I kinda did. Not in a creepy way, though. Just… checking, Checking if she had returned after going to “talk” to Kester.
I didn’t make the mistake of sneaking to Kester’s door. He’d sniff me and corne running into my arms like a lost puppy. I didn’t want that. I wanted the night to be all about June.
But… Had they only talked? Slept quietly? Or….
No. I couldn’t think about that.
It shouldn’t be my concern if they fucked. They were meant to get married soon. They’d be doing that often. That was what couples did. And soon, it would be normal for them–so normal it wouldn’t even be a thought to worry
about.
I swallowed against the bitterness rising in my throat.
“It’s fine, June,” I said, forcing a small smile as I pulled away from the hug. “But Mum must never know about this. She’d freak out.”
My mini duffle bag still had some space in it to contain some of the chocolates Jake had given me the day before I
traveled.
They were kind of the best I’d had in a long time. There was no outing without them, at least, as long as there were still some left.
She pressed a hand to her heart in mock solemnity. “Your secret is safe with me, darling,” she said, perching at the edge of my bed. She was already fully dressed and ready to rock the day. Her yellow floral dress stopped mid thigh, the soft fabric hugging her figure just enough to remind me of what I lacked. My eyes trailed down to her long, impossibly smooth legs, and I wished–just for a second–that mine had the same effortless elegance.
She was stunning. The kind of woman men turned to look at twice, just to make sure they hadn’t dreamed her up.
If I were to ever stand with her in front of a beauty judge, I was certain I’d only blend into the wallpapers of the courtroom – that’s if courtrooms ever had any.
Her blonde hair, swept into a high ponytail, left just enough loose curls to frame her delicate face. And as I took her in, an old, familiar wave of jealousy curled through me—hot and unwelcome.
She was beautiful to a fault.
What is wrong
with Kester? Why wasn’t he looking at her the way he sometimes looked at me–like he wanted to devour every inch of my soul?
She was everything a man like him should want. Beauty. Class. Perfection.
I sucked in a breath, pushing the thought aside, shoving it deep into the part of me that kijew better than to ask
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questions that had no answers.
She pointed to the chocolates I was stuffing absentmindedly into my bag “Can I have one?
Wordlessly, I handed one over, watching as she tore it open with a soft, eager hum.
“Thanks,” She took a bite, her lips parting around the dark sweetness, letting out a quiet moan. “Mmhhh…
A shiver curled down my spine.
Was that how she sounded when Kester fucked her?
My stomach twisted, and 1 hated myself for the thought.
“It tastes so good. Where did you get these?” She tipped her head up a little, savoring the sweetness, and I couldn’t stop the way my eyes flickered over her–her long, pale neck, her collarbones peeking through the thin straps of her dress, her smooth, unblemished skin, to see if Kester had left any marks on her… That’s if they….
The chocolate nearly melted between my fingers as I grippel the bag tighter.
“Kasmine?” She called, pulling me harshly back to reality.
I cleared my throat, “Jake got them for me.” I replied, zipping up the bag
Her brows lifted slightly. “Oh. Jake. How’s he doing? Heard from him since you arrived?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Nope. Kester made sure of it.”
She didn’t miss the slight sadness in my voice. I’d been trying to wrestle the feeling of sadness whenever I thought about Jake. I knew how worried he’d be.
And to think that I couldn’t even call Claire to give her a message to him made me even more worried and sad.
She would have been the only solution right now if Kester wasn’t tracking my phone. Now that he’s finally had me where he always wanted, one would think that he’d stop prying into my personal life. But it only got worse.
Kester had always and will always be my stalker.
June sighed, her expression softening with pity. “I’m sorry, Kasmine. But you’ll get over this. In a few more weeks. I hope you find your mate on your birthday,” she encouraged, and sincerely, I didn’t know if I should be happy, sad, scared, or even terrified of that day.
I only gave a hollow smile and nodded, “Kester is certainly waiting for us. Let’s go.”
KESTER.
I had watched her swallow the ‘birth control‘ pills this morning when she woke up.
Or at least, what she thought were birth control pills.
I stood by the door, and she hadn’t even seen me. So, I quietly went back down to the car to wait for her.
It filled me with so much satisfaction knowing that she wasn’t on birth control in the actual sense.
My grip tightened on the steering wheel as I glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. She sat by the window, absentmindedly staring at the blur of palm trees and the sunlit ocean beyond the glass. H is were slightly parted.
I wished I could know what she was thinking about this fucking minute. I want to be the only one she thinks about
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at all times. A sharp, possessive heat licked up my spine.
I couldn’t help but picture her with a soft, round belly, carrying our child. Her skin glowing, her curves fuller, and her body marked in every way by me. And years later, tiny feet pattering against marble floors, little hands reaching for me, little voices calling out Daddy.
The image was so right that I barely noticed the noise June was making from beside me.
“You’re not listening, are you?” she sighed, rolling her eyes. “You seem way too distracted.”
Of course, I was distracted. How could I not be?
I was in the same space as Kasmine. Breathing the same airs her without touching her. And it was torture.
I forced a slow inhale through my nose, smoothing, the irritation from my face. “I’m listening, June.“” Her eyes narrowed with suspicion “Oh, really? Then what was the last thing I said?”
She folded her arms across her chest, and for a second, my stomach clenched. Fuck. Kasmine did that a lot. That same little motion–arms crossed, eyes sharp, lips slightly pouted–that made my insides warm up every time. My grip flexed on the wheel.
“You were saying that your father is willing to help me secure the contract with Blackthorne Industries,” I said smoothly. “He has connections with their board members and believes he can convince them to move forward with the deal. You also mentioned that their CEO has concerns about the stability of my company, considering the recent… unrest among my investors.”
A flicker of surprise crossed her face. “Oh.”
I smirked. “Still think I wasn’t listening?
She shifted, uncrossing her arms, her posture relaxing slightly. “Well… I just thought you weren’t paying attention. You looked so lost in thought.”
She was wrong. I wasn’t lost in thoughts. I was lost in Kasmine.
I stole another glance at the mirror, but she still wasn’t looking at me. Instead, she stole a small glance at June and averted her gaze again.
Fucking frustrating.
She barely acknowledged me since she got into the car. Barely spoken to me. And it was driving me insane.
And what the fuck had she been imagining when she stared at June like that, like she was comparing herself?
As if she wasn’t the most intoxicating thing in this car.
I forced my attention back to June. “Tell your father I appreciate the offer. I’ll meet with him as soon as I return from the trip.”
June smiled, seemingly pleased with my response. “I’ll let him know.”
I barely heard her.
Because Kasmine shifted in her seat, tucking her legs beneath her, hugging her arms around herself as she stared out at the rolling waves.
I killed the engine and stepped out, taking in the grand sight before me. The beach itself stretched endlessly beyond the glass walls of the reception area, its turquoise waves rolling gently against the shore. But before anyone could reach the sand, they had to pass through the luxurious entrance–marble floors gleaming under
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golden chandeliers, soft instrumental music humming in the background. It felt more like stepping into a five- star resort than a typical beachfront.
The smell of coconut and salt wafted through the air, and haled deeply.
Kasmine trailed slightly behind June, keeping her distance from me as we walked in. It irritated me. She was doing it on purpose.
As soon as we reached the changing area, she turned to Jun. “I’ll be right back,” she murmured before slipping away into one of the dressing rooms.
June nodded, giving me a little smile before heading into her own changing space.
And Kasmine?
I followed her.
I stepped inside her dressing room just as she was unzipping; her bag, and my hand tended against the doorknob when my gaze fell on the bikini she had packed, but I tamed the vexation trying to take root.
The door clicked shut behind me, and she whipped around, eyes widening
“Kester-”
I didn’t let her finish.
Gripping her waist, I pulled her flush against me, pressing her back against the door. She let out a small, startled gasp, her hands coming up to brace against my chest. Her skin was warm through the thin fabric of my shirt, and her signature perfume scent–vanilla–wrapped around me like a drug
“Why aren’t you talking to me?”
She blinked up at me, lips parting slightly. “What?”
“You’ve barely said a word to me all morning,” I murmured, my fingers tightening slightly on her waist. “Not even a glance. Not even when I was right there with you in the car.”
She swallowed, her throat working as she tried to form words. “I–I was just… thinking.”
I tipped my head down, my mouth a breath away from hers “Thinking about what?”
She hesitated. “It’s nothing.”
Liar.
My fingers slid up her sides, feeling the way her breath hitched under my touch.
“Kasmine.”
I cupped her chin, tilting her face up to mine. I wanted her to admit what was really going on in that pretty little head of hers. But I knew she wouldn’t.
So, I kissed her instead.
Soft and slow.
I swallowed her sharp inhale, tasting the faint traces of chocolate on her lips. Hmm. I never knew she got herself chocolates.
Tasted good anyway.
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A small sound–almost like a sigh–escaped her, and I deepened the kiss, pressing my body closer to hers, letting her feel the heat of me.
She gasped against my mouth when my fingers trailed lower, skimming down the curve of her hip, slipping beneath the hem of her dress.
“What” she started, breathless, but I swallowed the rest of her words with another kiss. My hand moved, sliding up the inside of her thigh, finding only the thin strap of a thong barring my way.
Perfect.
She jolted when I pushed the lace aside, my fingers brushing against her damp heat. My other hand dipped into my pocket, retrieving the small object I’d been waiting to use.
Kasmine tensed as I pressed the cool, smooth tip of it against her entrance.
“Kester,” she breathed, her hands gripping my shoulders. What are you?”
I didn’t answer. I slid the toy inside her slowly, inch by inch until it was nestled deep.
She gasped, her body arching against mine, her fingers digging into my shirt. “What… what is that?”
I kissed the corner of her mouth, then her jaw, letting my lips brush over the pulse hammering in her throat. “You’ll find out soon enough,” I murmured.
She swallowed as I withdrew my hand, letting the hem of her dress fall back into place. She was still pinned against the door, her eyes wide, pupils blown with confusion.
I reached into my pocket again, this time pulling out the remote.
Her lips parted to speak, but the moment I pressed the first setting, her words dissolved into a gasp.
The vibrations started low, with a soft hum deep inside her.
Her fingers clutched at my shoulders while her body tensed. “Kester…” She trembled against me, and I relished every second of it.
I smirked, tilting my head. “Something wrong?”
“Y… Yes.” Her words were incoherent as I saw her knees buckling and her eyes watering. “You can’t…..”
“I can, baby. And you, my love,” I kissed her, pressing the remote again to make it stop, “…Are going to have as much fun as I would today.”
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Chapter 67
