Reaching them, Jolene doled out greetings and hugs before sparing the devil a glance. “Well, hello, Lou,” she said. “What are you doing over here?”
He gave her a brittle smile. “Oh, we’re just chittin’ the chat. You can go now.”
Jolene tutted. “Really, Lou, must you be so rude?”
“Um, yes. Yes, I must.”
“It won’t make me march off in a huff. You know me.”
“And I wish I didn’t.”
“Oh, how you lie. But you know, I genuinely respect just how fabulously honest you can look when you bullshit people.”
He softened. “Really? Aw, thanks. You’re a pretty good liar too.” He moved a little closer to her. “You know, Harper has a theory.”
“A theory?” Jolene echoed.
“Yes. A theory that … well, that I might actually like you.”
“Hmm.” Jolene’s eyes warmed. “Maybe I actually like you. Perhaps I even like you like you.”
“Perhaps I feel the same. Maybe we should even … explore that.”
“Maybe we should.”
And then the pair of them burst out laughing like they’d never heard anything more ridiculous in their entire lives.
Shaking her head, Harper turned just as Khloë, Raini, and Teague—who was no longer in his hellhorse form—headed their way. He was the definition of tall, dark, and handsome. And Harper didn’t fail to notice the way Larkin ate him up with her eyes.
“Hey, Harper, how are you doing?” Teague asked.
“Good, thanks.” She introduced him to Knox and then Asher, who burrowed into Harper, smiling shyly. As she then went on to introduce the sentinels, she smiled to herself when Teague gave Larkin one of his panty-dropping smiles.
He clicked his fingers as he looked at Tanner. “Wait, you’re a hellhound. I saw you race a few times. You’re good.”
“Back atcha,” said Tanner.
Devon leaned into Khloë. “Oh no, look, they’re bonding. What do we do?”
Tanner gave her a gentle smile. “No need to be jealous, kitten.”
As the others chatted, Harper touched Keenan’s mind and said, You don’t need to keep glaring at Teague. He and Khloë aren’t together. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t care if they were.
It’s none of my business. Keenan shrugged, nonchalant. It just came as a surprise that she was anchored because, you know, she doesn’t talk about him.
Khloë’s chatty, but she doesn’t talk about herself much.
Knox lowered his mouth to Harper’s ear. “Who are you talking to?”
“Keenan.”
“Hmm.” Knox pressed a kiss to her neck. You’re standing here wearing a scruffy checked shirt and holey jeans with your hair styled into a messy ponytail. And yet, I just want to ravish the shit out of you right here.
She swallowed, feeling herself go damp. Stop that or this will feel like a very long night. But he didn’t stop it. Of course he didn’t stop it. He kept on teasing her with kisses to her neck, flicks of his tongue to her earlobe, and strokes of his hand over her ass.
By the time they were ready to leave the party, she was also ready to jump him. Asher fell asleep on the car ride home, so Harper tucked him into bed before joining Knox in the master bedroom … which, for some reason, was in utter darkness.
Frowning, she reached for the light switch. Her hand was snatched from the air, and then she was spun around and caged against the wall with Knox’s front plastered to her back, his hands pinning her wrists either side of her head.