Chapter 48
Chapter 48:
Kieran stumbled forward. “Collins? You? You’re the — the gay heir? The one who married her p>
Gaston’s eyes snapped to Kieran. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. It was a predator’s smile.
“Mr. Douglas,” Gaston said smoothly. “I see your hand is still healing. Do you want the other one to match p>
He turned back to Jocelyn. He took in the fear in her eyes, the way she was shivering inside his oversized jacket.
“What was the dare?” he asked her softly.
Jocelyn pointed a shaking finger at Bob, the sweaty supplier. “Kiss him. For a minute p>
𝖱o𝗆аnс𝘦 𝗇o𝘷e𝗹ѕ о𝗇 gа𝘭ո𝗼𝘃𝖾lѕ.𝖼𝗼m
Gaston looked at Bob. Bob looked as though he was about to have a cardiac event.
“Take him,” Gaston said to his guards.
The guards moved instantly, seizing Bob and marching him toward a large pine tree.
“Since you like kissing so much,” Gaston said, “you can kiss that tree. For an hour. If you stop, my men will help you start again p>
Bob whimpered as he was dragged away.
Gaston turned back to Jocelyn. He stepped into her space, his body blocking out the fire, the crowd, and Kieran.
“As for the dare,” Gaston murmured, his hand coming up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing her lower lip, “you just had the wrong partner p>
Jocelyn’s breath hitched. “Gaston, you don’t have to p>
“Hush,” he whispered.
He lowered his head and captured her lips.
To the stunned audience across the fire, it looked possessive and deep — his hand tangled in her hair, her head angled perfectly, his body a wall between her and the world. But for Jocelyn, it was something quieter: a firm, claiming pressure that was more about protection than passion. He wasn’t devouring her; he was branding her. As he began to pull back, he brought his lips to her ear.
“Play along,” he whispered, his voice a low vibration only she could hear. “They’re watching p>
The kiss went on. And on. A blatant, public claiming.
Kieran watched, his world shattering around him in silence.
Gaston finally pulled back, his forehead resting against hers for a moment. He was breathing hard.
He turned to the stunned audience and, with deliberate slowness, used his thumb to wipe a trace of lipstick from the corner of his own mouth — a gesture of intimacy that was pure theater.
“Dare completed,” he said. “Anyone else want to play p>
Aspen sank back onto the log, terrified. No one breathed.
“Let’s go,” Gaston said, his arm clamping around Jocelyn’s waist like a steel band. He turned her away from the fire and guided her toward the waiting helicopter.
“Wait p>
Kieran broke out of his stupor. He ran toward them, ignoring the pain in his arm.
“Jocelyn!” he screamed over the sound of the rotors spinning up. “He’s buying you! Don’t you see? He’s using you p>
Gaston stopped. He didn’t let go of Jocelyn. He turned to face Kieran one last time.