Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law novel Chapter 100

[Jasmine's POV]

Shock and desire flowed through me as I pulled Axel closer. My thighs shook from the pleasure his touch brought me. Usually, our kisses were…nice and tame. Honestly, I never felt much of anything when Axel kissed me. But this kiss? It made my body alive with need. It made me crave more from him. So much more.

Strangely, Axel's kiss made me think of Gareth.

But I scolded myself for thinking of Gareth while I was kissing Axel—and thoroughly enjoying myself.

With a groan, I opened my mouth to slide my tongue against his, but then Axel stepped away from me.

With one last withering look, he spun around and left me in the middle of the dance floor, flushed and breathless. My body was trembling with need and desire for Axel's touch. Disappointed, I watched him go. The muscles in his back were rigid, as if he were holding himself back from something.

Why had Axel's kiss made me feel so…needy? I'd only felt like this from Gareth's expert touch.

Wait…

Was it possible that Gareth had just kissed me? Axel had said he was going to the bathroom, but then appeared only a moment later to give me the best kiss I'd ever had. Our connection had been non-existent earlier. Gareth and Axel did resemble each other…

No.

Gareth wouldn't pretend to be his nephew. That was insane. Why would he want to waste his night with someone like me? There were so many more mature and classier women who would sell their souls for the pleasure of his company. My stolen night with Gareth would never happen again, no matter how much I craved him.

That thought made me wrap my arms around myself as a cold, lonely feeling settled over me. As I wandered off the dance floor, I tried to cheer myself up with the knowledge that Axel and I seemed to have a better connection. Could I have a potential future with him? I just couldn't see a way to get over the fact that Gareth was his uncle. If Axel and I got married, Gareth would be my uncle-in-law.

Ew.

I watched the dancers for a few moments, and soon, Axel returned with another glass of champagne for me. As he handed me the drink, our hands brushed, and my heart lowered slightly. That same spark we had before just wasn't there.

Had it been a fluke?

I waited for him to mention our passionate kiss, but he just started talking about the new painting he was working on.

It was almost like I had imagined it.

***

Jasmine wasn't aware that Elliot was still on the dance floor with Isabella and had witnessed the entire mistaken kiss. Elliot had seen Axel leave Jasmine on the dance floor. Then he watched Gareth take her hand to dance. Since Elliot knew Jasmine better than anyone, he knew that she still thought she was dancing with Axel. Then, Elliot had gone rigid with horror when he watched Gareth kiss Jasmine.

Watching them fervently grip onto each other filled Elliot with panic. This couldn't be happening. If Elliot had the Lycan King as a competitor for Jasmine, he had no chance of convincing her to be his mistress. Gareth would see to her every need, even ones that Elliot couldn't fulfill. What would he do if Gareth married her? Bile rose to his throat at the thought of having Jasmine as his future mother-in-law.

Elliot had to do something. He couldn't stand idly by and watch his plan go up in flames.

***

[Jasmine's POV]

Axel asked me to dance again, and that heat from before still wasn't present. After only one song, he disappeared, leaving me standing alone on the dance floor.

Again.

As I made my way through the dancing couples, the lights went out, and the next second, a spotlight was shining on me.

Then, another spotlight appeared at the front of the dance floor. My heart slammed against my chest when I saw Axel holding a bouquet of red roses and walking toward me. The band began to play a quiet, romantic song.

As Axel neared me with an expectant smile, anxiety made my stomach churn.

Oh, Goddess… No. This couldn't be happening.

The entire room fell silent as he handed me the roses and took my hand.

"Jasmine," Axel said in a loud voice that made me want to wince.

Why did he have to do this in front of an entire crowd? Whatever made him think this was a good idea?

"Ever since I met you, I knew that you were the one for me," he continued, staring deep into my eyes. "I couldn't help but fall for you. It was like I didn't have a choice in the matter. All of my life, I thought I'd be a lone wolf." He looked around the crowd with a sheepish expression. "You know, with my tortured artistic soul and all."

The audience laughed. They were eating out of the palms of his hands.

He turned back to me, his expression serious.

As my mind spun with indecision, my stomach swooped. And I knew deep down that Gareth's hypnotic gaze was on me. I longed for his touch, but there wasn't any possible way for us to be together. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

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