“Fine. I will talk to her.”
“Talk to me about what…?”
Fae’s voice flows softly between us, smooth and unhurried, like the world is not about to shift beneath our feet. I look at her and everything else quiets around the edges. God, it has only been a day and I have missed her. Her dark hair falls in loose layers around her face, framing eyes that are too sharp. At first glance they are green, but up close they catch lighter flecks, like they are holding secrets she has not decided to share. There is a softness to her, but it is deceptive. It draws you in before yourealise there is steel underneath. A warrior not born but made through choices she never had.
“Erm…” Felix stammers as Fae walks further into the room.
She looks beautiful. Dressed simply, but it makes her harder to ignore. A white fitted crop top clings to her torso, clean lines and bare shoulders showing just enough skin to distract without trying. The fabric pulls smooth over her chest and narrows at her waist, the gentle curve of her body impossible to miss. The olive-green skirt sits high on her hips, skimming her thighs before falling to mid-calf. Paired with white trainers, it should be nothing… but on her, it is everything.
My cock hardens in my jeans and I clench my fist, trying to redirect the blood flow. It is irritating how much she affects me. Nobody, and I mean nobody, has ever come close.
My body moves before my mind catches up. I cross the space and pull her in, the small gasp that leaves her mouth going straight to my head. I breathe in her honey and vanilla scent and let my cheek brush the top of her hair for a second longer than necessary. She relaxes instantly in my arms, like she knows exactly where she belongs. Her spine slots against my chest like she was made to fit there.
Riggs walks over. He glances at me, then at her, gives her that familiar smile and she beams back.
Unacceptable.Her smiles should only be for me… or our children,I guess.
He bends to kiss her cheek before I can move her and I tighten my hold like I can somehow stop it. Do I know what they have is platonic? Yes. Does that mean I like it? No. She is mine. It is bad enough that she has that excuse with Felix, but I know Riggs, Atlas and Victor fall into that category too.
I groan internally at the pull between what is acceptable and what I want to do. I close my eyes and count to ten like Fae does.
Surprisingly, it works.
“How are you fairy?”
“Good…” she replies but something about it feels off. I frown down at her. What made her sound like that?
“Good,” he nods, but his voice sounds just as strange.
“What the fuck happened with you two?” I snap, stepping back and pulling her with me.
“Chill.” Felix says as Fae and Riggs both start laughing.
“It is not funny,” I bark. “If you have upset her, so help me God, Riggs, I am holding on to my sanity with a fucking shoestring right now.” I point at him. “Stop laughing and start talking.”
“Jesus,” Riggs laughs even more. “You’re insane.”
Fae pats my hand like I am some toddler she needs to calm.
“I snapped at them earlier, Ro.” She takes a breath and I count to ten while I wait. “I owe you all an apology.”
“You don’t owe them shit, Tink.” I squeeze her as the rest start chuckling again. Either I have a terrible sense of humour or they all just laugh too much. I have not decided which.
With everything going on, I forgot we had Jack tied up. It is not until I shift my arms and squeeze her hips that I realise her clothes feel damp. I push her forward to see what is wrong and as her body tips slightly, every decent thought about who is in the room disappears. My cock hardens as her arse brushes against me.
I am just about to move her further away when I catch it; there is blood smeared across her clothes. I cringe at my own carelessness, and my grip tightens without thinking. The fury in me sharpens instantly when I realise I have marked her with another man’s blood. Fae gasps at the sensation before she presses her body back into mine. The movement is doing nothing to help the situation. A low groan drags from my chest as I feel myself harden further under the contact.
“Roman.” Felix shouts, breaking the spell. “That’s still my fucking sister.”
I drag in a breath and step back, forcing my head to clear. Heat creeps up Fae’s neck and I catch the flush spreading across her cheeks. I have seen her angry, cold, untouchable… but this? This is new. It does something I like far too much. Her weight shifts and she leans closer without thinking, like instinct has taken over. She quickly glances at me and I watch mesmerised as the way her tongue slips out to wet her lips.
I stare at her wet mouth.
Is it normal to be jealous of a person's tongue?
“Spoil sport.” I wink at her and she flushes even deeper.
Her eyes flick to mine and then away again, as she looks on flustered that she’s been caught. In that brief second I know she feels it too. Whatever the reason she keeps holding back and acting bashful, I will break it.