Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Soren and I aren’t exclusive. Far from it. We fuck, but we don’t get intimate with people. That’s the unspoken rule we have. And sitting here, touching Fiora is… well… it’s borderline breaking a rule.
Without warning, a loud crash comes from somewhere in the house, followed by an eerie whistling as wind finds its way through an unsecured window or door. Fiora jumps at the noise, her eyes widening as she looks at me—a silent plea for reassurance.
“I’ll handle it,” I say. “Why don’t you go on to bed. Braken will be here in a few hours. I’ll wait for him on the couch.”
Fiora nods, her gaze lingering on me a moment longer before she rises slowly, releasing my hand.
“Goodnight,” she says.
“Goodnight,” I repeat when I see that the back door has blown open but there is no damage from the storm.
Left alone, I take a deep breath, trying to shake the peculiar warmth still lingering from our exchange. This is not what I signed up for. We are tasked to protect the Godwin heir, not to console or offer comfort. Maybe fuck her. Maybe.
But not to do anything beyond that.
Chapter 20
Merrick
“Did you fuck her?” Soren asks as I enter the apartment.
I freeze. “Why would you ask that?”
He shrugs, not the slightest bit bothered. “Because why not? You were both alone and—”
“We don’t fuck people alone,” I snap, not appreciating his nonchalance. “It’s our rule. You know this. We only fuck each other alone.”
Reading my anger, he approaches with hands raised in a placating gesture. “Hey, I was just asking.” His voice is smooth and comforting in a way only he can do. “There’s no need to get worked up.”
I take a deep breath, willing myself to calm down. “Everything about Fiora and Braken, and then us… it’s not sitting well with me.”
“Are you saying you’re jealous?” Soren’s eyebrows arch, his eyes glinting in curiosity.
“I’m not sure,” I admit.
“We always said we’d talk about it if and when something like this happened. We need to figure out how to navigate through this.”
I look up at him, swallowing hard. His face is unreadable, his eyes level with mine. “I don’t want to like her, but I do. I also don’t want Braken to like her, and we both know he more than likes her.”
Soren heads over to the kitchen counter where he quietly pours himself a tumbler of whiskey. The amber liquid shimmers in the dim light of our apartment as he raises the glass to his lips, taking a slow sip. He traces the rim thoughtfully with his fingers, his gaze never leaving mine. “Things are changing. Our dynamic is changing, and that’s what’s eating at you.”
“We already lost Locke to Storee, and now I think we are going to lose Braken to Fiora,” I murmur.
“Braken is marrying Fiora, but he said it himself that we aren’t changing. It’s still the three of us when we want to play.”
“Four of us now,” I correct.
“More the merrier,” he says with a devilish grin.
He puts down his glass and moves to me, closing the gap until he’s standing inches away. The leather sofa pressed against my thighs is the only thing buffering me from his imposing presence. Soren lifts a hand to brush away a wayward strand of my hair; the simple gesture calms me.
“You’re overthinking again, love,” he whispers. The gentle tug at the end of his sentence reminds me of how much I crave his reassurance. He’s always been my rock, the one who straightens my thoughts and fears into a semblance of order.
“I can’t help it.” I let out a resigned sigh. His hand brushing down my arm slowly is comforting in a way that nothing else is. “You guys are the only family I have left.”
His eyes bore into mine, as if trying to understand my turmoil. “And none of us are going anywhere. Yes, Braken is getting married. But Braken was never ours. Not truly. Not like you and me. You and I are the couple, he was the add-on. And I mean that with love. So what if he wants to get married. Look at this as a good thing. A fun thing.” He leans forward to kiss me. “But I’m not going anywhere. He’s staying the same, as he’s always been. And all of us will figure out the new dynamic.”
“And what if Fiora doesn’t want you and me around them?” I’m voicing my deepest fear.
“Then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Soren’s gaze is steady. “But do you really think Braken would let that happen?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “He’s already pussy whipped. You can see it.”
Soren gives a short laugh at that, reaching up to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “Ah, the classic scenario. Man meets woman, man falls head over heels, man forgets about the other two men he likes to watch fuck.” His tone is teasing, but the gentle squeeze he gives my shoulder grounds me. “But remember,” he continues in a more serious tone, “Braken chose to be with us before Fiora came into the picture. That won’t just go away.”