Page 100 of Lock Up the Darkness

He snatched it away and found a wet wipe there, all balled up.

He smiled and unballed it, then wiped his fingers, before looking coolly over my head and saying, “How considerate, brother.”

I craned my neck and jolted as I saw Killian standing there in the kitchen doorway, eyes fixed on Asher and only Asher, as though I wasn’t even there.

I went to scramble off Asher’s lap, but his hands clamped down on my thighs, as his gaze remained locked fiercely with Killian’s. Shit.

I forcibly broke his hold, then maneuvered back onto the chair beside him.

“She’s not bleeding or crying. How is that possible?” Killian asked in a clear challenging tone.

Asher shrugged. “She’s still recovering.”

“Even so, this is you we’re talking about. You can’t make somebody come without inflicting pain first, yet, there you were doing just that.”

He’d seen that much? I’d been so out of it, so caught up in a pleasure haze that I hadn’t even sensed him standing there.

“Well, it sounds like you were privy to quite the show,” Asher responded calmly.

“You knew I was here.”

“Did I?”

“Yes, you fucker. You wanted me to see. To make one of your points, to lay down the law.”

“And what might that point be?”

Killian glared back at him.

“Well?” Asher pushed.

Killian finally looked at me, conflict warring on his features.

“Hi,” I spoke.

“Hi. Are you—”

“Carmichael, answer me,” Asher cut in, that dangerous tone reverberating through the room.

Killian sucked in a stuttered breath, clearly trying to calm himself. And then his eyes left me, and he zeroed in on Asher. “That she can’t be mine. Not only mine.”

“Asher, stop.”

He finally broke his steel glare on Killian and looked my way, puffing out a waft of smoke. “Stop what?”

“For one, talking about me as if I’m not here. Second, stop provoking him.”

“It’s the other way around.”

“What are you talking about?”

Their eyes locked for a tense moment.

“Asher,” I pushed.

“Nothing for you to worry about.” He looked at Killian. “Besides, it’s sorted now. Right, brother?”

“Right,” Killian muttered through clenched teeth.

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