Page 31 of The Companion Love Trap

“Because he’s in love and obsessed with Everly just as much as you, so I consulted with him to get her here.”

“Consulted. Right,” Kieran said like the words tasted sour. “You do know she’s a person? You can’t just move people around on a chessboard for your own pleasure. And I’m not in love with her,” he added, crossing his arms as he tried to stare down his friend. Despite being taller, he didn’t quite achieve it with Jace.

Jace rolled his eyes, crossing his arms as he addressed his friend.

“It worked, didn’t it? She needed a job. You needed a fake-girlfriend. You already have a connection but haven’t ever talked to one another.” He threw his arms up. “And now you have. Most people just say you’re welcome.”

I didn’t miss how he ignored Kieran’s refusal about his feelings. Kieran’s jaw ticked, his fair skin turning red the longer he glared at Jace. He opened his mouth but stopped, noticing the people around us, and shut it.

“Perhaps we should take this to our room.”

He stormed off before Jace could answer, heading to the elevator bay almost in the same fashion as Everly. Jace lifted an eyebrow at me and motioned for me to go ahead. I guess he wanted to continue this with me, too.

“Let me guess,” I said as we walked together, “you didn’t tell him it was her until they met at the airport.”

“Guilty.”

He grinned over at me, his eyes shining and not a hint of remorse in sight. His mischievous streak would be fun to fuck out of him. Our shoulders bumped into one another, causing our forearms to graze, sending electricity through me. He cleared his throat, and I wondered if Meu Dengo was nervous. I smirked, liking that I affected him just as much.

“How was she? She hasn’t texted me back since last night, and that was only to blow me off. Not the kind of blowing I prefer.”

“She was great yesterday. We spent the day together.”

His smile was smug, and I just knew something had occurred between them, just not the what. I’d have fun pulling that from him later.

“She was a bit upset when Kieran appeared to reject her, but she stood her ground. On the plane, they were talking and seemed to have bonded. I couldn’t hear everything they were saying, but just the fact Kieran spoke that long to someone new was major. Except when we deplaned, she shut down and rushed to her room.”

His hazel eyes glanced at me, his forehead creased as he frowned, trying to work out the mystery that was Everly. Good thing I had a PhD in her. Nodding, I knew exactly what had happened. Jace seemed to relax, submitting to me without even realizing it.

Yes, you’ll learn to let me take care of you too, Meu Dengo.

The elevator opened, and Kieran stepped in, holding it for us. As the doors closed, I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms against my chest, and propped my feet out in front of me. Buns sat down next to them, her tongue lolling out of her mouth as she panted. She was so happy; I couldn’t stop the smile as I gazed at my dog.

“I’m going to guess you and Everly connected on the plane?” I asked Kieran when I looked up. His blue eyes met mine in the reflection, and he nodded. I hadn’t interacted with him much and wondered if he was always this closed off or if it was just me. He was a contradiction I looked forward to unraveling.

“She got scared then. When she starts to feel things too much, she runs. She’ll order room service and spend the night shoring up her walls for tomorrow. But it’s good news.”

The elevator dinged before I could say more, and I followed them out, trailing behind as they walked a few feet to a door and opened it. Kieran peered at the one next to theirs, which I assumed meant it was Everly’s room.

When we entered their suite, I bent down to let Buns off her leash. Jace had instantly gone over to the kitchen, grabbed a bowl, and filled it with water. It warmed my heart to see him caring for my dog. Maybe I wouldn’t have to punish him too much.

“Thanks.”

His eyes glanced up at my words, his grin in place as he nodded. Seemed Everly wasn’t the only one with walls. Oh, this would be fun. Good thing I’d packed my emotional hammer. I had a lot of demolition to do.

Kieran left his suitcases at the opening of a door, then took a seat on the couch, kicking off his shoes and spreading out his long legs. Jace sat next to him, creating a delicious image in my mind. One casual, one suited, and heaps of sexual desire.

Observing them together, I noticed how Kieran shifted toward Jace, letting him lead. Jace might be shorter and smaller, but the man exuded confidence and a domineering energy that made you want to submit to what he said, even if you didn’t know why.

But my energy was bigger and more commanding. I’d have Jace bottoming before this trip was over. No doubt. Need and anticipation raced through me at the thought. I now had two goals to achieve while on board.

“You were saying something about walls?” Jace asked, spreading his arms on the back of the couch, one hand gently rubbing Kieran’s shoulder. I watched in fascination how Kieran melted under his touch.

“Everly’s… complicated. I won’t betray her trust by sharing certain details, but she’s a big believer in taking care of herself.” I scrubbed my hand over my short beard, smiling as I thought of the girl who’d captured my heart with her fierceness. “She doesn’t want to be a burden or feel trapped, so she rarely depends on others. She lives by the motto ‘do what I want when I want.’ And she very much does that.” I chuckled, remembering some of the times she’d pushed that boundary with me. “She’s not a girl you’ll be able to tie down, so if that’s your end goal, you’ve already lost.”

“Why are you here?” Kieran asked, assessing me and apparently not hearing anything I said. Smirking, I gave him my full attention and enjoyed how his body responded—red cheeks, shortened breath, and goosebumps on his arms.

“Everly and I have been playing this back-and-forth game for over a year, and I’ve decided not to let her run anymore.”

---