Page 104 of Succumbed

Dec chokes on air, coughing as I laugh and slap his back.

“Fuck, Shane,” he croaks.

“That’s the idea, Dec,” I tease, waving Linc and Lex over. “That’s the idea.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe. She’s into me, though. Must be doing something right.”

Lex grips Linc’s face in her hands, kissing him soundly as he slowly lowers her to her feet. When they part, they smile at each other, so clearly in love I can’t help but chuckle. Warmth washes through me as they tear their gazes from one another and run back over to us. Linc grins as he steps onto the sidewalk, his hands in his pockets. Lex loops an arm through mine, then Declan’s, and starts walking briskly toward the hotel.

“Come on, boys!” Lex casts me a sideways look as she grins and Dec scoffs at the nickname. “Linc, what else are you planning?”

“You’ll see!” he sing-songs, dancing ahead of us on the path.

Lex beams back at him, steps light and quick.

“Best day ever,” she sighs, leaning her head on Dec’s shoulder.

He looks down at her with wide eyes, then glances up at me. I can see he’s at war with himself, struggling to give in to what he so clearly wants. Cocking my head at him in challenge, I send him a silent plea. Don’t fuck it up now, brother.

Chapter 30

Lex

The moment we walk through the doors to our suite, I am overwhelmed.

There are roses everywhere. Vases of red roses are on nearly every table in the living area, a trail of petals leading to the entrance on one side and to the opulent primary bedroom on the other. A tray of chocolate-covered strawberries and éclairs waits for us on the coffee table, along with two bottles of champagne.

“Linc!” I gasp, frozen in the doorway.

He grins, taking my hand and pulling me forward. “You like it?”

I laugh, tears threatening. “Like it? This is insane!”

“But, like, in a good way, right?” He teases, fingers tightening on mine.

“Of course, in a good way!” I launch myself at him, smiling as he laughs and catches me.

He doesn’t spin me like he did in the street, instead staring up into my eyes as I twine my legs around his waist.

“I figured showering you in roses on a normal day counts as a string. But it’s Paris, and maybe the rules don’t need to exist here. At least today.”

My heart melts as I stare down at him, threading my fingers through his hair. Hope and a touch of fear war in his gaze, and I want to erase every last trace of the latter. Leaning down, I press my lips to his urgently, needing to feel him. He groans into my mouth, holding me more firmly against him.

Tearing my lips from his is a struggle, but I manage it. “No rules. Not tonight.”

His smile is incandescent as he walks over to the couch, sitting with me still wrapped around him. I can sense Shane and Declan still hovering by the door, watching, but I’m not ready to look away from Linc. I wave at the others, gesturing for them to join us.

“Sit your asses down, both of you!”

Linc chuckles, shaking his head as he stares at me in wonder. “Yeah, guys. What she said.”

Giggling, I kiss him again, sinking into his body as he reaches up to cup my head in one hand, the other gripping my ass. Losing myself, I open my mouth the second his tongue touches my lips, eager for him to invade my senses. We’d been touching all day, though wary of letting the PDA go too far. Our kiss in the street in front of the restaurant was the most salacious we’d gotten. I am so ready for more.

The sound of a champagne cork popping breaks us apart abruptly. I yelp, then collapse in laughter at Linc’s wide-eyed look of surprise. Slipping off his lap, I snuggle against his side as I take in Shane on the opposite couch. He’s smirking, legs spread with an arm thrown over the back. His eyes flick to Declan before he raises a brow in question.

Biting my lip, I look up into Declan’s fiery gaze. He’s holding the foaming champagne bottle, filling the first glass. He offers it to me, our fingers brushing as he does. Electricity shoots through me at the touch, my breath catching as his pupils dilate.

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