Page 43 of Succumbed

“Those heels look like they wreak havoc on your feet,” Shane explains, before digging his thumbs into my arch and making me moan.

“Careful, beautiful.” Linc’s voice is low and teasing. “Make that sound too many times, and I'll have no choice but to ravish you, audience and all.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to hold back the whimper his words elicit as my mind conjures an image of me, naked and under Linc while Shane watches. My foot jerks in Shane’s hands as he hits a particularly tender spot, and the whimper escapes. Surrounded by their throaty chuckles, I can’t stop my imagination from taking that image and running wild. Through the surprise and incredulity at my presumptuousness, all I can think is yes fucking please.

Chapter 13

Shane

It’s been three days since Lex visited our place, but I still feel her presence like a physical thing. I can’t sit on the couch without thinking of Linc’s expression as he looked down at her, then up to me. Can’t be at our dining table without Dec’s eyes lingering on the chair she used, his brows drawing down as his gaze unfocused. Can’t stand at the sink without the ghost of her touch whispering against my hand, heat washing through me.

The satisfaction in Linc’s eyes is dangerous. He told me about Lex’s rules and seemed happy enough with them, but I suspect that won’t be the case in three months. He and Lex are tiptoeing through a minefield of potential heartbreak, and Linc is too caught up to realize it.

He isn’t the only one. Declan is spending more time in the basement than ever before, his fuse short and volatile. The war he’s waging internally is fueled by Linc’s moon-eyed focus on Lex. Whether Dec’s surliness is because of concern for his brother or jealousy is a mystery I’ve yet to solve.

“Welcome to Athena Ventures,” the same perky blonde from before greets me as I walk into Lex’s lobby. She’s standing, purse in hand, her day almost done. “I’m afraid the office is closing. Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but Miles said I could come up.”

“Oh, excellent. He mentioned you’d be along. You know where her office is?”

“I do.”

“Great, I’ll buzz you back.”

“Thanks, have a good night,” I call over my shoulder, mentally mapping the path to Lex’s office based on the diagram Miles sent over.

To say Lex’s assistant was surprised to receive my call is an understatement. He’d been speechless, which seems to be a rare occurrence, when I announced my intent. Once he gathered his wits, he immediately sent me all the information I needed.

Reaching her office, I peer in for a moment. Lex sits at her desk, focused intently on her computer monitor. Her jaw-length hair, cut blunt and angled toward her face, is done in light waves today, parted precisely down the center as always. I can see she’s kicked off her black stilettos under her desk, and I wonder how she’d feel if I crawled under there and gave her another foot rub. Focus, Kelly.

I shift to tap on the doorframe, and she looks up in surprise.

“Shane.” She straightens, pushing her chair back smoothly. “I didn’t know you were stopping by.”

“I know.” I step into the room, pointing at her couch and raising a brow in askance.

“By all means,” she gestures toward the couch and stands, walking over barefoot to join me and fold herself into one plush corner. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m your ride.”

She blinks. “I have a driver.”

“Do you ever give her a night off?”

“Of course I do.” She shakes her head, one hand raised. “I’m sorry, am I in the Twilight Zone? Are you seriously in my office on a Thursday just to drive me home?”

I cough a laugh. “No Twilight Zone. And I might have an ulterior motive, but let’s save that for later.”

She studies me for a long moment. “Suspense and I aren’t friends, Shane. Best you share what’s on your mind if you want me to come with you willingly.”

Ignoring the way my cock twitches at the thought of tossing her over my shoulder, I pause and meet her gaze. There’s an amused tilt to her lips, but I don’t miss the demand in her tone.

“You’re different here, in your domain, you know. I can see why Linc’s drawn to you.”

Understanding flickers in her eyes. “I see. I was wondering when this would come up.”

She gets elegantly to her feet, walking over to her desk to toe her shoes on and snatch her phone. She’s silent, despite the office’s employees having long since left. In response to my teasing expression, she tsks.

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