Page 35 of Obsessions of the Heart

Turning around with his arms wide open, he motioned me forward. “Come into the Ambros sanctuary away from campus, peeping eyes, and annoying gnats.” I didn't know what he was talking about, but I nodded, just glad to get to hang out with him.

“So when are you going to explain the whole Elio thing to me?”

He winced, probably wishing I’d forgotten about that. “How about after I get you a drink? Diet Coke, right?” Smiling, I nodded. “Sit. Sit.” He motioned to the plushy brown L-shaped couch in the front room that had a large multi-floor-length window that looked out the front.

For an all-guys college house, it was surprisingly clean. No empty cups or half-drunk beer. Not a single piece of clothing was left out or draped over something. Gazing around the room, I noticed that there was nothing on the walls and no pictures on the tables. Everything was in its place, and they had all the right furniture. A couch, a coffee table, a lamp in the corner. A coat rack with no coats. Along the wall was a bookshelf with no books. It was odd, the void of anything personal. Almost like this space was waiting for something, longing for someone to fill it.

Footsteps came from behind me, but when I turned to ask Ravi what was up with this place, it was someone else. While he was holding my drink and had the same face, hair, clothes, and a similar smile to Ravi, he was not Ravi.

He handed me my drink with a sweet, wide smile, but something felt off. I stared at him and took the cup, and although I meant to say thank you, what came out was “Rion.” It was supposed to be a question, but I knew in my bones it was him. While the three of them were identical triplets, Rion’s eyes held a sharper glint, and his aura was that of a smooth black leopard.

His fake smile fell, settling into a thin-lined smirk, then he leaned forward to rest his forehead on mine. He stared into my eyes like he was watching my soul squirm. “Layrin.”

My reaction to these men was immediate and all consuming. My brain had been doing most of the decision-making for a while, but around these men, my body started to speak. Tingles ran down my arms and settled in my fingertips, begging me to touch him, to feel that he was real. Clutching my drink, I held myself at bay, only taking in his crisp, clean scent. That was enough to know he was real.

Everything about this man had a cold edge. While Ravi was the exuberant puppy who would bounce around, wanting to play all day, Rion was the cat in the window seat, watching, waiting, and planning. I could see his mind working behind those hazel eyes, fully aware, as they shifted into a blue hue.

“Hhhey.” I could slap myself for my voice sounding all shaky and out of breath.

The look on his face stayed the same, but his eyes crinkled a little at the corners. He’s amused. “You still know which of us is which.” His statement sounded more surprised than anything.

Leaning back, I took a swig of my soda before setting it down and crossing my arms. “You act like it's hard. I’ve always been able to tell you three apart.”

He sat down on the coffee table across from me as he mumbled, “Most people don’t.”

“Then they're not looking hard enough.” The words flew out of my mouth, and I winced. I didn't mean to sound like an asshole that knew everything about them because I didn't. I only had to look at them to see how these boys had turned into men.

I was about to apologize when I collided with Rion’s intense gaze. He lifted his hand and cupped my cheek. My tongue grew heavy, my body and mind captured by him. “You're right, and they never do. No one really looks at us but you, Rin.” The use of my nickname had me wanting to sigh into his hand, rubbing my face into it like a cat looking for its owner's touch.

That idea snapped me out of my daze, and I shot up, not wanting to be this close to Rion when I was beginning to experience that familiar feeling of desire and companionship. Nope. I was not falling into that hole again. That only led to bigger heartbreak. I laughed as I scratched my head. “So… where’s Roux? I expected the angry, grumpy one to be my equalizer, per usual.” My nervous laugh couldn't hide anything when Rion was just staring at me.

Somewhere, a door slammed shut, and I looked in the direction of the sound just as Roux walked out. My mouth dried up when his sweat-glistening torso came into view. His toned abs caught my attention first. Every groove and cut was carved to perfection. Following up his body, his pecs popped out, causing that tingle in my fingers to happen again, but this time they wanted to trace the lines of his body. To top it all off, he was wearing baggy gray sweats that hung so low a slight tug would put everything fully on display.

Someone cleared their throat, and I looked away from Roux’s body, my whole face flushed from being caught ogling him. When my eyes found his honey brown ones, they widened before narrowing into the glare I had expected. What I didn't expect to see was him licking his lips as he looked up and down my body.

Ravi’s chipper voice broke the silence. “Well, now that we’re all here, I guess we should talk.”

I took a deep breath, forcing my body to calm the fuck down, and nodded. We did need to talk, and I was going to get answers this time.

Chapter 13

“Ican wait for Roux to get a shirt.” I shrugged, kept my voice as even as possible, but my heart was pounding and my flesh burning with need. Yep, I needed him in a shirt, but I wasn't about to admit that to them.

“Yes, Roux! You're totally bothering me.” Roux turned his ire onto his brother just as Ravi winked at me, his mouth pinched to the side as if that would stop his lips from quivering.

Fucking Ravi. Even when he was helping, he was definitely not helping! I sat down, my back to the both of them, not wanting them to see how they affected me. Footsteps going up the stairs and quiet arguing sounded behind me as I covered up my chuckle. It was cute when they acted like the boys I used to know.

The realization came a moment too late that while I was saving myself from those two, I’d set myself up for the most dangerous one. Rion was still seated on the coffee table right in front of me, scooting closer with laser-like focus. Out of the millions of things I thought he would ask, the last thing I would ever expect came out of his tight-lipped mouth. “So, what are you doing with the Riccis'?”

That's what he wants to know? That's what consumed his thoughts?

I threw my hands up, huffing out a breath as I sagged into the couch. “Really?! What is it with you guys and them? Is it some old rich family feud? Something like the Capulets and the Montagues?” I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow at that last part, hoping he got the hint about how ridiculous this all sounded.

He straightened up and crossed his arms, eyes screaming that he wasn't going to quit. “Something like that.”

Does he realize how stupid that sounds? I had shaken my head and sat up, ready to tell him some hard truths, when quick steps raced down the stairs. A happy-go-lucky voice belted, “We’re all dressed and ready!”

Ravi hopped the couch, landing right next to me. His head shifted between me and Rion before he gasped and covered his mouth. “Oh no! Am I interrupting your first fight? Should I take a picture? Keep a memento? I’m sure you're both going to want to remember this moment forever.”

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