Page 24 of Midnight Whispers

I can’t tell her any of that.

“Don’t worry about that. We’ll figure things out in the morning.”

She nods, and the kind, genuinely thankful expression on her face makes me want to wrap her in my arms and promise her the world.

Instead, I pop up off the couch. “I’m going to bring these plates back to the kitchen. I’ll be back to check on you.”

“Oh, I’m happy to take them.”

My forehead wrinkles. “Nonsense. You’re my guest. Just relax, and get settled. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Okay,” she says softly.

I pick up the dirty dishes and leave the room, taking a deep breath when I reach the hallway, and I’m no longer surrounded by her jasmine and sandalwood scent.

The dining room is empty, and when I enter the kitchen, the staff are finishing the cleanup. I pass the dishes to them and thank everyone for dinner.

As soon as I enter the hallway, Sid’s waiting for me at the far end with his arms crossed.

“Is the missus all settled?” He arches an eyebrow.

“Funny.” I continue to walk past him, but he steps in front of me.

“First you stalk her, then you bring her home. Seems like things are escalating.”

“She got kicked out of her place and had nowhere to go. What was I supposed to do?”

His arms fall to his sides. “Let her figure it out like the adult she is.”

I shrug. “Maybe that works for you.”

“You’re walking on a tightrope, kid.”

I grit my teeth. “I have it under control.”

He steps closer, and his breath reeks of alcohol. “Do you think she’d have come here so willingly if she knew that her host is her stalker?”

I shove him with both hands, and he stumbles back a few steps. “Don’t even think of telling her. And it’s not stalking since I never followed her home, and I didn’t trace her online activity.”

He chuckles. “Keep telling yourself that.” He walks past me in the direction from which I came.

A big part of me wants to chase him down the hall and beat him, telling him not to worry about me. That he and our other two brothers don’t need to look out for me, but the quicksand of my guilt keeps me in place. They protected me when we were young, especially Sid, who took the brunt of our dad’s beatings to save me. That guilt doesn’t allow me to tell them to stop protecting me now.

I can’t show up to Cinder’s room with my head a mess from the past, so I retreat to my own room, shaking off the feeling. It’s an hour later before I return to Cinder’s room. The door is open, and Cinder is pacing the room.

“Sorry I took so long. I had to deal with something.”

“That’s okay. I’m sorry for interrupting your evening.”

I step farther into the room until I’m standing in front of her. “You’re not interrupting anything.”

“But it’s New Year’s Eve. You probably have plans. Please don’t let me prevent you from?—”

I place my finger over her lips. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”

Our gazes lock and hold. I remove my finger when I really want to slide my thumb into her mouth, then run the wetness over her lips.

“Are you sure?”

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