Page 73 of Vicious Sentiments

“No one has ever…” my voice cracks. “No one has ever done something like that for me and I don’t know how to accept it and…” God, here comes the tears again. “How to saythank you.”

When Cape’s silence becomes too much, I finally look up and find him staring down at me with a hard gaze. Great, he probably thinks I’m even more fucked up in the head. I just want him to know the weight that he’s lifted off my shoulders.

Suddenly, he leans down and grabs my jaw, his expression never changing as he presses his lips to mine and kisses me.

My body turns to jelly and he holds me up by my face, cupping a hand to my cheek. His lips expertly slips between mine, mingling and tasting. With a fever, I kiss him back. Gaining my senses, I grip onto him, pulling at his shirt with a strength I didn’t know I had. He tastes like Death and I didn’t know how bad I wanted this.

He chuckles between my lips, cocky as ever, but then abruptly stops as he slips. He splashes into the tub with me and water flows over the edge. His feet stick out of the basin and I realize I think I accidentally pulled him in.

He looks up and smirks, eyeing his wet clothes. “I think you got me wet.”

I duck my head and blush. I can’t believe I just pulled him in with me. And why did I kiss him back? Where did that come from? What is Julian going to think?

As if reading my regret, Cape pulls my face back to him. “For the record, you don’t have to thank me. I’ll kill anyone who even looks at you wrong.”

I gulp.

“And don’t worry about the kiss.” He lets go and pushes himself up, dripping water and suds like a dark god in a bubble storm. “I don’t think Julian will mind. We’re brothers, we were taught to share.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Later that night I gape at Julian when he doesn’t flinch as Cape carries a decorative chair over his head. He plops it next to the one Julian has used as a bed the last few nights and breathes a satisfied breath. He dusts his hands and falls into the chair, settling in and checking the comfort level.

“Um?” I question from my fluffy spot in the middle of the bed. I ended up stripping my clothes and lounging in the bath for at least two hours so I’m fresh and clean in my Bella Luna set, all ready for bed.

Julian gives me an amused shrug and Cape smirks. “Oh, was you kissing me back not an open invitation to watch you sleep?”

My mouth falls open.

Julian slowly turns to look at Cape and narrows his eyes. I bite my lip, afraid of what’s about to happen. Cape made it seem like it was no big deal, and Julian did tease me with both prospects. Yet, I worry I crossed a line.

“I was waiting till her birthday,” Julian says, surprising me.

“Yeah, well, I don’t have the same moral code as you.”

“Clearly,” Julian growls and turns back to me.

I don’t know what my face is saying but Julian’s expression softens. “It’s okay, baby. I’m used to being the good one.”

That makes Cape laugh, really laugh and the sound fills me with agiddy energy.

“Do you disagree?” I ask Cape, feigning incredulity, wanting to be a part of it.

“Abso-fucking-lutely,” he howls.

“What? How is he not the good one?” I have to refrain from saying that Julian isn’t the leather jacket wearing, broody and cocky one.

“Well, I didn’t bring home a minor to fuck.” Cape smacks his thighs.

“Sue me!” Julian cries. “She’s fucking gorgeous and you know it.”

“Also,” I jut in. “He didn’t murder my dad.”

The room falls silent and the two share a look before leveling their gazes on me. Oh no, was that too much? They stare at me like I’ve grown a second head and I’m about to say sorry when Julian speaks.

“She’s funny too,” he adds, nodding at Cape who starts to burst out laughing again. “When she isn’t stuck in her head.” He gives me a side eye.

I sigh in relief and lean back into the pillows.

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