Page 66 of Blood Bonds

“No one has ever cared for me like this before,” I told them before I could stop myself, my filter completely obliterated thanks to whatever alcohol was still left in my system.

Talon gave me a soft look and Victor told me,

“Then you should get used to it, Firefly, because we are going nowhere.”

To prove this, what he did next had my mouth dropping in what was most likely a comical way. Talon even chuckled and tapped my chin just to remind me of this shameful fact. But it couldn’t be helped, not when his brother had started to unbutton his shirt.

“What… what are you doing?” I stammered, my eyes widening as his amazing body came into view. It was like the parting of the Nile, because it felt just as epic a moment as he pulled his shirt open and slipped it from his big shoulders. But he didn’t stop there… next, he tugged at his belt and opened up his slacks.

After this, he walked to the shower and tapped on the fancy control bar. The sound of rain filled the space as the shower started up. My mind still whirled and I hyper focused on Victor’s incredible body. In fact, my eyes wouldn’t have moved from the sight of Victor’s muscles if someone had offered to clear me of all my debts.

Holy fuck! His body was incredible. A powerhouse of muscle, each one ripped and begging to be traced by my fingers. The rippling eight pack and that delicious V as if pointing the way… Jesus, if I thought my mouth was dry before, then this was like drinking sand. I nearly choked on my mint!

“Like what you see, Sweetheart?” Talon asked with a chuckle, once more tapping my chin. I was completely unable to close my mouth, though, especially when Talon stood back and with a twist of his torso, he had his own black T-shirt up and over his head in half a second.

“Oh fuck,”I muttered as more muscle revealed itself.

It was like being rewarded with my own stripper show because he too yanked at his belt buckle, one metal and more of a biker style. I think it was the grim reaper, which fit the dark side of him.

The top button of his jeans was next, and I swear I couldn’t fucking breathe. Not when I had the sight of them both in front of me, standing next to each other. The difference between the two of them was startling, despite being able to see the slight resemblance in their facial features. They had the same bone structure, with high cut cheek bones and regal noses. They were also close in height as well as bulk, despite Tal being slightly bigger.

However, if I had to point out the differences, then I would have said that Victor’s body was more that of a super toned athlete. Like some aggressive, cage fighter. Whereas Talon was less cut and more bulky massive muscle, like a body builder.His shoulders were slightly wider and his stomach slightly less tapered. But no matter the differences between them, every inch of them was incredible and something I couldn’t stop looking at. Or perhaps drooling was the right word… shit,was I drooling?I even raised a hand to my mouth just to check.

“Whatcha reckon, Brother, is our girl wearing too many clothes?” Talon asked, nudging his brother’s shoulder, making me gasp at what he implied.

“I believe so, let’s rectify that, should we?” Victor replied, a cunning glint in his eyes as he approached.

“I… I…” I couldn’t speak and a single brow raised in challenge for me to do so, as a half-naked Victor came so close I had no choice but to look up at him. Once there, he gently removed the flower from my hair and set it down on the counter.

“Didn’t I say I would tear your dress off you?” he asked, making my cheeks heat yet again. I swear, blushing was like a permanent state of mine around these two men.

“Only if dressed like a vegetable,” I reminded him, making him shake his head a little and smirk, as if he didn’t know what to do with me but liked me all the same.

“Plus, this dress is called Ophelia and it isn’t mine,” I told him, and he chuckled before running his finger across my lips that were no longer painted red.

“Fuck me, you’re so fucking cute,” he told me and again, I couldn’t stop blushing. But then he did something I never would have expected him to do.

He got down on one knee.

Chapter 25

Blood on Fire

The sight of having such a man lowering down before me this way simply took my breath away because, well, I didn’t think this was something that would happen very often, if at all. Stupidly, insanely, naively, and above all, dangerously, for the first few seconds I thought what was coming was the question of all questions.

But crazier still…

I would have said yes.

And it was in that single moment that I knew how badly I needed to run and, this time, I needed to go much further than Lower Manhattan. I needed to leave once and for all because the power these brothers had weaved over me would soon be unescapable. The longer I stayed, the more moments like this one I allowed to happen, and the deeper I fell.

Something I vowed I would never do.

I would never give someone that power over me again…Not ever.

But I would give myself this. This single night, and that was the only piece I was taking with me when I left. A piece I knewwould be strong enough to last me a lifetime of both regret and bittersweet heartache.

So, I watched as he took my booted foot in his hands, never once taking his eyes off me as he lowered the zip and removed the boot. However, instead of just dropping my foot, he took it in both hands and rubbed the aches. This powerful man knelt before me, massaging my feet like a king before a queen, it was enough to having me asking if this was really happening. If this was merely a dream I wanted my brain to lock me to, keeping me forever suspended in this moment of pure bliss.

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