Page 33 of Eden's Deliverance

Curiously, I oblige him, even if it’s just an excuse to share another cigarette together so I can get lost in the ocean of his eyes and decompress from that roller coaster session.

I find him and Skylar in the smoking corner again, but it looks like the other two guys have left already. I preemptively toss him my lighter, waiting for him to return it before I light up my own cigarette.

“Thanks for being so cool back there, I really wasn’t expecting anyone to get my stuff.” I stare down at my feet, shuffling around awkwardly to avoid making eye contact for now.

“Why not?” Julian asks.

He’s not even mocking me, but I’m not sure I can trust any civility that comes from these men, knowing who they are. Nothing has changed; Skylar is still Satan, and Julian is still his partner in crime.

So why does it feel like we’re gripping two ends of an olive branch?

“It’s just the way things are in the industry. Apprentices usually spend months trying to convince their friends and family to drag themselves in for free, shoddy work.” A soft chuckle escapes my lips, and when I look up at him, he’s staring directly at my mouth. “Just…I appreciate it. Thank you.”

Julian’s eyes travel up to meet mine, and that heartwarming smile is back. Briefly, it’s interrupted by the cigarette sliding between his lips, and I study theway they purse around the stick—his cheeks hollowing slightly when he sucks in—and the way he blows out the smoke.

I monitor every movement, completely entranced by how sexy such a small action can make his mouth seem. Like I could imagine those lips doing other things with the same delicate maneuvering. Kissing. Licking. Whispering.

Fuck, I’m horny as shit.

When the smoke dissipates, it reveals a cheeky smile with perfectly white teeth. I suddenly realize I’ve been biting my own lip while watching. I hadn’t even noticed, but he sure did.

“Relax, Scarlett. It’s good work, you did fine. No groveling gratitude needed here.” Our eyes meet again, and if I had blinked, I might have missed the little wink he gave me. “Anyway, what are you doing for Halloween?”

Ah, Halloween. By far the best thing about October, because not only is it the most spooky and glorious holiday, but it’s also my birthday.

“Julian…” Skylar butts in before I can answer, apparently unapproving of the obvious invitation hovering on Julian’s tongue.

I guess he doesn’t have a hand in this olive branch—not that I’d expect him to. I never did anything to warrant the hatred he feels for me, so there’s no hope for us. He decided a long time ago how he wanted things to stand between us.

Somethingisdifferent about him though, it’s just hard to put my finger on it. His beard does look a little shorter, and for a second, I get this horrible thought. In a way, he shares similar characteristics with one of the men from Eden’s Deliverance—but that can’t be right.

The texture and length of their hair isn’t the same, and Broody’s voice is much deeper and smoother than Skylar’s. He also hates my guts, where Broody and Casanova have this weird fucking obsession with me.

“Don’t get your panties in a bunch,” I say to Skylar before turning back to Julian. “Me and Penelope are going to stay in and do horror movies or something, nothing special.”

“Well, can’t do much on a Tuesday night, so Tommy and Nate’s frat are hosting something the weekend before. It’s gonna be this huge costume party at the Psi Rho Kappa house. You’re more than welcome to come.”

Psi Rho Kappa. PRK. Pricks…nice one.

“Thanks, Julian. I’ll definitely think about it. Well, I should get back in there and fight off all my adoring fans. Thanks again, and just let me know if you have any issues with the healing, okay?”

I get another thought, then.IfSkylar was Broody, it wouldn’t be a farfetched idea that Julian could be Casanova. Their heights seem about the same, but Casanova’s hair is curly and much darker. Julian’s voice is also much sweeter and calming.

He nods, eyes following me as I toss out the remnants of my cigarette and go back inside, into the safety of my solitude. The truth is, Penelope and I already have plans to go to the party at Eden for the weekend before Halloween. We received personalized invitations almost two weeks ago and have been thoroughly working out our costumes since then.

There’s no way Skylar and Julian would skip their friends’ frat party, but you can bet I’ll see Casanova and Broody at Eden.

I don’t know if this is normal for other attendees, but I’ve already been making plans with my new partner.The Pearl Prince, I’m calling him, since he all but swept me off my feet when I needed him the most.

We discussed it last weekend, and we’re going to have a sort of date at the party. No fumbling with random strangers—despite still being unknown ourselves—just two people who enjoy fucking…making plans to do it again.

If last week was any indication, the mystery men got the hint and have decided to give up on me in turn. I didn’t spot even a glance of them at the club. No hovering bodies against my back, no stares from the bar, no manhandling on the balcony. I felt the absence of them.

I still do.

A part of me misses them—or rather, the excitement of it all—and how every visit was different and full of splendor.

The Pearl Prince is far from being like Cunnilingus Casanova or Broody Brody. He does leave me satisfied, but the sex leaves me thinking about them sometimes. He doesn’t hold me down, slap me around, or choke me out. He’s safe. Not completely devoid of the passion I’m looking for, but the flame is muted compared to the bonfire those two stoke in my soul.

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