Page 52 of Entranced By the Basilisks

“Now, now, I’d never do anything you wouldn’t want.” I set the empty glass on the counter.

“Me staying here doesn’t change anything,” Jasper says. “We don’t have a relationship anymore, no matter what you implied to her.”

And that’s where Jasper is wrong. Very wrong.

24

EMILIA

The murmurs reachme through the fog of sleep. They’re soft and sensual, like the strokes of flower petals on skin or the slide of satin sheets.

It’s the chill on my skin that brings me fully into reality. I blink, the room is dim, and I lie on top of the covers. I’d only meant to lie down for a moment before dressing for bed but must have lost the battle with sleep.

Jasper’s and Ari’s voices downstairs are the murmurs that first captured my attention. It’s odd. I shouldn’t be able to hear them from the second floor. They’re speaking at a normal volume.

I don’t bother putting my shoes back on as I open my door, curiosity pulling me forward. The words become clearer as I near.

“Me staying here doesn’t change anything,” Jasper says. “We don’t have a relationship anymore, no matter what you implied to her.”

“No need to be hasty about anything. I’d like it if you stayed in my room, but I understand if you need space.” Ari’s voice is teasing.

I spy them from the top of the stairs. They stand a couple of steps away from each other in the kitchen. The tension in the air buzzes.

Jasper lets out a frustrated breath, dropping the bag he has to the floor. “It’s like you don’t listen—”

“I listen, but all I’m hearing is your fear.”

Jasper steps past Ari, approaches the alcohol cabinet and places his hands flat on it instead of making himself a drink. The profile of his face shows stress and… hurt.

My brain is screaming at me that this is a private moment, that I should return to my room and let the men hash out whatever they need to, but I stay. There’s a deep need I can’t explain to see how they resolve this.

I’m invested.

Ari comes up behind Jasper, each movement is graceful and lacks hesitation. His arms slide around his waist and I’m surprised Jasper doesn’t shake him off. Ari’s voice when he speaks is soft.

“I am sorry I pushed you the other night. I’ve been an uncouth, impatient lout.”

Jasper shakes his head. “I knew. I knew you wanted more from our relationship, but it can’t work. We can’t be mates. And I don’t know what your plans are—”

“Everything is different now. Believe me, Jasper.”

“How is it different? Tell me.” Jasper’s voice cracks and the longing exposed makes my breath catch with its poignancy.

Ari runs his lips over the back of Jasper’s neck and Jasper’s body shivers. I swallow, my body responding as if he had run his lips over my skin. I should definitely go. This is more intimate than I figured it would be. But the curiosity that led me here sinks its teeth in, holding me motionless.

“Well, I’m not the only one you desire now, am I?” Ari asks.

My skin prickles at that. Jasper doesn’t respond immediately. Slowly, with the press of Ari’s hand against his torso, whatever is holding Jasper’s words back dissolves.

“It doesn’t make a difference,” he finally says.

“It does. Do you want her?” Ari asks.

My heart skips a beat. Holy shit. Is he talking about me? He can’t be talking about me. Before the curse, Jasper hardly spoke to me, and when he did, it was as clipped and abrupt as possible.

Jasper shakes his head, but one of Ari’s hands comes up and rests on Jasper’s throat. Jasper’s Adam's apple moves under Ari’s large grip.

Jasper’s head falls back on Ari’s shoulder in supplication, and I bite my lip. Heat grows between my legs, and I once again beg my body to turn tail and leave. This is private.

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