Page 56 of Mastered By Desire

“What?” I pull back, but I keep my arms on her shoulders. That’s not at all where I thought the conversation was going. “Why?”

Her laugh is fake. “Why do you think?”

“Look, it’s been awkward since that night. But it doesn’t have to be. I’m sorry I avoided you. I’ll stop, okay? We can go back to normal.”

She shakes her head. “Normalis impossible.”

“Look, let’s try.” When she starts to shake her head again, I say, “No, really. No hotel. Maybe we can’t be normal, but we don’t have to be strangers. It doesn’t have to be weird, right?”

“Dmitri…”

“Please?” I can’t bear the thought of her leaving.

It’s hard having her here. It would be worse with her gone.

“Fine. I’ll try a few more days.”

“Good. Let’s watch AoG and eat dinner.”

“Do I smell Thai?”

I smile and pass her a Thai iced tea. I can’t drink the crap, but she loves it.

Our bellies are full and we’re nearing the middle of Season Two. I can’t fucking wait for Season Three. It’s going to blow her mind. Yesterday, Danica texted me, saying,If you start Season 3 of AoG without me, I will murder you in your sleep, slap you awake, and murder you again.

Ah. My dear, loving sister.

I glance over at Leah, who’s curled on her side of the couch. She sucks out the last of her tea through the straw. When I wince at the noise, she grins and does it again.

Little brat.

Her phone chimes with a message. A secret smile plays on her lips as she reads the screen and types a response.

I know that smile. I’ve seen her wear it for crushes in the past, whenever they came around my parents’ house and Leah was living with us, or whenever Danica teased her about some boy.

I can’t resist asking, “It’s Gage, isn’t it?”

“Might be.” She taps her screen. Her phone makes the littleswoopsound of a sent message.

“Are youdatinghim?” The thought of Gage dating anyone is so bizarre, my question comes out judgmental. Not my intention.

Her brows pull together in annoyance. “It’s none of your business if I am.”

“Come on, Leah.”

“Fine. If you really want to know, I’m meeting him at Low Vice tomorrow night. He’s going to give me tips for the next auction.”

Jealousy slams into me like a truck.

He’s going to help her with the next auction? No fucking way. He’s going to use her, not help her. Gage Jannik doesn’t know how to help someone. Working with him is like making a deal with the devil.

“Leah, you can’t do this.”

“Don’t tell me what I can or can’t do. We’re not in a relationship, you get no say.”

“If we were in a relationship, would I get a say?”

“What? What does that even mean?”

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