Page 27 of Echoes of Desire

The response is immediate.

Jaxon:Come on in, sweetheart. We had to come by early to let the cleaning crew in.

Sighing in relief, I walk through the doors and turn left toward the hallway leading to their office. A female voice from inside the room reaches my ears, and I pause.

“Please, Steel,” the woman says. “I promise it’ll be the last time. This week. Come on. You know you want to.”

“Fine,” someone says. The voice sounds familiar, so I’m assuming it’s Jasper responding. I don’t know why, but I just don’t like calling them Steel and Blaze. I like knowing Jasper and Jaxon are just mine. “But, only for an hour.”

“Yay. I’ll call and get you scheduled in for one as well.”

“I said I would come with you, sweetheart. Not partake in the activity.”

Sweetheart?Jaxon always calls me sweetheart, but Jasper never has. So, why is he using it for another woman? Ignoring the sting in my chest, I quietly open the door, only to watch as a woman rushes across the room and jumps into a man's arms.

“Too late,” the woman laughs as who I think is Jasper wraps his arms around her with a soft smile on his lips. “I already did it before I got here. You too, Blaze.”

“Hey, why do I keep getting roped into these outings with the two of you,” Jaxon says with a laugh.

“Because you two are inseparable,” the woman still in Jasper’s arms says. “And since Steel and I are best friends that means you and I can be as well. Can’t have one without the other, now can I. Oh, hello.”

All eyes turn to me, and I can feel my face flame.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, trying not to let my tears fall. I should have known that they weren’t serious about me. “I didn’t mean to barge in. I’ll just…go.”

“Raven,” someone calls as I turn and run down the hall. “Sweetheart, stop.”

I run, my heart pounding in my chest as hot tears blur my vision. Stupid. I’m so stupid.

I should’ve known better. Should’ve known that men like Jaxon and Jasper wouldn’t actually be interested in someone like me. Someone who can’t even recognize her own face, let alone theirs.

Their laughter, the warmth in their voices, the way they’ve made me feel safe and wanted. How could I have been so naïve? And that woman, the way she jumped into his arms like she belonged there...

“Raven!” a voice echoes behind me, sharp and commanding, but I don’t stop. I can’t face him. I can’t face either of them.

Suddenly, a strong hand grabs my arm, halting my escape. I spin around, ready to pull free, but the sight of Jasper—no, Jaxon—standing there stops me cold. His green eyes bore into mine, calm but unyielding.

“Let go,” I say, my voice trembling, but I know I don’t sound nearly as strong as I want to.

“Not until you look at me,” he says, his tone steady, firm.

Reluctantly, I meet his gaze. My tears spill over, and I hate that he’s seeing me like this; messy, vulnerable, humiliated.

“Please,” I whisper.

“Not until you listen to me, Pet.”

Okay, Jasper, not Jaxon.

“I’m sorry I didn’t knock,” I say, trying to keep the hurt out of my voice. “I didn’t mean to bother you guys.”

“You’ve got it all wrong, baby,” he says, wiping the tears from my eyes. “What you saw back there, it wasn’t what you think. Her name is Delphi. She’s our brother, Reynolds’ woman. She’s our family. Nothing romantic is happening between us.”

“Del and Steel got put into a pretty rough situation not very long ago that created a special bond between them,” Jaxon says from behind me. “Del likes to pull him, and by association, me, into her little schemes from time to time. I once caught them both sneaking into a karaoke bar wearing disguises because Del wanted to sing without anyone recognizing her.”

Jasper rolls his eyes at the memory. “She claimed it was ‘artistic expression.’ I think she just wanted to see if I’d actually wear the fake mustache and the blonde wig.”

The corner of my mouth twitches despite the tears still streaming down my face. “You wore a blond wig?”

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