Page 25 of The Flavor of Us

Ashton is stepping away from the counter, his gaze locked on me as he slowly crosses the space between the kitchen and theliving room. His movements are smooth, predatory, like he’s stalking prey, and the faint smirk on his lips doesn’t help at all. I swallow hard, my fingers clutching the edge of the armchair as he stops just a few feet away from me.

He tilts his head slightly, those thick lashes of his fluttering as he licks his bottom lip, his brown eyes trailing slowly over me. “Oh,” he purrs, his voice deep and syrup-smooth, “you’re a pretty little doe.”

My breath catches and I can feel the heat creeping up my neck, flooding my cheeks, and settling low in my stomach.

Ashton doesn’t look away from me. “Carleen, is this Beta yours?”

I look over at Carleen, wide-eyed, my chest rising and falling rapidly. Her smirk widens, and she leans a little further over the counter, her brown eyes sparkling like she’s enjoying every second of this.

“Yes,” she says.

A mixture of relief and disappointment washes over me, but before I can process it, Ashton tilts his head again, one brow quirking up as he asks, “So… off-limits, then?”

The room goes still. Ryder’s gaze flickers between Carleen and Ashton. My chest feels tight, my hands trembling slightly as I clutch the armrest. Carleen’s lips curve into a slow, wicked grin. “I didn’t saythat.”

Isqueak.

Like, an actualsqueakescapes my mouth, and I immediately slap a hand over my face, mortified.

Ashton chuckles low in his throat, his brown eyes flashing with amusement and Ryder’s lips twitch slightly—like he’s fighting back a smile. I’mdoomed. My breath stutters in my chest, my thighs press together instinctively, and I swear my scent grows sweeter.

Oh no.

His lips twitch into a smirk and his head tilts slightly as he leans down. He gently catches my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting my head up until our faces are so close I can feel his breath ghost across my lips. His voice is low, dark, and smooth as silk. There’s something familiar about it but I can’t place it. “Oh, I’m going to havefunwith you.”

The sharp breath I suck in feels loud in the dead silence of the room. My stomach flips, my skin tingles, and I’m pretty sure if Carleen and Ryder weren’t here, I’d already be a puddle on the floor.

“Ashton.”

Ryder’s voice cuts through the tension like a knife—low and commanding, with just a hint of irritation. In an instant, Ryder is there, one large hand curling around the back of Ashton’s neck, yanking him back just slightly. Ashton’s lips curl up even further, his eyes glowing with equal parts amusement and something darker, somethinghungrier.

“Hands off, Ash,” Ryder growls. “Not everyone enjoys that.”

But Ashton doesn’t move far, doesn’t let go of me right away, and that stupid, sinful smirk stays plastered across his face. His tongue darts out, wetting his bottom lip as his gaze flickers between me and Ryder, like he’s enjoying every second of this.

And goddess help me,so am I.

Because the way Ryder is holding Ashton—firm, authoritative, their bodies so close together—makes my head spin. Ryder’s icy blue eyes are locked on Ashton, and Ashton’s brown ones flicker with heat and mischief.

I can’t stop the way my mind spirals. Thefantasiesrush in as I imagine what it would feel like to be between them—to have Ryder on one side and Ashton on the other.

I’mburning.

And Carleen?

Carleen is grinning from the kitchen, her arms crossed over her chest, her brown eyes dancing as she casually leans back against the counter like this isn’t the single most unhinged moment of my entire life.

Her lips curl up in a deviant, predatory smile. “I have a feeling Tati wouldlovethat.”

Oh.

Oh no.

Ashton’s smirk widens, and he licks his lipsagain,his eyes trailing down my flushed face to my trembling hands. Ryder, still holding him by the neck, sighs deeply, his thumb pressing briefly into Ashton’s nape before letting go. But Ashton doesn’t step back. Neither of them do.

They’re both looking at me now—one with sharp blue intensity, the other with warm, predatory brown eyes.

And I can’tbreathe.

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