Page 41 of Under Your Care

“How so?” I mocked, fed up. “Have meaningful conversations with him, don’t force him to do anything he doesn’t want to, give him an actual bed rather than just a mattress– I don’t know why I have to explain this to you.”

The front door suddenly swung open, revealing a flustered Greyson. “What the hell are you doing in my home?” He seethed at his brothers.

“We were only chatting with him. Our treatment of Oliver has frustrated him,” Hayes calmly expressed, turning to look at me before promising, “We will do better.”

Greyson’s head spun towards me, his face shifting from anger to worry in an instant. I looked wearily at him, hoping he was about to drag his younger brothers out the door.

It turned out that no dragging was necessary. Hayes and Hudson soon left on their own accord. Once the door had closed behind them, I could see the tension in Greyson’s shoulders release.

“What did they say to you?” Greyson joined me on the couch, pulling me into his side. I luxuriated in his warmth.

“Not much. They just wanted my advice on Oliver,” I hummed, nuzzling my chin into his wide shoulder.

“You promise that’s all you spoke about?” I tilted my head up to look into his honey eyes, sensing a hint of anxiety.

“Promise, Daddy,” I murmured.

Greyson sighed, “I’m sorry, honey. I just… I can’t have you alone with them again, okay?”

“I let them in because they’re your brothers. I won’t let them in again though. I promise.” I paused, my own anxiety rising due to Greyson’s. “Why are you so worried? Would they have hurt me?”

Greyson let out another rough sigh, bringing a hand up to his forehead to push back his hair. “Probably not. We’ve always had an agreement not to touch each others’ belongings. But they’re dangerous, baby. I don’t want you with them by yourself.”

“Then why are you letting them keep Oliver all locked up? I don’t want him to get hurt. You know how much he means to me, Grey.”

“I know. It’s somewhat difficult to explain.” He brushed his fingers through my curls as he spoke, “Think of you and Oliver as childrens’ toys. Being twins, Hayes and Hudson are two halves of one self. They share everything between themselves. So, they’re given Oliver, and I’m given you. They will share Oliver between themselves, but will not allow me anywhere near their new toy. Likewise, they will stay away from my new toy, as they understand that it’s mine.”

“That doesn’t help to explain the “not getting hurt” part,” I mumbled.

“Would you want to break your favorite toy? Sure, it might get scratches or tears or scuffs, but you wouldn’t want to break it to the point of not being able to play with it anymore.”

I contemplated that for a moment, not as offended as I should have been by being compared to a toy. “They’re psychopaths, right?”

He nodded, still playing with my hair. “They are.”

“Could they ever love him, or would they only see him as an object?” Our eyes met again.

“Are you still asking about my brothers?” He breathed, gripping the strands of hair that he had been playing with. I winced.

“Mainly your brothers… but, I just…” I faltered. “I know you always say that you love me. But, do you? Can you? Aren’t dark empaths pretty similar to psychopaths?” Greyson tugged on my hair, leaning down slightly to capture my lips in a deep kiss. It only lasted a few seconds before he pulled back and stared into my eyes.

“It depends on your definition of love. I love you, but it’s most likely different than the love you feel for me.”

“What is your definition of love, then? I don’t want to just be your favorite toy.”

“Shhh, sweetheart,” he murmured, letting go of my hair and lightly massaging my now aching scalp. “You are everything to me, and I need you to understand that. You were mine from the moment I laid my eyes on you. The only reason I didn’t take you that day is because I understood the fear and turmoil it would cause you. I thought that if I slowly got you used to being mine, then the transition would be easier for both of us,” Greyson sighed, thinking over his words. “My loveis an all-consuming feeling that you belong to me. Your place is by my side, in my bed. What’s that saying… Oh,if you love someone, let them go,and so on. I would never set you free, little fawn. Even if you despised me, I would never let you go. I’d make you love me. I’d make you need me. I’d make it so that you couldn’t live without me. If I was forced to make a choice between killing you or letting you go, I would slit that pretty throat of yours. I would burn your body and tattoo the ashes into my skin.”

I blinked, unsure of how to respond. Hedidjust say he’d kill me, right? I wasn’t making that up? It was pretty fucked up that I wasn’t turned off by that.

Greyson gripped my jaw with his hand, bringing me face-to-face with him. He whispered, “Thatis my definition of love, Lane.” I shuddered and bit my lip. “Does that count asloveto you?”

“Yeah,” I breathed, getting lost in the dark depths of his eyes. Greyson’s mouth tilted up as he leaned close, the short hairs of his beardbristling against my cheek.

“And do you love me?” He whispered into my ear.

“I love you.”

“How much? Are you as desperate as I am?” Greyson’s tongue licked down my ear, briefly sucking my earlobe into his mouth. Releasing my lobe, he continued down to my neck, sucking numerous love bites into my skin.

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