Page 81 of Where the Wicked Reign

“Cobalt blue, if we’re getting specific.”

Caterina’s surprise came once more, as Nico settled her into a chair beside him at the breakfast table and she took in the food that Julian’s staff had prepared before he’d dismissed them so we could be alone.

In front of her was an egg white omelet with a bowl of berries, along with freshly squeezed orange juice and a coffee heavy with the milk. “My favorites,” she said, beaming out at Nico and Julian, the latter who sat down opposite her.

As I took a seat beside him, Nico stroked Caterina’s hair and said, “Mystalkingcan come in handy.”

She rolled her eyes, then looked over at Nico’s breakfast, which was merely a protein shake. Off her look of surprise, he told her, “I usually skip breakfast entirely. This is a lot for me.” He gestured at my plate consisting of two hard-boiled eggs, avocado toast, and a bowl of yogurt. “Milo is the breakfast guy. He never misses it.”

“True that,” I said, as I dug in.

When her eyes fell on Julian’s breakfast, she grinned.

It was a bowl of Nesquik cereal.

“He eats like a child,” I told her.

She stilled for a moment, maybe surprised that I’d actually said something to her that wasn’t terse or harsh.

She smiled back at me and I didn’t exactly know what to make of it, so I looked away and focused on my food.

“I have a chocolate fetish, actually,” Julian said.

Caterina lifted her shoulder. “Everybody has their own thing, whatever works for you.”

“Thankyou,” he said, eyeing me pointedly.

“You have a lot of fetishes,” I muttered, still sore about last night.

Bothering me more than what had happened itself was the fact that it was getting to me so much. Like that time when he’d come home from being away working on the Reincourt Construction deal and gone straight to strangers at the club instead of coming to me.

“So, is this a ritual of sorts? Do you guys eat breakfast together daily?”

“I wish,” Julian said.

I frowned. He did?

Before more attention could be given to that, Nico told Caterina, “No, it’s actually rare. It’s not feasible with mine and Milo’s work, then Julian’s. Our schedules don’t intersect that often, especially not in the morning. We take the time together when we can.”

“Circumstances being what they were last night, it actually provided one of these rare opportunities,” Julian added. “Too fucking rare,” he muttered.

“Are you all right?” Nico asked him.

“Fine.”

Not fine at all, Sunshine.

“Is this because you didn’t get off last night?” Nico pressed.

“Yeah, that’s it. Exactly.” He was a damned good liar. His response sounded so believable and he was even able to look Nico right in the eye as he spoke too. “No matter. I’ll remedy that tonight.” He smirked at Caterina. “Wanna help me out, darlin’?”

“Do you have zero short-term memory?” Nico demanded of him, rubbing Caterina’s shoulder. “Did I not say no more sex talk?”

Hmm,he clearly thought she was overwhelmed. By what had happened, by us.

“DidInot say that it can’t be helped with me sometimes?”

I saw Caterina looking shrewdly between the three of us, taking everything in.

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