Page 181 of Caelum

But also, there would never be any fears of the Pack splintering over her. They were as tied to her as I was, and with Dre, that had been a majorconcern. That she wore his mark was a testament to the fact he’d never screw her over now.

He couldn’t.

And I was relieved as fuck.

Life with Eve and her oddities was going to be challenging, and if anyone would have thrown us under the table, I knew it would have been Dre. Now? Not so much. He was as fucked as we were.

At Eren’s words, Nestor pulled a face. “Next time you’re injured, I’m going to make you suffer afterward.”

Though Eren laughed, Eve gasped. “If it’s that bad then we can’t make him go.”

Her words had Nestor tugging at the blankets that covered him. With a huff, he admitted, “I can make it, Eve.” The ‘for you’ went unspoken, but she heard it because her eyes softened.

“If you’re sure?”

“I’m sure.” He didn’t even play on her sympathy now that he had it, and I knew my brother was as lost as I was because before, he totally would have.

We’d all been shits with women, and I could admit now we’d all been users. Considering how protective we were where Eve was concerned, it made me feel like a real bastard. It wasn’t like I could apologize to every girl I’d fucked over in my year, though, was it?

Eve padded over to the bed and I wasn’t the only one who checked out her ass as she did so. Dre, despite being a grumpy motherfucker, stopped reading something on his tablet and watched the ripest butt this side of the Atlantic as she bent over and began rearranging Nestor’s covers like he was a real invalid.

After the sheets were tucked in, she turned around, and I watched Eren almost choke on his tongue when her yoga pants did that glorious thing only they seemed capable of—splitting her pussy lips in half with the fabric, revealing a camel toe that had my tongue cleaving to the roof of my mouth.

I swore Eve did shit that I’d never have even noticed before. The amount of girls in my class who bopped around in workout gear? This shit was pretty standard, and yeah, I’d checked it out because I had a dick, but I hadn’t started panting. Eve? Yeah. I could feel the sweat start to dot my brow in response to her unconscious sensuality.

Nestor had told us what had gone down last night, or more like super early morning, and I’d shared the way we’d kissed and that I’d made her come the night we’d returned from Aboh.

I was surprised because I’d thought she’d be more tentative about thatside of things, what with her past and everything, but the souls would go a long way to doing away with any and all modesty.

They had urges, and they felt no shame.

Thank fuck for that.

Nestor mumbled, “Want me to play for you tonight?”

That had me cocking a brow, but Eve clapped her hands. “You would? I only heard you play that one time before you left for Aboh.”

That was because he only played when he was nervous.

He cleared his throat. “I can twang out ‘Happy Birthday’ for you on it.”

Her cheeks burned. “You don’t have to do that. I don’t want anyone else to know.”

“Why not?” I inquired.

She just shrugged and said, “It’s not that big of a deal to me.”

Women often said shit while meaning and wanting something else, but I truly believed her. Obtusely, it made me even more regretful about forgetting what today was.

Well, for her anyway.

It was creepy as fuck that they’d all shared the one birthday at her home. What the fuck was that about? At least I had an identity. For Eve, it felt like the lines were blurred, and I hated that for her. Made me want to have her pick out another birthdate, one of her choosing and not some creepy cult leader’s.

The second I thought of it, the second it fit.

Striding over to her, I grabbed her hand and shuddered as the connection flared to life once more. Shoving my response to the side, I murmured, “Eve?”

Coppery-brown eyes blinked up at me. “Yes, Stefan?”

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