Page 30 of Séance

While Jace does his best, keeping his brother out of trouble is a full-time job.

We’ve been in more fights than I can count because he was bored and got into mischief when we weren’t paying close enough attention.

When James’ gaze lands on Rue, a manic look enters his blue eyes, and I know it’s time to call it quits before he takes things too far. I head toward the edge of the pool and pull myself out. Grimacing when my clothes cling to me, I rip my shirt over my head, then wring it out.

A sharp inhale catches my attention, and my head snaps up. I search for danger, conscious of Rue in our presence—if shit goes down, she needs to be protected—only to freeze when I find her gaze on me, or more precisely, my bare chest.

Thank God for my wet jeans, the tight constriction barely keeping my cock contained when it snaps to attention. It’s so fast and brutal that it borders on painful.

I’m fucked.

Despite all the warnings, my brain just shuts down, and I barely rein in the primal need to close the distance between us and claim her. When the other guys pull their asses out of the pool, her attention fractures. James being James, he instantly whips his shirt over his head.

Asshole, I think, but I can’t really be mad.

To my shock, Jace does the same. Though he’s more reserved around others outside our group, he’s not shy. Standing next to his brother, the twins are a sight, if the way Rue is drinking them in is any indication.

While part of me is relieved, another part wants to punch the dickheads for drawing her attention away. Gunner is the last to haul himself out of the pool. He grunts, then stands to his full height, water running off him. When he flicks his head back, his hair goes flying, and he rakes his fingers through the strands to drag them off his face.

It’s a move I’ve seen him do a thousand times. There isn’t anything overtly sexual about it, but even fully clothed, Rue is transfixed. Gunner looks up at that exact moment, then he stills when he notices her attention. A flush covers his cheeks, and I realize the bashful fucker has already fallen hard. Though it’s contained, lust fills his dark blue eyes.

I’m not sure how I feel about us all being attracted to the same woman. We make it a point never to compete with eachother, but they are so infatuated with Rue that they don’t even notice.

With a scowl of annoyance, I flip my shirt over my shoulder, then brush past the others. “I’m going to dry off.”

“While they are busy, why don’t I show you around the house?” Ellis effortlessly smooths over the situation, and my conscience stabs me like a vicious bitch.

I had no right to take out my anger on Rue just because I’m attracted to her.

The guys don’t deserve it either.

This only proves my point—she’s already changing the dynamics between us just by being here.

I stomp up the stairs, well, as much as you can stomp when your shoes squelch with water. The guys trudge after me, each with their own distinct squeak and squish.

The mansion is large enough that they each have their own rooms, along with spare clothes for such instances. When I reach my room, I realize Rue is following them up the stairs. I don’t have to look back to know that James is flexing and goofing off by the way his sneakers squeak on the steps. I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose, barely resisting the urge to bang my head against my door.

If he wasn’t so light on his feet—part Gumby if you ask me—he would have broken his neck when we were kids by doing the stupid shit he does. By the time I push into my room, the guys are heading to their own bathrooms. I walk into my closet and grab the first things I run across.

I unbutton my pants, ready to remove them, then pause when Ellis and Rue follow me into the room. While part of me loves having her among my things, I’m not used to inviting strangers into my private space. I don’t even allow the women I fuck in my room.

With gritted teeth, I grab my clothes and stride toward the bathroom. I don’t close the door all the way, and as much as I tell myself it’s because I’m paranoid about having her in my room, the truth is, I’m just nosy. We hardly know anything about the girl, and I’m desperate to learn more.

Unlike most women, she barely talks about herself. During supper, she seemed content to just watch us. I’m not sure if I find it refreshing or suspicious. I can’t get over a niggling doubt in the back of my mind that I’m missing something important.

Shucking off my pants, I throw my wet clothes into the laundry shoot and quickly towel off. I yank my pants up and jump a little to adjust myself, grateful my cock deflated enough that it’s not painful to shove it back into my pants.

Eager to get back to the others, since I can only hear the low murmur of her voice when she responds to Ellis, I drape my shirt over my shoulder, then push open the door to my room. The decision to leave off my shirt has nothing to do with the slightly dazed, awed look in her teal eyes when she looks at me.

Other women have admired me, but I easily brush them off. Some girls are downright creepy, their hungry looks invasive, but not Rue. When she looks at me with her piercing gaze, she’s not trying to judge my flaws or figure out my net worth. Her attention is pure admiration, and I’m cynical enough not to trust it, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out what angle she’s playing…yet.

I’ll figure it out eventually.

I always do.

As I emerge from the bathroom, my eyes immediately lock on Rue, barely seeing anything else. I’m disappointed to find her back to me, wanting to bask in the way her gaze clings to my body, and I deflate a little.

They are hunched over the computer. I step forward and open my mouth to interrupt when she shakes her head. “Don’tinvest with Granger Industries. The owner is dirty. If you’re looking for investments, go with Wilks. They are dependable and reliable.”

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