Page 61 of Two Chambered Heart

Because he’d fucked up earlier and called her that honestly, and she’d been just as stunned as he’d been. Even without booze, he felt drunk—drunk on being out in public in their own world, without all the noise. It was almost too good to be true, and he was on the precipice of making choices that would keep things this way. And that was a very dangerous place for him to be.

Payton came back with two wine glasses and a whiskey. She placed the wine in front of Kayden and was about to hand the whiskey to Jason when Kayden made a tsking sound from the side of his mouth.

“Now, now. Was I not clear when I said he’d be having water tonight?” All playfulness had left Kayden’s voice, his eyes hardening on their sexy waitress.

“You better listen to him, doll. Kayden doesn’t like being disobeyed. Now go get me my water like a good little pet, hmm?”

Payton flicked her long hair over her shoulder and smirked at Jason, trying to play this whole situation off like she didn’t have a care in the world, but Jason had no doubt she was pissed. Her thoughts would have given her away for sure, and he was glad he didn’t have to hear it.

“Wow, aren’t you a gentleman tonight?” Corey teased, putting her elbow on the table and lifting her fingers into the air. “First, sweetheart. Second, doll. Third, good little pet.”

Jason watched her long fingers move as she counted, and he so badly wanted them wrapped around his cock.

“And aren’t you our good little pet too, Corey?” Jason’s smile was downright predatory.

She swallowed thickly. “I’m not your anything.”

Payton came back with waters and their food, the tension thick at their table.

The three of them ate their food, and Jason and Corey continued sparring with their words in between bites and her sips of wine. They bickered and argued, but there was a flirtatious current to it, a push and pull between the two of them, neither one of them willing to concede power to the other. As Corey’s wine glass emptied, her cheeks became more flushed, and Kayden had his hands all over her. She was melting into him in the booth, but her attention was trained on Jason, an electricity crackling between them. She was dancing on a knife’s edge with him.

As he expected, Corey cleared her entire plate of food. She had also gone through a few glasses of wine. Jason had stuck with water, the atmosphere doing enough to quench his craving for the moment.

When they were done, Payton brought the bill to the table and slid it to Jason with the terminal. Jason tapped his black Amex and input a generous tip.

“My number’s on the bill,” Payton said to him, “in case you’re not taken.” Her eyes inadvertently darted to Corey before landing back on Jason. “I changed my number a while back, so…”

Jason took the receipt and slid it into his pocket. She seemed to be satisfied with that.

“As always, it was a pleasure to have you dining with us.” The words were sensual in her mouth. With a final raking of her eyes over the twins, Payton took her leave.

Kay combed his fingers through Corey's hair, and she nuzzled into him. But her teeth were clenched while she eyed Jason, like a bristling cat. Kayden had a knowing smirk on his face, clearly entertained by what was unfolding between this girl and his brother.

Jason got up from the booth and Kayden followed, pulling Corey with him. She was in tightly fitted denim jeans, the shirt tucked into them, and a pair of leather combat boots he hadn’t seen before.

“New shoes?” Jason asked her.

“Yup,” she replied with her attitude. “Kayden is an excellent personal shopper. Do you like them?”

“Do I like your shoes?” He repeated her question back to her as they made their way through the restaurant, unsure if that was what she was really asking.

She nodded her confirmation, putting his old leather jacket on.

“Sure, very edgy.”

“Well, apparently I’m an edgy girl now,” she said, smirking.

“Is that so?” he grinned back.

They had made it outside before he even realized he’d walked through a room full of people again. They were in their own little bubble, and it hit him once again how utterly sweet that feeling was. His heart squeezed in his chest. He felt breathless. The valet handed each of them their helmets, and he didn’t have to hear what that guy was thinking either. Then he noticed Corey had a new helmet.

“You’re spoiling her,” he said to his brother.

“She deserves it,” he said, kissing her freckled cheek lightly before putting his helmet on.

She did deserve it. For giving them this silence, she deserved the world. And that absolutely terrified Jason.

“Maybe you can buy her a shirt then, so she can stop wearing ours,” he snipped. He put his helmet on and got on his bike, kicking on the engine and letting the noise drown everything else out.

---