Page 56 of Glass Hearts
Before I leave, I place a kiss on Grayer’s cheek to thank him for handling the dishes. Apparently, a kiss on the cheek wasn’t enough, as he pulls me in for another tantalizing kiss.
“Goodnight, my love,” Grayer whispers as Koi leads me out of the kitchen, his hand in mine.
“I want to take you back to my room,” Koi breaks the silence as we walk the short distance to my room.
“Is that a good idea?”
“I can’t think of a reason it wouldn’t be.” He stops, pushing me up against the wall, caressing my neck. “Stay with me tonight?” He pleads.
Biting my lip, I nod. This gives him all the consent he needs as he scoops me up into his arms. Practically running to his room as if he had stolen me. I try to keep it down as I laugh, not wanting to draw any attention.
His room is just like Sylas’s, though a bit smaller. He lends me one of his shirts to sleep in, though I think I will just keepit. We get ready for bed together, the whole time staring at each other. The dynamic almost feels familiar, comfortable.
He tucks me into his buttery-soft sheets, my body still feeling boneless. I have never been more content than I am right now.
“What are you thinking?” Koi asks, bringing me closer to him so we are nose to nose. Somehow, his blue eyes still gleam in the room’s darkness.
“Just feeling satisfied.” I giggle as he wiggles his eyebrows. “What about you?”
“That I am so pleased to have you in my bed, finally. You have no idea how many nights I dreamed of throwing you over my shoulder just to have you lying next to me.” His hand traces lines along my arm. It’s a drugging feeling, my eyes already feeling so heavy.
“Anytime,” I yawn as he chuckles.
“Goodnight, Ella.” He kisses me gently on my forehead as my eyelids grow heavy. I feel another body crawl into the bed. I instantly know it’s Gray as I feel him kiss my neck in another whispered goodnight.
I am almost fully asleep, and I barely catch Koi’s whisper, “I love you, Arabella DeVoie,” before falling into deep blissful darkness.
Archer
Learning more about Arabella makes me weak. Weak for her, ready to give her everything, potential broken heart be damned. After Sylas found out why she became a thief, I went back to the enforcer’s crime records. All those who reported the theft were, in fact, terrible people.
One of them, for example, was a woman named Clarice. I did more digging to see whyThe Shadowwould have targeted her. Shocked to have realized we had met the woman. She visited the castle once as her father was considering applying to become a council member. We didn’t get a good feeling from her as she invited her naked self into our beds. We never took the bait. Turns out she and her father had been using slave labour to make all their textiles, and not paying them a cent. They provided only a meager meal and crowded housing. The enforcers intervened, yet the only justice was a financial penalty. Considering they were swimming in gold, they continued their same abuse untilThe Shadowrighted their wrongs. Their business went under shortly after the theft when it was ‘released’ that they had still been continuing the awful practice, and punishing those who complained. It was on the front page of the newspaper last year.
We never bothered to look at how corrupt some of our people have become. Our biggest ‘problems’ was that we had to get married. As if that is a real hardship.
All the ire I spewed her way twists in my gut. I grip the sink basin as I look up at myself in the mirror. Shame mars my features. She could never want me now.I don’t deserve her.
All three of my brothers have filled me in on all thingsArabella. From brief notes of her likes and dislikes, to the way she tastes. It’s a torture I deserve. I watched as Koi brought her to his room, Grayer sneaking in shortly after. I am happy for my brothers, yet pain squeezes my heart in envy.
So, I have stayed away. Watching her from a distance.
The only time I feel peace is when she is near or when I am drawing her. Though as I finish each drawing, I long to run my hands through her silky blonde hair. I crave hearing her giggles and moans as I kiss the spot on her collarbone that Koi says drives her wild.
My dick instantly hardens, but I don’t seek release. I go for a whiskey instead. Sitting on my leather chair in front of my fireplace, watching the fire as it crackles. She never takes a break from running around in my mind.
Finding her in the library the other day, I was a hopeful idiot, wishing she had come looking for me. I wanted desperately to push her against the shelves and kiss that beautiful mouth. Lift her dress and slide into her warmth. Taking her in my dark corner, wrapping my hand around her delicate throat as I instruct her to keep quiet. The only sound is our bodies writhing as she sighs, little moans just for me.
A knock on my door breaks me out of my heated thoughts.
“Hey, brother, you decent? Can we come in? We haven’t seen you all day,” Sylas asks through the bond. I opted not to go to today’s brunch event. It feels wrong even trying to be around other females when all I want to do is get on my knees and beg for Arabella’s forgiveness.
I adjust myself as I yell out, “Come in.”
“How were today’s events?” I ask, not looking away from the fire. I hear them helping themselves to a whiskey, joining me at the fire.
“We didn’t go either. I’m through with trying to please them. I love Arabella, and I am not putting her through that any longer. I would be rioting if the roles were reversed, and I saw my woman dating other dudes.” Grayer scowls.
“Then what were you guys doing all day?”
