Page 23 of The Temptation

---

Rome

Seriously. I feel like Pierce got a glow-up just by being near Simon.

Sebastian

And that smile! He’s trying to be demure, but you can tell he’s over the moon happy.

Pierce

I hope you both rot in hell.

Declan

Parker says you’re going to be very happy together. I think he’s right.

Pierce

Assholes. All of you are assholes. This isn’t real. Quit using slang. You’re too old for it.

Rome

Knock. Knock.

Sebastian

Who’s there?

Rome

Pierce.

Sebastian

Pierce who?

Rome

Pierce and Simon sitting in a tree.

Sebastian

K-I-S-S-I-N-G?

Pierce

Fuck you. Fuck you both. I’m blocking your numbers.

Being in the office the next day was a relief. I could at least put the insanity of Simon and my parents behind me for a few hours. I hadn’t blocked the jackals, but they’d at least stopped texting me for a while.

Yet even alone in my office with a pile of work demanding my attention, I couldn’t fully distract myself. I still had Sawyer’s ghost whispering in my ear, hissing that I’d betrayed him and broken my promise.

I’d broken my promise the second my lips had touched Simon’s that night. It didn’t matter that I’d been intoxicated and not thinking clearly. I’d wanted to kiss him ever since I’dattended his college graduation and he’d smirked up at me with his tempting lips and laughter in his sparkling blue eyes.

Everything about Simon overflowed with joy, snark, and life. Being in the same room as him left me wanting to drink him in. He was bold and confident. No matter how I shot him down or acted rude, he never seemed deterred.

And I honestly didn’t want him to stop. My heart wanted him to win, even though I knew it would eventually destroy me. Sawyer’s last words to me still rang in my head, and I couldn’t turn my back on the promise I’d made.

“Stay away from my little brother.”

---