Page 86 of Twisted Trails
I smile faintly, even as something sharp slices through my chest.
Becauseeveryone ishere.
Dane. Piper. Otis. Jim. Élise. Luc. Even Mason.
But notFinn.
And I hate how fast the ache takes over. The grief, guilt, and longing all mixed into one unspoken mess because I can’t stop thinking about him either. About how he was there at the hospital, because apparently, Luc made him come in to get tested with us. I only saw him for maybe a split second, but when he looked at me, the look in his eyes wasn’t anger. It wasagony.
Is he still hurting from the punch?
Of course he is, Dane broke his fucking nose.
But what if he thought I asked Luc to make him go?
That I didn’t trust him? That I thought he’d…
Fuck. I hate that it bothers me.
It shouldn’t. He was just as reckless as I was. Neither of us were thinking straight. But still,hebothers me.
Always has.
Even now, with Luc being everything I’ve wanted and needed sittingright here, kissing me, biting me, loving me loud.
The test results came in this morning, and everyone is fine, which should be the end of it, but it’s not, because while I’m sitting here full of sugar and warmth, touching the marks Luc left behind, trying not to get high off the way Mason smells, all I can think is,Why does everything with Finn still hurt like this?
A hand comes from my left and tilts my chin toward it. I blink, startled, and look up into Mason’s dark brown eyes. His fingers are warm against my skin, and he’s searching my face like I just said something without speaking. My heart stutters, and the space between us shrinks into nothing.
“You’ve got some powdered sugar on your cheek, Bambi,” he murmurs, sounding amused.
I open my mouth to respond, but then, out of nowhere, Luc is behind Mason. He leans over, his breath hot against my cheek. “I’ve got that for you,” Luc murmurs, andthen he licks me.
Right across the spot next to my mouth where Mason was looking, like I’m the last bite of dessert herefusesto let go to waste.
My breath catches—no, punches right out of my lungs—because Mason is still holding my chin, and Ican’tlook away from him while Luc’s tongue is on me.
Mason’s eyes go even darker, and my thighs press together instinctively, my whole body suddenly humming with awareness. Luc kisses the spot he just licked beforestepping back with a wicked grin, but Masondoesn’tlet go of me.
His gaze is still locked on mine, and I can’t breathe, can’t think, because they’rebothlooking at me now like I’m something they’re about to eat.
In the best way.
My bottom lip slips between my teeth out of reflex, because what the hell else am I supposed to do when my entire body justshort-circuited?
Mason lifts his thumb and brushes it along my bottom lip. Then he presses just enough to pull it free from my teeth. My breath catches in my throat, and heat floods me while my nipples tighten under my hoodie, and I swear I can feel my heartbeat between my legs.
I shift slightly in my seat, trying to breathe, trying to think, but all I can focus on is the way Mason’s eyes linger on my mouth, and the fact that Luc is still watching with that devilish curve to his lips, like heknows.
My gaze flicks from Mason’s mouth to Luc’s and back again.
I’m so fucked.
Luc stretches behind Mason and smirks like he knowsexactlywhat he just did to my body chemistry. “Come on, Mase, let’s do the dishes. The lady cooked.”
Piper raises a brow from across the table. “Yes, that’s literally theminimum.”
“I can help,” I say quickly, already moving to stand. “I didn’t cook?—”
