Page 74 of Her Filthy Reverse Harem Romance Collection

I lean my head back to stare up at him. “They are happy tears. Until now I didn’t know where I fit in this world, if at all. You’ve given me a place and I’m not talking about four walls.”

The three men grin down at me all wearing roguish grins and I give them one back.

“Go, take your shower. Sylan and I’ll be right here when you get out.”

I shoo Grey and Drake toward the bathroom before the real waterworks threaten to kick in.

Sylan turns me toward the bed. “What’s this?” I ask, inhaling the smell of fresh fruit.

He doesn’t answer, only holds out a hand for me to join him, and I follow his silent command willingly. I slip my smaller hand into his larger one and sigh the second my skin glides over his.

He pulls on a pair of black dress slacks with the button open. Sexy as hell.

I settle in his lap and shimmy a little until I’m comfortable. “After all I put you through, it’s about time I feed you,mo chroí.”

The tray balanced on the edge of the bed beside us is topped off with all my favorite fruits.

“Open.” Sylan dips a fat strawberry in fluffy, deliciously sweet whipped cream, and I moan the second it hits my tongue. My second weakness, so it seems.

“Why are you back in your uniform? I thought I told you that you will no longer be going back to work at Sally’s.” He presses another strawberry to my lips.

“About that. I need to go home. I’m wearing this because I don’t exactly have anything else. And if I’m going to be here instead of there, I need more than my birthday suit to wear. I don’t think any of the men you have around here will appreciate seeing the bosses’ girl running around naked.”

I blink up at him and witness his expression turn from day to night.

“I would kill them for daring to look.” He exhales. “I would hate to have to kill some of them, though.”

“Yeah, that would be a shame, Sy. Geez.”

I slap at him playfully.

“You have a big family? Grey and Drake?”

He nods, slipping a blueberry between my lips. I haven’t had such decadent food in so long and my taste buds are happy. Very happy.

“Blood brothers and over a dozen men who are considered part of our inner circle. We keep it small.”

“No sisters? I always wanted to have a sister to share girl talk with. Silly, I know, but you know.”

He seems to mull over my words before speaking. He’s quiet for several beats and when I think he has nothing else to add, his next words break my heart. “I had a sister. She was stubborn and wanted to grow up long before her time. She died because of that stubbornness.”

“I’m so sorry. That must have been very hard on your entire family.”

He pauses while dipping a piece of cantaloupe this time and holds my gaze. “That was the last catapult I needed to push me into the life I live now. I was weak then and couldn’t protect her. I’m not weak any longer, Katriona.”

He rubs small circles on my lower back as he speaks.

“Is that why you’re helping me? Because you couldn’t help your sister?”

He doesn’t answer, only continues to feed me in silence, and when I’ve finished one dish and he starts on another. I throw my hands up. “Stop.” I laugh, trying my best to lighten the mood a bit. I hate the dark somberness that has settled over us and want to get back on happier ground.

“Oh my goodness, Sy, you’re killing me. If I eat another I’m going to turn into a walking fruit basket, I swear.”

“Just trying to build up your strength for what we have planned for this evening.”

“Oh?” I ask, my brows doing a quick climb in surprise. “What have you had the time to plan?”

He takes my chin in his hand and devours my lips with his in a kiss so claiming I feel it soul deep.

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