Page 47 of Devour

I must’ve made a face that matched my internal “The fuck?” because Ash backpedaled mentally then verbally.

“Never mind.”

His mental soup came across a lot more complex, but it boiled down to Ash wholeheartedly believing Eli was in love with me and worrying I used that to my advantage. Used him. Hurt him. That got a frown out of me.

“He’s a deacon, Ash.” Our default argument to this line of questioning, but it worked as well as any.

“He doesn’t want to be.”

“Well… he is.”

“And he also has a whole other identity outside of that. You do realize his beliefs don’t encompass his entire personality, right? And that he’s still a person with feelings?”

“Yeah,” I snapped. Probably shouldn’t be angry. Felt pissy anyway. “Kinda knew that before you, actually.”

Hooooo boy, did I ever get him riled up with that comment. “Rhory, even if he’s your best friend, don’t forget he’s mine, too. I don’t want to see him get hurt because I care.”

“I care,” I scoffed.

“Do you? Really? Even if not hurting him means fucking yourself over instead?”

Oof. Suddenly, this conversation hit a little too close to home. When did I become the bad guy?

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

Maybe because I found myself embroiled in what quickly became an argument, or since I evicted hubs earlier, I didn’t hear Eli coming. Slowly, my hubby wrapped his arms right around my waist and hugged me from behind. Which wasn’t exactly indecent, but coming from him, it was pretty much the equivalent of being greeted with a tongue in my mouth.

“Have you been drinking?” I twisted only my head to look back and smirk at him.

Furiously nodding, with the widest smile I’d ever seen on him before, he settled his face in the crook of my neck. “There is a literal wine fountain. You can just stand there and keep refilling your glass as much as you want. No one stops you.”

“Oh, hubs,” I chuckled while patting his arm. Who knew he got so frisky when drinking? Kinda tempting, actually. Very tempting. “Maybe eat something off the towering charcuterie monstrosity over there and sober up before hitting the fountain again.”

“Not a sin.” Of course, he was quick to remind us of this. Yet, it didn’t seem exactly as if he were referring to getting tipsy. “Let me enjoy the few things I can.”

With that, he sighed. Still hadn’t let go, though. Oh, hubs, you’re going to have a lot of explaining to do to your friends in the morning. Good thing perfectly friendly and not all sexually suggestive hugs between two friends weren’t considered sinful. Technically.

Technically.

Owen’s coming, I warned him. In the vicinity and looking for Ash, who happened to be with us.

Instead of mentally responding, Eli shrugged. Took everything in me not to facepalm, but seeing him so happy and content shifted my mood. Poor guy was never comfortable. Ever. Maybe when we were alone, and even then he held back.

“Hey, Rhory, didn’t realize you got a—”

And that would be Owen, who came over chipper and ready to congratulate me on landing a new beau. Only to realize at the last minute he knew the guy hanging off me.

“Oh. Hi. Eli.”

Hubs smiled and lifted one hand, then resumed his stance.

“Eli found the wine fountain,” Ash whispered, a huge smile on his face.

“I see,” Owen snickered. Turning to Ash, he said, “Your sister just got back and they’re doing the portraits with the family.”

“Right,” said Ash, setting down his empty glass on the table. “I’ll see you two again after dinner’s served. Try to stay out of trouble.”

“Have you met me?” I scoffed.

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