Page 144 of Entangled

“I love you, Lucien.”

I’m just about to slip my tongue into his mouth when the door opens, and Lucien falls back with a yelp. Dominic catches him, his face marked with impatience. I realize there’s an action movie playing on his TV in the background, its volume turned down low.

“I’m not listening to you fuck him against my door. You have a bed. Use it.”

Lucien laughs, straightening. He pats Dom’s cheek. “You know, Jasper, he’s right. We should just...”

I step back out of Lucien’s grip, but I can’t help the odd curl of my lips. This giddy nectar that has replaced my blood is washing against all my worries.

He’s dazzling.

“I will see you tomorrow, Lucien. And all the days after that.”

Lucien’s laughter fades as he stares at me.

“You promise?” he asks. He forces a smile to soften the question, but his furrowed brow is disquieted. “I kind of feel like my clothes are about to turn into rags and I’ll have to bitch out the fairy godmother to give me another night.”

“I promise.” The words, the need for them, hurt.

My heart shreds a little more when he gives me a relieved smile, and self-loathing slithers in to plug the slices.

I’ve been hurting him so badly for so long.

Eden, that clever, beautiful girl, was right about that. Of all the people I might have expected to confront me about it, I hadn’t considered it might be her. It takes enormous bravery, and deep selflessness, to do so. Especially at the cost of her own relationship.

Yet another thing that doesn’t sit right.

Giving me one last thorough and completely unsubtle eye-fuck, he turns to Dominic. “So which side of the bed is yours? Are you a cuddler? I always thought you’d be a cuddler.”

Dominic delivers me a flat look, then drops it to Lucien.

“You get the couch.” He raises one dry brow. “You don’t annoy me for three days straight and we’ll talk cuddles.”

Lucien grins and winks at me. “Okay, I’m going to shower.” He backs up toward the bathroom. “Extra hot. Steamy. Lots of bubbles.”

My eyes narrow on the wretched tease as perverse, soapy images pour through my thoughts. My already throbbing cock aches.

He’ll pay for that.

“That looks like it went well.”

I tear my eyes from Lucien’s disappearing figure to find Dominic leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed and a slight smile on his face.

The knowing look almost makes me want to blush.

“It did,” I agree softly. It went better than I deserved. I look at the closed door of the bathroom as the shower clicks on. It hurts me that he and Eden are at odds when I can see how deeply they both care. I want them both to be happy. “And you? Did you resolve things with Beaumont?”

I glance back in time to see Dominic grimace.

Distracted by Lucien, I’m only just now seeing the deepening cracks in Dom. The strain and stress. He’s been up too, it’s clear. It’s also clear it wasn’t for as enjoyable a reason. Stubble sits rough and heavy on his jaw, and there are tense lines in his forehead.

I had thought returning to Bristlebrook would lighten his stress—not increase it.

Dominic looks across the hall to Eden’s room. ToBeaumontand Eden’s room.

“No.”

One word. My concern deepens.

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