Page 156 of Entangled

“You still need cheering up,” he whispers. “Look at you, you’re a mess.”

I choke on a laugh that’s immediately chased by agony. Because he’s right.

Lucky releases my shirt and wraps his arms around me, and I let myself crumple into him like a used tissue. I bury my face in his chest, breathing him in. Maybe if I breathe in deeply enough, I can trap him inside me and never let him go.

He rests his cheek in my hair. “It doesn’t have to be like this. Why didn’t you talk to me?”

His heart pounds against my skin. How else could it be? All those days we were together, he was thinking of Jasper. In the games room the first day, he was watching Jasper. When he stole me away and we made kimchi, it was to keep me away from Jasper. After my chess game, he couldn’t wait to quiz meabout Jasper.

The only time it seemed like it was just the two of us was...

Something oily and cold slithers under my skin as I ask, “When we played Twister, I asked you to... to fuck me. Why didn’t you?”

Pressed this close against him, I feel every inch of his sudden tension.

“Eden...”

That too. Even that moment between us was somehow abouthim.

I sigh, all the frustration and anger in me releasing in this slow, inexorable exhale, like the inevitable wilt of a pierced tire.

I step out of Lucky’s arms, smoothing down my shirt. I just feel sad.

Sad and empty.

“I didn’t give you to Jasper, Lucky.” My eyes feel bright and wet when I look up at him. I smile, and taste tears on my lips. “You were already his. I just... borrowed you. For a little while.”

His shoulders lift in a sharp, short breath, and he shakes his head.

“No. Eden, I panicked. That’s all.” He grasps my upper arms, so lightly, like he’s not ready to let me go, and bends down to look me in the eyes. “Beautiful, if you want me to prove how much I want you, I’ll do it right now. We can go upstairs, and I’ll prove it to you in every position you can think of.” He laughs, a little wild. “Or that I can think of—I’ll show you every way.”

The images come in a deluge—his strong, flexible body taking me in a hundred obscene ways. A thousand. I turn away, needing him to stop touching me.

I get so confused when he touches me.

And it’s all hurting too much.

I brush my fingers over the breakfast bar where Jasper had him spread out, and the marble is icy under my fingertips. My mouth twists in self-deprecation.

“Now that he gave you permission?” I ask softly.

The lines of his throat go taut, and his eyes glisten. God. I don’t want him to cry. I don’t want this for either of us.

But how can he not see?

I stare at him, anguished. “He’ll always be your dominant. Your sadist. I can’t give you any of that. It hurts too much to come in as less, Lucky. I’ve done it all my life, and I just... can’t.”

And just like that, I see his temper flare again.

I didn’t even know Lucky had a temper.

“I’m not exactly jumping to dominate anyone lately either, Eden.” His tight expression isn’t particularly kind, but his eyes are full of pain. “Does that mean you’ll always love Beau better than me?”

My lips part in shock, but he’s not done.

“Or what about Jayk? Do you have a tiered system? Which one of us is your favorite then? Or is that why Jayk walked out?” he snaps.

Howdarehe bring up Jayk now?

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