Page 92 of Entangled

“You and me?” I ask, and it feels like the million-dollar question. Did she really end that deal so she could choose... me?

Eden sits up, and I need to lean back to let her, so we’re on a more even field. Her gaze becomes uncertain. “Me and... whichever of you still wanted me.”

Right.

Bitterness crashes in, though I know it shouldn’t. It’s nothing different to what I expected, not really.

“Anyone will do, huh?” I want it to be a sneer, I try to make it a sneer, but for some reason it comes out as hurt as I feel.

My cheeks burn.

I pull back, and Eden grabs my arm again, not letting me up.

“You’re making me reconsider slapping you again,” she says huffily, and I scowl at her. “Jayk, you all brought me in under this ‘deal.’ And maybe I’m just too inexperienced, or too soft, or inconstant, orsomething, but I developed feelings. Forallof you. And I can’t turn them off.”

All of us.My lip curls.

She shifts up onto her knees. “Now, I don’t know what’s going to happen with anyone else. Frankly, most of you are terrible at expressing your feelings, and I’m starting to realize I’m not much better. But I do have them. For you. A lot of them.” Eden’s throat works. “I thought you died, Jayk, and it wrecked me. All I wanted was to have you back. And now you’re here.”

My heart thunders, like it doesn’t know whether to race to her, or away. I have this urge, this familiar one, to shove her away, say some asshole thing and leave her ass in the dust. Sex is one thing, but my belongings aremine. Sharing your shit is how it gets mishandled. Broken.

Taken.

If she’s mine, Eden ismine.

But I have this other urge. Because she’s right in front of me and her skin is glowing like crushed pearls, looking like some violated wood nymph, sticky with my cum and covered in my marks, saying she wants all of me.

And I don’t want to shove her away.

“Tell the others to fuck off,” I tell her in a low voice.

Eden’s eyes widen. “I can’t do that, Jayk.”

“Why not?” I snort. “Like they’ve been so good to you? Dom hanging off his ex and Jasper scared to even shake your hand? You think?—?”

Her lips flatten. “Stop it. That’s between us. You can decide for yourself, but not for me. And not for them.” She looks away, and her eyes look all shiny. “They might not care, I don’t know. But right now, I just... I just want to know if you do.”

Her eyes drop to her hands, like she’s afraid to look at me.

What the hell am I meant to do with this?

I shake my head to myself. I’m going to tell her to shove it. I am. This is bullshit, and?—

Is herlip quivering?

I grab her chin, and yank her to me, sucking that shaking lip into my mouth until her hands are clutching at my shoulders and she’s trembling for a different reason.

“Mine,” I snap, and then kiss her again as her eyes fill with tears.

But my mind is racing.

One way or another, she’s going to have to make a choice.

Because I willneverfucking share.

Chapter23

Eden

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