Page 20 of Ensnared

Eden

Survivaltip #238

Youwon’t actually pass out from embarrassment.

It’snot a good defense mechanism.

Itremble, looking at my feet.Theirgazes sear me, andIswallow, trying not to let my panic grow.Icannot,willnot, have sex with that man.Adark stain on my new shirt catches my eye, andIexamine it.Notpaint,Irealize.Grease.Hisshirt had engine grease on it.

Ahand grasps mine, gently twining our fingers.Luckytugs me toward him into a loose hug.Myhead barely tops his shoulders.Herests his chin on the top of my head, and his chest rumbles with a nervous laugh. “Youknow, that went better thanIthought it would.”

Justlike that, the wary tension in the room eases.

Jaspergives a wry laugh. “Wouldyou like a drink,Eden?”

Domsits back down across the room, flipping open his book—somehow managing to do all that without once looking my way, as though he hadn’t just been holding me up.

Beauslumps on the couch, right by whereLuckyandIare standing.

“Betterthan you thought it would?Whatdid you think was going to happen?” he asks incredulously. “Anotherwhiskey,Jaz?Makeit a double.”

“Iwant a double monkey master mix!Getus two!”Luckycalls toJasper.

Thelight catches onJasperas he looks down on us from the raised bar, making a halo of his dark hair and turning the angles of his elegant face wicked.

Tomy surprise,Luckystills entirely under the stare—it’s the first time he’s stopped moving sinceImet him,I’msure of it.Itwist to take in his expression, but he blinks and then shoots me a grin, as though he hadn’t just drawn taut as a bowstring.

Withan easier smile,Luckywaves offBeau’squestion and addresses me, “Aw,Jayky’sokay, he just gets nervous around pretty girls.Trustme, he’s more scared of you than you are of him.Deepdown he’s a real sweetie.”

“Hepawed at her,”Jaspercuts in smoothly. “It’sinexcusable.”

Luckysucks in his lower lip, considering that. “Deep, deep down.”

Jaspergives him a disparaging look, butIthinkIdetect a hint of humor in the too-determined press of his lips.Hepours the whiskey and his own glass of red wine with exacting precision. “Idon’t know how to make your ridiculous drink,Lucien.Youneed to make it yourself.”

Luckyhuffs and releases me.

“You’llsee thatIdoallthe important jobs around here.”Thatearns a reluctant smile from me, andLuckyjoinsJasperup at the bar. “Andhe was always going to paw at her; he’s an animal.It’sall those primal instincts—pheromones, you know.”

Ishift. “Wouldhe have...?”

“No,”Dominicsays, finally looking up from his book. “Jaykobmight be rough, but he wouldn’t hurt a woman without a damn good reason.Wewouldn’t keep him around otherwise.Hewouldn’t have touched you if we hadn’t already told him you’d agreed to this.Butheisrough.Helikes it that way.Heisthat way.”Hegrimaces. “IfIhad to guess, that was a test.”

Icross my arms, realizing with relief that the movement covers my breasts.Thesilk shirt truly hides almost nothing. “AtestIfailed,Itake it?”

Hegives me a blank look. “Didhe hurt you?”WhenIstay silent, he shrugs, turning back to his book. “Notreally that different to whatBeaudid at the lake then, is it?”

Beauscowls at his friend, and my back stiffens.

“Thatwas not even close to the same thing,”Imutter.

WhenDominiclooks up again,Itry not to squirm.Hereminds me of a medieval king.Thereis something so forbidding, so rough with power about him, thatIfeel the urge to kneel and ask for mercy whenever he directs the full weight of his attention to me.Hispresence is a physical thing.

Hestudies my face.IknowBeauis looking at me too, butIcan’t bring myself to meet his eyes.I’vebeen in the wild long enough to know to keep my eyes on the biggest predator in the room, especially when he seems about to pounce.

Dominic’slips purse in a considering way and he shuts the book with unnerving finality. “Youliked the wayBeautouched you?”

Hisgolden gaze traps mine and won’t let go.Mortificationspreads through me.

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