Page 61 of Ensnared

“Iapologize,Eden.Thatwas impolite of me.Wouldyou please join me for chess tomorrow?Tobe clear, you are under no obligation to do so.Iwould simply enjoy the pleasure of your company.”

Frustrationand embarrassment make me want to flee to my room.Maybeeven from the house.Idon’t know whyIthoughtIcould do this.

“Eden?” he prompts, and this time his voice is soft, gentle as the brush of a feather.

WhenIlook up, his face is lined with deep remorse.Itsoothes some of the sting, but none of my confusion.

Imanage a nod. “Yes.Ofcourse.Thankyou.”

“Ihad better get back to work.Havea good afternoon.”

Witha nod to each of us, he stalks back to his not-so-secret secret study.LuckyandIboth stare after him, red-cheeked, as he leaves.

Chapter16

Lucky

Survivaltip #212

Laughwhen it hurts.

Tearswill only dehydrate you.

Iturn to seeEden’sbewildered expression just as the books start slipping from her arms.Icatch them, helping to steady her, then snicker, trying to putJasper’slast comment to me from my mind.

“Weightof the world, huh?”Itease.

Herbrow wrinkles.Thenshe looks at the atlases atop the towering pile and rolls her eyes.Weset them on a table, and she worries her lip over the disorder.She’severy inch the librarian today, and damn if it doesn’t leave me hard as a rock.

“What—?” she begins and then stops, flustered.

“Ah.”Irub a hand over the back of my head, wondering how much she picked up on, how much to explain.MyT-shirt lifts with the motion, andIpretend not to notice when her eyes light on my bared skin.Smugnessmakes me want to grin, settling some of my stomach-aching jealousy, thoughIwish to hellIdidn’t have to be the one to try and explainJasperto her.

Itseems kind of like adding insult to injury at this point.

AfterIfinally escaped from the group meeting earlier,I’dneeded to shower and change beforeIstarted feeling anything like myself again. “Jasperis kinda...Well.Imean, he’s a—”

“Asadist,”Edenwhispers.Herblue-gray eyes are adorably wide behind her glasses.

Ishrug and quirk a smile. “Yeah,Iguess.Anda dominant.Youremember we were in a kink club when it all got real?Well, that’s kinda why you got stuck with the more colorful personalities in the troop.”

Sheblinks at me, then leans against the table, seeming to take that in. “Sohe wants to hurt me?”

Hervoice sounds small, andIjust barely stop myself from wrapping her in a hug.Damnit.Jaspershould be explaining this.Itry to think of a way to put it that won’t freak her the hell out.

“Onlyif you want him to.It’sonly fun for him if you’re into it too.Iguess—Imean, part of the appeal for him is pushing you to your limits, and making you want to be pushed there.Paincan heighten the pleasure of sex for some people.”

Edenturns the shade of sun-curdled cauliflower.

Oo-kay.Screwedthat one up.

“Notfor me,” she insists.Onedelicate hand flutters to her throat where her pulse pounds. “Iwouldn’t like that.”

Imust have hesitated a moment too long because her chin lifts in defiance. “Iwouldn’t!”

Igive her my best grin, lifting my palms in surrender.Then, once her chin starts to lower to a normal level,Iadd quickly, “Butjust hear me out.”

Shehuffs in exasperation, but a hint of amusement eases into her features.

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