Page 138 of Ensnared

“Ithink he means, darlin’,”Beausays, “thatDomandIhave tried it a few times.Negotiatingjealousy, issues, keeping everything in balance... it was a lot with three people involved, on all sides.You’retalking about six.”

Besideme,Domtenses.

“Five,”Icorrect quietly, wrapping an arm around myself asIthink of the awful chess match.

Dom’sshoulders unbunch. “Yes, five.”

Ilook up at him, confused. “Youknow aboutJasper?”

“Sorry,Eden,Iforgot you andJasperdidn’t work out for a minute,”Beausays quickly, glancing between us and givingDoma quelling look. “Five, then.Fivepeople are a lot to keep happy.”

Dommutters under his breath, andIsting over how easilyBeausays it, like it was a thing of no consequence.

Isuppose it isn’t, really.IsupposeJasperandIwere never really a possibility.

Seemingto sense my mood shift,Domlooks at me.Ifeel him regard me for a long moment, andIavoid his gaze like it’s my last mission on earth.

Iclear my throat. “Iknow it won’t be easy, okay?Butwe’re all adults.Ifwe have any problems, we’ll just have to talk it through.AndIwill do my best to keep it fair.”

“Justlike that, huh?”Domsays.

Ilift my chin and look at him through my glasses. “Yes.Justlike that.”

Hiseyes take on a secret shine, andBeaunods. “She’sright.Weneed to try this the right way.Thehard way.”

Beau’swords make me bright, like fairy lights are being strung up between my ribs, andIlean up to kiss him again. “Thankyou.”

Theforests in his eyes dance, alive with possibility.Beaucups my jaw and pulls me in for a low, thorough kiss. “Ihope you know you’re mine now, darlin’.Beprepared for everything that comes along with that.”

His.Theirs.AndIalso get to be mine now, too.

Beaupresses another light kiss to my lips. “Eden,Idon’t always say the right thing.ButIpromiseI’llwork on it.Ithink you’re fierce, and intelligent, and resourceful as anything—Iwas yours the minute you told us to run and save ourselves.”Herests his forehead against mine. “Takegood care of me, sweetheart.”

Mylips curve up, and those lights in me turn star bright. “Ipromise.”

Aftera long, sweet moment,Ilook atDom, who’s watching me likeI’ma puzzle, an impossibly knotted string.He’ssitting so close, but just out of reach.

“Iwon’t hurt them,Dom,”Ipromise softly.Ican see it in him, that protectiveness of them.Ifeel it too.

“Don’tmake promises you can’t keep, pet,” he replies, just as softly.

Thenhe shakes his head, and the moment breaks. “It’sdone, then.Butwithout the deal, the consequences are all on you if this goes south.”

Thatseems fair, at least. “Yes, sir.”

Hestands up, andIcan’t help the way my eyes trail over his naked body.Whenhe starts tugging on his pants,Ihide my sigh of disappointment.

“Doyou have a canteen?”Domasks. “Youshould have some water.”

“Mm-hmm.Inmy bag.”

Domtugs at the straps and opens the flap, pulling it forward to check the contents when an avalanche of... supplies... falls out.Hepicks up one of the condoms, then looks at me with a raised brow.

Beausplutters a laugh. “Ten?Darlin’, you were coming out here against our orders.”Herubs a hand over his jaw. “Ilike your ambition, but were you really thinking we’d use all of these?”

Mycheeks heat.Ratherthan respond to that,Idare to start pressing small kisses across his chest, licking at the gentle glistening of sweat on his skin.

“Water.”Beauhands me the canteen, andIdrink without complaint.Idrain it, surprised at how thirstyIam.

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