Page 72 of Ensnared

“Somake time.”

There’stoo much testiness in my tone, but my temper is growing shorter and shorter with him.He’snot even trying—he barely spoke to her at dinner, and he’s still interrupting every potential moment for me to be alone with her.I’mstarting to wonder ifI’mwishing on a star here.Maybeit was a pipe dream, this idea of us staying close and making a family together with the right girl.Somethingborn of teenage hormones and a friendship that hadn’t really been tested yet.

Domdoesn’t respond, leaning down to pick up his shirt.Hesniffs it, then grimaces and sighs.

“Whydon’tIhave any clean clothes?” he asks the group instead, changing the subject.

Inarrow my eyes. “BecauseEdentook over the washing andJaykstill hasn’t fixed the machine.Andbecause there are six of us in the house now and somebody keeps chasing her off, making it so she wants to hide in her room instead of being around us.”

“I’lltellJaykto make the washing machine a priority,” he says, ignoring the rest.

“Ihope you plan to apologize first, for your assumptions the other day,”Jaspercuts in sharply.

Cockinga brow,Domasks, “Haveyou?”

“Ihave.”Jaspergrimaces. “Itdidn’t go well.”

“Wereyou nice, though?”Luckymutters.

Irun a hand over my hair, frustrated by them, byDom, byJaykand all of it, whenIsee the curtains inEden’sroom twitch.Asmall, pale face peeks between them.

Andjust like that, sweet heat slides like syrup through my veins.

“Weshould do one more set,”Iblurt.

Besideme,Luckyfrowns, then follows my glance.Hesneaks me a grin where the others can’t see, then wipes the smile and turns. “Iagree.Onemore to finish.”

DomandJasperstare at us.

“I’mgoing to shower,”Domfinally says, forehead crinkling. “Butknock yourselves out.”

Jaspershakes his head, then follows him as he heads inside.

“BetIcan embarrass you in front of our girl,”Luckyteases.

Ourgirl.

AfterDom’srejection, the phrase is like cool water on a livid burn.Ourgirl.Notjust mine andDom’s.MineandLucky’s.Jayk’s.Jasper’s.

Inever pictured the three of them whenIthought ofThePlan... butIcould be okay with some modifications.

Ifthat’s whatEdenwants.

Ifthey treat her right.

“Eden’sgoing to be embarrassedforyou onceIshow her whatIcan do.”Istep back and whip off my shirt. “I’vegot moves you can only dream of.”

“I’lllet you know, since yourmovesusually put me to sleep,”Luckyquips, tearing his own shirt off.

We’reboth damp with sweat, and daylight has finally soaked in through the forest enough that it gleams off our skin.

Luckydarts forward quickly, feinting up, then sweeping low in the next instant to try to take my legs out.I’mfamiliar enough with his fighting style to anticipate the tricky move, andIswerve to the side so he slides past me.Iaim a quick kick to his ribs while he’s low, but he’s already spinning away from me, coming up with a right hook thatIblock and follow with an uppercut.Backand forth we fight, pushing and pulling, straining and slamming into one another until we’re sweat-slick and showing off and snorting with laughter.

Finally,Luckymakes the mistake of glancing over at the distant face still peeking down at us through the curtains, andImanage to kick out the back of his knees and knock him, face first, into the earth.

“Fuck,” he groans.

Icrouch beside him. “It’sjust likeDomsaid,”Itell him smugly. “Gotto work on those evasive maneuvers.”

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