Page 86 of Ward Willing
She’s already watching me—her eyes dangerously dark.
The remote is suddenly heavy in my pocket, and my hand twitches at my side.
Not yet.
I look away and continue talking to Malakai and Orion, sipping my water as I try not to look in Zoe’s direction. Chase and Juliet help Stella set the large dining room table in the next room—complete with spooky music, jack-o’-lanterns, and Halloween-themed food. My eyes rove over the “bloody” meatballs, white chocolate covered “ghost” strawberries, and “severed finger” rolls, which are basically miniature hotdogs. There’s a fog machine and ghost projections going, too, and I have to hand it to Stella. It’s incredible, even if it’s just for family.
Well, and the guy Layla brought.
Miles comes back down a few minutes later, and we all meander into the dining room to eat. Zoe takes a seat next to Orion, and I sit next to Chase and Juliet.
“How’s it going with Zoe?” Juliet asks, sipping her wine as she moves her long, light brown hair over one shoulder. She came to the party dressed as a rooster, which must be some sort of inside joke between her and Chase. When she looks up at me, her eyes are sparkling with mischievousness.
Sighing, I run my hand through my hair. “Chase told you.”
“He tells me everything,” she says, her voice proud as she eyes her husband, who is clad in a full Wolverine costume. I grunt as I play with my water glass, not bothering to respond. “It seems like it might be the real deal for her,” she adds. “And that must be terrifying because you’re the last thing she has left. You, us—without that, she’s truly alone. So the fact that she’s been eyeing you all night like she might stop breathing if you’re out of eyesight says everything, Liam.”
I take a steadying breath as Juliet’s words wash over me, causing my chest to ache and my eyes to drift up to Zoe’s. She’s talking to Orion, but the second my eyes land on her, it’s as if she can sense it, and her eyes flick over to mine. Pursing her lips, she takes a sip from her wine glass without breaking eye contact. I watch as she swallows, her throat bobbing before her tongue runs along her lower lip briefly.
“Seems like she’s not the only one,” Juliet adds, chuckling. “Think of it this way. You want her. She wants you. Why cause more turmoil when you could just… have her? Don’t break her heart, Liam. She seems strong, but I don’t think she’s as strong as she looks.”
I start. “That’s probably why weshouldn’tdo anything.”
“No, that’s exactly why youshould.She needs your guidance, both as her only remaining family, but also as her Dom, eventually. She needs stability. She needs to relinquish control of that massive brain of hers to someone she trusts. It’s pretty obvious why she chose you.”
“She’s had other Doms too,” I mutter.
“Yes, but I can bet you a thousand dollars she doesn’t look at them like they can hang the moon for her.”
I grunt. “She spent fiftythousanddollars on lingerie today,” I admit.
Juliet snickers, covering her mouth. “Oh my god. She’s tryingsohard, and you’re over here all stoic and angry… it’s so obvious.”
“What’s obvious?” I ask, gripping my fork a little too tightly.
“Your dynamic. She isbeggingfor you to punish her. Now, be a good Dom and make her pay for her impertinence.”
I finish my eyeballs in silence while Juliet turns to talk to Chase.
A few minutes later, after we’ve all had a casual dinner, Stella ushers us into one of the lounges, where she proceeds to turn the music up. I sip my water as I watch over my siblings instinctively—Chase, who is sitting on the couch with Juliet on his lap, her arm draped around his neck. Miles and Stella, the latter of whom is dragging a grumpy Miles to the middle of the room to dance. Malakai, who looks a bit tipsy, standing with a furious-looking Orion.
It doesn’t take me long to find the source.
Layla is dancing with her date, whose name is Raphael, and the two of them are giving everyone a show with their sensual slow dance.
Oh boy.
Just as I walk my water over to the mantel, someone shouts, and before I realize it, Raphael is on the floor with a bloody nose.
Fuck.
Layla crouches down and looks at Raphael, glaring up at Orion, who is looking between Raphael, Layla, and his bloody knuckles.
“What the fuck?” Raphael shouts.
Chase and Juliet jump up from the couch, and Miles walks over to Raphael.
“What happened?” I ask. As the oldest, this type of thing falls on my shoulders, even though I know my other brothers can handle themselves.
