“I offered suggestions. Measurements. I don’t hand-select everything.”Julien smoothly pushes in my chair as I sit, like heisn’t having a strained mental conversation.“Although… I will be using this as inspiration for all future clothing.”
“Agreed,”Ezekial and Sai say in unison.
“Only in the house.”Kane again. Final.
Another round of mental agreement echoes back.
“Do you think she knows we’re talking about her?”
I keep my eyes fixed on the rim of my glass, pretending their words aren’t echoing through my mind like a chorus of sin as Sai glances at me. I arch a brow like I’ve no idea why, but slowly cross my legs, letting the slit fall open.
His eyes snap to it, flaring piercing blue as he starts to… kneel—
Julien grabs his shoulder, yanking him back up while offering me a polite, apologetic smile.
“Restraint, mon ami,”he murmurs to Sai, then drops him in the seat beside me.
I sip my wine, giving Sai a slow, teasing smile.
He swallows then grins back.“Guys, I think she knows.”
I try to hide my laugh in the glass, especially difficult when Kane glares across the table to his brother.“Ezekial.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Imayhave dropped the barrier.”
“When? Why?”
“I got distracted,”he quietly admits, pouring himself a large glass of wine.
Then dead silence, mental wall back in place. I smother my laugh with another sip.
At some point, while distracted by wine, suits and sins, the table has transformed again. Multiple dishes of varying sizes, rich with colours and scents, now set artfully between the candlelight.
Flitting into the seat on my left, Julien refills my glass as Kane and Ezekial take the chairs beside Julien and Sai. But myattention is locked on the table, on how every single plate is different, but also a little familiar.
I tilt my head. “This is…” My voice trails off as I take in the smaller details.
The wine, the perfectly balanced sides, the garnishes—every one of them a small indulgence added to my favourites only yesterday.
“You used the app,” I whisper, turning to Julien. “You picked everything...”
“I refined,” he corrects gently. “The list told me your cravings, and preferences. I filled in the rest with instinct.”
“This is…” I lose my words, eyes busily tracing over every delicious looking thing. “This is incredibly thoughtful, Julien. Thank you. But I don’t think we’ll be able to eat everything…”
“It’s a dégustation.” At my frown, his smile tips into a grin, revealing his fangs. “A tasting. You’ll have small samples of everything to help narrow down your favourites, so we can learn what you like for future meals and… other indulgences.”
I smile back. “You mean dessert?”
Four sets of eyes lock on me.
I trail a finger along the stem of my glass. “Can’t wait.” I raise it, idly brushing the rim with my lower lip before taking a sip.
“Fuckinghell,” Sai mutters, shoving his glass forwards. “Pass me the wine.”
I laugh quietly into mine, and the sound seems to break the heated tension.
Light conversation stirs with their soft movements, and I watch as my plate fills with small, careful servings by flickering shadows. Each offering somehow carries a signature of each man. Kane slides a portion of roasted vegetables beside the meat he placed before, Julien adds a perfect spoonful of something creamy, Ezekial piles on crispy potatoes with surgical precision,and Sai drops two golden-fried things I can’t name but already want.
