I bite back a smile, because he chose to say that just to me.
Ezekial’s already flitted behind me, his fingers gently brushing my hair aside as he fastens the chain around my neck. His delicate touch lingers against the back of my skin as the pendant settles against my chest with a soft hum.
When I look up, they’re all staring at it. My choice no longer in words, but worn.
“You two. Out.” Sai’s sudden order makes the shadows spike, and my gaze snaps to the ones he’s talking to.
Kane’s gaze drops into a terrifying glare. Ezekial doesn’t move from behind me, but the air shifts as more shadows creep across the floor.
Julien sets down his glass with a subtle clink. “My friends, you’ve had your time,” he says mildly to the brothers, but there’s an unmistakable edge to it. “Now, it’s ours.”
I frown. “What’s going on…?”
“Nothing,” Sai says with a bright smile. “Definitely not a carefully orchestrated seduction attempt.”
My cheeks flush, but I hide it in my glass, taking a gulp. Thankfully, the boys are too busy glaring at each other to notice.
It’s Ezekial who relents first, exhaling sharply, before leaning down to press a soft kiss to my cheek, my jaw, ending on my lips.
“If you need us, we’ll know,” he murmurs, then steps back.
Kane remains seated.
Sai sighs. “Possessive Papi, comeon. Don’t be like this.”
I almost laugh—almost. Especially when that’s the line that gets Kane moving.
He flits behind me, a cool caress brushing over my shoulder then dropping away. I frown, a little disappointedby his restraint—fingers slip into my hair, curling tight at the strands as my head is tilted back and his lips find mine.
He kisses me deeply, searingly,like he wants me to remember his taste.
Then—gone. Both of them.
Pressing fingers to my lips, I exhale shakily as Julien shifts closer. The heat of him soothes the ache of the brothers’ absence as his gaze pauses on my lips, then sweeps up to mine.
“You made your choice,” he murmurs, irises burning molten. “Now we’ll show you what it means to be kept.”
On my other side, Sai leans in. “They held back.” His voice drops into a low rumble. “We won’t.”
Chapter 60: Jasmine
“Once that glass is empty,” Sai murmurs, as Julien pours me another sliver of wine, “you’re going to run.”
I blink, then laugh, scrunching my nose. “What?”
I wait for the joke… but it never comes.
Sai isn’t wearing his smirk, Julien’s gaze keeps dipping into black, and neither of them answer.
My heart thuds as I take a slow sip, watching them over the rim of the glass. They never look away. Silent and still. Eyes locked on mine as I finish the wine.
The soft clink of glass as I set it down echoes louder than it should.
I huff out a laugh, trying to disguise how hard my pulse is pounding.
“I’m not running.” I try to sound flippant, but it comes out thin and breathy.
“You are.” Slowly, Sai’s fingers reach for my bare knee, brushing gently, just a skim, but the touch sparks something deep beneath my skin humming. “And we’re going to chase.”
