“Yeah, it is,” Saint says dryly, shooting King and Cairo a look. “Especially when your two immature assistants don’t do what they’re supposed to.”
“Hey, we do what you ask,” Cairo fires back. “Might not be exactlywhenyou say it, but the shit gets done. Right, King?”
King doesn’t answer—his face buried in Arina’s neck. Saint clears his throat. “If you want to fuck her, just get it over with already.”
King finally pulls back, leaving Arina flushed. “I can wait,” he says, smirking. “But yeah—like he said, shit gets done.”
“So, Jainey…” Saint murmurs, his tongue dragging over my name like he’s already tasted it. “What’re you after, pretty? Because last night…” He lets the pause hang, his smirk blooming. “Last night was fun as hell. And to be real with you… I’m not against more. Hell, I miss you already.”
His eyes drift down to Cairo’s thumb lifting my dress toward the inside of my thighs. Saint’s grin widens, caramel eyes going molten. “Looks like he’s already seeing just how much you missedus.”
My breath snags. All I can focus on is the gravity of Saint’s voice and Cairo’s fingers climbing my thigh, testing exactly how far he can take this.
I let my eyes drop to the candlelight flickering on the table, the flame dancing like it knows something I don’t. “I’ll be real with y’all,” I say, glancing first at Cairo, then letting my eyes drag over Saint before resting there. “I just got out of a relationship. So, I’m not really looking for anything serious right now. I’m just… having fun you know? And last night—” My lips curving slowly. “was exactly everything.”
Cairo grins almost instantly. “That’s perfect, then. Fun’s my specialty, baby girl. No strings—just good vibes and great sex over here.” He raises his glass toward me, his smirk all confidence. “And trust me, I don’t disappoint.”
I laugh, shaking my head, heat creeping up my neck even as I try to play it cool. “Mmh, okay Cairo we’ll see about that.”
Saint doesn’t laugh. Leaning forward, elbows resting on the table, his attention fixed on me like he can see right through my me. “Fun’s cute and all,” he says, voice low and rough. “But don’t confuse fun with pretending you don’t deserve more pretty—even if that’s not what you’re looking forright now.”
I blink hard, thrown off by how soft—yet dangerous—his tone suddenly is. “Oh, I know I deserve more,” I say, leaning in, letting my gaze match the weight of his. “I just don’t trust anyone enough to give it to me right now.”
His mouth twitches, the faintest ghost of a smile. “Mmm… maybe you just haven’t met the right person yet.”
Something in his tone sparks through me, my thighs pressing together beneath the table on pure instinct.
Cairo chuckles, that deep, careless sound sliding right under my skin. He reaches out, his hand brushing over mine. “Don’t listen to him, Jainey,” he says flashing that grin that could talk a nun into sinning. “He’s always too deep. I’m telling you, you just need to relax like you said. Ain’t nothingto figure out but eating good food, being around the right people, and having a good time doing it.”
He taps the rim of my glass with one finger, his green eyes glinting with trouble. “And maybe a good drink or two… let us show you what a good time looks like.”
Saint’s hazel eyes never leave mine. “I hear you,” he says, his voice low—meant only for me and Cairo, who’s pressed so close he might as well be sharing my dress. “And I respect it. But even though you’re just having fun… I hope you don’t sell yourself short. I know we barely just met, but something tells me you have a hell of a lot more to offer.”
The booth suddenly feels smaller, the air thicker—like I’ve opened a door I can’t close.
Cairo chuckles and leans in, his shoulder brushing mine. “See, that’s your problem—you think too damn much.” He throws the line toward Saint.
I smirk, glancing between them. “So what—you’re the trouble, and he’s the philosopher with a heart?”
Saint smiles, slow and sure. “Something like that. I guess you can call it balance.” His hand slides down from the back of the booth, warm fingertips grazing my arm before settling there.
Cairo scoffs. “So tell me, Jainey—where do you go when you really wanna have fun? Or y’all just hit parties for that? I’m guessing last night was the first time you’ve been anywhere like that.”
I raise a brow, trying to hide the heat creeping up my cheeks. He’s not wrong. It definitely was my first time at a party like that—and it absolutely showed.
“Well… honestly, I’ve never been invited to anything like that. And even if I had, I doubt it would’ve come anywhere close to what last night was.”
He leans closer, his voice dipping into a tease. “In that case, I’m glad you had fun. Saint’s cousin is always throwingparties. So as long as you’re with us, you’ve got an invite, baby girl.”
“Yeah, he’s always doing the most. But you don’t go to parties at that address without one of us,” Saint cuts in, his voice turning firm—those caramel delights pinning me in place.
My lips twitch. “Okay, Dad.”
“I’m serious,” he says, eyes locked on mine. “The people there won’t be gentle seeing a body like yours walking in there alone. And I won’t hesitate to put any of them six feet under.”
He doubles down, his voice dropping. “And daddy is better than dad. Just don’t call me that in public pretty, because I won’t be responsible for what I do next.”
The fact that he just said he’ll kill over me already has my stomach turning. So, I try to focus on that instead of the stupid sparkle warming my eyes. Murder really shouldn’t turn me on, but coming from his mouth? I’ll let him do whatever he thinks is necessary.
