I threw my book on the coffee table, turning to sit sideways to look at him, tucking my legs underneath me as he took a seat beside me.
“Isla, I-I-I…” he stammered, figuring out what to say first. Struggling to gather his thoughts, he shook his head, and his gaze connected with mine. Sighing, he shared, “I was really drunk. I know that’s not an excuse, but it’s all I got.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t. Not even close.”
His tone was defeated yet determined, which only baffled me more. Kraven was my friend, or so I considered him one. By the way he treated me, I assumed I was his friend too. Whenever he brought girls around, they would look at me with such disdain, and it never made sense.
I imagined it was from jealousy of living there with them. I didn’t see his flings more than a couple of times, and then they’d disappear. No one ever spent the night with him, and Julius often made jokes that Kraven was always getting his dick wet and needed to wrap it up because he wasn’t ready to be an uncle.
I frowned, wanting to know. “What does that mean?”
He didn’t hesitate in stating, “It means I’m fucked.”
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care about Kraven. I did, very much so. The air grew thick between us, and I couldn’t form words. He literally made me speechless.
“I—”
The door opened, revealing Julius. I swear the brothers had a knack for intruding on each other. It was as if they had some sort of radar for private moments.
“Am I interrupting?” Julius questioned in a snide tone, shutting the door behind him.
“Of course you are,” Kraven bit. “Your timing is impeccable as always.”
I got off the couch, kissed Julius on the cheek, and announced, “I’m going to make some lunch. You guys hungry?”
“Yeah,” they replied in unison.
Between last night and now this, I defaulted on what came naturally.
I fled.
My mind was running ragged on what Kraven was going to say after that.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
ISLA
Sometimes people don’t wantthe truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed. -Friedrich Nietzsche
3 months later.
“Mmm…” I groaned in my sleep.
“You feel so damn good,” Julius rasped against my ear, softly kissing down the side of my neck.
Am I dreaming?
I had to be dreaming, but it felt so real.
His lips felt as smooth as silk, making their way down to my chest. My breathing hitched when he slid his way back up to my mouth.
“Ask nicely and I’ll be generous,” he growled, biting my lower lip.
Gripping the back of my neck with his strong, warm hand, he held me in place, kissing me senseless. Deepening our kiss, he pushed me to the brink of ecstasy.
