Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 127201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
“That’s not the point. You shouldn’t have touched her.”
“Whoa,” Tilly says, turning in my arms to meet Zephyr’s stare. “I’m not a possession that either of you gets to claim. I love you, Zeph, you’re a great friend, but you don’t get to dictate who I can or can not sleep with.”
“I know that,” he says. “That’s not what I was trying to do. It’s just principle that your father doesn’t fuck the girl you’re currently sleeping with. It’s a low blow.”
Tilly nods. “Yeah, okay. I get that.”
Zeph lets out a sigh. “I . . . I’m gonna take off. Don’t wait up for me.”
He stalks out of the kitchen and whips his keys off the edge of the hallway table as Tilly pulls further out of my arms, looking after Zeph as though she’s somehow to blame for all of this. “Wait, Zeph. Don’t go. You’re not even wearing a—”
“Let him go,” I tell her. “He’ll be okay. He just needs a little time to cool off.”
“But—”
“He’s not angry with you, hellcat. He’s angry with me.”
She lets out a heavy sigh, inching closer toward me again, and I take her hips, lifting her right back onto the counter where she’d been earlier. As my hands come down on either side of her thighs, caging her in, I can’t help but notice that same unease in her eyes that I’d seen earlier.
“What’s wrong?”
Her brows furrow, and she shakes her head just slightly. “I just don’t want him hating me.”
“No, I don’t mean Zeph. He’ll be fine. I mean, what’s wrong with you? Something else is on your mind.”
Tilly’s eyes widen just a fraction, and the slightest hint of fear creeps over her face. She begins to squirm under my stare, and the longer the silence grows between us, the more obvious it becomes that I’m right.
“It’s nothing that you need to worry about,” she finally says, trying to play it off. “Just . . . personal stuff.”
“Right,” I say, noticing the way the pulse at the base of her neck thrums, a clear indicator of her heart rate spiking, clearly having just lied, but I’m not about to push her on it. It’s already been a rough night, and I don’t want her feeling awkward. Instead of pushing for details, I drop my gaze to Zeph’s shirt that covers her slender body. “How did you end up in this?”
A small smile pulls at the corner of her lips. “Nothing happened,” Tilly admits. “I was fully dressed when we heard the garage door opening. Zeph just wanted to mess with you. I think he wanted to see how you would react to the insinuation that we had been together, or to see if you’d get jealous.”
I shake my head. “Zeph should know better. I don’t get jealous.”
“Really?” Tilly questions. “Because the way you’re looking at me in your son’s shirt suggests otherwise.”
“Am I not the one who suggested that you keep fucking him? Believe me, hellcat. When I say that I am not the jealous type, I mean it.”
Tilly nods. However, that strange uneasiness from earlier never leaves her stare, and it has me agitated. Whatever it is, it has her questioning a little too much. Her lips press into a hard line, her brows pinching, and I prepare myself for whatever’s about to come next.
“What are we doing here?”
“What do you mean?”
“Me and you. It’s still just sex, right? That’s all?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “That’s all it’s ever been. Just a little bit of fun, some wild nights of exploration at Vixen, and apparently an emotional outburst from my son. But nothing more. I don’t do relationships, and I have my reasons for why. Not to mention, you’re young enough to be my daughter.”
“Just sex?” she confirms with a nod.
“That’s right. However, if you can’t handle it, or if you feel that’s not enough for you, then you need to let me know, and we’ll put an end to it. Because if that’s the case and you need more, then you’re going to be sorely disappointed. I didn’t enter this with the intention to hurt you, Tilly. That’s not what I want.”
She nods again. “It’s okay. I know the rules, and they can’t be broken. We made a vow. It’s just . . . I guess I’m wondering how you would feel if I started screwing around with someone other than Zephyr?”
My gaze narrows, and I feel something tighten in my chest. That isn’t jealousy, is it? No, that’s not possible. Especially after making such a point about not getting jealous. “Are you not sexually satisfied with me?” I ask, feeling somewhat panicked at the thought of her looking for comfort outside of me. “Is there someone else you’re interested in?”
“Don’t answer my question with another question. I asked first.”